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 76

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 76

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Philo Stone had a full-blooded Chippewa squaw for a wife, who got along quite well as a hotel house- keeper.

A mill was built, in 1839, by Mr. Allen on the west side of the Red Cedar, some two miles below Gilbert's Creek, making three mills run by him at that time. This mill was rebuilt in 1841, and about that time the lower, or Spring Creek mill was sold to Stephen Mc- Cann. Simon and George Randall, who figure largely in the early settlement of Eau Claire, first worked in this mill. In 1843, this mill was burned, and the loss fell upon Mr. Allen.

In the year 1832, Mr. 11. S. Allen, who had come West from his native State of Vermont, to Galena, the largest city in the then Northwest, turned his attention to the Chippewa lumber region, going up the river as far as the Falls of the Chippewa, but located finally at Menomonie, where he engaged in getting out square timber and logs, soon, however, discovering that withont booms to secure the logs, they must be sawed into lumber here. In 1835, Mr. Allen bought an inter- In 1841, the mill on Wilson's Creek was sold to Mr. Green, and soon turned over to Mr. Pearson, who be- gan the erection of a dam across the Menomonie, but his means were inadequate, and he finally sold out to an old gentleman named David Black. est in the Street & Lockwood mills, and in 1837, the company built another mill. Mr. Allen put his good business qualities, his energy and perseverance, all im- bued with a public spirit, into the business, and in 1839, he bought the whole interest of Street & Lock- Such was the condition of affairs when Capt. Wil- wood, and associated with him G. S. Branham. In liam Wilson, of Fort Madison, Iowa, made an ex-

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HISTORY OF DUNN COUNTY.

ploring tour through the county to find a location. He came up the Mississippi in a steamboat to Nelson's Landing, and meeting Mr. Branham, he learned that openings were plenty on the Red Cedar, and came up with him on foot. Capt. Wilson was rich in ambition, energy and hope, supplemented by health and vigor, but had little money. Learning that an interest in Black's mill was for sale, he made an exploration up the river in a canoe, with a single Indian as a guide, going fifty miles to learn how the pine would hold out, and of course he was more than satisfied on the supply question. He determined, if possible, to obtain an in- terest in that mill. He at once returned to Fort Mad- ison, and induced John H. Knapp, a young man just from an eastern college, who had some money, to look into the project, which was so enthusiastically described by the Captain, that Mr. Knapp returned with him, and finding the prospect satisfactory, they returned down the river. They bought a half interest in the property. Mr. Black soon after died, and the property was in the possession of Knapp & Wilson.

As soon as arrangements could be made, Capt. Wil- son, his wife and four children, with Jason Ball and wife, made the trip to their new home, going up the Chippewa and Red Cedar in a keel-boat. Three weeks after this, Mr. Knapp came up in like manner, working at the poles or tiller the whole distance. Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Bullard also came up on this boat with their son Eugene. They had been employed to keep the boarding-house. Mrs. Clair and son, who had been en- gaged as help, came also at that time.

The firm name was at first Knapp & Black, but after a settlement with the administrator of Mr. Black's es- tate, Mr. J. S. Lockwood, of Prairie du Chien, the firm name was Knapp & Wilson. In September, 1850, Capt. Andrew Tainter became a partner. The firm was then known as Knapp, Tainter & Co. Soon after the ad- mission of Capt. Tainter, a new mill was erected, com- prising two gang saws and two rotaries.

In 1853, H. L. Stout, a man of some means, bought an interest in the property, and the firm then took the name of Knapp, Stout & Co. Previous to this time, however, Capt. Downs, their millwright, held an inter- est in the mills for one and one half years, but it was afterwards sold back. J. B. Wilson, of Read's Landing, also had an interest in the firm. It is understood that the whole amount paid Mr. Black and his heirs was $4,000.

Such was the success of this firm in the lumbering business, that ten years afterwards the property was worth $500,000, and in March, 1878, the company was incorporated with a paid up capital of $2,000,000.

In 1850, as already stated, Capt. Andrew Tainter, who had been with the company since its early strug- gles, as foreman, in charge of the boating, rafting lum- ber in the Summer, and organizing and superintending logging camps in the Winter, and log-driving in the Spring ; and whose energy, decision, industry and fidelity had contributed largely to the success of the firm, was offered a one-fourth interest in the rapidly accumulating property, on very favorable terms, which were of course accepted, and he has since been an honored member of the firm.

... The present condition and late operations of the

company will be described under the head of the manu- facturing interests of the county.

To return to the earlier period in the history of the Red Cedar Settlement. Soon after Wilson and Knapp came up, Blois Hurd, a millwright, brought his wife to reside at Gilbert's Mill, three miles below ; and for some time she was the only white woman there. The lady is described as being refined, beautiful and intelli- gent.

Other families gradually came in, and social affairs began to assume form. Mrs. Clair, the charming widow, who came up as housekeeper with Mr. Knapp, was married by Esquire Bass, who came down from the Falls for the express purpose, to William Whitcomb.

The next marriage was that of Thomas Piercewell and Margaret Scott. The want of a civil magistrate to sanction the union was provided for by a mutual contract duly signed and witnessed. Even as late as 1855, when S. B. French was married to Virginia Bul- lard, Capt. Wilson, in the kindness of his heart, went to Hudson and brought the Rev. Mr. Thayer to per- form the wedding ceremony.

Those were indeed primitive times ; a single piece of calico would make the best dress for every woman in the place ; the mournful tale of " nothing to wear " was never heard by the husbands and fathers of that period. The dry goods side of the store could be carried off in a wheelbarrow, and the grocery department was ex- ceedingly limited in variety. The staple articles were whiskey, pork, flour and beans. If with a dozen bar- rels of whiskey there came two or three barrels of flour, the question was, " what in the dickens is to be done with so much flour ? "

For some time the nearest post-office was Prairie du Chien, which was the capital of Crawford County, which embraced the whole northwestern part of the State.

There was at this time usually plenty of game and fish, and, in their season, wild fruits ; but the hardships of pioneer life, while not perhaps involving actual suf- fering for food, and the accustomed comforts of life, were nevertheless serious, and the monotony of exist- ence, sent many early adventurers back to the purlieus of civilization under more favorable surroundings. It was not until the land was opened up for homestead entry or purchase that immigration became active, the country began to fill up, and the necessity of a village became obvious.

Every thing was subordinate to the company, until, in 1859, the village of Menomonie was platted, and the actual sale of lots began soon after. As to the Indians, little trouble was experienced with them. There were personal troubles which sometimes threatened the peace of the whole settlement, but the Indians at such times were placated in some way by the superior tact and talent of the whites. As dams were thrown across the various streams, the natives were sometimes rest- less, and complained that their wild rice would be de- stroyed, but no demonstrations beyond words were made.

At one time a rather good looking young squaw, named by the boys " Mary Dirty Face," was purchased by a mill hand, as a wife. Mary utterly repudiated the pale face, and refused to share his bed and board, so

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

he seized the goods he had given for her and burned them, and to have ample revenge out of his wife's re- lations, he procured a gallon of whiskey, put some ipe- cae in it, and invited the Indians to have a big drunk with him. Every available red skin put in an appear- ance, the whiskey was soon disposed of, and such a woe- begone lot of Chippewas never struggled together to invert their stomachs. As soon as they were sufficiently recovered for concerted action, they sounded the terri- ble war ery, and started to hunt him down, but George, realizing what he might expect, and not being willing to become their vietim, escaped. While their war paint was on, vengeance against the whole white race was threatened, but the affair was soon quieted.

There were several noted Indians who were more or less troublesome ; among them Big Rascal, who was one day prowling around the mill-men's sleeping quar- ters. Mr. Harris ordered him away, and, on his refusal, Harris used his fists and boots in such a lively way that the Indian made no unnecessary delay in placing him- self beyond the jurisdiction of that kind of law.

Big Rascal induced a chief by the name of Ma-sou- a-quet to take up his cause, and, followed by a war party, they came down upon the settlement. The sight would have been comical to a disinterested spec- tator. There were the Indians in their fantastic paint and feathers, gesticulating with their tomahawks and scalping knives, and their squaws trailing along be- hind, dismally wailing, and begging them to desist from their murderous purpose.

Mr. Bullard went out boldly to meet the advancing horde. The chief halted in amazement at such daring, giving Bullard time to explain. The chief was com- pelled to acknowledge that Big Rascal was served just right.

Really the greatest trouble with the Indians was on account of their thieving propensities. After one of the sugar seasons was over, the Indians came down and sold their eamp-kettles. The next season they wanted to borrow them, on the promise of their prompt return, with a certain amount of sugar for their use. This was agreed to; but when the season was over the band undertook to leave, carrying off the kettles. They were pursued and a gun seized from a straggler as a reprisal. The kettles promptly came back, with a demand for the gun.

The Sioux and Chippewas had an occasional skir- mish, but the old settlers here never suffered as did the pioneers in other parts of the Union from the In- dians

In 1856 the Sionx and Chippewas near Gilbert's Creek indulged in their periodical amusement of hold- ing a treaty of peace. The usual forms and feasting having been indulged in, they agreed, in order to decide their prowess and show which was superior, to select a brave from each side who should go out on a hunt, and the one bringing the first game, his tribe should be declared the vietor, and it should settle the question of superiority.

The Sioux succeeded in shooting an elk, and his rival, who was skulking near, then shot the Sioux and immediately fled northward. The Chippewas, on learning what had happened, hastily left. A single old man and two women remained behind, who were

at once pounced upon and murdered by the Sioux, who made no unnecessary delay in getting back to their own hunting grounds.

In making improvements at the point where these parties were buried, a few years ago, their bones were disinterred.

Some time in 1848, Capt. Wilson, seeing the trouble caused by whiskey, suggested to Mr. Knapp that the next time he brought up supplies he should forget the whiskey ; which he did, much to the disgust of the crowd who were waiting to see the stuff unloaded. They never dealt in the article again.

It is supposed that the first steamboat up the Chip- pewa was the " Dr. Franklin," of Galena. This was in the early Spring of 1848, and the boat was bound for the upper Mississippi, which, above the mouth of the Chippewa, was blocked with ice. Mr. Knapp was on board with a crew of workmen, and considerable freight. He chartered the boat to take him up the Chippewa, acting as pilot himself. He brought the boat safely to the mouth of the Red Cedar. This set- tled the question of navigating the river, to this point, at least. H. S. Allen, from the Falls, soon followed with his boat, and navigation on the river, as far as Eau Claire, has been continued with more or less regu- larity ever since.

THE OLD SETTLERS.

Only brief mention can here be made of those who came previous to 1862. Some of them will be more fully alluded to in the personal sketches. Joseph Benson was one of the earliest comers, and claimed to have been with Jeff. Davis in his ill-starred expedition.

Perry Curtis opened the first farm in the county in 1846. It was near Eau Galle. Frank Ames and sons followed in 1847. In 1852, B. Fowler settled in Mud Creek Valley. H. M. Stenes began the Massey Settle- ment in 1856. Capt. Moore laid out a farm of 2,200 acres about twelve miles up the Red Cedar.

John Rogler began work for the company before the war, as a tinner; enlisted, served his time, and re- turned to work.

Simeon Morugg, the general outside foreman for Knapp, Stout & Co., came in 1854. He was the first man to enlist in the valley. Was wounded at Gettys- burg. Was elected Sheriff in 1864. The mill-wright, A. J. Depew, arrived in 1855.

J. B. McCann's store was the first on the east side of the river, and the second one in town. Dr. W. A. Burry located in Cedar Falls in 1855-6.

Among the settlers of 1858, was Mr. G. M. Fowler, a mill-wright and surveyor. Both himself and his accomplished wife have been closely identified with the prosperity of the place.

Jacob Miller, an artist, came in 1856. Dr. E. G. Benjamin was also one of the early comers, and the first resident physician. He was editor of the Lum- berman, which he transformed into the News. Was also County Judge. S. B. French located here in 1853, and was for fourteen years book-keeper for the company. Theodore Nye, mill-wright and machinist, came about 1857.

W. M. Dunn, the filer, came to Menomonie in 1854. B. S. Thorn claims 1857 as the date of his first appear-

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HISTORY OF DUNN COUNTY.

ance. J. B. Sprague, the stage man, first drove up in 1856. John Noulan was here in 1854. William Schults and Albert Quilling were among the 1855 boys.

James Galloway located here in 1854, and began farming two years later.

T. S. Heller looked in on the place in 1857; per- manently located here in 1860. A. J. Brunelle, the millwright, engaged with the company in 1865. Car- roll Lucas located on Mud Creek in August, 1854. John Kelly, Jr., came to the county in 1859. Mr. Wil- liam McKahn, with his family, were among the arrivals of 1857.

To secure instruction for their own and other chil- dren in the settlement, a school house was built in 1854, and Rev. Joshua Pitman was employed in the double capacity of teacher and preacher, which con- tinued several years. In 1856, there was a regularly organized district school.

The first meeting for religious services was in the Summer of 1855, by the Rev. Mr. Wayne.

The land having been surveyed by the Government, most of the pine lands on the Red Cedar were brought into market, and large lots sold to non-residents. Among others, Hon. C. C. Washburn was a heavy buyer, and took 12,0.0 acres on other branches of the Chippewa. The next year, large entries were sold to Morrison & Woodman, aud transferred to Messrs. D. Shaw & Clark.

To cut up his lumber, Mr. Washburn erected a steam mill at the foot of Nine Mile Slough, on the Chippewa. Mr. Downs about the same time placed a dam across the Red Cedar, at Downsville, and built a mill. This was in that terrible panic stricken year, 1857. These mills never recovered for their owners the broken promises of their creation, and in a few years they, and all the pine lands connected therewith, were swallowed up by the big company at Menomonie.

From 1857 to 1861, there is little to be recorded. The country was quietly being filled up, the mills on the Red Cedar were rapidly turning out lumber to build up the Western cities which were springing up. Knapp, Stout & Co. were every year getting more and more solid, increasing their possessions and manufac- turing capacity. And when the clarion notes of war rang out in a call for troops, patriotic hearts were not wanting to respond to the summons, and the usual scenes, so well remembered by those who joined the ranks of the army, or those whose hearts only were enlisted in the cause, were enacted here on the fron- tier, away from the sound of the locomotive or steam- boat whistle, or even stage coach rattle. It would be a pleasure to record the name of every man who went from Dunn County, when the country was in danger ; but the list is too long, and a less extended account must be given. The county more than filled its quota. Many who survive will be mentioned in the account of the several re-unions which are presented.

The first election for county officers, in November, 1854, resulted as follows: Supervisors, William Wil- son, J. McCain, William Carson ; County Judge, Wil- liam Cady ; Treasurer, Henry Eaton ; Register of Deeds, J. M. Green ; Clerk of Circuit Court, J. R. Green ; Sheriff, Amos Colburn ; Surveyor, D. Beeman.

The county has no debt, which is a valuable con-

sideration for new settlers. The valuation, as fixed by the State authorities in 1880, was $3,870,756, and the State tax was $9,085.21. The valuation of the county in 1877 was $2,927,448, which shows the extent of improvements within the past few years.

The present county officers are : Sever Severson, Sheriff; Ch. Swan, Deputy Sheriff; W. H. Lan- don, Clerk ; Carroll Lucas, Treasurer; Clerk Circuit Court, W. J. Cowan.

[Milton Coleman, the Under Sheriff, was killed by the Williams brothers. ]

The Judge of the Circuit Court is E. B. Bundy ; W. J. Cowan, Clerk ; County Judge, Robert McCau- ley. John Kelly, Jr., is County Judge elect.

The present Senatorial District is composed of Dunn and Eau Claire counties, M. Griffin, of Eau Claire, being the present Senator.

The court-house is a building of brick and stone, in the center of a park embracing a whole square, in the village of Menomonie ; was built in 1871 and 1872. It cost about $36,000, although the contract price was $32,359. When the court-house was built, the Super- visors were T. W. Macauley, J. W. Granger and A. Sherburn. A. J. Kenney was the architect ; C. Thomp- son, builder ; J. Cavanaugh, stone cutter.

The jail, which embraces a residence and jail, was constructed in 1875, at a cost of $7,500, and additions and improvements since that time have cost about $1,000 more. Besides the six iron cells, it has rooms for female prisoners, and a dwelling suite.

The correction line of the Government survey is on the lower line of the upper tier of towns, making an offset of nearly one mile to the west.

There are few lakes in the county. Elk Lake, in Spring Brook, and another in Red Cedar, are about three-fourths of a mile long. The pond of Knapp, Stout & Co., at Menomonie, for storing logs, is the largest in the county.

The county was at first associated with several others, to form an Assembly District. As the popula- tion increased, these have, from time to time, been dropped, until it is now an Assembly District of itself.

The following gentlemen have represented the county in the legislature : Wm. Wilson was State Senator in 1857 and 1858. In the Assembly, 1863, William H. Smith, Eau Galle; 1865, Francis R. Church, Menomo- nie ; 1868, John W. Hunt, Menomonie; 1870, Jed. W. Granger, Menomonie ; 1872, Rockwell J. Flint, he was also in the Senate in 1870 and 1871; 1876, M. R. Bump, Rock Falls ; 1877, Samuel Black, Menomonie ; 1878, Fred. C. Barlow, Rock Falls; 1879, Henry Aus- man, Elk Mound ; 1880, John McGilton, Cedar Falls ; 1881, G. H. Chamberlain, Rock Falls.

Politically, the county is divided into twenty-one towns; of these, fourteen are equal to a township of Government survey in form and size. Peru and Rock Creek are smaller, while the remainder are larger.

The names of the towns are as follows: Colfax, Dunn, Eau Galle, Elk Mound, Grant, Hay River, Lu- cas, Menomonie, New Haven, Otter Creek, Peru, Red Cedar, Rock Creek, Sand Creek, Sheridan, Sherman, Spring Brook, Stanton, Tainter, Tiffany. and Weston.

There are several county societies, among them the Bible Society. The present officers are R. C. Bierce,

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

president ; Dr. J.R. Branch, secretary ; Mrs. S. M. Mott, treasurer ; J. Gates, Robert Macauley and A. Quilling, executive committee.

A most important and highly prosperous association is the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co., which has been in operation five years, and now has insured prop- erty to the amount of $328,485. It has paid for losses 81,176, being at the rate of $8.50 on the cost of $1,000 insurance for five years. The officers of the company are: Thomas Dixon, president ; Theodore Lewis, Ole Larson, J. J. Merrick, W. H. Landon ; Wm. Witcher, treasurer.

The County Agricultural Society was started in 1872, and a single fair held, but on account of the diffi- culties of transportation only a single fair was held.

The only railroad line is under the control of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Company, and was formerly the West Wisconsin ; the main line passes a few miles north of Menomonie and has a branch to the town. Two passenger trains daily each way accommodate the people.

There are several mail routes carried by stage.

The Durant daily stage runs in connection with a line to Prairie Farm, via Lochard, Tiffany Creek and Granger, alternating through these places. Louis Bere- senn, manager.

Fall City and Menomonie, twice a week ; contractor, E. W. Parker; driver, Mr. Bradford.

Menomonie to Dunnville, twice a week; E. W. Parker, contractor; P. F. Orr, carrier.

Menomonie and Lucas, once a week ; Z. Bliss, pro- prietor.

Menomonie, Sand Creek and Rice Lake, three times a week ; F. E. Smith, contractor; E. L. Doolittle, carrier.

The total county treasury disbursements for 1880 was about $30,000.

One of the oldest men who ever lived in the county was Ambrose Edwards, who claims to have voted in 1779. He lived in the town of Weston.

On July 1, 1860, a new stage line was put on be- tween Eau Claire and Hudson. It was run by Bur- bank & Company. A previous service over this ronte had been run by Woodbridge & Price.

As late as July 1860, a large delegation of Chippe- was, about fifty in number, made a formal call upon Captain Wilson and engaged in a vigorous dance for bread and meat. The captain's larder was equal to the occasion, and every girdle was let out several notches, when they retired.

The last Sunday in August, 1862, was a memorable one in the history of the whole Chippewa Valley. The massacre of New Ulin, in Minnesota, had occurred a few weeks before, and the rumor started that the whole Indian population, incited and supplied by the rebel authorities, was on the war-path to obliterate every vestige of civilization. As the rumor flew, con- gregations were dismissed ; men flew to arms ; country people, where possible, packed their valuables and hur- ried with them to town. Reason seemed dethroned ; the wildest confusion prevailed. But the seare was soon over, and the people returned to their usual voca- tions.

In the Summer of 1864, there was a severe drought through all this region.

There was a great freshet on the Chippewa, on the 27th of August, 1870. The water rose from eighteen to twenty feet above low water mark. Little damage was done in Dunn County.

In July, 1873, a new mail route was put on be- tween Menomonie and Vanceburg, via Tiffany.

The valuation of Dunn County in 1873 was, per- sonal. $528,731; Real estate, $552,777.

May 4, 1875, the school house at Roek Falls was burned, a total loss.

On the night of Aug. 21, 1875, there was a most destructive frost in the whole region. The newspapers of the time stated that " everything freezable froze."

During the late Fall of 1875, bears were reported as being quite numerous.

In 1879, May 12th, there was a frightful hail storm across the county, five miles wide. It was estimated that 2,000 panes of glass were broken in Menomonie. An immense amount of damage was done.

June 12, 1880, was the time of the great flood on the Chippewa. Meridean and Spring Brook were un- der water.

A new bridge at Cedar Falls was blown down on the evening of Aug. 5, 1881.

The most profound excitement was caused in Me- nomonie, Durand and the whole vicinity by the mur- der of Milton Coleman, Under Sheriff of Dunn County, and his brother Charles Coleman, Deputy Sheriff of Pepin County, by Alonzo and Edward Williams, in the village of Durand, on Sunday, the 10th of July, 1881. The Williams brothers were desperadoes, and it is supposed had committed a burglary in Menomonie, and the Colemans were on their trail, and having over- taken them, and being on the point of making the ar- rest, the men turned and fired with fatal effect. The officers succeeded in firing one or two shots and it is thought wounded one of the men. They, however, escaped into the Eau Galle woods, and a large foree was at once organized and a pursuit instituted, which received recruits from time to time, being joined by some of the militia of the State, and was kept up for a month without success. The rewards offered by the several localities, desiring their apprehension, aggre- gated, $1,700.

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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