The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 121

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 121

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A survey of the new railroad was made with Newport as a point upon the line, and it was said that every agreement made with Mr. Vliet was to be carried out in good faith, therefore vil- lage lots continued to advance in price. Holders of real estate in proximity to the village also held the same at high figures, and some, whose lands would be overflowed by the construction of the dam, gave notice they should expect quite large sums for "flowage." This proceeding alarmed the members of the hydraulic company, who feared their profits would thus be cut short. As they were under bonds to complete the dam, and also to cause the railroad to cross the river at this place, they feared they were at the mercy of those who might make claims for damages. In this extremity, they proposed to those to whom they had given bonds to surrender the same, assuring them that the railroad would undoubtedly cross at this point, that it was to their interest it should do so, and that their only reason for making the request was that they could make better terms with those who should lay claim for damages arising from the overflow of their lands. If it should be known by these parties that the hydraulic company was under no pecuniary obligation to have the road constructed through the village, they would not be so ex- orbitant in their demands. As Bailey & Bowman, together with the incorporators of the dam, were only desirous the road should cross here, and believing the work so far advanced that the company would not readily change its plans, and having such strong faith in their new and en- terprising village that the railroad company could not ignore its claims, they consented to the request, and the bonds were surrendered. While these operations were taking place, the mem- bers of the hydraulic company were engaged in a trade for other land. They purchased the tract upon which Kilbourn City was afterward located.

During the summer of 1855, the citizens of Newport began to fear there was yet some danger of losing the road, and when it became known that, in the month of August, a survey

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of another line had been made, with the object of crossing the river about two miles above, their fears and anger were unbounded. The further growth of the village was at once checked.

While it was said by those in authority that the road would, in all probability, cross at Newport, all confidence in their assurances was lost. Communication was entered into between the citizens and the railroad company and with the hydraulic company, but no satisfaction was given. The latter company were asked to again enter into bonds or to restore the land and dam privileges, to all of which they turned a deaf ear. As will readily be seen, neither the original owners of the land, the first incorporators of the dam or the citizens of the village who had made investments therein, with the understanding that the railroad should cross the river here, had any recourse in law.

When these facts were fully impressed upon the minds of all, and when known to a cer- tainty that the railroad would cross the river about two miles above, on Section 4, a panic ensued among the holders of real estate. Nearly every one wished to sell and few desired to buy. Property began to depreciate very rapidly, and, in the spring of 1857, when the rail- road was completed through the village of Kilbourn City, lots that, two years previous, were held at $1,000, could readily be purchased for $100. Every day, there were some leaving for other and more favorable localities. Good dwelling houses, on which there were small mort- gages, were abandoned or willingly surrendered to the mortgagees. Notwithstanding all this, there were still a few who were determined not to give up without a further struggle for life.

In the winter of 1857, a petition, numerously signed by the citizens of Newport, was pre- sented to the railroad company, praying for the location of a depot at a point on the road near- est their village. As an inducement to the company to grant their request, the citizens obli- gated themselves to build and keep in good order a ferry across the river, and to carry free all freight intended for the village of Delton, Baraboo or other point on the west side. As the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was not built at this time, this would be a favorable arrange- ment for citizens of the places mentioned, as well as for the railroad company. A favorable response to their appeal was made on condition that Newport would erect a suitable station- house and pay the expense of such additional track as might be necessary for the convenient transaction of all business. This the citizens willingly agreed to do.

When the depot was built and an agent placed in charge, Newport held a large mass-meet- ing, to celebrate its "resurrection." Speeches were made, toasts drank and a general season of rejoicing indulged in. It was now believed that the village would again become as prosperous as formerly, and all their fond anticipations realized.

A year passed, and these bright visions faded away. It was now clearly seen that they were fighting against the inevitable-the village was doomed to die. At this time, the popula- tion had lessened fully one-half, and those remaining endeavored to make a change as quickly and quietly as possible. A number of buildings were removed bodily ; others were torn down and the material taken away for erection elsewhere. Merchants that had been doing a business of $20,000 to $100,000 a year could not sell enough goods to pay expenses, and, one by one, they boxed up their effects and sent them to other parts, until, in the summer of 1860, but one firm remained. In October following, Freeman Longley quietly followed the example of others, and the village of Newport was-dead.

VILLAGE OF KILBOURN CITY.

It has already been stated that the Wisconsin River Hydraulic Company, in the summer of 1855, purchased the land on which the village of Kilbourn City was afterward located. At this point the table-land lies about eighty feet above the Wisconsin River, the perpendicular, rocky banks of which are occasionally broken by easy ravines running thirty, forty or fifty rods back. These table-lands extend northeast, east, and southeast, to an indefinite extent, and to the south about three-quarters of a mile, where they become more broken by bluffs and hills. Some

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of this land is level, and some gently rolling. In a state of nature it was generally covered with scattering oaks of middling size, the river and some of the ravines being fringed with rich-appear- ing yellow pines. This ground for nearly a mile in length and half a mile in breadth, was, in the month of June, 1856, laid out in village lots, with two main streets, one hundred feet wide, corresponding with the principal points of the compass, crossing at right angles half a mile from the river, and all the other streets running parallel with these two, eighty feet wide, and dividing the whole plat into convenient squares and lots for residences and business.

The first settler at this place was Alanson Holly, who arrived here in November, 1855. Hle at once proceeded to the erection of a dwelling-house, also of an office wherein he was to print the Wisconsin Mirror. "When we came here about the 20th of November," writes Mr. Holly, " there was scarcely a beginning made in the woods at this point. Part of the frame of our office, and part of the frame for a dwelling, were on the ground, that was all. It was cold weather, and a dwelling for our family and a printing office were to be prepared in time to open our press and materials, and issue the first number of the Mirror on the 1st day of January. By unavoidable delays this work of preparation was hardly commenced before the 1st of Decem- ber. Then we had but four weeks to do all the work, of which time we needed three weeks to open type, fit up the inside of the office, and set up and print the first number. On the 22d of

December, we had a dwelling so far prepared that we moved into it, and that night the extreme cold weather commenced. About this time the shingling of the office was finished, and the " boys " commenced opening type before the floor was completed, and while the plastering was going on. On the 25th, the plastering was finished and frozen solid, but the office was still minus half the windows. In this situation, with the thermometer ranging from ten to twenty- five degrees below zero, the compositors set up the type for the first paper-huddling their stands around the stove, heating boards to stand upon, holding their fingers in warm water every ten minutes to keep them limber, and working until 11 and 12 o'clock nights ! But the Wisconsin Mirror made its appearance on the morning of January 1, 1856, and we submit to those who saw it if its appearance wasn't respectable considering the circumstances ? And that was the way it was done." As the editor well remarks, he was doing what was probably never done in the United States before printing a paper in the woods ! Not a dwelling except his own was within half a mile, and only one within a mile !

On the afternoon on which the paper was to make its appearance, rather an exciting and pleasant affair transpired in the office. A number of the friends of the paper gathered in the office to witness the operation of printing in the woods. Feeling sentimentally inclined, before the press was started, short speeches were made by Hon. S. H. Baker. of Dane County, Jason Weaver, of Ohio, Hon. Jonathan Bowman, Dr. Jenkins, Gen. Joseph Bailey, Dr. Hooker, and others, and it was proposed that the first copy struck from the press should be sold at auction. M. A. Holly, the editor's son, then struck off a copy, and G. F. Noble was called upon to act as auctioneer. The first bid received was from Mr. Bowman, who named $15, and from that it ran up rapidly to $40, $50, $60, and, finally, $65, and passed into the hands of Mr. Weaver. The second copy was then sold to Abram Vliet, for $10, and the third to Joseph Bailey, for $5.

As illustrative of life in the woods, and especially in this embryo village, in the issue of the Mirror for February 5, 1856, the editor says: " We have just moved into our new house, which has been hastily prepared within the last few weeks. It is 20x25 feet, a story and a half high, battened three-fourths of the way round; bricked below next to the outside boarding ; lathed on a part of the partitions, and carpeted and blanketed on the rest; a hole dug in the ground 10x14 feet, and 6 fect deep, for a cellar ; some rough boards, some smooth ones, and some dry- goods hoxes, for a buttery ; beautiful frost curtains. and two stoves. smoking hot all the time, to keep the whole warm-no danger of burning the curtains though. We rise early in the morn- ing-fly about awhile to make fires. Mrs. Holly and the girls bake pototoes and pancakes, which we eat for breakfast, and look out of the window at the quails for meat; lug dry limbs on our back for wood, because green oak don't burn good ; girls washing dishes, sweeping and mak- ing beds ; boys working in the office ; we snatching five minutes now and then, between

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

chopping wood, bringing water, and calking house, to select copy and write editorials ; cold pota- toes and pancakes, and thoughts of deer for dinner, and, on special occasions, a talk about apples, lemons, etc , for dessert ; biscuit and a little butter, and partridge drumming for supper ; twenty- three degrees below zero, and baby crying for sleep-all to be repeated the next day, and so on. But our location is beautiful, and our home will be as neat as a pin when we get it fixed. Four oak-trees hang their branches over our house like the arms of power for our protection ; the majestic Wisconsin, catching ten thousand sunbeams, and throwing them joyously into our win- dows ; the rocks and hills peering up in the distance, and the thin covering of snow sparkling in the sunlight, like ten million eyes looking out from the spirit world-is not such a place pleasant for a home ? Live in the cities if you will, but give us the wild, wild woods, the rocks, the hills and the majestic river, with health and loving friends, and we are content."

In the winter of 1855-56, the hydraulic company commenced the building of a dam at this place, their charter having been so amended as to authorize its construction. When com- pleted it was 425 feet long, with a fall of eight feet. Considerable trouble was experienced by the lumbermen in running their rafts over, and a large party gathered here in the spring of 1859 and destroyed it.

Soon after Mr. Holly located here, J. B. Vliet, John Anderson, G. F. Noble, James Bailey and others came in, and the place began to assume a business-like appearance. A considerable number of men were employed in clearing away the trees for the streets of the village, and others were engaged in building houses and working on the dam.

One of the rules of the hydraulic company was, that those who purchased lots were to build on them within a reasonable time, or they were to be forfeited to the company. Although it was not until June 10, 1856, that the plat of the village was placed upon record, yet many lots were previously chosen by those who were ready to comply with the terms of sale. The new village in the woods was now christened Kilbourn City, so named in honor of Byron Kil- bourn, President of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad. With reference to the selection of this name, the Mirror, under date of June 17, 1856, says: " Under ordinary circumstances we should be opposed to naming a town after a person, but we think the circumstances in this place are such as to make it eminently proper. Hon. Byron Kilbourn, of Milwaukee, for public enterprise which tells on the prosperity of the State, undoubtedly stands first. This makes it proper that an important central town should be named after him. He is one of the early set- tlers of the State, having come to the metropolis in its infancy, and having been instrumental beyond any other individual in its growth and prosperity ; hence there is a propriety in fixing his name to an enduring monument. He is the body and soul of the La Crosse Railroad. On that more than all other enterprises he has staked his reputation as a business man, to make it the great trunk line of the State. The present prosperity of the road shows that his success is almost certain. Under these circumstances it seems highly fitting that some place on the line of the road should bear his name. Our place is nearly central on the road, at the place where it crosses the largest river in the State, and we expect it to be the largest inland town in the State. Then what place could be named after the head man of the road with greater propriety than this ? In the name itself there can be no objections. It has but two syllables and is euphonious, conse- quently is easily spoken and agreeable to the ear. These reasons we think are abundantly suffi- cient for naming our place as we have. And as the place is honored by the name, it is expected that the name will be honored by the place."

The first public sale of lots was advertised to commence Monday, August 18, 1856, to be continued through the week. At the time specified a large number of persons from Milwaukee, Madison, Portage City, and other points in this State, together with a few from Illinois, Ohio, New York and other States, gathered in the "city " and just before noon the sale began. The conditions of the sale were, one-quarter down, and the balance in three equal annual payments, at 7 per cent interest. Twenty per cent on the price for which the lots sold were deducted for payment all down. The stock of the hydraulic company was taken in payment at par. The sale was closed on Thursday, up to which time lots were disposed of amounting to $76,235, ranging

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

in value from $50 to $1,450 each, ten of which brought upward of $1,000 each, and many others ranging from $500 to $1,000.

Just after the sale was closed, and as night drew on, a party were standing in front of the Mirror office, when an Irishman came running up and hastily inquired: "And is this Kil- bourn ? " When answered in the affirmative, he replied, " And glad I am, for I could not see it all, for trees, till I was just here, and I was afraid it was a great ways off in the woods, and it would be dark, and the bears would catch me ! so I have been running down the strate, with all me might, and just see how wet it is that I am! " and with that he drew out his shirt bosom dripping with sweat. The crowd langhed, and reasoned, though their might be some sense in running from bears in Wall Street, New York, the idea of being caught by them on Broadway, Kilbourn City. was ridiculous.

The second public sale of lots occurred on the 14th, 15th and 16th days of October, 1856. and was conducted by Caleb . Wall, of Milwaukee. Mr. Wall was very enthusiastic in his views of Kilbourn, and in an advertisement of a sale that was to take place at his rooms in Milwaukee he says : " There is no new city which holds out such great inducements for all classes of mechanics as Kilbourn City ; and I would call upon all mechanics who have families, and who want to better their condition, and secure themselves home and property, not to let this opportunity slip. Many who are now rolling in wealth in Milwaukee, and, other cities of our State, owe it to the rise of property ; and the chances in Kilbourn City are as great as in any city that has been started in the last ten years. I have no doubt in my own mind, taking the central position of Kilbourn City, that the seat of Government of our State will be located there ' A more beautiful site is not to be found for a city." At this second sale, lots were disposed of amounting to $34,447. As at the first sale, many were in attendance from abroad and a large number of lots were sold for speculative purposes.

The first year's growth of Kilbourn City cannot be said to have been very rapid, notwith- standing a large number of lots were sold. Still quite a number of houses were built, and its population gradually increased. Many who doubtless desired to locate here were deterred from the fear that its future might be similar to that of the village of Newport. Still the fact of its being backed by the President of the railroad company, and that the owners of the land here were identified with the railroad was much in its favor. According to the Mirror of this place, consid- erable jealousy was entertained against it by citizens of neighboring cities and villages. Says the Mirror, under date of December 9, 1856: " Of all the bumpers that ever were invented. we will give some of the people of Newport, Baraboo and Portage City, the credit of capping the climax. Not a man can get through either place, headed toward Kilbourn City, without hearing some of the greatest yarns ever spun. At first, these wiseacres of our neighboring towns pretend to be ignorant that any such place as Kilbourn City exists ; afterward they do recollect that there is a place of some such name up there in the woods, but it will never amount to anything ; and finally they come fully to their recollection, and declare that though there is such a place, the railroad is not located and will never be built there ; the grading is all for sham ; the bridge is not let ; and the dam will never be put in, and a string of similar falsehoods too lengthy to report. Well, it is and always will be true, that the best fruit trees may be known by the number of clubs about them ! There are other towns starting about here, but our neighbors of the towns named seem to haveno clubs for them. They are all hurled against Kil- bourn City. Really, we hope the poor souls who hurl them will keep on. It gives the world ocular demonstration that ours is the most important town in this part of the State. and the only one to be feared by them as an overshadowing rival. Besides, while Kilbourn City is constantly going ahead, and making sure the foundation of her future greatness, these revilers have nothing else to do but to roll their spite like a sweet morsel under their tongues. Surely we would not deprive them of that pleasure."

The first citizens of Kilbourn City appreciated the advantages of the public school, and about the 1st of February, 1856, appointed a building committee, who at once selected a site and gave orders for the necessary material for the house, which was to be " 26x36 feet in size.

Gw I Junkins Me, &

KILBOURN, CITY.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

well finished and conveniently seated." In May following, the building was ready for occu- pancy, and Miss Julia Seville was engaged to teach a three-months' term, at a salary of $10 per month. There were twenty-seven' children of school age in the district, No. 6, of whom fourteen attended the school. Miss Saville was engaged the following fall, at an advanced salary of $24 per month. At the expiration of three months, Miss Lucy A. Swain took charge. at a salary of $22 per month. At the first annual meeting, a tax of $900 was voted to pay for the schoolhouse, and, during Miss Seville's first term, a bell was purchased for it, at a cost of $125. The first to fill the office of School Director of the district was Emory Wall, with John B. Vliet, Treasurer, and George F. McAlister, Clerk.

In 1857, there were eighty-five persons of school age in the district, of whom fifty attended school. The number of school age was increased to 180 in 1858. In 1861, Dell Prairie was united with this district, and it was then, and is now, known as Joint District No. 6. On account of the increase of pupils, it became necessary to enlarge the school building. which was accordingly done, at an expense of $400. But the village of Kilbourn continued to grow, and a larger and better building was demanded. At a school meeting held in September, 1867, it was voted to appropriate $1,450 to purchase, of Thomas B. Coons Block 78 of the village, on which it was designed, in the near future, to crect a building that would be sufficiently large to accommodate all the pupils of the district. At this same meeting, a communication was received from Kilbourn Institute, proposing to furnish instruction to the pupils of the high school for the sum of $800 per year, which proposition was accepted. This arrangement con- tinued for the school year, when a room was rented in which the higher branches were taught by a teacher employed by the district, in the year 1868-69, and also the following year, or until the completion of the new building.

After the purchase of the block of ground of Mr. Coon, arrangements were at once made to build, and, in the summer of 1870, was completed the present fine structure, at a cost of $12,287. The building is of cream-colored brick, 40x60 feet, three stories high. There are five main schoolrooms, three recitation and one furnace room. It cost $1,400 to furnish. When first occupied, the present graded system was adopted, and the whole placed in charge of a Principal. On account of the incompetency of the Principal, the schools did not flourish for awhile, and it was not until 1877 that that efficiency was attained that the expenditures war- ranted. In this year, Prof. A. L. Burnham was employed by the board as Principal, and his selection has been approved by the people. A fine scholar and good disciplinarian, the schools have flourished under his charge. For the session of 1879-80, there were employed : A. L. Burnham, Principal ; Lizzie M. Pendleton, Assistant ; Hester J. Teare, Emma Darling, Ada Douglass, Bina Loughney. The Principal receives a salary of $1,000 per year, his assistant $315, and the others from $225 to $270.

Kilbourn Institute .- In 1857, through the liberality of A. Bronson, of Prairie du Chien, an academy was started at Point Bluffs, some fourteen miles north of Kilbourn City. For sev- eral years, the school was continued with varying fortune, until 1865, when it ceased to be profitable, and was discontinued. In 1863, a charter was secured from the Legislature incorporating the " Kilbourn City Seminary," and when the academy at Point Bluffs was discontinued, the incorporators of the seminary proposed the school should be removed to this place and operated under that charter. The proposition was accepted, the building at the Bluffs moved here, and the Kilbourn Institute opened to the public, with Rev. G. W. Case as Principal. Fine success attended the efforts of those interested in the school, and, in the fall of 1867, there were 140 pupils enrolled.

About 1 o'clock, Sunday, January 30, 1868, while dedicatory services were being held in the new Methodist Episcopal Church, the congregation was startled with the announcement that the institute was on fire. It being some distance off, the building was not reached until the fire had so far advanced that it was impossible to save it. A few articles of furniture were taken from the lower rooms, and all else destroyed. Loss, about $5000.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 121

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104