The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 88

Author: Western historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 840

USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 88

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the spring or summer of 1839, Albert Skinner put in an appearance with his family, and settled at Lower Sauk, and built, or bought out J. S. Alban, and took the single men to board, a blessing to them, as they would testify, were they here. This was the second family that settled here. Soon after, Charles Parks and family came and built, or moved into a house built by D. B. Crocker, on his claim, a part of which is now a part of " Prairie du Sac " Vil- lage. This was the first house erected at Prairie du Sac, but as to who really built it, that must remain unknown ; suffice it to say, it stood on the lot now occupied by Jacob Ochsner. About the last of June, Jonathan Hatch and family moved in, going at once into a large cabin which Mr. Hatch and H. F. Crossman had previously erected, where a house now stands, on the property of Miles Keyser, a little south of Prairie du Sac, or Upper Sauk. During this season, Charles O. Baxter, Joseph Denson, William G. Simmons and Mr. Haney and family, and Cyrus Leland and George Cargel and their families moved in, with perhaps a few others, making, in 1839, a settlement on the present village sites and adjacent, of not more than forty persons, all told. However, considering the difficulties to be met and overcome by emigrants at that time, when the greater part of the entire State was unbroken wilderness, traveled by Indian trails alone, this may be regarded as a very good showing, and speaks volumes for the enter- prise and push of the pioneers.

Of those mentioned above, not a single individual now lives here, unless we mention Mrs. Judge Quimby, one of the family of Cyrus Leland, then a mere child, and Mrs. A. Hill, daugh- ter of J. Hatch. The majority of the first comers are dead ; the others have moved away, and their places have been filled by new forms and faces during the constant changes which time is working everywhere.

The first celebration and jollification in the county, according to the white man's idea, was indulged in here on the 4th of July, 1839, and probably every settler in the county partici- pated in commemoration of the great national event. About twenty-five grown persons are said to have been present, including the few women in the community. That they had a glo- rious time cannot be doubted, although they had neither cannon nor fireworks, nor the present national plague, the small boy and fire-cracker; neither did a brass band regale their senses, and, very likely, not even the military fife and drum stirred the patriotic pulse; yet it was an occasion of good-fellowship, and an expression of sincere patriotism. The demolition of baked beans and corn bread, together with the recounting of their various experiences, it may be sup- posed, constituted the chief business of the day.

PRAIRIE DU SAC, OR UPPER SAUK.

This village is one of the most naturally attractive, as well as pleasantly located, in the county. The streets are nearly all broad, and richly shaded with stately trees, the growth of forty years ; and the entire aspect of the place is one that Goldsmith would have delighted to describe, so quietly restful and peaceful is the scene, and so far removed from the restless and more pretentious activities of large commercial centers. To the north, east and south, the broad Wisconsin trails its lazy, tortuous way throughout the land, basking like a silvery serpent, be- neath the sun's glorious beams, while to the west extends Sauk Prairie, the richest portion of Sauk County, presenting to the eye a most magnificent rural view. Any lover of nature will acknowledge the perfection and beauty of the whole picture, and, perchance, may in- dulge a sigh that all the world, and every place in particular, is not so happily conditioned.

The inhabitants here are, with a few exceptions, of the stanch old New England stock, or are representatives of the Eastern States, all well known in our vernacular as Yankees, who have dropped out of the ever westward-flowing tide of their brotherhood, and settled down here. Some of them, but a few, however, came to the country previous to 1845, there being, all told, not more than four or five. They are Archie Hill, J. I. Waterbury, George Owens and D. K.

585

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

Baxter. The remainder are recruits of a much later day. The intellectual and moral standing of the inhabitants are exceptionally good, there being, for a place of its size, excellent educa- tional facilities, and besides, two flourishing churches, and one other church, now not in a healthy condition.

The amount of business transacted here, and goods sold, is equal to that of any place of its size in the county, and, in point of fact, it is claimed by many that the place has a more extensive trade by far than any other of equal size in the county. Almost every class of busi- ness is represented and will be mentioned further on.

EARLY SETTLEMENT AND SUBSEQUENT GROWTII.

In 1839, D. B. Crocker, who first laid claim to the land where the principal part of the village now stands, laid out a part of his claim in village lots and streets, thereby taking the initial step toward the upbuilding of a village. From this time forward, this point began to assume proportions, and, for a time, was the leading burg on Sauk Prairie.

In the fall of 1839 or the spring of 1840, Mr. Crocker, who, it appears, was quite enter- prising, put up a log building and brought in a small stock of merchandise, this being not only the first store in the county, but the first one, according to all accounts, this side of Madison. Such an undertaking was then attended with a great deal of difficulty, for nearly everything had to be brought from Milwaukee over the most abominable roads imaginable. The store building stood a little south of the Baxter House, and was torn down two years ago. During the above-mentioned time, John LeMeassure and William Frink came and bought an undivided half of Mr. Crocker's claim, and proceeded to erect cabins. The winter of 1839-40 was very severe.

In 1840, Joshua Abbott came here, and, with Mr. Archie Hill, who also came this year, erected a frame building for a hotel, the land upon which it stood being donated by D. B. Crocker & Co. In the spring of 1841, Mr. Abbott moved his family here and opened the hotel, this being the first frame building, as well as tavern, in the county. The building was main- tained in this capacity but a few years, it being converted, eventually, into a tenant house. It is now owned by Mrs. Drew, and occupied as a photograph gallery and the residence of Dr. Whitford.

In 1840, William Frink built and started that much-needed thing on the frontiers, a black- smith-shop. This shop stood where his successor, T. Kelsey's, shop now stands. The officiat- ing mechanic was a man by the name of Axtell, who came about this time. Here, all the first settlers came to get their plows, chains, etc., mended, and, very likely, many of them received here their first introduction to the weight and virtues of a sledge-hammer, when it had to be wielded for a couple of hours or so.

During this year, 1840, William Simmons went off and brought back a wife, then bought out Charles Parks, and went to keeping house; this was the first marriage of any one in these parts.

The first mail received in the county was brought here in 1840, from Madison, by William Frink, who carried it on horseback. It is related that, in coming through at one time, he lost the road and wandered over the hills, until finally, at night, he came to the banks of the Wis- consin, where he lay out in a terrible storm, not knowing where to cross. The mail was, at that time, distributed by Cyrus Leland.

In 1840, Lyman Crossman was appointed Justice of the Peace, and about two years after, having married two or three couples, he was married himself, his wife being the present Mrs. George Owens. About the time of his marriage, he was appointed Postmaster, and very soon after he went to keeping hotel in the building which had been Mr. Crocker's store. This hotel had been started the year before, by two new-comers, who bought out Crocker, Hub- bard and Seymour ; they soon after disposed of it to a Mr. Shaw, from whom Mr. Crossman took it. Here the first regular post office was kept. The building, after passing through several hands, was finally demolished two years ago.

586

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

Previous to this, in 1840 or 1841, a Methodist itinerant preacher, a Mr. Fullerton, put in his appearance, and held the first religious services here, probably at the house of Charles Parks. Since those first devotional exercises, so very many years ago, various thriving societies have sprung into existence, and where once great difficulty was experienced in the enjoyment of relig- ious privileges, now every opportunity is offered for divine worship; such are the present bless- ings, and such is the state of advancement.

A wagon-shop was one of the first mechanical institutions of the place. It was opened by George Owen, in 1843, and to this gentleman belongs the distinction of having made the first wagon, constructed on modern principles, made in the county. As in those days, everything was made in a very thorough manner, of the best material to be had, this wagon was, doubtless, a first-class vehicle.

To trace out connectedly the various business developments as well as social conditions of the place from year to year as they came into existence, is almost literally impossible ; however, it is the purpose of the work to give a fair index to the general early growth by tracing out sub- jects, not individuals solely, in an impartial manner. Messrs. Hubbard & Seymour, when they came in, purchased a part of the Crocker claim, to which they added a wing, and continued the store until they disposed of their interest.

After Hubbard & Seymour, it is said H. Chapman and a Capt. Esterly with him, came here from the West Indies, in 1844 or 1845, and opened a small store in the house which Mr. Le- Meassure built in 1839. This house was afterward sided over, and now stands on Front street, and is used for a warehouse. It is the oldest house that is of any value now in the county. The firm of Chapman was but short lived, as the founder had more money than experience. While Chapman kept store, he often, as most dealers did, sold liquor by the quantity, and, it was thought, at retail as well without a proper license. At any rate, it was known that he sold liquor, and George Skinner, of Lower Town, not being particularly friendly toward Chapman, determined, so to speak, that he would make the place too hot to hold him, and, to carry out this intention, brought suit against him for retailing liquor without a license. When the case came off, it was sworn away from this point by the defendants, and Skinner was beaten, proving that you are never sure of anything except costs in law. This circumstance is narrated particularly because it was one of the first, if not the first, of the kind in the county, and because a few parties in this local- ity labor under the impression that Chapman was beaten and forced to leave owing to the result of the suit.

THE OLD COURT HOUSE.

In 1843, the county seat was located here as the most desirable and accessible point in the county. The owners of the town site gave their interest in what is now the public square to the county for a court house square, and the people contributed from their slender means to build a court house and presented that also, on condition that the county seat should remain here, but their most sanguine hopes in this direction were eventually doomed and the county seat removed to Baraboo. Had this not occurred, the place would now have been a much larger town, the center of prosperous manufacturing industries and extensive commercial transactions, and would doubtless have had a railroad, and such advantages for development as ready outside com- munication brings would have been secured beyond a peradventure.

During one of the first court sessions here, while Judge Irwin presided, a rumor came in that a large number of black bears were roaming around through the country but a short dis- tance from the village. The Judge, being something of a sportsman, suspended the administration of justice, and Judge, jury, officers, prisoners and all, it is said, went hunting. The Judge, before starting out, told Mrs. Crossman (now Mrs. Owens) not to get dinner until they returned, for they would bring in bruin, and sure enough they did return with a monster bear, as black as jet, that measured fifteen inches from the tip of his toes to the last joint above in the foot. This illustrates the free-and-easy nature of judicial proceedings on the frontier. The jurymen, it is said, came in, in ringed, streaked and speckled attire, looking like a lot of bushwhackers bent upon making a raid upon the village.

587

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

THE FIRST STAGING.

In 1844, the first stage was run between this point and Madison, by Prescott Brigham as proprietor, jehu, and mail and express man. Subsequently, the stage business became one of the chief necessities of the community, and lines were established running to Mazo Manie, Bara- boo and Merrimack, and, perhaps, at times to other localities. Prescott Brigham was the first Register of Deeds in the county.

Some time in the year 1844, the steamer Otter, Capt. Cook commanding, came to Lower Sauk, and finally pulled up at Prairie du Sac for repairs, as she could go no further. She was a rather old hulk, and had for load and ballast a cargo of Norway rats, the first ever seen here. . These proceeded to unload themselves and disperse around town, to the great disgust and annoy- ance of the townspeople, immediately after the boat arrived. The people were then very much in need of some means by which they could get goods brought to the place cheaply, and were only too ready to listen to Capt. Cook, when he proposed, if they would assist him in rebuilding his vessel, to run the boat regularly between this and various points on the Mississippi River. Thereupon, the people took the matter in hand, and fitted him out in shape with a good boat. The Captain proved to be an unreliable and ungrateful wretch ; for, after making two or three trips, he was never seen again, and his benefactors were left to do as best they could, Capt. Cook having sailed for other shores with boat, money, good-will and all.

About 1846 or 1847, Cyrus and Eleazer Leland erected a building, and Messrs. Howard and Leland put in a stock of merchandise, dry goods and groceries, and began keeping store, but did not continue business long before selling out. The parties succeeding them were Messrs. Baxter and William Hubbard, Mr. Baxter being the backbone of the institution. After running for a brief period, the store and goods either passed out of their hands, or the business was dis- continued, and the building, after being the property of various parties, was at last converted to its present use as post office and book store.

The firm of Keyser & Morrel started here about 1848, and continued for a few months only, when they were succeeded by the firm of Green & Morrel, who kept quite a large assortment of goods. What other firms may have sprung into existence here before 1850, if there were any, cannot be ascertained, and, as everything in the way of commercial enterprise seemed to spring into life here and pass away like mushrooms, it is not to be wondered at.

A disciple of St. Crispin located here at an early date, in the person of Mr. Crane, and, from that time to the present, the last and awl mechanic has been here, ever ready to supply feet coverings or soles for the wayfarer. Various other mechanics doubtless came in before 1850.

In the spring of 1850, M. S. Moore came here from the East, and opened a store in the present post office building, which he occupied until he could erect a new building, the one which is now occupied by E. C. Moore, son of M. S. Moore, and successor in the business started by his father nearly thirty years ago. This establishment is one of the old stand bys, and the proprietor is one of the oldest merchants who began business in the county, and one of the most influential in his locality, having been responsibly connected with nearly all of the local enter- prises of the village that have been on the tapis since he became a citizen.

GENERAL NOTES.

The land here was entered in 1843 by William Hubbard, for the settlers, and was afterward divided among them. M. E. Moore started a lumber-yard in 1851; he was succeeded by C. Obrecht, who has a yard here now. Mrs. S. R. Mathews conducted a store here as early as 1850, which had been established by her husband about where Congar Bros.' store now stands. Dr. Bassenger started a drug store as early as 1853. A. F. Ansel had a store here in 1855. The firm of M. E. Moore & Smith was running here from 1854 to 1857, now M. E. Moore alone. After Ansel, H. B. Stanes kept store for a time, when Mercer & Weight came, and subsequently, in 1860, Mr. Belle.

588

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

In 1860, it is said there were five dry-good stores running here, one hardware and tin store, two boot and shoe stores, three blacksmiths, one wagon-maker and four saloons. There are now four general stores, two drug stores, one furniture store, one hardware and tin shop, one book store, four blacksmiths, four shoemakers, two harness-makers, one wagon-maker, three dress- makers, two milliners, one tailor, one broom-maker, one photographer, one marble-cutter, one meat market, one poultry dealer, one paint-shop and undertaker, one dealer in pumps and wind- mills, one dentist, one dealer in farm machinery, one dealer in organs and sewing machines, one saloon. The hotels and manufacturing interests are mentioned elsewhere. Of physicians, there are two There is also a newspaper, a spicy sheet, called the Sauk County News, con- ducted by S. W. Corwith. In 1850, D. Morrell started a tannery, a little west of the village, and did a good business for many years.

THE BRIDGE.

Previous to the arrival of M. S. Moore & Son, a bridge charter, securing rights and pro- visions for building a bridge, had been obtained, but nothing further had been done. A bridge across the Wisconsin at that early day was a very great desideratum, as the difficulty and slow- ness attending a ferry-boat passage over was very great, and retarded a great many from coming here to trade, besides being a great hindrance and annoyance to the inhabitants of the village, who had to go and come over the river when they made trips to the cities for supplies. But, notwithstanding this condition of things and the charter privileges, nothing was done, no one having been found ready to take shares and advance money enough to push the thing through until Mr. Moore came. He at once took hold of the matter, for if anything was to be done it must be done without delay, as the charter would soon expire ; and owing to the rivalry existing between Upper and Lower Town at that time, the chances were that they could not get another charter ; therefore, without delay. the enterprise must be, and was, started during the fall of 1850, under the direct supervision of Mr. Moore, the engineer or chief mechanic being Thomas Worthington. Very little was done this year, but in 1851 the work was begun in good earnest. At first spiles were driven into the hard-pan about twelve feet beneath the bed of the stream or sand surface, and on these the bridge was built, there being no other foundation. The result was as had been predicted-the ice and spring freshet nearly swept the entire bridge away ; so the stockholders could do nothing but start the work again in the spring. This time the foundation was supported by putting in stone piers at convenient distances, and making the bridge as strong as possibly can be done when wood is the material used. The bridge was about eighty rods long, with a suitable draw, and originally cost about $1,500. It has been repaired occasionally, owing usually to the effects of ice or a lumber raft striking the piers, which has been by no means unfrequent, for the raftsmen at first seemed not to care to avoid a collision with the bridge ; and even at the present time it occasionally occurs. The bridge, it is estimated, has never been a paying investment for the stockholders, although a liberal toll is asked. In conclusion, it may be added that this bridge was the first crossing over the Wisconsin, and remained so for several years.

One of the most interested parties in the bridge was E. B. Crane, now dead. He was a resident of Bloomfield, N. J. A. M. Morell was the first President ; M. S. Moore, first Vice and Secretary ; A. Ostrander, first Treasurer.

In 1852, E. B. Crane was President ; Thomas B. Worthington, Vice President and Secre- tary ; S. B. Bassenger, Treasurer.

1853-E. B. Crane, President ; E. P. Taylor, Vice; M. S. Moore, Secretary ; S. H. Bassenger, Treasurer.

1854-E. B. Crane, President; E. P. Taylor, Vice ; M. S. Moore, Secretary ; S. H. Bassenger, Treasurer.

1855-E. B. Crane, President; E. P. Taylor, Vice; M. S. Moore, Secretary ; S. H. Bassenger, Treasurer.

589

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

1856-E. B. Crane, President ; E. P. Taylor, Vice ; M. S. Moore, Secretary ; S. H. Bassenger, Treasurer.

1857-Elisha P. Tabor, President ; John Dennett, Vice; A. N. Seymour, Secretary ; M. S. Moore, Treasurer.

1858-S. H. Bassenger, President ; John Dennett, Vice; D. T. Noyes Secretary ; M. S. Moore, Treasurer.

1859-S. H. Bassenger, President ; John Dennett, Vice; I. F. Smith, Secretary ; M. S. Moore, Treasurer.

1860-S. H. Bassenger, President ; John Dennett, Vice; I. F. Smith, Secretary ; M. S.

Moore, Treasurer.

1861-S. H. Bassenger, President ; John Dennett, Vice; I. F. Smith, Secretary ; M. S. Moore, Treasurer.

1862-Henry Rowell, President; John Dennett, Vice; I. F. Smith Secretary ; M. S. Moore, Treasurer.

1863-John Dennett, President ; J. P. Wiswell, Vice ; I. F. Smith, Secretary ; M. S. Moore, Treasurer.

There has been no change in the above officers since, with the exception that E. C. Moore was elected Secretary in 1868; and J. I. Waterbury President in 1878.

The Directors at various times since the organization of the Bridge Company, have been J. P. Wiswell, Hiram Perkins, W. H. Hubbard, P. B. Stamatz, Isaac Morehouse, J. I. Waterbury, A. J. Lewis, O. Morehouse, E. B. Crane, E. P. Taylor, John Dennett, A. M. Moore, Cyrus Hill, William Dunlap, John Whitehead, D. T. Noyes, Thomas Ambler, N. H. Drew, S. H. Condit, C. R. Akers, A. M. Baldwin, Fred Harris, H. C. Beach, S. S. Mather, the latter being the present Director.

POST OFFICE AND POSTMASTERS.

Frank Crossman, as has been stated, was the first Postmaster here ; he was considered a very worthy man, and was a member of the Territorial Council at one time. The Germans of Lower Town held him in high estimation, so much so, in fact, that on a Fourth of July, about 1840, a large number of them turned out early in the morning and marched up to Prairie du Sac and gave him a rousing salute of musketry and " three cheers for 'Squire Crossman," with a " long life and many blessings." He has been dead these many years. George Cargel succeeded Mr. Crossman, and held the office until his death, having performed in a faithful and satisfactory manner the duties of his position, and was succeeded by his widow, an amiable and worthy woman, who conducted the affairs of the office until 1851 or 1852, when, Simeon Dean, of Lower Sauk, was appointed to the office. The office was then removed to Lower Sauk, and the Upper Sauk people were obliged to go to Lower Town for their mail for about six months; when a new office was established, and G. A. Ostrander, a lawyer, was ap- pointed Postmaster. Mr. Ostrander held the office but a short time, then resigned and went to New York, where he has become signally noted in his profession. After him, in 1853, J. D. Evans was appointed to fill the vacancy. He was a tailor by trade, and kept a shop and book- store where the post office now is. His was quite an eventful career, and ended in a most deplo-

rable manner. He was a drinking person when he came here, and probably never would have received the position had it not been that one of the churches took him up, believing it to be an act of charity to endeavor to save him. Through their aid he took a start, and married a very estimable lady. He was elected to several town offices and was on a fair way to prosperity, but at last, for some unexplained reason, he shot himself. After his death, his wife held the office until August 1, 1861, when Thomas Baker, the present incumbent, and a representative man, was appointed to the position. Mr. Baker, since he has held the office, has repeatedly expressed a desire to resign, but to this his townsmen will not listen, believing that an old, tried and efficient officer is better than a novice. The feeling of respect which is almost universally expressed for him is a tribute of which any one may be proud.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 88

Author: Western historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 840

Author: Western historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 840