CHAPTER VI.
ST. CROIX COUNTY.
Jan. 9, 1840, the Wisconsin legislature created a new county out of
Crawford county, including territory west of the Chippewa river,
extending northward to the British possessions, and named it St.
Croix. By the same act, a day was designated for an election, at which
a county seat was to be chosen and county officers elected. "Mouth of
St. Croix," now Prescott, and Caw-caw-baw-kang, now St. Croix Falls,
were designated as voting places. Two places only were voted for,
"Mouth of St. Croix," and Dakotah, Brown's claim, now Schulenberg's
addition to Stillwater. Dakotah was chosen by a vote of forty-five to
thirteen. The returns were made to Prairie du Chien, county seat of
Crawford county, and certificates issued to the county officers
elected by C. J. Leonard, clerk of Crawford county. The legislature
had at the time of creating the new county made it a probate district,
Philip Aldrich being appointed judge.
The history of the county until 1848 has been given elsewhere, as
connected with the early history of Stillwater.
The admission of Wisconsin Territory as a state in 1848 divided the
county, giving it the St. Croix river and state line as its western
boundary. The Wisconsin portion of the old county was consequently
left without a county seat, while the portion west of the St. Croix
had a county seat, but was without state or territorial jurisdiction.
Congress, however, declared Wisconsin territorial laws to be still in
force in the excluded territory, and they so remained until the
organization of Minnesota Territory. Soon after the admission of
Wisconsin, that part of St. Croix county within its limits was
reorganized for county and judicial purposes, and a new county seat
chosen, located in section 24, township 29, range 19, at the mouth of
Willow river. This county seat was at first called Buena Vista. On
Sept. 9, 1848, the county commissioners, under the law creating the
county, held their first meeting at the county seat, in the house of
Philip Aldrich. The commissioners present were Ammah Andrews,
chairman; W. H. Morse, and W. R. Anderson, clerk. Philip Aldrich was
appointed treasurer. Four voting precincts were established, Mouth of
St. Croix, Willow River or Buena Vista, Osceola, and Falls of St.
Croix. These early commissioners performed duties of the most varied
character incident to the government of a new county. There was as yet
no county seal, and they were required to draw with the pen upon legal
documents a scroll representing a seal, and to use other forms,
appliances and devices without legal precedent.
At the second meeting of the county commissioners Osceola was
represented by Harmon Crandall, he having been absent at the first
meeting of the board. Moses Perin was appointed collector. License for
selling intoxicating liquors was fixed at twenty dollars per annum.
The rate of taxation was fixed at seven mills on the dollar. The first
state election in the county was held at Buena Vista, Nov. 7, 1848.
One hundred and fifteen votes were the whole number cast in the
county. The following officers were elected: Senator, James Fisher, of
Crawford county; representative, Joseph Bowron, Buena Vista; county
commissioners, Wm. H. Morse, Ammah Andrews, Harmon Crandall, Buena
Vista; county clerk, W. Richardson, Buena Vista; register of deeds, W.
R. Anderson, Buena Vista; judge of probate court, Alvah D. Heaton,
Osceola; county treasurer, Philip Aldrich, Buena Vista; coroner, Wm.
O. Mahony, Osceola; surveyor, Alex. S. Youle, St. Croix Falls.
At the commissioners' meeting, Feb. 28, 1849, the county was divided
into the following towns: St. Croix Falls, Buena Vista, and Elisabeth.
At an election held Sept. 3, 1849, Hamlet H. Perkins received
forty-nine votes for judge, and Joel Foster forty-one. Mr. Perkins was
drowned at St. Croix Falls soon after, and the governor appointed Mr.
Foster to fill the vacancy. Judge Foster held his first court at Buena
Vista. Daniel Noble Johnson was appointed prosecuting attorney in
1849. James Hughes was appointed in 1850. The first district court was
held in August, 1850.
At a special meeting of the commissioners in 1849, James Hughes and J.
M. Bailey were appointed a building committee to make estimates for
the erection of a courthouse and jail. At the special meeting of the
commissioners, Jan. 15, 1851, the town of Kinnikinic was organized.
They had also under consideration the erection of county buildings,
and appointed Ammah Andrews to erect the same. Otis Hoyt, for
non-attendance at this meeting of the board, was fined fifty dollars,
but the fine was subsequently remitted. The legislature of 1851
changed the name of the town of Buena Vista to Willow River, also of
the town of Elisabeth to Prescott. At a subsequent meeting the
contract with Ammah Andrews to erect public buildings was rescinded,
and Daniel Mears was made special agent to build a jail, and three
hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated for that purpose. The town
of Rush River was organized Nov. 13, 1851. At the request of
petitioners, the town of Leroy (now Osceola) was organized Nov. 9,
1852. A day was fixed in 1852 to vote on the change of name, Willow
River to Hudson. The name Hudson was adopted by a two-thirds majority.
The legislature of 1853 created from the territory of St. Croix county
the counties of Polk, St. Croix and Pierce, Polk being located on the
north, Pierce on the south, and St. Croix occupying the central
portion of the original St. Croix county, and retaining the county
seat.
St. Croix county, as at present constituted, lies on the east bank of
the river and Lake St. Croix, forming, but for slight irregularities
on the western line, a parallelogram. It includes townships 28 to 31,
and ranges 15 to 19, with fractions of range 20 on the west. The
surface varies from gently undulating to hilly. The bluffs along the
lake are not precipitous, as on the Upper St. Croix, but are even and
continuous, with gently rounded slopes. From the river, eastward, the
country is broken and somewhat hilly; the central portions are rolling
prairies on which are fine farms, and the eastern portions are level
and originally heavily timbered. The eastern tier of townships is
covered by a heavy growth of timber known as the Big Woods. The timber
is composed of basswood, maple, butternut, several species of oak, and
a sprinkling of white pine. The soil is a rich clayey loam and well
adapted for grass, grain and root crops. Good building and limestone
crop out in places. The county is well drained by the St. Croix and
its tributaries, Apple, Willow and Kinnikinic on the west and Rush
river on the east. Of these tributaries Apple river is the largest. It
rises in Polk county, where it is supplied by numerous lakes, enters
St. Croix county and passes diagonally across the northwest corner and
empties into the St. Croix river a few miles above Stillwater. Willow
river rises in Cylon township and empties into St. Croix lake, just
above Hudson. This river passes through a deep gorge in the limestone
rock, a few miles above its mouth, falling in its passage over several
ledges of rock, producing falls famed far and near for their wildness
and grandeur. Kinnikinic river in the south part of the county is
famed also for the beauty of its scenery and for its waterfalls. It
passes into Pierce county and then, uniting with its southern branch,
flows into Lake St. Croix. Rush river rises in Eau Galle, and turns
and flows thence to Lake Pepin. These streams have unfailing supplies
from springs and small lakes. There is a remarkable formation in the
Kinnikinic valley about seven miles above River Falls, called the
Monument. It is a ledge of pure white sandstone rock, nearly circular,
and rising to a height of sixty feet. It stands on a natural elevation
far above the level of the valley and so forms a very conspicuous and
curious object. The base is forty or fifty feet wide, and the summit
is a turret-shaped mass of rock about fifteen feet wide and as many
high. The part upon which the turret rests is dome-shaped, its sides
worn by the rains into deep furrows. Years ago a tree grew upon the
summit. The soft sandstone is being gradually worn away by the winds
and rains.
HOW THE SCHOOL LANDS WERE SELECTED.
Philip Aldrich was appointed commissioner in 1848 to locate the state
school lands in St. Croix county, at that time including Polk and
Pierce counties. It is said that Dr. Aldrich would climb to the
summits of the highest mounds, and, casting his eyes east, west, north
or south, would proclaim such and such numbers or sections as school
lands. Where all were so arable and fertile there was no use in
discriminating. At the division of the county in 1853 the part
designated as St. Croix county was subdivided into three towns, Buena
Vista or Hudson, Willow River and Kinnikinic or Troy. As the
population increased these towns were divided and subdivided until
they numbered twenty-three. We append their names and dates of
organization. Where more than one name is given the last is the
present name:
Buena Vista, Willow River, Hudson 1849
Malone, Troy 1851
Rush River 1851
Pleasant Valley 1851
Somerset 1856
Hammond 1856
Star Prairie 1856
Dayton, Malone, Kinnikinic 1857
Cold Spring, Richmond 1857
Erin Prairie 1858
Brookville, Eau Galle 1858
St. Joseph 1858
Cylon 1859
Warren 1860
Springfield 1860
Emerald 1861
Stanton 1870
Cady 1870
Baldwin 1872
Forest 1881
Glenwood 1885
Some changes were also made in the boundaries of the towns. No
progress was made in the erection of county buildings until 1856, when
a contract was made by the commissioners with Ammah Andrews to build a
court house for $14,300 on the ground originally purchased of Moses
Perin. The final cost was $20,045.
ST. CROIX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
An important event to the county was the organization of the St. Croix
Agricultural Society, in 1857. Beautiful grounds were chosen on the
bluffs one-half mile south of the city of Hudson. The annual fairs of
this association, formerly held in rotation at various points in the
county, now limited to the grounds south of the city, have always been
well patronized and successful.
POMONA GRANGE.
The Pomona Grange of St. Croix county holds quarterly meetings at
various points, alternately. There are subordinate granges at Hudson,
Richmond, Hammond, and Warren. There is a co-operative store in the
city of Hudson which is well sustained. These granges are in a
flourishing condition.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
At the taking of the last census there were 2,289 farms in St. Croix
county, containing 202,588 acres of improved land, valued at
$7,015,198. The farm implements were then placed at a valuation of
$346,374; live stock, at $810,525; and all soil products at
$1,815,266. The stock numbered 6,272 horses, 319 mules, 442 oxen,
5,624 cows, and 6,149 other cattle.
The average yield of products throughout the county can be fairly
placed at these figures: Wheat, 1,375,000 bushels; oats, 800,000
bushels; rye and barley, 35,000 bushels; corn, 200,000 bushels;
potatoes, 150,000 bushels; hay, 20,000 tons; cheese, 180,000 pounds;
butter, 350,000 pounds.
During the past few years agriculture has steadily increased while
rapid strides have been made in manufactures, so that the totals would
be quite materially enlarged now over those of 1885.
MANUFACTURES.
In manufactures the statisticians have the county down for 112
establishments with a capital of $740,197, utilizing materials to the
amount of $1,105,203, evolving products to the sum of $1,488,192, and
paying $107,469 in wages per annum.
As to manufactures, in round numbers there is produced in the county:
Lumber, 50,000,000 feet; shingles, 18,000,000: laths, 7,000,000;
furniture, $120,000; barrels, 125,000; flour, 160,000 barrels.
ST. CROIX POOR FARM
Is located in the northwest part of Kinnikinic, section 11, on each
side of the Kinnikinic river. It was purchased in 1870 for $1,000, and
the probable present value is $10,000.
FIRST TAX ROLL OF ST. CROIX COUNTY, 1848.
ST. CROIX FALLS.
===========================================================
NAMES. | AMT. PROPERTY. | TOTAL TAX.
----------------------------+----------------+-------------
John McKusick | $1,500.00 | $10.50
Leach & McKean | 5,400.00 | 37.80
Edward Johnson | 1,115.00 | .81
Falls of St. Croix Company | 59,700.00 | 417.90
Dexter & Harrington | 2,585.00 | 18.09
A. W. Russell | 405.00 | 2.83
Edward Worth | 199.00 | 1.39
Peter Lombair | 40.00 | .28
Serno Jonava | 75.00 | .52
J. McLanglin | 2,204.00 | 15.43
Wm. Town | 144.00 | 1.01
J. Cornelison | 75.00 | .52
George De Attley | 50.00 | .35
S. Partridge | 418.00 | 3.37
Dan Foster | 30.00 | .21
A. Livingston & Kelly | 185.00 | 1.29
John Powers | 21.00 | .14
Thos. Foster | 10.00 | .08
George Field | 45.00 | .31
Adam Sebert | 240.00 | 1.68
Weymouth & Brother | 130.00 | .91
S. S. Crowell | 150.00 | 1.05
Lewis Barlow | 103.00 | .72
I. S. Kimball | 30.00 | .21
Philip B. Jewell | 7,235.00 | 50.64
Kent & Mahoney | 3,631.00 | 25.42
H. Crandall | 219.00 | 1.53
Daniel Coite | 85.00 | .57
M. M. Samuels | 375.00 | 2.62
W. H. C. Folsom | 800.00 | 5.60
W. W. Folsom | 210.00 | 1.47
J. Sanders | 207.00 | 1.45
G. W. Brownell | 1,755.00 | 12.28
Richard Arnold | 205.00 | 1.45
Wm. R. Marshall | 15.00 | .10
Dr. Palmer | 10.00 | .07
Joseph Lagroo | 25.00 | .17
J. Bascan | 25.00 | .17
B. Cheever | 1,100.00 | 7.70
H. H. Perkins | 2,000.00 | 14.00
Levi Lagoo | 50.00 | .35
M. Shults | 2,000.00 | 14.00
+----------------+------------
Total | $94,801.00 | $1,642.72
------------------------------------------------------------
WILLOW RIVER.
===========================================================
NAMES. AMT. PROPERTY. TOTAL TAX.
----------------------------+----------------+-------------
James Purinton | $800.00 | $5.60
Wm. R. Anderson | 75.00 | .52
Samuel Clift | 15.00 | .10
Joseph Kelner | 15.00 | .10
P. D. Aldrich | 195.00 | 1.36
Moses Perin | 240.00 | 1.68
Ammah Andrews | 409.00 | 2.86
John B. Page | 1,128.00 | 7.89
Lewis Massey | 185.00 | 1.29
Joseph Lagrew | 190.00 | 1.33
Wm. H. Nobles | 299.00 | 2.10
Lemuel Nobles | 40.00 | .28
Milton E. Nobles | 339.00 | 2.37
John Collier | 125.00 | .87
Philip Aldrich | 361.00 | 2.52
Peter F. Bouchea | 136.00 | .96
A. Smith | 105.00 | .73
McKnight | 149.00 | 1.03
Wm. Steets | 143.00 | .79
Joseph Abear | 38.00 | .24
+----------------+------------
Total | $4,949.00 | $38.71
------------------------------------------------------------
MOUTH OF LAKE ST. CROIX.
==================================================================
NAMES. |AMT. PROPERTY. | TOTAL TAX.
----------------------------+---------------+----------------------
Thomas M. Finch | $176.00 | $1.23
Mrs. Lockwood | 1,181.00 | 8.27
Freeman, Larpenteur & Co | 300.00 | 2.10
Frank Trudell | 50.00 | .35
Louis Barlow | 600.00 | 4.20
Fog & Crownenbald | 2,625.00 | 18.39
I. L. Minox | 183.00 | 1.26
J. R. Rice | 545.00 | 2.81
G. W. McMurphy | 425.00 | 2.97
H. Doe | 340.00 | 2.38
Wm. Kimbrough | 60.00 | .42
W. H. Morse | 135.00 | .61
Wilson Thing | 385.00 | 2.69
W. C. Copley | 50.00 | .35
Willard Thing | 164.00 | 1.15
George Shagor | 1,000.00 | 7.00
George Barron | 180.00 | 1.26
Joseph Monjon | 235.00 | 1.64
Joseph Monjon, Jr. | 60.00 | 42.00
Henry Thaxter | 75.00 | .52
Aaron Cornelison | 325.00 | 2.27
James Cornelison | 265.00 | 1.85
Lewis Harnsberger | 75.00 | .52
----------------------------+---------------+------------------
Totals | $9,434.00 | $68.91
==============================================================
The above roll was published in pamphlet form, certified to by Wm. R.
Anderson, clerk of board of county commissioners, and an order issued
to Moses Perin to collect such taxes, and pay over to the treasurer of
St. Croix county. The amounts were duly collected.
HUDSON CITY.
The first settlement in St. Croix county was made on the present site
of Hudson city in 1838 by Peter Bouchea, Louis Massey, Wm. Steets and
Joseph Lagroo, Frenchmen, who subsisted chiefly by hunting and
fishing, but who also raised garden crops of corn, beans and other
vegetables. These people were contented and jovial, fond of dancing
and social enjoyment. Beyond the mere pleasure of living they seemed
to have but little care and were without enterprise or ambition. More
enterprising and industrious people followed them to the new
settlement, and as the public lands were not open for entry until
1848, settled upon the lands and made some improvements, awaiting
patiently the time when they could acquire a legal title. The original
claimants of the town of Buena Vista in 1848 were Peter Bouchea, Louis
Massey, Wm. Steets, Joseph Lagroo, Joseph Lenavil, ---- Revere, Ammah
Andrews, W. H. and M. V. Nobles, John B. Page, Philip Aldrich, and W.
R. Anderson. These parties, after the survey and prior to the entry of
the land, made an equitable division of their claims. Peter Bouchea
and Louis Massey were then delegated to purchase the lands, which they
did, Bouchea purchasing the southwest quarter of southeast quarter of
section 24, township 29, range 20, and Massey, the northwest quarter
of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 29, range 20. Deeds
were then made to the various claimants according to the original
agreement. The first individual survey of lots was made on Massey's
entry, Harvey Wilson, of Stillwater, being the surveyor. The village
thus platted was at first called Buena Vista, but some confusion
arising as to the title of lots in 1851, the legislature changed the
name of the town and village to Willow River, which, by vote of the
people in 1852, was changed to Hudson. The original proprietors of the
village of Buena Vista were Paschal Aldrich, James Sanders, Moses
Perin, James R. Patten and Joseph Abear. Additions were surveyed in
1849 and 1850 by Gibson, Henning and others. To avoid confusion we
shall discard the earlier names applied to what has since become the
city of Hudson and speak of it solely by its later and better known
name.
In 1840 the locality, as seen from a passing steamer, seemed a
wilderness of orchard oaks and maples, filling the valley of Willow
river, and clothing the slopes of the hills. A closer view might have
revealed an occasional shanty, a cabin of the first French settlers,
with small gardens, the whole inclosed by high picket fences as a
protection against strolling Indians. Seven years later loggers were
at work on Willow river under Capt. J. B. Page. The same year a couple
of frame houses appeared in the oak openings. The first was built by
W. H. Nobles, which is still standing and is occupied by Mrs. Col.
James Hughes. The second was built by Ammah Andrews and is now
occupied by Horace Champlin. In 1848 James Purinton commenced a saw
mill and dam at the mouth of Willow river, which were not, completed
until 1850. In 1848 Wm. H. Nobles started a ferry over the lake. James
Purinton opened a store and Moses Perin built a hotel and boarding
house, which stood opposite Champlin's present livery stable. In 1849
Miss Richards, from Prairie du Chien, taught the first school. Mrs. A.
M. Richardson, the wife of the Methodist minister, the second. A
school house was not built until 1855. John G. Putman built the
Buckeye House, corner of First and Buckeye streets. Horace Barlow
built a residence. Mr. Stone also put up a store building. The first
attorneys, Daniel Noble Johnson and Col. James Hughes, commenced
practice in Hudson in 1849. The first public building stood on the lot
now occupied by the Methodist church. It burned down in the spring of
1851, and an account of the fire, as published at that time, stated
that the "court house, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational and
Episcopal churches, together with the high school buildings, were all
consumed." It is but fair to say that there were no regular church
organizations at this time, but occasional services by local and
transient ministers. Rev. Lemuel Nobles, a Methodist minister,
preached the first sermon in 1847. The first society organization was
that of the Baptists, Rev. S. T. Catlin, pastor, in 1852. In the same
year Rev. A. M. Richardson was regularly appointed as pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal church. In 1855 the First Presbyterian church was
organized under the pastorate of Rev. Chas. Thayer, and Rev. Wilcoxson
became the first rector of the Episcopal church. In 1856 Rev. Father
McGee took charge of the Catholic church. In 1857 Rev. C. H. Marshall
was called to the pastorate of the Congregational church. A Norwegian
Lutheran church was organized in 1876. All of these church
organizations have good church buildings, and the Catholic church has
a flourishing school connected with it. School interests were not
neglected by the early settlers. A good school house was built in 1855
and graded. The first deed recorded covering Hudson property was by
Louis Massey and Frances, his wife, to Wm. H. Nobles; warranty;
consideration, $67.18; situate in east half of southwest quarter of
section 24, township 29, range 20.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Hudson was incorporated as a city in 1857, and the first municipal
election was held in April of that year. The city was divided into
three wards. A. D. Gay was the first mayor. The following were the
first aldermen: First ward, James B. Gray, Milton V. Nobles, J. M.
Fulton; Second ward, Alfred Day, R. A. Gridley, Chas. E. Dexter; Third
ward, Chas. Thayer, N. P. Lester, N. Perry. The remaining city
officers were: City clerk, O. Bell; city attorney, Cyrus L. Hall;
surveyor, Michael Lynch. At the first meeting of the city council,
after the appointment of committees on by-laws, bond sales, salaries,
etc., license for selling intoxicating liquors was fixed at fifty
dollars per annum for hotel keepers, two hundred dollars for wholesale
dealers, with various grades for retail saloons. The first license
issued was to John Cyphers, for keeping saloon and billiard hall.
MAYORS OF HUDSON CITY.
1. A. D. Gray,
2. Alfred Day,
3. Silas Staples,
4. John Comstock,
5. S. N. Clough,
6. A. D. Richardson,
7. C. R. Coon,
8. H. L. Humphrey,
9. J. H. Brown,
10. Simon Hunt,
11. Lemuel North,
12. C. H. Lewis,
13. H. A. Wilson,
14. A. J. Goss,
15. P. Q. Boyden,
16. D. C. Fulton,
17. M. A. Fulton,
18. Samuel Hyslop,
19. Sam. C. Johnson, M. D.
20. Wm. H. Phipps.
CITY SCHOOLS.
Graded schools were established in 1859. They have ever maintained an
excellent reputation. In 1860 Charlotte Mann was chosen principal, and
taught the eight ensuing years. A new school building was completed in
1887 at a cost of $25,000. This building is devoted to high school
purposes. The schools of the city are graded. There are eleven
departments and twelve teachers. Each ward of the city has a separate
building. The school fund amounts to about $5,000 per annum. The
schools are under the control of six commissioners.
A MILITARY INSTITUTE
Was organized at River Falls by Prof. J. R. Hinckley, and shortly
afterward removed to Hudson, and a building worth $7,000 erected for
its accommodation. In 1880 it was purchased by the Catholics, and it
is now known as St. Marys Academy.
MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.
The first saw mill, as already noted, was completed in 1850. It was
known as Purinton's saw mill. Other saw mills were built, but
destroyed by fire. We have no record of ownership and losses, but
estimate the aggregate of the latter as near $100,000. The Willow
River mills, built in 1867, consist of two flouring mills, with a
capacity of four hundred barrels per day. Connected with these are a
large elevator and cooper shop. The present proprietors are Cooper,
Clark & Co. The invested capital is $150,000. The Hudson Lumber
Company, in 1883, built a saw mill, below the steamboat landing. This
mill has a capacity of 18,000,000 feet per annum, and has a planing
mill attached. It is complete in all its departments, manufacturing
all classes of lumber, from timber to mouldings. The capital stock
amounts to $100,000. The officers are H. A. Taylor, president; C. R.
Coon, vice president; M. Herrick, secretary; F. D. Harding, treasurer;
S. W. Pierce, superintendent. The Hudson Foundry and Machine Shop was
established in 1870. The North Hudson Foundry and Car Shops are doing
a fine business. The Hudson Carriage Works were established in 1885,
and the Hudson Furniture Manufactory in 1883. The amount invested in
this enterprise is $180,000, and it furnishes employment to one
hundred men. C. R. Coon is president of the company. There are two
breweries--Moctreman's, established in 1857, and Yoerg's in 1870.
BANKS.
The St. Croix Valley Bank was organized in 1855. It was a bank of
issue, payable at Gordon, Wisconsin. It closed in 1857. The Hudson
City Bank, organized Sept. 10, 1856, went into operation under the
general law of Wisconsin, capital stock $25,000, secured by Michigan
and Missouri state stocks. J. O. Henning was president and M. S.
Gibson, cashier. It soon closed. The Farmers and Mechanics Bank, a
state bank, went into operation in 1857 and closed the following
year. The Hudson First National Bank was organized in 1863, with a
capital of $50,000. The first officers were John Comstock, president;
Alfred J. Goss, cashier. The officers in 1888 are John Comstock,
president; A. E. Jefferson, cashier. The surplus fund is $53,000. The
directors are H. A. Taylor, H. L. Humphrey, John C. Spooner, A. L.
Clark, F. D. Harding, A. T. Goss, and W. H. Crowe. The Hudson Savings
Bank was organized in 1870, with a capital stock of $50,000. Alfred
Goss, president; A. J. Goss, cashier. Alfred Goss died in 187--, but
the bank is in successful operation, the son still retaining his
father's name as head of the firm.
THE OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES HOSPITAL.
[Illustration: OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES HOSPITAL.]
The beautiful private hospital which takes the name of America's
popular poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, was opened June 7, 1887. The
credit of this hospital scheme is entirely due to Dr. Irving D.
Wiltrout, of Hudson, who for some years has been assiduously at work
maturing the plans. The owners are Dr. Wiltrout and the Johnston
Brothers, of Boardman. The site is upon a beautiful wooded slope of
Willow river, about a mile from its mouth, overlooking Lake Mallalieu,
an expanse of the river, and a broad sweep of the St. Croix with its
undulating banks, commanding the most delightful and extensive views.
The building is lighted by the Mather self regulating, incandescent
system of electricity. The dynamo, engine and boilers are located in a
fireproof brick structure, some distance from the building proper,
communicating with the hospital by an underground passageway. The
hospital is under the direction of the following board: President, A.
J. Goss; first vice president, John Comstock; second vice president,
John E. Glover; secretary, Thomas Hughes; treasurer, Rev. M. Benson.
WATER WORKS.
The Hudson water works, supplied from Lake St. Croix, are situated
upon Liberty Hill, in the rear of the southern part of the city. They
are owned by W. S. Evans. The hill is two hundred and seventeen feet
above the lake, and commands a magnificent view of the surrounding
country. The summit is easily accessible. The city is also well
supplied with water from artesian wells, which were sunk to a depth of
five hundred feet, and afford a flow of two hundred gallons per
minute.
HOTELS.
The principal hotels are the Chapin House, first built in 1867, but
twice destroyed by fire. The last structure was erected in 1879, by H.
A. Taylor. The Tracy House was built in 1867, the Seely House in 1873,
the Commercial Hotel in 1875, and the Central House in 1876.
THE GREAT FIRE.
May 19, 1866, Hudson city was visited with a destructive
conflagration. Sixty-four business houses and twenty-five residences
were destroyed. It was probably the result of accident or
carelessness. It commenced in the rear of H. A. Taylor's furniture
rooms and printing office, and spread with such rapidity that it was
with the greatest difficulty that merchants and others were able to
save their valuable papers. The wind blew a gale and the flames spread
and caught in every direction. The fire occurred fortunately in the
daytime or it might have been attended with a frightful loss of life.
As it was, there were many narrow escapes. The total losses from this
fire were $325,000, on which there was but $75,000 insurance. A
destructive fire occurred in 1872, destroying the Chapin Hall House,
valued at $50,000, and other property to the value of $35,000, on
which there was but $15,000 insurance. During the same year another
fire occurred, destroying 30,000 bushels of wheat and the furniture of
the Chapin Hall House, which had been saved from the previous fire.
The loss was estimated at $60,000 with $16,355 insurance.
SOCIAL AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.
St. Croix Lodge, A. F. and A. M., founded 1855; Colfax Lodge, No. 85,
I. O. O. F., founded 1856; Hudson City Lodge, No. 486, I. O. G. T.,
founded 1867; Ladies' Library Association, founded 1868; St. Croix R.
A. Chapter, founded 1874; Y. M. C. A., founded 1875; Nash Lodge, I. O.
G. T., founded 1877; Temple of Honor, founded 1877; St. Croix
Commandery, founded 1879; St. Croix Lodge, A. O. U. W., founded 1880;
Equitable Union, founded 1880. In addition to the foregoing there is a
volunteer fire company, a boat club, an old settlers' club, a bible
society, a building and loan association, and a cemetery association.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
LOUIS MASSEY came of a long-lived French-Canadian family. His father
lived to the age of one hundred and seven and his mother to one
hundred and five and he himself lived to the age of ninety-nine years.
He was born in Canada, near Montreal, in 1788. In 1805 he left home to
enter the service of the British fur traders at Detroit. In his
eventful life he had many adventures and passed through many perils.
He was once arrested with his employer by the American authorities and
once made prisoner by the Indians. In 1812 he entered the employ of
the notorious Col. Dickson, and, while with him, made a trip from
Detroit by way of Mackinaw, Green Bay, Fox and Wisconsin rivers to
Prairie du Chien in a birch canoe. He made two trips in mackinaw boats
from Prairie du Chien to New Orleans and return. In one trip he was
four months making his way from New Orleans to St. Louis. He made one
voyage in a birch canoe from Montreal via Ottawa river, Georgian bay,
Lake Huron, St. Marie's river and Lake Superior to Fond du Lac, at the
mouth of St. Louis river, via Sandy lake and the Mississippi river to
Lake Winnibagoshish, and another from Fond du Lac to Brule river,
across to St. Croix river, thence to the Mississippi, and by way of
St. Peter's river to Lake Traverse by canoe. In 1818 he entered the
service of the American Fur Company, and lived at Fond du Lac, the
headquarters of the company, for ten years. There he was married to a
sister of Peter Bouchea. In 1828 he settled on the reservation near
Fort Snelling, where he was held in such estimation that, on the
expulsion of the settlers, the officers of the Fort assisted him in
his removal to Willow River, whither he came in 1838 with Peter
Bouchea. Wm. Steets and Joseph Lagroo soon followed them. These four
were the first settlers in Hudson. Mr. Massey lived at his old home
with a son-in-law, Richard Picard, until his death, Oct. 14, 1887. His
only child living is Mrs. Picard.
PETER BOUCHEA was born at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, about 1815. He
spent his early life in the neighborhood of Lake Superior, was married
to a daughter of ---- Bruce, and came to the mouth of Willow river in
1838. Mr. Bouchea had been educated for the Catholic priesthood. He
was a truthful, intelligent, reliable man and filled some positions of
responsibility. He had many stirring adventures and was once wounded
by Indians and cared for by Gov. Cass, of Michigan, at Detroit and
Fort Gratiot. He died in 1875, at Fort Edward, on the north shore of
Lake Superior.
WILLIAM STREETS came to Willow River in 1838, a refugee from the Fort
Snelling reservation. He was frozen to death in the winter of 1851.
CAPT. JOHN B. PAGE came from Piscataquis county, Maine, to the St.
Croix valley in 1844, and engaged for awhile in cutting pine logs on
Willow river. While rafting on the Mississippi he met, and after a
brief courtship married, a woman who returned with him to his home on
Willow river and who survives him. Mrs. Page had some reputation as a
(Thomsonian) physician. They made their home in Hudson in 1847. Their
daughter Abigail was the first white child of American descent born in
Hudson. Abigail married George Bailey, and their sons, George W. and
David, were for a long time residents of Hudson, and have but lately
deceased. Mr. Page died Feb. 11, 1865.
DR. PHILIP ALDRICH, although not a permanent settler till 1847, was an
occasional or transient visitor, and had made a land claim in section
24. He took a deep interest in the affairs of the pioneer settlement,
and at his house many of the public gatherings, political and social,
were held. He was the first postmaster, and, in the exigencies of the
service, sometimes carried the mail on foot. While a resident of St.
Croix Falls in 1844, he was appointed probate judge. In 1848 he was
appointed treasurer of the county of St. Croix, and at the election in
November of the same year, elected to that office. Dr. Aldrich was
born in New York in 1792, and died at his home in Hudson, March 16,
1858.
THE NOBLES FAMILY settled in Hudson in 1847. Rev. Lemuel Nobles, the
father, was a Methodist local minister, and in 1847 preached the first
sermon at the mouth of Willow river. He came originally from New York,
lived a few years in the valley and removed to Michigan, where he
died. His children were William H., Milton V., John, Mrs. Battles and
Mrs. Morton S. Wilkinson, deceased. Wm. H. became a resident of
Minnesota and a noted man. His biography is given elsewhere.
MILTON V. NOBLES was born in New York in 1818; removed to Michigan;
was married to Matilda Edwards, Sept. 2, 1846, in Stillwater, and came
to Hudson in 1847, where he followed lumbering until 1860, when he
returned to New York and located at Elmira, where he resided until his
death. While at Elmira he became an inventor and took out several
valuable patents. His fortunes varied, and as is frequently the case
with inventors, at one time he was wretchedly poor. In the midst of
his galling poverty he sold one of his patents for a beautiful
homestead in Elmira. Mrs. Nobles had not been informed of the
transaction, but with her husband had visited the occupants of the
homestead. Mrs. Nobles could not but contrast this pleasant home with
her own poverty stricken surroundings, and in inviting her
entertainers to return the call, told them plainly that she lived in a
very humble home, and feared she could not make a visit pleasant to
them. At this point the host stepped forward, and, by a preconcerted
arrangement, presented her a deed to the mansion and grounds--a joyful
surprise.
JOHN NOBLES, the youngest son, returned to Michigan and New York,
where he became a Methodist minister. Some time subsequently he
removed to Colorado, where he died.
JAMES PURINTON was born in 1797, in Tamworth, New Hampshire. He was
married to Mary Mann, in Sandwich, New Hampshire. He afterward removed
to Maine. He came to St. Croix Falls in 1842, and leased the St. Croix
mills, and some time after became part owner. This venture not being
successful, he removed to Willow River in 1847, where he built a large
dam across the river, and with others erected a saw mill on the point
of land between the lake and river. This venture was not successful
and the mill property passed into other hands. Mr. Purinton was an
experienced lumberman and an active, energetic man. The north side of
Willow River, in which he was so much interested, became afterward
quite valuable on account of the centralization of shops, depots and
business of the West Wisconsin and North Wisconsin railroads. Mr.
Purinton died in Hudson in 1849, leaving two married daughters--Mrs.
----Graves and Mrs. James McPhail.
AMMAH ANDREWS was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1801, and
passed his early life in that place. In 1829 he was married to Laura
Andrews, and in the same year moved to Michigan. He came to Hudson in
1847. Mr. Andrews was a carpenter and took some important building
contracts. He was one of the first commissioners of St. Croix county
under the state government, and also one of the first school
directors. He has been an active and influential member of the
Methodist Episcopal church the greater part of his life. He has three
sons, now living in Nebraska, and one daughter, the wife of F. D.
Harding, of Hudson, Wisconsin. Mr. Andrews died Jan. 5, 1888.
JAMES WALSTOW.--Mr. Walstow was born in Nottingham, England, in 1815;
was married there, and came to Hudson in 1849. He removed to Nebraska
in 1863.
JAMES SANDERS was born in Devonshire, England, in 1818; came to
America in 1841, and lived for years in New York. In 1844 he married
Mary Walstow, removed to St. Croix Falls in 1845 and to Hudson in
1850, where he opened and improved the first farm in the present St.
Croix county. Mrs. Sanders died in 1873. She left two sons, William
and Walstow. Mr. Sanders removed to Osceola in 1880.
J. W. STONE was born in Connecticut in 1800. He came to Hudson in 1849
and opened the first store the same year. He died in 1860.
JOSEPH BOWRON was born Aug. 1, 1809, in Essex county, New York. His
parents were from Newcastle on the Tyne, England. His mother was a
member of the Society of Friends. She died when Joseph was five years
old, and he was reared by his aunt until nineteen years of age, when
he engaged in business for himself in Lower Canada. Some time
afterward he removed to the United States and obtained work on the
Illinois canal. He next removed to St. Louis, and from thence, in
1841, to St. Croix Falls, where he acted as clerk, scaler of logs and
mill superintendent. He was a member of the first state legislature of
Wisconsin, in 1848. W. R. Marshall had received the certificate of
election, but Mr. Bowron successfully contested the election. Mr.
Bowron removed in 1848 to Hudson, where he attended to general
collections, and served as justice of the peace. In 1849 Mr. Bowron
was married to Celia Partridge, of Columbia county, Wisconsin, who
died three years later. In 1854 he was married to Rosanna Partridge,
who died in 1863. Mr. Bowron died April 10, 1868, leaving two
children, who now reside in Kansas.
MOSES PERIN was born in 1815; came to St. Croix Falls in 1847 and to
Hudson in 1849. He was the first collector of St. Croix county. In
1853 he built a warehouse and saw mill at Lakeland, Minnesota. The
warehouse was burned, and the saw mill removed. In 1847 Mr. Perin
removed to San Diego, California.
JOHN O. HENNING was born at Bellefonte, Centre county, Pennsylvania,
in 1819. His great grandfather was the first settler in that county.
In 1825 his father removed to Ithaca, New York, and there the youthful
Henning received his education at the academy. During the excitement
of the Jackson administration he became an ardent Democrat, and, that
he might enter more fully into the political strife of the day,
learned the printer's trade and devoted himself more or less to
newspaper work. He visited the Mississippi valley in 1838, remained
some time at St. Louis, Missouri, Springfield, Illinois, Burlington,
Iowa, and some other places. In 1846 he established the _Journal_ at
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and in 1849 removed to Hudson, Wisconsin,
where he still resides. He served eight years as register of the
United States land office at that place. He represented St. Croix
county in the assembly of the Fourth Wisconsin legislature and has
held many other positions of trust. Mr. Henning was married, Jan. 29,
1840, to Fidelia Bennet. Mrs. Henning died June 27, 1886, aged
sixty-six years.
MOSES S. GIBSON was born in 1816, in Livingston county, New York. He
received the rudiments of a common school education. He was engaged in
mercantile pursuits a large portion of his life. He settled at
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 1844, but afterward moved to Fond du Lac. He
represented Fond du Lac county in the constitutional convention in
1847. He was appointed receiver of the United States land office at
Hudson in 1849. In 1856 he was married to Carrie F. Gilman. During the
Rebellion he acted as paymaster, United States army, and was assigned
to the department of Missouri, with headquarters at St. Louis. In 1878
he was appointed assistant in the sixth auditor's office, Washington,
District of Columbia. Mr. Gibson has led a busy and useful life and
has acquitted himself well in the various positions of responsibility
to which he has been called.
COL. JAMES HUGHES.--Col. Hughes was born in Prince Edwards county,
Virginia, Oct. 12, 1805. He received a classical education at
Hampdon-Sydney College, Virginia, studied law, and was admitted to
practice in Virginia. He came to Ohio in 1835, and was elected to the
legislature in 1838 and 1839. He was married in 1839 to Elisabeth
Mather, in Jackson county. He remained in Ohio until 1849, publishing
successively the _Jackson Standard_ and the _Meigs County Telegraph_,
both Whig papers. In 1849 he came to St. Paul and brought with him the
first printing press and outfit in that city, and established the
_Minnesota Chronicle,_ which subsequently united with the _Register_.
The first number bears the date June 1, 1849. In November of the same
year he sold his interest in the _Chronicle and Register_ and removed
to Hudson, where he established the _St. Croix Banner_, the first
paper printed and issued in the St. Croix valley. Mrs. Hughes was
associated with him in its management. They subsequently published the
Hudson _Republican_. Mr. Hughes died at Hudson in 1873, leaving a
widow and eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. Of the sons,
Eleazer is a farmer in St. Croix county; Geo. R. is engaged in the
real estate business in St. Paul; Edward P. is a lawyer in Anoka;
James S., a surveyor; Chas. V. is manager of the Western Telegraph
Company; and Lucius A. is a telegraph operator in St. Paul.
DANIEL ANDERSON was born in 1806, in New York; received a common
school education, and removed with his parents to Macoupin county,
Illinois, in 1820; was married in 1831 to Eliza Hoxsey; lived in
Dubuque in 1847 and 1848, and moved to Hudson in 1849, where he
followed merchandising until 1876. He was county treasurer in 1877 and
part of the year following. He died July 1, 1878: Mrs. Anderson died
in September of the same year, leaving a daughter, Medora, wife of
Alfred Day, of Hudson, and one son, Jarret, now a resident in Montana.
ALFRED DAY was born in 1824, in Vermont, and came to Hudson in 1849,
where he engaged in the real estate, farming and livery business. Mr.
Day was married in Hudson, to a daughter of Daniel Anderson. He died
in St. Paul, Nov. 18, 1880, leaving a widow, three sons and two
daughters.
DR. OTIS HOYT.--Dr. Hoyt was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, Dec. 3,
1812. His parents were George and Mary Hoyt. Both grandfathers were
soldiers in the war of the Revolution. He received a common school
education; prepared for college in the academy at Fryburg, Maine;
graduated at Dartmouth in 1833, and from Jefferson Medical College, at
Philadelphia, in 1836. He practiced his profession at Mason, New
Hampshire, and Framingham, Massachusetts, until 1846, when he entered
the service as surgeon in the United States army during the Mexican
War. In 1849 he came to St. Croix Falls, and practiced medicine. In
1852 he removed to Hudson. The same year he was elected to the Fifth
Wisconsin legislature, as assemblyman. In 1862 he entered the United
States service as surgeon of the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry, but was on detached service most of the time. For awhile he
had charge of the hospital at Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin. He was
examining surgeon of 11,000 recruits, and was medical director at
Bowling Green and Louisville, Kentucky. He was eminent in his
profession, yet public spirited, and engaged at times, successfully,
in real estate and railroad enterprises. As a physician, it is said,
to his credit, that he was impartial to the last degree, and as prompt
and punctilious in visiting the log cabin of the poor man as the
parlor of a state or government official. He was married in 1837 to
Mary King. Two children were born to them, Charles and Mary (Mrs. H.
A. Wilson, deceased). Mrs. Hoyt died at Framingham. In 1843 Dr. Hoyt
was married to Eliza B. King, sister of his first wife. Their
children are Ella Frances, married to Dr. Chas. F. King, Hudson;
Annie, married to Dr. Eppley, of New Richmond; Hattie, married to
----Wyard, Crookston, Minnesota; Ida, a teacher at Stillwater, and
Lizzie, married to Rev. W. R. Reynolds, of Hudson. Dr. Hoyt died at
his home in Hudson, Nov. 12, 1885. Mrs. Hoyt died Oct. 1, 1886, in
Boston, Massachusetts. Her remains were brought to Hudson for burial.
S. S. N. FULLER.--Mr. Fuller was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, in
1814. He removed to Harford, Pennsylvania, with his parents when six
years of age. He was educated at Harford. He studied law and was
admitted to practice at Montrose. He practiced at Great Bend,
Pennsylvania. He came to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, in 1844, where
he was seven years district attorney. He came to Hudson in 1857,
removed to Iowa in 1865 and died at Logan, Harrison county, Iowa, in
1851. He was married to Clarissa A. Day in 1841, who with one son and
four daughters, all married and resident in Iowa, survives him. He was
district judge some years for the St. Croix Valley district.
MILES H. VAN METER was born in Kentucky in 1810. He received a common
school education and learned the trade of a builder. He was married to
Mary P. Litsey, in Kentucky, in 1830, moved to Illinois in 1836 and to
Hudson in 1850. He has six sons and two daughters. Abe C. is editor of
the _St. Croix Republican_ at New Richmond. Two of his sons are in
Illinois, three in Dakota. Mrs. Van Meter died in 1875.
PHILIP B. JEWELL was born in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, Oct. 25, 1816;
was raised on a farm; obtained a common school education; in 1841 was
married to Hannah J. Fuller, and in 1847 came to St. Croix Falls,
where he lived until 1851, when he removed to Hudson. He engaged in
lumbering and piloting on the St. Croix. At the beginning of the late
war he enlisted in the Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry and served during
the war. In 1874 he was appointed inspector of logs and lumber of the
Fourth district. Mrs. Jewell died in 1875. He married, as his second
wife, Ellen Restiaux.
JOHN TOBIN.--Mr. Tobin was born in Ireland in 1818. His father died in
1830, and he came with an uncle to this country. He settled at Marine
in 1842, and in 1853 came to St. Joseph's township, where he resided
until his death, Jan. 22, 1880. He was married in Illinois in 1848 and
his widow still lives at the old homestead. Of twelve children seven
are now living.
HORACE A. TAYLOR, son of Rev. Adolphus Taylor, of Norfolk, New York,
was born in 1837. His father died in 1842. At the age of ten years
Horace was earning his living on a farm. At thirteen he came to River
Falls. Some time after he returned East and spent four years on a
farm. Returning to Wisconsin he established a stage line between
Prescott and Hudson. In 1857, with his brother Lute A., he established
the River Falls _Journal_, and, in 1860, purchased the Hudson
_Chronicle_ and changed its name to the Hudson _Times_. Four years
later the _Times_ and the _North Star_ were consolidated under the
title of the _Star and Times_. Mr. Taylor is a man of energy and
enterprise and has engaged in real estate transactions on a large
scale. He is a man of quick perceptions and of ready wit and has been
honored with some important public positions. He was for some time
state agent of railroad lands. He was appointed consul to Marseilles
by President Garfield in 1881, but resigned the position in 1884. In
1860 he was married to Lizzie Madden, of Chicago.
JEREMIAH WHALEY was born in 1818, in Castile, New York. His father
dying he aided in caring for his widowed mother. He was married in
Pike county, New York, in 1839, and came to Hudson in 1851, where he
engaged in the mercantile and real estate business and acted as
postmaster. Mr. Whaley died in Hudson in 1884, leaving a widow, two
sons in Michigan, one in Pipestone, Minnesota, and four daughters.
SIMON HUNT was born in Camden, Maine, in 1826. He lived at home until
seventeen years old; acquired a common school and academic education;
served an apprenticeship of five years at boot and shoe making in
Georgetown, Massachusetts, and came to Hudson in 1851. He was married
to Jane C. Arcy in Maine in 1854. Mr. Hunt has served as mayor of
Hudson and was for several years superintendent of schools. Mrs. Hunt
died in 1880.
JOHN S. MOFFATT was born in Tompkins county, New York, in 1814. He
received a common school and academic education. In 1844 he was
married to Nancy Bennett. He removed to Hudson in 1854, and was in the
land office several years. He is a lawyer by profession; has served
thirteen years as police justice, and eight years as county judge.
JAMES H. CHILDS was born in Montear county, Pennsylvania, in 1825;
came to Wisconsin in 1848; settled in Hudson in 1849, and engaged in
the real estate and lumbering business. He was married to Elisabeth
McCartney, in Hudson, 1860.
WILLIAM DWELLEY was born in Foxcroft, Maine, in 1816; came to the St.
Croix valley in 1850, and settled in Hudson in 1854. Mr. Dwelley was
an explorer, scaler of logs, and surveyor. He died April 8, 1885.
JAMES M. FULTON--The ancestors of Mr. Fulton came from Scotland and
settled in New York about 1770. His father served in the army during
the war of 1812 and died while in the service. James M. Fulton with
his family came to Hudson in 1854, where he died, March 30, 1858, aged
about forty-six. Mrs. Fulton still lives in Hudson.
MARCUS A. FULTON, oldest son of James M. Fulton, was born in Bethel,
Sullivan county, New York, in 1826. He came with his parents to Hudson
in 1854, and engaged with his brother in the mercantile and real
estate business. He was elected to the state senate in 1866 and 1867.
In 1878 he was elected mayor of Hudson. He has also served on the
board of education, and as alderman. He was married in 1863 to Augusta
Ainsley, who died in 1876. In 1877 he was married to Adelia Frances
Ainsley.
DAVID C. FULTON, second son of James M. Fulton, was born in New York,
February, 1838. He came to Hudson with his parents, and, after
completing a common school and academic education, engaged in
mercantile and real estate business. Mr. Fulton has been elected to
various important positions. He was mayor of Hudson one term,
supervisor of St. Croix county three years, member of the board of
education, alderman, and member of the state assembly (1873). He
served three years during the Civil War as captain in the Thirtieth
Wisconsin Infantry, and was promoted to position of major. Since the
war, he served six years as one of the board of managers of the
National Home for Disabled Soldiers, and is now serving, by
appointment of President Cleveland, as United States marshal for
Western Wisconsin. Mr. Fulton was married in 1866 to Minnie Champlin.
N. S. HOLDEN was born in 1822; was one of the early settlers of the
St. Croix valley, and for many years a citizen of Hudson. He followed
surveying and scaling. He died suddenly, July 4, 1882. He left a
widow, two sons and four daughters.
WILLIAM H. SEMMES was born in Alexandria, Virginia. He came to Hudson
in 1851, and practiced law, as a partner of Judge McMillan, in
Stillwater. He was a young man of great promise, but died early and
much lamented, Sept. 13, 1854.
STERLING JONES was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1812. He
removed to Indiana in 1833, and in 1835 was married to Elisabeth
Sines. They removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, in 1847, and to Hudson in
1850. Mr. Jones died in 1874. Mrs. Jones, five sons and two daughters
are still living. Edwin B. married a daughter of Rev. W. T. Boutwell.
Jerome B. married a daughter of Rev. Wm. Egbert, of Hammond, and
resides in Hudson. He has been sheriff and treasurer of St. Croix
county and has held town and city offices. The remaining sons, George
R., Henry B. and Harvey J., and the daughters, Eunice M. and Sarah E.,
are married and reside in Hudson.
D. R. BAILEY was born April 27, 1833, in Vermont. He attended Oberlin
College, Ohio, and graduated in law at Albany Law School, in 1859. He
was collector of customs at Highgate, Vermont, from 1860 to 1864. He
practiced law at St. Albans, Vermont, ten years, and was state
representative in 1866 and 1867. He was a delegate to the Republican
National convention in 1878, and a member of the Vermont senate from
1870 to 1872. He made his residence in St. Croix county in 1877, where
he resided till 1883, when he removed to Sioux Falls, Dakota. While in
St. Croix county he engaged in farming, lumbering and manufacturing.
HENRY C. BAKER was born in 1831, in Genesee county, New York;
graduated at Albany University, New York, in 1854, and was admitted to
the bar in 1858, and came to Hudson in 1859. He has practiced law
continuously since; has also held many town and county offices; has
been attorney of the various railroads centring in Hudson, and is now
attorney of the Minneapolis, Soo St. Marie & Atlantic railroad. He was
married in 1860 to Ellen M. Brewster.
MERT HERRICK was born in Orleans county, New York, in 1834. He
received a common school education. He came to St. Croix in 1857; was
married in 1859 to Lois P. Willard; enlisted at the beginning of the
Civil War in the Thirtieth and later in the Fortieth Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry, and served during the war. He has held the office
of treasurer of St. Croix county for six years. He is at present a
member of the Hudson Lumber Company.
D. A. BALDWIN, president of the West Wisconsin railroad, built a fine
residence on the shore of the lake, north of Willow river, in the
latter part of the '50s, and did much to promote the interests of
North Hudson, which he surveyed into village lots in 1873. D. A. and
H. A. Baldwin erected a commodious hotel in North Hudson in 1873. The
hotel was subsequently sold to H. A. Taylor and removed to Hudson,
where it was known as the Chapin Hall House. Mr. Baldwin removed from
Hudson when the West Wisconsin railroad passed into other hands.
JOHN COMSTOCK was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1813. When he
was twelve years old his parents removed to Pontiac, Michigan. He here
served an apprenticeship of three years to a millwright, and afterward
engaged in business at Pontiac until 1851. He came to Hudson in 1856,
and was city contractor six years. In 1863 he founded the First
National Bank of Hudson, in which he has ever since been a director.
Mr. Comstock has been engaged in many public enterprises and has been
uniformly successful. He is one of the most reliable and substantial
of the business men of Hudson. He was married in 1844.
LUCIUS P. WETHERBY was born in Onondago county, New York, October,
1827. At eighteen years of age, he went to Weston, New York, where he
studied law with Martin Grover and W. J. Angell. He was married in
1849 to Sophia Antremont, and in 1856 removed to Hudson. In 1860 he
was elected judge of the Eighth district, Wisconsin, and served six
years.
JOHN C. SPOONER.--Mr. Spooner was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Jan.
6, 1843. He was educated at the district schools until 1859, when his
father, Judge Spooner, removed to Madison, Wisconsin. This removal
afforded the son an opportunity of entering upon a course of classical
instruction in the State University, which he would have completed but
for the Civil War. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in the Fortieth
Wisconsin Infantry. He did honorable duty at the front until compelled
by sickness to retire from the army. After having served a short time
as assistant state librarian, and having been restored to health, he
raised a company which was attached to the Fiftieth Wisconsin
Regiment, and became its captain. His regiment was sent to the
Missouri river to do service among the Indians, and was stationed at
Fort Rice, Dakota. In July, 1866, it was mustered out of the service.
He then returned to Madison and commenced the study of law.
[Illustration: John Comstock]
When Gen. Lucius Fairchild was elected governor, Mr. Spooner was
chosen as his private and military secretary. He held this position
for eighteen months, when he resigned and entered the office of the
attorney general of the State as assistant. In 1870 he removed to
Hudson and began a general law practice. The following year he was
elected a member of the state legislature. While a member of this body
he vigorously championed the State University, which institution was
at that time in sore trouble. His service in this matter was afterward
recognized by the governor, who appointed him a member of the board of
regents of the university, which position he still retains. He was for
twelve years general solicitor of the West Wisconsin Railroad Company
and the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Company. In May, 1884,
he resigned. Mr. Spooner stands deservedly high in his profession, and
has acquired eminence also as a political speaker.
The Wisconsin legislature elected him to the United States Senate,
January, 1885, and he at once took rank among the most eloquent and
able members of that body. He is of small physique, not weighing over
one hundred and twenty-five or one hundred and thirty pounds, has a
dark complexion and a smoothly shaven face, and is possessed of great
bodily as well as mental energy.
THOMAS PORTER.--Mr. Porter was born in Tyrone, Ireland, in 1830;
received a common school education, and learned the trade of
wagonmaker. He came to America in 1855; served three years during the
Civil War as a private in Company A., Thirtieth Regiment, Wisconsin
Volunteers; moved to Hudson in 1871, and represented St. Croix county
in the assembly in 1885.
HERMAN L. HUMPHREY was born at Candor, Tioga county, New York, March
14, 1830; received a public school education, with the addition of one
year in Cortland Academy; became a merchant's clerk at the age of
sixteen, in Ithaca, New York, and remained there for several years;
studied law in the office of Walbridge & Finch, was admitted to the
bar in July, 1854, and removed to Hudson, Wisconsin, where he
commenced practice in January, 1855; was soon after appointed district
attorney of St. Croix county, to fill a vacancy; was appointed by the
governor county judge of St. Croix county, to fill a vacancy, in the
fall of 1860, and in the spring of 1861 was elected for the full term
of four years from the following January; was elected to the state
senate for two years, and in February, 1862, resigned the office of
county judge; was elected mayor of Hudson for one year; was elected in
the spring of 1866 judge of the Eighth Judicial circuit, and was
re-elected in 1872, serving from January, 1867, until March, 1877. He
was elected a representative from Wisconsin in the Forty-fifth
Congress as a Republican, and was re-elected to the Forty-sixth
Congress. During the past three years he has devoted himself to his
profession in Hudson. Mr. Humphrey has been twice married. In June,
1855, he was married to Jennie A. Cross, in Dixon, Illinois. Mrs.
Humphrey died in January, 1880, leaving two sons, Herman L., Jr., and
William H., and three daughters, Fanny S., Mary A., and Grace J. Mr.
Humphrey was married to Mrs. Elvira Dove, at Oswego, New York, October
1881. In 1887 he served again as a member of the assembly.
THEODORE COGSWELL was born in 1819, at Whitehall, New York. He
received a common school education and learned the trade of a painter.
He removed to Stillwater in 1848 and to Hudson in 1861 and to St. Paul
in 1882. He was married to Augusta B. Kelly in 1855. His son was for
many years editor of the Hudson _Republican_.
FRANK P. CATLIN is of Revolutionary and Connecticut stock. His father
entered the war of the Revolution at eleven years of age as a
musician. He served seven years. His discharge is signed by George
Washington. Mr. Frank P. Catlin is the youngest of fourteen children.
He was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1815. He was
married in 1840 to Elizabeth Dubois, who died in 1852, leaving three
sons, Charles L., Frank E. and Fred. Mr. Catlin was married to his
second wife in 1857, who died in 1872, leaving one son, William W. Mr.
Catlin moved to Green Bay in 1840, to Green Lake in 1844, and to
Hudson in 1849, having been commissioned by President Taylor as
register of the Willow River land office. This position he held four
years. Mr. Catlin spent some time traveling in foreign lands. In 1868
he removed to Ripon, Wisconsin, but returned in 1870 to Hudson, where
he still lives.
CHARLES Y. DENNISTON was born in Orange county, New York, in 1832;
graduated at University of Vermont in 1852; studied law in Iowa in
1853-54, and came to Hudson in 1855, where he engaged in real estate
and insurance business, in which he has been quite successful. He was
married in 1856 to Maria A. Coit, of Hudson. Mrs. Denniston died Aug.
31, 1886.
A. E. JEFFERSON.--Mr. Jefferson came from Genesee county, New York, to
Hudson in 1859. For the past fifteen years he has officiated as
cashier of the Hudson First National Bank.
SAMUEL C. SYMONDS was born in 1831, in Hooksett, New Hampshire. He
graduated at the University of Vermont in 1852 and the ensuing year
came to Hudson, where he taught school and studied law for three years
and afterward engaged in the real estate business and subsequently
officiated as county judge four years. He was married in 1860 to Mary
C. Bloomer. In 1886 he was commissioned postmaster of the city of
Hudson by President Cleveland.
JOHN E. GLOVER, an old citizen and successful lawyer of Hudson, has
gained a prominent position amongst the solid business men of the city
by his untiring industry, combined with rare judgment and knowledge of
men. In addition to his law business he is an extensive operator in
real estate, flouring and lumber mills.
LEMUEL NORTH, a reliable merchant of Hudson, a public spirited citizen
and a kind hearted man, merits the respect which his townsmen accord
him. He has been successful in business.
EDGAR NYE, much better known under his _nom de plume_ "Bill Nye," was
born in 1846. When a boy he came West with his parents to the
Kinnikinic valley. Mr. Nye studied law and practiced some years in
Laramie City, Wyoming Territory, where he obtained a national
reputation as a wit from his connection with the Laramie newspaper
known as the _Boomerang._ Mr. Nye's mirth-provoking sketches have been
published in book form. His parents still live at River Falls.
WILLIAM THOMPSON PRICE.--Mr. Price was born in Barre, Huntington
county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1824. After receiving a fair education,
he came West, and in 1845 settled in Black River Falls, Wisconsin,
where he at once entered upon the occupation of a lumberman. In 1851
he was elected to the assembly as a Democrat, but on the organization
of the Republican party in 1854, he united with the organization, with
which he remained during the balance of his life. In 1853 and 1854 he
was judge of Jackson county; in 1855 he was under sheriff. He was a
member of the state senate in 1858, 1870, 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1881;
a member of the assembly in 1882; was collector of internal revenue
from 1863 to 1865, and held many local offices in his county. For many
years he was president of the Jackson County Bank. In 1882 he was
elected to the Forty-eighth Congress; was re-elected in 1884 to the
Forty-ninth, and in 1886 to the Fiftieth. He died at his home at Black
River Falls, Dec. 6, 1886. He was a man of immense energy and
endurance; and was ever ready to do his full share of labor in all
places. As a public man he acquitted himself well. In addition to
business tact and energy, and practical common sense, he was a public
speaker of unusual readiness and ability. In private life he was a
generous hearted man, strongly attached to his friends, and greatly
respected for his sterling qualities of character.
E. B. BUNDY.--Judge Bundy was born in Broome county, New York, in
1833. He received a common school and academic education and attended
one year at Hamilton College. He came to Dunn county, Wisconsin, where
he practiced law until 1877, when he was elected judge of the Eighth
Judicial circuit, to which position he was re-elected and is still
serving. He stands high in the estimation of his associates and the
people as a judge, and not less high in social life.
BALDWIN.
This town is coextensive with township 29, range 16. It was set off
from the township of Springfield and organized Dec. 3, 1872. Wm.
Whewell was chairman of the first board of supervisors.
BALDWIN VILLAGE,
Located on the West Wisconsin railroad, on the west boundary of the
township, has a population of eight hundred, about evenly divided
between the Norwegian and American elements, the latter being
principally from Vermont. The _Bulletin_, a lively weekly paper,
established in 1873, is published by B. Peachman. The graded school
has three departments, with two hundred and twenty-five scholars,
under the control of Prof. J. E. Brainard. The school building cost
$4,000. A state bank, organized in 1883, has a capital stock of
$25,000, and a surplus of $12,500. F. A. Decker is cashier. Baldwin
has one elevator, of 750,000 bushels capacity, two flour mills--one
with a capacity of two hundred and fifty barrels per day, built at a
cost of $55,000; the other of one hundred and twenty-five barrels, at
a cost of $20,000; one creamery, one cheese factory, one tannery, a
good town hall, capable of seating six hundred persons, four good
church buildings--Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and
Congregational--and over thirty stores or shops. The water supply is
ample, the village being furnished with public cisterns and wells, and
having an excellent fire department, with hook and ladder company. The
village is surrounded by a rich agricultural country.
WOODVILLE VILLAGE
Is situated four miles east of Baldwin, on the West Wisconsin
railroad, at the junction of a branch road extending into Pierce
county. It is the centre of heavy lumbering operations, and is a
flourishing village. It has one church.
CADY.
Cady is the southeastern township in St. Croix county, and occupies
township 29, range 15. It is drained by Eau Galle waters. Amongst the
first settlers were Irving Gray, Charles, John, and Brazer Bailey. A
post office was established near the centre of the town in 1860. D.C.
Davis was first postmaster. A branch railroad traverses the town from
northwest to southeast. There are two lumber mills. The town was
organized in 1870. The supervisors were William Holman, Charles Palmer
and Mead Bailey. The village of Brookville is on the west line of the
town.
CYLON,
Including township 31, range 16, lies on Willow river. It is a rich
and populous township, consisting originally of mixed prairie and
timber lands. The first settlement in this town was made in 1855. The
early settlers were Otto Natges, J. Smith, H. Fouks, E. Johnson,
George Goodrich, S. W. Beel, and J. Tomlinson. The town was organized
in 1859. The supervisors were C. A. Hall, chairman; John Sweet and
John Gibson. A post office was established in 1861, Mrs. John B.
Gibson, postmistress. The Wisconsin Central railroad passes through
the southwest, and the North Wisconsin through the northwest part of
the township. There are four church buildings, one on section 18, one
near Cylon post office, and two in Deer Park village. This village, a
station located on the North Wisconsin railroad, is a wheat buying
centre of considerable importance, and has several business houses.
The school house is one of the best buildings in the county outside of
Hudson. The Catholics and Methodists have churches here.
EAU GALLE,
Township 28, range 16, is drained by the Eau Galle and Rush rivers. We
have not the date of the first settlement, but it was amongst the
earliest in the county. The first settlers were William Holman, Andrew
Dickey, Joseph Barnish, and Uriah Briggs. The town was organized in
1858, with the following as supervisors: Wm. Holman, ---- Babcock, and
---- McCartney. A post office was established in 1853, of which W.
Holman was postmaster. Mr. Holman built a saw mill the same year, the
first in the region. There are now six, mostly lumber mills. The
township is traversed from north to south by a branch of the West
Wisconsin railroad. Wildwood, a thriving station on this road is the
headquarters of the St. Croix Land and Lumber Company, a stock company
with a capital of $300,000. The town of Eau Galle has one church
building belonging to the evangelical society.
EMERALD
Includes township 30, range 16. It is drained by the waters of Willow
and Menomonie rivers, and was originally covered with pine and
hardwood timber. It was organized in 1861. The Wisconsin Central
railroad passes through the northeast part of the township and has one
station, Emerald. A high mound is a conspicuous object near the centre
of the township.
ERIN PRAIRIE.
Erin Prairie, township 30, range 17, lies on Willow river. John Casey
entered the first land in 1854. The first house was built on section
17, in May, 1855, by John Ring. Among the settlers of 1855, of whom
there were about twenty families, we have the names of Michael Hughes,
Peter Queenan and James, Michael and Thomas McNamara. The town was
organized in 1858, with the following board of supervisors: Richard
Joyce, chairman; Alexander Stevens and Peter Queenan, and Wm. McNally,
clerk. Richard Joyce was first school teacher and first postmaster.
There are now two post offices, one at Erin Centre village, and the
other at Jewett's Mills, two and a half miles apart. There are at Erin
Centre one store, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, and a Catholic
church; at Jewett's Mills a store, a saw, a planing and a flour mill,
all run by water. There are six good school houses in the township. It
is traversed by the Wisconsin Central railroad.
FOREST,
Embracing township 31, range 15, occupies the northeast corner of the
county. It is heavily timbered with pine and hardwoods, is a new town
and is fast being converted into an agricultural district. Willow
river has its sources in this town. It was organized Dec. 10, 1881,
with S. D. Love as chairman of the first board of supervisors.
GLENWOOD,
Set off from the town of Emerald at its organization in 1885, embraces
township 30, range 15. It was originally a pine and hardwood region.
Its waters flow eastward into the Menomonie. The Wisconsin Central
railroad crosses the township from east to west. Its only station is
Glenwood. It is being rapidly settled and has already some good farms
and several saw mills. H. J. Baldwin was the chairman of the first
board of supervisors.
HAMMOND
Includes township 29, range 17. It is drained by tributaries of the
Rush river. Of the first settlers were the Peabodys, James R. Ismon,
Rev. Wm. Egbert, Rev. George Spalding, Mert Herrick, John Thayer, Mrs.
Adams, John Nelson, and Thomas Byrnes. The town was organized Sept.
16, 1856, with A. G. Peabody as chairman of supervisors and John G.
Peabody, clerk. It is now a prosperous farming town. The West
Wisconsin railroad passes through the south part of the township.
HAMMOND VILLAGE,
Located on the line of this road, in sections 27 and 28, has seven
hundred inhabitants. It is situated on a commanding elevation, giving
an extended view of the rich farming country surrounding it. It has a
school house, built at a cost of $2,500, with rooms for three grades,
and one hundred and seventy-five scholars, one elevator of 20,000
bushels capacity, one first class hotel, the Gardiner House, Odd
Fellows', Good Templars' and Grangers' halls, and three church
buildings, with parsonages--the Catholic, Congregational and
Methodist. The village contains about twenty-five stores and shops.
The water supply, on account of the elevation, is from wells and
cisterns. Rev. George Spalding preached the first sermon and was the
first merchant in the village. Hammond was incorporated Sept. 20,
1880, with J. B. Fithian as president of supervisors and John W. Owen,
clerk.
JOHN THAYER was born in 1809, in Worcester county, Massachusetts, from
which place he moved to Ohio, and, after residing there fifteen years,
came to Wisconsin and settled at Hammond village. He has been twice
married, his second wife still living, and has one son, Andrew P. The
father and son are engaged in merchandising in Hammond.
REV. WM. EGBERT was born in 1815, in Oneida county, New York. He
obtained a common school and academic education. He spent his early
life in New York City; came to Indiana in 1837 and to Hammond,
Wisconsin, in 1856. The first trial in Hammond was before Mr. Egbert,
as justice of the peace, in 1856. He has been for forty-one years a
local minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been twice
married, his second wife still living. He has four children.
HUDSON.
Hudson includes sections 7 to 36, inclusive, of township 29, range 19.
Willow river flows through the northwest part. The North Wisconsin and
West Wisconsin railroads pass through the township. It is one of the
handsomest and richest farming townships in the State. It was
organized as a town in 1849. Its history is given in that of the
county of St. Croix and in the biographies of its early inhabitants.
JAMES KELLY was born at Osnabruck, Ireland, where he grew to manhood.
In 1850 he came to Hudson and located on a farm, where he prospered,
and became an honored citizen. In 1857 he married Catherine, daughter
of Wm. Dailey. He died at Turtle Lake, Barron county, Wisconsin, of
injuries received from a rolling log, Feb. 19, 1888, leaving a widow,
three sons and one daughter.
DANIEL COIT was born in Vermont in 1801. He learned the trade of a
house carpenter; came West as far as Galena, Illinois, in 1845, to St.
Croix Valley in 1848, and to Hudson in 1850. He died in Baldwin in
1884. He was a man of eccentric manners, but upright life.
JAMES VIRTUE came to Willow River Mill in 1849, settled in the town of
Hudson, and died in 1874.
THEODORE M. BRADLEY was born in 1831, in Jackson county, Illinois. He
lived three years in Lafayette county, Wisconsin; came to Osceola
Mills in 1850, and to Hudson in 1867. He has engaged chiefly in
farming. In 1857 he was married to Margaret Wilson. They have two sons
and three daughters. Mr. Bradley died in 1887.
WILLIAM DAILEY was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1800; came to America in
1819, and settled in Hudson in 1849, where he lived, a successful
farmer, until his death in 1867. He left five sons--William, Guy W.,
Jacob, Edward, and Asa, all farmers, industrious and prosperous, all
good citizens, and church members, all married and settled in St.
Croix county. Guy W. represented St. Croix county in the state
assembly of 1877. In 1866 he was president of the St. Croix
Agricultural Society.
ROBERT AND WILLIAM MCDIARMID, brothers, came from St. Stevens, New
Brunswick, and settled in Hudson in 1851, on a farm in sections 10 and
14. By industry and perseverance they have become independent, and own
fine farms, with blooded stock, improved agricultural implements, and
all the appliances for successful farming. Robert married in 1857, and
has three sons and three daughters. William married Laura Rabold, in
1860, and has three sons and four daughters. William has been chairman
of the county board of supervisors several years.
WILLIAM MARTIN was born in Vermont, in 1800. In 1846 he moved to
Janesville, Wisconsin, and in 1851 to Hudson, where he engaged in
farming. He was an exemplary christian man, and a member of the
Baptist church. His son, Geo. W. Martin, succeeds him on the farm. He
died in 1885.
PASCHAL ALDRICH was born in the state of New York, in 1820; came to
Illinois with his parents in 1826; was married in Illinois, to Martha
Harnsberger, in 1841, and came to Marine in the same year. He
returned, for a short time, to Illinois, and again moved to the valley
of the St. Croix, settling at Hudson in 1846, where he died in 1860,
leaving three sons and five daughters.
KINNIKINIC
Originally included nine towns of townships 27 and 28, from St. Croix
lake east. By the setting off of Pierce county from St. Croix, the
towns in township 27 were stricken off, and the territory has since
been reduced until comprised in township 28, range 18. It is a wealthy
agricultural township. Its surface is agreeably diversified with
undulating prairies and high hills. The Kinnikinic, a beautiful and
clear winding stream, drains it from the northeast. The famous
Monument Rock, an outlying sandstone formation, is in the centre of
this township. From the summit a magnificent view may be obtained of
this fine farming region. The farmers have fine dwellings and barns,
and the town has numerous school houses; one church is located on
section 15. The history of the town, as far as we were able to obtain
it, may be found in the biographies of the Mapes brothers.
DUNCAN MCGREGOR was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1821. His educational
advantages were limited. He emigrated to Canada while yet a youth,
served seven years in the British Army, and was one year in Canada
during the Papineau Rebellion. He was married to Jane Morse, in
Canada, Jan. 31, 1848, and in 1849 removed to the United States and
settled at River Falls, where he still lives on the homestead which he
pre-empted. Mrs. McGregor was the first resident white woman, and Mr.
McGregor the second person who settled at the Falls.
His mother, an aged lady living with him at the Falls, at one time
found the house surrounded by over a hundred Sioux Indians, who
commenced plundering the garden of everything eatable. Mrs. McGregor
bravely confronted and drove them away. The only crops in the valley
at the time were those of Messrs. Foster and McGregor.
Mr. McGregor learned in early life the trade of a mason. While a
resident of River Falls he followed farming except during a few years
in which he kept a hardware store. He was three years county
commissioner of St. Croix county. He has three children living,
Roderick, Malcolm and Neville.
W. B. AND JAS. A. MAPES, brothers, from Elmira, New York, landed at
Willow River Sept. 7, 1849. They proceeded at once with an ox team and
cart, on which last was placed all their worldly goods, to the valley
of the Kinnikinic. Having selected a claim and erected a temporary
shanty, William B. returned by river as far as Galena, for a breaking
team, wagon and plow, and other farm furniture and provisions, while
James remained to make hay. After the brother's return, a substantial
winter cabin was built. The ensuing spring they broke ground and
raised a fair crop, consisting of 80 bushels of oats, 200 of
buckwheat, 100 of corn and 100 of potatoes. The winter of their
arrival, Duncan McGregor came to the settlement and spent the winter
with Judge Foster. In the fall of 1850 came Ira Parks and family, and
settled on lands adjoining the Mapes farm. This family and others were
entertained by the Mapes brothers, with genuine frontier hospitality.
Among the families coming in at this time were those of Dr. Whipple,
Mrs. Sprague, Lorenzo Daggett, and the widow of Josephus Medley, of
Stillwater. This year came also the Pomeroy brothers, Luke and Frank,
from New York State, and J. G. Crowns, James Penn, and William Tozer,
from Illinois. During 1851 several families settled in the valley,
among them James Chinnoch and Elisha Walden, from Ohio; Alanson Day
and John Scott, from Pennsylvania; the brothers W. L. and J. E.
Perrin, single men, from New York State, and Mrs. Lynch, from
Illinois. Previous to the settlement of these families there were no
young ladies in the town. The arrival of fifteen young ladies, mostly
marriageable, produced a flutter of excitement among the lonesome
bachelors of the colony, and the services of Rev. S. T. Catlin were
soon called into requisition. The first couple married was James A.
Mapes and Eunice E. Walden, in 1852. The next year W. B. Mapes and
Catherine Scott were married. In 1852 J. W. Mapes, a younger brother,
joined the colony. In 1857 G. W. Mapes located a Mexican War land
warrant on adjoining laud. W. B., J. A. and C. W. Mapes had also
Mexican War land warrants.
In 1860 J. W. Mapes sold his farm and returned to New York, enlisted
in the One Hundred and First Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served
through the Peninsular Campaign under McClellan, and afterward in
North Carolina, where he was captured at Plymouth, April 23, 1864, and
taken to Andersonville, where he died, June 30, 1864. W. B. Mapes sold
his farm to Chas. Davies and removed to Macon county, Mississippi, in
1866, at which place he died in 1877. His widow and five children
still reside there. C. W. Mapes sold his farm to G. I. Ap Roberts, and
kept store for awhile in the village, and in 1879 removed to Sussex
county, Virginia, where he still resides. He has four children living.
Jas. A. Mapes still resides on the old homestead. Mr. Mapes was
honored with an election to the office of treasurer for St. Croix
county in 1883 and 1884.
PLEASANT VALLEY.
Pleasant Valley includes the west half of township 28, range 17. It is
drained by the headwaters of the Kinnikinic. The first settlement was
made Sept. 19, 1856. Among the first settlers were Sheldon Gray, Asa
Gray, S. W. Mattison, and Allen Webster. The town was organized March
30, 1857, with Peleg Burdick as chairman of supervisors. The first
school was taught in 1857, by Miss Mary Munson. A post office was
established in 1866 with Peter Hawkins as postmaster.
RICHMOND.
Richmond is a rich agricultural township, consisting chiefly of
undulating prairie land. It is included in township 30, range 18.
Willow river flows diagonally through it from northeast to southwest.
The following persons settled within the present limits of the town
prior to 1855: Eben Quinby, Lewis Oaks, James Taylor, Harvey Law,
Norman Hooper, J. J. Smith, A. S. Kinnie, W. R. Anderson, Francis
Kelly, Clinton Boardman, S. L. Beebe, the Beal brothers, E. P. Jacobs
and E. W. Darnley.
The town of Richmond was organized in 1857, with the following
officers: Supervisors, Robert Philbrick, chairman; C. A. Boardman and
Harvey Law; clerk, W. M. Densmore; assessor, W. R. Anderson;
treasurer, G. W. Law. The first post office was established at the
house of Joel Bartlett, who served as postmaster. This post office was
known as the Richmond post office. It was a small affair. The first
mail, brought on a mule's back from Maiden Rock, contained but one
letter. The first quarter's commission amounted to but one dollar and
fifty-nine cents. The post office case contained but four boxes, five
by six inches in size. This case is preserved at the _Republican_
office, as an interesting relic. Small as was the office, and meagre
as were the receipts, the postmaster was able to employ a deputy, F.
W. Bartlett. By way of agreeable contrast we give the commission for
the first quarter of 1886 as $674.89.
BOARDMAN VILLAGE
Is located on the east bank of Willow river and near the western
boundary of Richmond. It is a flourishing village. Its public
buildings are a Methodist church and a large school house. Boardman
has a good flour mill. Everything in the village bespeaks enterprise
and thrift.
GRIDLEY VILLAGE
Was platted by Gridley & Day in 1857, and, together with Fremont
village, platted by Henry Russell, was incorporated in the village of
NEW RICHMOND
in 1878. The first officers of the new village were: President, F. W.
Bartlett; trustees, B. C. B. Foster, Wellington Pierce, Thos. Porter,
Peter Schore, S. M. Bixby, Geo. C. Hough.
NEW RICHMOND CITY
Was incorporated in 1884. It includes the northwest quarter of section
2 and the northeast quarter of section 3 of township 30, range 18, and
the south half of section 36, township 31, range 18. This latter half
section originally belonged to Star Prairie, but is now attached to
New Richmond. The first election was held April 8, 1884, at which the
following officers were elected: President, Ward S. Williams;
aldermen, First ward, F. W. Bartlett, Geo. A. Gault, Th. Gaskell;
Second ward, A. L. Greaton, A. H. Stevens, J. C. Sabine; Third ward,
John Halversen, D. H. Dodge, H. F. Fall; treasurer, L. Taft; clerk, W.
F. McNally; assessor, D. A. Kennedy.
The city is beautifully located on a level prairie. The streets are
from eighty to one hundred feet wide and bordered with maple, elm and
boxwood trees. The city lots and grounds attached to the residences
are beautifully adorned with shrubbery and flowers and are without
fences. The commons and unoccupied spaces in the city are covered
with a luxuriant growth of white and red clover, filling the air with
its pleasant odor, and suggesting the title of "Clover City." It has
many fine business buildings and tasteful residences. It is in the
midst of a fine farming country, on the banks of a beautiful stream,
Willow river, and two railroads, the North Wisconsin and Wisconsin
Central, furnish abundant means of communication with the outer world.
It has one steam saw mill with a capacity of 60,000 feet per day, and
a water power flour mill with a capacity of one hundred barrels per
day.
The Bank of New Richmond was organized in 1878, with a paid up capital
of $35,000. In 1885 the bank did a business of about $8,000,000. The
bank had a surplus in 1886 of $9,000. It has an extensive agency in
flour, wheat and other agricultural products, also in lumber and real
estate. The officers are: President, F. W. Bartlett; vice president,
Mathias Frisk; cashier, John W. McCoy. The annual business of the city
amounts to $12,000,000.
The city has a high school, established in 1884, with six departments.
The building cost $12,000. The Baptists, Catholics,
Congregationalists, Episcopalians, and Methodists have church
buildings.
There are several fraternities here, including the Masonic, the Odd
Fellows, Good Templars, Women's Christian Temperance Union and
Catholic Knights of St. John. There are also a hook and ladder company
and a library association. There are two cemeteries, one belonging to
the masonic order.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BENJAMIN B. C. FOSTER was born in New Portland, Maine, in 1816. When
seventeen years of age he bought his time of his father and commenced
life for himself. He lived eight years in Atkinson, Maine, where he
taught school and engaged in farming. In 1842 he was married to
Charlotte S. Gilman. In 1852 he went to California where he remained
three years. He came to New Richmond in 1855 and built a saw mill and
dam, and a board shanty in which he lived with his wife and two
children. Around the mill has since grown up the beautiful city of New
Richmond. The first school taught in New Richmond was taught at the
house of Mr. Foster by Amanda Dayton. In his house was organized the
first Sunday-school, the first sermon was preached in it and the first
school meeting was held there.
ROBERT PHILBRICK was born in Old Town, Maine, in 1814. He learned the
trade of a millwright, and in 1847 moved to North Hudson. He was
married in 1851 to Frances Cook. They stood on a raft, afloat in the
St. Croix river, just below the Falls, while Ansel Smith, of Taylor's
Falls, performed the ceremony. Mr. Philbrick removed to New Richmond
and built a frame house in 1855. The house is still standing. One
daughter of Mr. Philbrick is the wife of D. L. Nye. Amaziah, a son by
his first wife, is a stonemason. Alice M., daughter by his first wife,
is married to John McGregor. Mr. Philbrick died prior to 1865.
LINDEN COOMBS came to New Richmond in 1855, built the first hotel in
1856, and some years later moved away.
EBEN QUINBY was born in Lisbon, New Hampshire, in 1809, and came to
New Richmond in 1849, where he has since continuously been engaged in
farming. In 1865 he was married to Mrs. Philbrick, widow of Robert
Philbrick.
LEWIS OAKS was born in Sangerville, Maine, in 1826; came West in 1846
and to New Richmond in 1854. He is a farmer.
HENRY RUSSELL was born in Vermont in 1801. His ancestors took part in
the Revolution. He was married in Vermont, lived seventeen years in
New York, came to Hudson in 1853, and to New Richmond in 1857, where
he bought the pre-emption made by Robert Philbrick, and had it
surveyed and platted as the village of Fremont. He died in 1878. Mrs.
Russell survives him and is now (1886) eighty-five years of age. Their
sons Alexander and Austin are prominent citizens of New Richmond.
JOSEPH D. JOHNSON was born in Huron county, Ohio, May 12, 1829. From
eight years of age he was thrown upon his own resources. The greater
part of his youth was spent in Michigan. In 1848 he removed to
Winnebago, Illinois, where he married Marcella L. Russell. He settled
at New Richmond in 1853. One son, Ezra O., is editor of the
_Northwestern News_, at Hayward, Wisconsin, and one daughter is
married to Frank F. Bigelow.
JOEL BARTLETT was born in Hebron, Maine, in 1804. He received an
academic education and became a teacher. He was principal of a high
school in Bath, Maine, before he was twenty-one years of age. In 1825
he went to Harmony, Maine, where he was engaged in lumbering until
1848. In 1830 he was a member of the Maine legislature; in 1849 and
1850 he followed lumbering in Fairfield, Maine, and then removed to
New York where he lived six years. In 1858 he came to New Richmond,
where he has since led an active business life. Mr. Bartlett was
married in Maine in 1826. One of his sons, J. A., is a Presbyterian
clergyman in Centreville, Iowa. He graduated at Waterville College,
Maine, and practiced law three years in New York City before entering
the ministry.
FRANCIS W. BARTLETT, the second son of Joel Bartlett, was born in
Maine in 1837. He received an academic education, and has been an
active and successful business man. He came to New Richmond in 1858,
and served as register of the land office at Bayfield from 1861 to
1867. He was married in 1867 to Mary J. Stewart, of Pennsylvania. He
was engaged in the coal trade in Milwaukee three years, and two years
at Detroit and Toledo, but returned to New Richmond and is now
president of the New Richmond Bank, and dealer in furniture, hardware,
etc.
GEORGE C. HOUGH was born in Fairfax county, Virginia, in ----. He has
led a somewhat adventurous life. He served awhile as a soldier in the
Black Hawk War under Gen. Dodge. Afterward he went to Missouri,
graduated at the State University, and engaged in lead mining and
prospecting. He went to California in 1862, where he practiced law. He
returned in 1876, and located in Richmond where he still resides.
SILAS STAPLES was born in Lisbon, Maine, Sept. 18, 1814. He came to
Hudson, Wisconsin, in 1854, took charge of the Willow River mills,
buying a quarter interest at $20,000, including 5,000 acres of land on
Willow river. In 1856 he sold his interest to Jewell and Bodie, of
Maine, for $55,000, and for three years carried on a banking business
in Hudson. In the winter of 1859-60 he removed to New Richmond. In
1861 he returned to Hudson and put up a shingle and lath addition to
his saw mill. He built a flouring mill at New Richmond in 1864. He
built large dams on Willow river for driving logs, and carried on
lumbering operations until 1868, when he removed to Canada and carried
on milling and lumbering enterprises four years, at Collins' Inlet,
Georgian bay. In 1872 he returned to Hudson and to a farm, and was
also engaged with Mr. Gibson in mercantile business. In 1873 he
returned to New Richmond, and, buying a half interest in the mill,
took charge of it for one year, then removed to Stillwater and took
charge of his brother's (Isaac Staples) saw mill.
In 1875 he removed to Elk River, Minnesota, and took charge of a farm.
The next year he returned to New Richmond, where he settled his family
and bought a half interest in a saw and grist mill at Jeweltown. He
also built an elevator there with a capacity of 20,000 bushels.
Mr. Staples was married in 1837 to Hannah Williams, of Bowdoinham,
Maine, who died in 1838. He was married in 1841 to Abigail Ann Rogers
of Oldtown, Maine, who died in the spring of 1845. He was married in
the fall of 1846 to Nancy D. Gilman, who died in 1873. He was married
to Mrs. Nancy B. Jamison in the fall of 1874. He has six children,
Charles A., Silas G., Nellie B., Nettie, Edward P, and Lizzie G.
HENRY M. MURDOCK.--Dr. Murdock was born at Antwerp, New York, in
October, 1823. His father, Dr. Hiram Murdock, moved to Gunning, at
which place the son attended school till he was fifteen years of age.
The father moved to Pulaski, New York. Henry studied medicine with his
father until he was nineteen years of age, then attended medical
lectures at Castleton, Virginia, where he graduated at the age of
twenty-one. After practicing three years at Dexter, and after a
co-partnership of seven years with his father in a drug store at
Pulaski, he came West and settled in Stillwater, where he bought the
drug store and business of Dr. Carli. In 1858 he went to Taylor's
Falls and practiced medicine until the spring of 1860, when he removed
to Hudson and formed a partnership with Dr. Hoyt. In the fall of 1861
he accepted the position of assistant surgeon of the Eighth Wisconsin,
and served during the war, having been promoted meanwhile to the
position of brigade surgeon. In 1866 he removed to New Richmond, where
he has since resided, having now retired from business. He was twice
married, in 1845 to Cornelia A. Sandford, who died childless, and in
1865 to Sarah J. Allan. His children are Cornelia A. and Henry A.
STEVEN N. HAWKINS was born in Galway, Ireland, Dec. 26, 1846, but
while he was a mere child his parents emigrated to America; remained a
few years in Connecticut; came West in 1855, and made their home in
Pleasant Valley, St. Croix county. His early life was marked by the
usual vicissitudes of life in a new country. He tried for a time
various occupations--farm work, rafting, sawing lumber, teaching, and,
during the later months of the war, was a volunteer soldier. He
managed to secure a good education in the common schools and at the
River Falls Academy. He studied medicine and surgery a few months, but
devoted himself chiefly to teaching until 1872, when he engaged in a
mercantile enterprise at which he continued four years, but at the
close of that period found himself obliged to suspend, with an
aggregate of $5,000 against him. This he afterward paid, but he
concluded, perhaps wisely, to change his occupation. He studied law,
and was admitted to the bar, July, 1876. In this profession he has
achieved an enviable success. In 1872 he was married to Margaret
Early, of Alleghany county, New York. They have had four children, the
first of which died in infancy.
RUSH RIVER
Occupies the east half of township 28, range 17. The first settlement
was made in 1850. The following came in 1850-51: Daniel McCartney,
Amos Babcock, Joseph King, Stephen Claggitt and Z. Travis. The town
was set off from Kinnikinic and organized in 1851, with Daniel
McCartney as chairman of the board of supervisors. At his house was
held the first election.
Woodside has one church and several buildings, is near the centre of
the town, and New Centreville in the southern part. The date of
settlement is second to that of Hudson. It was traversed by the old
Hudson and Prairie du Chien stage route. It was originally a mixed
timber and prairie district.
SOMERSET
Occupies sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of township 30, range 19, two
sections of township 30, range 20, and all of township 31, range 19,
lying east of the St. Croix river. The surface is generally
undulating, but along the St. Croix and Apple rivers abrupt and hilly.
The first settlers were French colonists at Apple River Falls in 1851.
They built a school house and Catholic church upon the bluffs below
the falls. The latter is a conspicuous object as seen from the St.
Croix river. The falls of Apple river, about one and a half miles
above its junction with the St. Croix, is one of the finest of the
Wisconsin waterfalls. Apple river traverses the county from northeast
to southwest. The Wisconsin Central railroad crosses the southern
part. The town of Somerset was organized Sept. 19, 1856, with Thomas
J. Chappell as chairman of supervisors. Mr. Chappell was also
appointed postmaster in 1854 at Apple River Falls.
SOMERSET VILLAGE,
Located about three miles above the Falls, has a good improved water
power, a flour mill with a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels
per day, and a saw mill, built and owned by Gen. Sam Harriman, the
founder of the village. In 1856 a church and school house were erected
at a cost of about $12,000.
SAMUEL HARRIMAN.--Gen. Harriman was born in Orland, Maine. He spent
four years in California, engaged in mining and lumbering, and dug the
second canal in the State for sluicing purposes. He came to Somerset
in 1859, and has ever since made it his residence. He is one of the
founders and platters of the village, and built most of the houses,
including the hotel and two stores on the east side of Apple river,
and all the dwelling houses on the west side. He has been remarkably
successful in the various pursuits to which he has turned his
attention, and may well be considered a man of remarkable executive
ability. He has a farm of five hundred and fifty-five acres, and his
agricultural and stock products are second to none. As a lumberman he
has cut 3,000,000 feet per year. He has a rotary saw mill with a
planing, lath and shingle mill attached, and under the same roof he
has a flouring mill and six run of stone; he has a large store in
which he keeps a general stock of merchandise; he has also a cooper
shop, where he makes his own barrels, a warehouse and a blacksmith
shop. He has also an excellent stone quarry on his premises.
We look in vain for his name in the Wisconsin blue book, or among the
list of office holders. He has been too busy to turn aside in quest of
political preferment. We believe, however, that he was commissioned as
notary public by Govs. Taylor and Smith. When men were needed for the
defense of the country he left his interests to enlist as a private.
His military record is brilliant. He enlisted in Company A, Thirtieth
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, June 10, 1862, was made captain on the
organization of the company, which position he held till Feb. 16,
1864, when he was commissioned colonel of the Thirty-seventh
Wisconsin Infantry. This regiment was recruited by Col. Harriman, he
having been commissioned for that purpose. Its services on many a hard
fought field, and especially about Petersburg, is a matter of well
known history. Its most memorable action occurred on the thirtieth of
July, just after the explosion of the mine under the enemy's fort.
Col. Harriman, with the Thirty-seventh Wisconsin, was ordered to
occupy the dismantled fort, which he did under a heavy fire, and the
walls had been so leveled as to afford but slight protection from the
enemy's batteries. While in possession they repelled all attempts to
dislodge them until four o'clock the next morning, when, receiving no
support, the Thirty-seventh Regiment,
"All that was left of them,"
fell back to the line. At roll call that evening, of two hundred and
fifty men that answered to their names before the action, only
ninety-five responded. The remnant of the regiment was attached to a
new brigade, of which Col. Harriman was commissioned commander. On the
tenth of September, the war having ended, the tattered flag of the
Thirty-seventh was returned to the governor of the State and Brig.
Gen. Harriman returned to private life and his business enterprises.
The general is a genial, kind hearted man, fond of a good joke and
story, even though they are at his own expense. He narrates of
himself, that when mustered out of the service at Washington he was
addressed as _General_ Harriman; on his way home he was saluted as
_colonel_; when nearing Wisconsin, he was hailed as _major;_ in the
State, as _captain_; in St. Croix county and at home as Mr. Harriman;
when met by the boys, they greeted him with "_Hello, Sam._"
ST. JOSEPH
Includes the three lower tiers of sections of township 30, range 19,
fractions of range 20, and the six upper sections of township 29,
range 19. Willow river traverses the southeast corner. The surface
varies from undulating to hilly. In the eastern part of the town is
Balsam lake, a picturesque body of water two miles in length. There
are also two high elevations of land, or ridges, that serve as
conspicuous landmarks. The earliest settlers came in 1850, and located
on farms in different parts of the town. St. Joseph was organized in
1858. The North Wisconsin railroad passes through the southeast corner
of the town.
HOULTON.
Opposite Stillwater, on the shore of the lake, is a platted village
known as Houlton, which has improved much during the last few years.
J. S. Anderson & Co. built a large saw mill at this place, which has
changed ownership several times. The residences of the village are on
the high bluffs overlooking the lake, and commanding from a point two
hundred feet above the level of the water a most magnificent view,
including Stillwater, Hudson and Lakeland.
BURKHARDT VILLAGE
Is situated upon Willow river, just above the Falls. Joseph Bowron and
others built a mill here in 1851. The mill property changed hands many
times, and finally passed into the hands of Burkhardt. In March, 1887,
the mill was consumed, with a loss to Mr. Burkhardt of $100,000, an
immense loss, representing the earnings of a lifetime; but with
tireless energy Mr. Burkhardt went to work rebuilding, and, it is to
be hoped, will soon re-establish his thriving business. There is one
church near Burkhardt.
SPRINGFIELD,
At its organization in 1860, embraced its own territory and that of
Baldwin, set off in 1872. It now includes township 29, range 15. It
was originally covered with pine and hardwood timber. Within the last
few years it has been improved and much of the timber land is used for
farming. It is drained by the headwaters and tributaries of Rush and
Menomonie rivers. The West Wisconsin railroad passes through the
southern tier of sections, and a branch road, leading southward into a
pine district, has a junction at Hersey. Most of the early settlers
were Union soldiers. Among them were S. T. Adams, Thomas Ross, Isaac
Burgitt and Capt. Rogers. Springfield was organized Nov. 15, 1860,
with J. R. Ismon as chairman, and Perrin and Hall as supervisors.
HERSEY.
The village of Hersey, located on section 28, is a station on the West
Wisconsin and branch railroad, has a lumber mill, and is a flourishing
village.
WILSON VILLAGE,
Section 35, is also a station on the West Wisconsin road, and an
important manufacturing place. The village is owned and controlled by
the Wilson Manufacturing Company, which has a capital stock of
$150,000. There is one church in the village.
STANTON
Was set off from Star Prairie and organized Dec. 30, 1870, with
Trueworthy Jewell as chairman of supervisors. It is a rich prairie
town, well drained by the waters of Apple and Willow rivers, and well
cultivated. The North Wisconsin railroad passes southwest to northeast
through this town. Star Prairie village lies partly in this town and
partly in the town of Star Prairie. There are two church buildings in
the town of Stanton.
STAR PRAIRIE,
Township 31, range 18, was organized Jan. 28, 1856. At its
organization it included township 31, ranges 17 and 18, and north half
of township 30, ranges 17 and 18. The first election was held at the
house of B. C. B. Foster, in New Richmond. Apple river flows through
the town from northeast to southwest. Cedar lake, in the northeast
part, furnishes at its outlet a good water power. Among the first
settlers were the Jewell brothers, Ridder and sons.
HUNTINGTON VILLAGE
Is located near the outlet of Cedar lake and on the stream by which
the waters of the lake are borne to Apple river. It has a large
flouring mill.
STAR PRAIRIE VILLAGE,
Lying partially in sections 1 and 12 and partially in Stanton, has a
saw and flouring mill, a hotel, a school house and two churches, with
some fine residences.
HON. R. K. FAY, born in 1822, came from New York to Wisconsin in 1849,
locating at Princeton, where he resided for nine years, most of the
time engaged as the principal of the high school at that place. He was
a man of sterling character, who is remembered as an able teacher and
public spirited citizen. He has been assemblyman from Adams and St.
Croix counties, and a county superintendent of schools, and has taught
school forty-nine terms. When a member from St. Croix county, he
introduced the bill requiring the constitutions of the United States
and of Wisconsin to be taught in the common schools. He died at his
home in Star Prairie, Jan 5, 1888. Five sons and five daughters
survive him. His wife died about three years ago.
TROY,
Township 28, range 19, and fractional township 28, range 19,
consisting of about three sections, lying along the shore of Lake St.
Croix, has a fine frontage of bluffs overlooking the lake, with rich,
level prairie lands stretching away eastward. The Kinnikinic river
flows through the southeast corner of the township. It was organized
in 1851 as Malone, the name having been chosen by the Perrin brothers,
who came from Malone, New York, in 1851. The name, some years later,
was changed to Troy. The Hudson & Ellsworth railroad passes diagonally
through the township from northwest to southeast.
The village of Glenmont, section 25, township 28, range 20, lies on
the shore of Lake St. Croix. It contains a large saw mill, built by
the Lord brothers. It has since changed hands.
The village of East Troy, in section 36, has recently been annexed by
legislative enactment to the city of River Falls.
JAMES CHINNOCK, the first settler in Troy, was born in Somersetshire,
England, in 1810. He officiated twelve years at Bristol Harbor,
England, as superintendent of docks and vessels. He was married in
England to Harriet Owens; came to America in 1841, lived in Ohio until
1850, when he came to Hudson and immediately located a claim within
the present limits of Troy. He raised the first crop in the town, and
built the first house, of stone, for greater protection from the
Indians. Mr. Chinnock made his home upon this farm until his death in
1870. He left a widow and four sons, three of them farmers in Troy.
One son, James T., has been register of deeds for St. Croix county
from 1885 to 1888.
WILLIAM LEWIS PERRIN was born in 1825, and with his brother came to
Troy in 1851, where he has since lived. He has been a successful
farmer and public spirited citizen, and has filled offices in the town
organization. He was married in 1855 to Julia F. Loring. They have
three sons and one daughter.
WARREN,
Township 29, range 18, is a rich prairie town, drained by the
tributaries of Kinnikinic and Willow river. George Longworth and
family, of Waukegan, Illinois, settled here in October, 1855. In the
year following, Lyman and David Sanford, brothers, came from Ohio, and
made their home here. Mr. Longworth, in 1856, broke the first ground
on land now within the limits of Hudson. Henry M. Sanford came in the
spring of 1857.
Warren was organized as a town in 1860, with the following
supervisors: Beach Sanford, George Frissell and Seth Colbeth; L. J.
Sanford, clerk. A post office was established in 1860, and Mrs. Beach
Sanford was appointed postmistress, at Warren village, now Roberts.
The village of Roberts is located on the West Wisconsin railroad,
which traverses sections 19 to 24, inclusive, of this town. It
contains one elevator, one storage house, one feed mill, one cheese
factory, one machine shop, one syrup mill, several stores and shops,
one hotel, one school house, one public hall, and one church building
belonging to the Congregationalists.
No intoxicants are sold in the village. The first school was taught in
1859, by Jane Sanford.
JAMES HILL was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, Feb. 15, 1825, and
settled in Warren, St. Croix county, in 1863, where he engaged in
farming and dealing in grain. He represented St. Croix county in the
Wisconsin assembly of 1878-79-80.
TOWN PLATS LOCATED IN ST. CROIX COUNTY.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF | TOWN | DATE OF PLAT. | SURVEYOR. | PROPRIETORS.
VILLAGE. | LOCATION. | | |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buena Vista |Hudson | In 1849 | Harvey Wilson |Louis Massey &
| | | | Co.
New Centreville|Rush River | Mch. 26, 1856 | Geo. Strong |Daniel
| | | | McCartney.
Hammond |Hammond | July 15, 1856 | A. W. Miller |Hammond &
| | | | Spaulding.
De Soto |Hudson | Aug. 15, 1857 | |Aptemards
| | | | Burkhart.
Somerset |Somerset | Aug. 28, 1857 |Geo. Strong |Harriman & Reed.
Glenmont |Troy | Jan. 5, 1858 |C. N. Bates |M. Bank, Lake
| | | | St. Cx.
Huntington |Star Prairie| Sept. 24, 1858|E. W. McClure |John Brown.
Gridley, New} | | | |
Richmond and} |Richmond | 1857 | |Gridley & Day.
Fremont } | | | |
Troy |Troy | Dec. 29, 1859 |J. A. Short |Cox & Powell.
Boardman |Richmond | July 5, 1866 |W. R. Anderson |Beebe &
| | | | Boardman.
Star Prairie |Star Prairie| June 15, 1870 |John McClure |Simonds &
| | | | Millard.
Baldwin |Baldwin | Mch. 14, 1873 |H. J. Baldwin |D. R. Bailey.
Roberts |Warren | Jan. 4, 1875 |Geo. Strong |Comstock, Platt
| | | | & Co.
Deer Park |Cylon | Jan. 25, 1879 |J. W. Remmington|J. A. Humbird.
New Saratoga} | | | |
Springs } |Stanton | Sept. 17, 1878|John McClure |A. P. Muggey.
Hersey |Springfield | Dec. 24, 1880 |Geo. Strong |L. T. Adams.
Cylon |Cylon | Sept. 16, 1884|Alfred Pierce |Beebe &
| | | | McNarama.
Emerald |Emerald | July 13, 1885 |Alfred Pierce |Hurd Brothers.
Glenwood |Glenwood | Jan. 2, 1886 |H. J. Baldwin |Glenwood Manf.
| | | | Co.
Wilson |Springfield | 1886 | |West Wis. Manf.
| | | | Co.
Woodville |Baldwin | 1886 | |Woodville Lumber
| | | | Co.
Wildwood |Eau Galle | 1886 | |St. Cx. L. &
| | | | Manf. Co.
Brookville |Eau Galle | 1886 | |Wood & Decker.
Houlton |St. Joseph | Not recorded | |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------