Dresbach Township

Dresbach Township

The township of Dresbach lies in the southeast corner of Winona county. It is the smallest township in the county, containing 4,400 acres. The shape of the township is nearly a perfect right-angled triangle, with the acute angle on the bank of the Mississippi, just above Dakota. The township is five and one-fifth miles long from north to south, and about three and one-fourth miles wide on the southern boundary. It is bounded on the east by the Mississippi river, south by Houston county, and on the west by the township ot New Hartford. The township was formed under the organization act of 1858, and was named Dresbach, after Geo. B. Dresbach, Sr., the founder of Dresbach village. The surface of the township is considerably broken by the chain of bluffs extending through the county along the Mississippi. The bluffs, from their abrrijtness and loftiness, in some parts of the township, form a very majestic appearance, and are much admired by the lovers of nature. The highest bluffs are found along the Mississippi, where they rise several hundred feet above the river. Mineral bluff (named from the mineral deposits found under its base) is the highest (405 feet) in the township. This bluff is just at the upper end of the village of Dresbach. It affords from its summit, one of the grandest views of any bluff along the Mississippi. One can see La Crosse, Onalas, Kansas, Trempealeau, Galesville, and several other towns in Wisconsin, at distances of ten to twenty miles. There are other bluffs in the township, from the tops of which one never becomes tired of looking, or "grows weary and sick at heart."

The soil of the township is good, being a black sub-clay soil, and annually produces large crops of wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, potatoes, etc. It is also well adapted to grazing, to which many farmers are beginning to turn their attention. All, or nearly all, the township was once heavily timbered, the principal species being white and black oak. The timber cleared from the farms has been a source of great income to the farmer as it always brought him ready cash in the market. In fact, many farmers have relied too long on tlieir timber for their incomes, until, as a result, their lands have become almost treeless. The township is well supplied with water. Living springs are found gushing from the bluffs all over the township, some affording sufficient water the year round for large farms. The springs are cold and clear as crystal, and free from all unpleasant tastes. There are no large streams in the township, but in every valley and from every bluff you will find a little rill with clear and cool water rippling its way to the Mississippi.

The population of the township is about 350, consisting of nearly every nationality of Europe. The native born rank first in population, and Germans in the foreign element. The township has good public roads running and intersecting each otiier at various places, thus affording the farmer an easy and accessible way to market with his produce. Most of the produce of the township is marketed at La Crosse, La Crescent, Dakota, Pickwick, and some at Winona. JS^o other township in the county has so many and accessible markets as

Indian mounds and relics are found in various parts of the township. Not long since, while some men were digging in Mineral bluff, one hundred and fifty feet above the river, a skeleton of an unusual size was unearthed. On measuring, the giant skeleton was found to be ten feet in length, with other parts in proper proportion. In the skull was found a copper hatchet, and a dart or arrow-head nine inches long. Another skeleton, nine feet long, was found in the village of Dresbach, while some men were digging a road or trench.

These skeletons were of an unusual size to those generally taken from Indian mounds. Their size, form and structure would lead those versed in paleontology to believe they belonged to a race prior to the Indian. In many of the mounds have also been found copper hatchets, chisels, various kinds of tomahawks, and other weapons of war ; also these antique races seemed to have some process of hardening co])per, nnknown to any modern process. Where they came from, when they lived, and whence they have gone, is only conjecture and speculation. That they were mighty races, skilled in the mode of warfare, understanding the mechanical arts, for all these we have conclusive evidence. But of their end we know nothing. Whether they were swept from the earth by some deadly epidemic, or annihilated themselves by intestine wars, or died of inherent weakness, we have nothing to inform us.

The first permanent settler that came to the township of Dresbach was Nathan Brown, of New York, who settled in 1849 at Dakota. There was a man by the name of John Reed here a few years prior to Mr. Brown, but Reed was merely a trader and never became a permanent settler. All that now can be learned of Reed is, that he had a trading-post on the banks of the Mississippi at (old) Dakota. The ruins of an old chimney were seen for several years after he left, which were supposed to be where he had his tradingpost. But Mr. Nathan Brown, now living near the village of Dakota, was the first to erect permanent buildings and become a regular settler. First buildings that Mr. Brown raised were two log cabiris, - one for a dwelling, the other for a store. He also built a log stable - all 12 X 16 feet. The stockin his store consisted of corn, flour, sugar, meat, tobacco, etc. His trade for the first few years was confined to the Indians and rivermen. The log cabins built by Mr.

Brown have all been torn down and have entirely disappeared. He bought most of his goods at Prairie du Ohien, Wisconsin. The followfng prices will show the cost of diiferent articles in the early history of this county - tea, $1.25 per lb. ; coflfee, 5 lbs. for $1 ; flour, $6 to $8 per bbl. At one time Mr. Brown paid as high as $22.50 a barrel for pork.

The next permanent settler following Mr. Brown was a Frenchman, by the name of Peleau, who was sent here by Richard Chute & Co. in 1850. Peleau built a store and residence at (old) Dakota, and carried on considerable trade with the natives and scattering settlers. His buildings, as well as those first built by Mr. Brown, have all been torn down. In fact, the buildings known as old Dakota have all disappeared, and not even a relic left to commemorate the spot of the " Ancient City." The next settlers after Messrs. Brown and Peleau, were a colony of French, who bought land and settled where the village of Dresbach now stands. Of this colony Joseph Maynard bought 120 acres of land of the government in 1852. Lambert Robillard in 1852 bought 160 acres from the government. Joseph and Francis Trudell (1852) had 112 acres. Alfonso Warren (1852) bought 190 acres. He was the first to burn lime and manufacture grindstones. The above-described lands constitute the present plat of the village of Dresbach. The said lands were bought by Geo. B. Dresbach, Sr., in May, 1857. The village site was located and platted September, 1857.

Village Of Dresbach

In September and October, 1857, eleven houses were built, now a part of the present village. The first store of the village was built and run by Abram Warren, of Ohio, in 1857. A postoffice was also established that year with Mr. Warren as ])ostmaster. Warren sold out his store to A. L. Jenks, who also succeeded him as postmaster. In 1863 another store was started by William Patton, of New York, who assisted Geo. B. Dresbach in building the present sawmill in 1862-3. The size of the building was 36 X 70 and cost $8,400. Ed. Minor opened a general merchandise store in 1863 -, also the same year Mr. Caleb Inman started a store. Mr. Inman is still a merchant in the village. Geo. B. Dresbach opened a store in 1866, and Jesse P. Nevill a store in 1867, who was succeeded by Henry Becker, in 1869. Mr. Becker is still a merchant

The present owners and operators of the steam sawmill are Louis Blummintritt and Henry Blochik. They are also dealers in himber, lath, shingles, etc.

William H. Sherwood and Gilbert Johnson, both formerly of New York, are the owners and operators of two large brickyards. They ship from three to four millions of brick annually. They employ from thirty to forty men.

W. B. Williams and L. C. Smith, of Red Wing, Minnesota, started a brickyard in Dresbach in the spring of 1882. They burned superior quality of brick, and will ship about one million of brick this year. Will increase the capacity of the yard for next season to three or four millions of brick.

In 1882 Geo. B. Dresbach, Jr., and John H. Moss organized the Northwestern Brick Company, under the firm name of Moss & Dresbach. This company will manufacture one million of brick this year, and increase their capacity for next season.

Joseph Ginther and John Schmeltzer, blacksmiths and machinists, have increased their line of business by building a steam-mill this year, for the manufacture of ground feed, turning lathes, laths and barrel hoops.

Winona County Mining and Stone Company, an incorporated company with capital stock of $100,000, was organized in 1880, with John Gilman, of St. Paul, president ; Geo. B. Dresbach, Sr. , vice-president, and E. S. Burns, secretary and treasurer. This company is at present operating steam machinery in quarrying rock and mining mineral just above the village of Dresbach. J. F. Tostevin & Sons, of St. Paul, are now operating a stone quarry with steam machinery iu the village of Dresbach. They also own and run a stone sawmill in connection with their quarry. They saw, dress and ship stone of sizes ready for use. Geo. B. Dresbach, Sr., and John Gilman own a stone quarry of fifteen acres now in operation ; the stone of the above quarries being of the celebrated Berea, Ohio, sandstone in quality, now so extensively used throughout the United States for building purposes and grindstones.