Eau Claire County, Wisconsin - Chapter 20: Eau Claike Prior to Its Incorporation As a City in 1872, 1914

Chapter 20: Eau Claike Prior to Its Incorporation As a City in 1872

We premise this part of our history of Eau Claire by the statement that originally and before the city of Eau Claire was incori^orated, that what was generally spoken of as Eau Claire comprised a part of three separate towns, Eau Claire, West Eau Claire or Oak Grove and North Eau Claire. The Eau Claire river at or near its confluence with the Chippewa river was the dividing line between the towns of Eau Claire and North Eau Claire, while the Chippewa river was the dividing line between the towns of West Eau Claire and Eau Claire and North Eau Claire. The settlements in each town were on and near the banks of these rivers. Therefore when we speak of Eau Claire generally, it is meant to include the three settlements or portions of the three towns. When special mention is made to either subdivision, it is to be designated either as the north, east or west side. In 1868 or 1869, a portion of the west side was incorporated as a village under the corporate name of Eau Claire City, and so remained as a separate corporate entity until the incorporation of all Eau Claire as a city. It should also be noted that all the mills on the Eau Claire river were located on the north side, and all those on the Chippewa river were located on the west side, except the Eddy Mill and that of the Wilkin's Island Mill Company, which were located on the north side.

An old Wisconsin history says that two French trappers, one named LeDuc, had a post in 1784 at the lower rapids of the Chippewa. As they treated with the Chippewas who came from up tlie river, their post must have been at the head of the rapids where is now the log reservoir. They got into trouble with the Chippewas and went down the river to trade with the Sioux, taking with them two Chippewa scalps as the best method of introducing themselves to the Sioux. This is the first record of any white man living at Eau Claire. There was then an Indian village on the high land opposite the paper mill, and one also at the head of the Dells rapids opposite Mt. Simon.

river, or the land on either side of that stream, there was a rank growth of brush in nearly every direction. The whole country as far as the eye could see was in a wild state of nature. Not even a track made by man was to be found, nor the rudest hut for a resting place. Yet this spot was to attract hundreds of pioneers in a very few years from the time of the arrival of the first settler.

In the summer of 1845, Stephen S. McCann, from Spring Creek, named from a tributary of the Menomonie river, near Menomonie, and Jeremiah C. Thomas entered into a partnership and erected a plain shanty near the site of what was afterward the Eau Claire Lumber Company's water mill on the Eau Claire river. Stephen S. McCaun also built a cabin near the confluence of the Eau Claire with the Chippewa, which he designated as a warehouse, and another on the site of what was subsequently the American House. These structures were erected for the express purpose of establishing the right of the settler to an uncertain quantity of government land. McCann transformed the lastnamed cabin into a home for his family and moved into it. These were the first attempts at civilization in what was subsequently to be the villages of Eau Claire, and fiinally the present city. Thus it will be seen that Stephen S. McCann and Jeremiah Thomas were the first actual settlers in this region. The main object of this firm in locating at this place was to build a sawmill and manufacture lumber from the logs obtained from the pine forests on the Eau Claire river and its tributaries. The product could be easily and inexpensively floated down the Chippewa to markets on the Mississippi river. They had not, however, the adequate means to launch such an enterprise, but were successful in starting two logging camps on the Eau Claire for the Avinter's work. In the following year, Simon and George W. Randall secured a half interest in the claim of McCann & Thomas at the mouth of the Eau Claire. They associated themselves together under the firm name of McCann, Randall & Thomas. The construction of a dam and sawmill was at once begun by them on the site of what was later on the Eau Claire Lumber Company's waterpower mill. The dam was completed in October, 1846.

Thomas E. Randall conducted the first religious services here. They "were started in September of this year at the residence of S. S. McCann, and were continued each alternate Sunday until the setting in of winter, when a severe illness prevented the continuation of them. The first wedding in Eau Claire took place in the fall of the same year. The parties to it were George W.

Eau Claire Prick To Incorporation 351

Randall imd Miss Mary LaPoint, of Prairie du Chien. The eereiiioiiy was performed at the home (a very comfortable dwelling ill those primitive times) of Mr. and Mrs. McCann by Jacob W. Bass, of Chippewa Falls, who had received from the governor of the territory a commission as justice of the peace. The marriage was looked upon as a notable event in those days, and was made the occasion of unusual festivities, f^he bridegroom's brother, riimou Randall, found it desirable to go and do likewise in the same winter. He chose for his bride one of the Indian maidens of the forest, but however securely the nuptial knot was tied, they were not long to remain united. Death stepped in and claimed the young wife for its own a few months afterward. The funeral services were performed by Thomas E. Randall, and this was the first funeral that occurred in the settlement.

In the fall of 1845, the first preliminary step was taken to construct a dam and improve the "Lower Dell" of the Chippewa, a short distance north of its confluence with the Eau Claire. H. S. Allen and G. S. Branham were at that time associated in business on Wilson's creek, in close proximity to the now city of Menomonie. They had by their lumbering operations accumulated considerable capital, and in the folloAving winter prospected with the view to investing it in some more extensive enterprise than they had been engaged in. They associated with themselves Simon and George "W. Randall under the firm name of Allen, Branham & Randall. After a thorough examination of all the numerous eligible locations, they fixed upon the lower dells as the best place on the river where logs could be safely handled in all stages of the river. Their plan of operation was to erect a dam half the distance across the river, thence a side or wing dam near the raft channel to the head or iipper reef of rocks on the dells, and by a low dam across to the opposite bank, raise a sufficient head of water Avithout interrupting navigation for boats and rafts. Every arrangement was made to carry the undertaking to completion. Timber was got out near the Half Moon lake for the construction of a large sawmill there. Having proceeded thus far, the parties, Avho had personal interests to look after, separated to do so. Work Avas suspended on the supposition that it Avould be resumed in the spring. The first ncAvs, hoAVever, that came up the river AA'hen that time came Avas that the Avhole project had been abandoned ; that the firm had dissolved, and that Mr. Allen, Avho Avas tlie head of it, had associated himself Avith Mr. Bass at the falls.

dents of the embryo village, owing to the intensely cold weather. Scarcely any snow fell, but the rivers were frozen to their beds. The spring was quite as remarkable for lack of rain, especially during the months of April and May. The evening of June 5 was, however, visited by one of the most terrible thunderstorms on record in the valley. The rain came down in torrents until the following morning was well advanced toward noon, accompanied by vivid lightning and heavy peals of thunder. The storm was reported by eye-witnesses to have been fearful. The Chippewa rose twelve feet and was covered with driftwood, logs and the debris of piers and booms from the falls. Thomas E. Randall, in his history of the Chippewa valley, says: "In my endeavors to save part of my boom, I was taken into the wild and surging current on it as it fidatcd away. I have been on many log drives, and often placed in positions of extreme peril, but never has death stared me more directly in the face than while afloat on the frail boom - bent, crushed and broken, between masses of logs and driftwood. I could do nothing with it, and on and on it went, with the rapidity of a railway train, passing repeatedly under the branches of reclining trees. I lay flat on my face and clung to those strained timbers, well knowing that once in that boiling flood, no skill in the art of swimming could save me from a watery grave ; but, as the fates would have it, my rickety craft shot like an arrow out of the current and went ashore at the eddy where Sherman's mill was afterward built."

By noon of that day every log, pier and boom on the Eau Claire was swept away by the fast swelling flood. In another hour the new double sawmill that had just been erected and was ready to be operated was borne almost bodily away by the resistless current. The results of the labor and savings of years were gone forever, and the firm of McCann, Randall & Thomas, with liabilities to meet, found themselves in a bankrupt condition. A dissolution of the partnership was the result. J. C. Thomas went back to the Blue Mill, and S. S. McCann engaged in farming on Eagle prairie above the falls. George W. and Simon Randall entered into co-partnership with Philo Stone and II. Cady. They built the mill on the Eau Claire in the winter of 1847-48.

Philo Stone and his brother Roswell Stone came from Vermont in 1838 and engaged in hunting on the river and adjacent country. The former was turbulent, but brave to a degree, small in stature and quick as lightning; he never avoided a contest, being always victorious. He had a full-blooded squaw for a housekeeper Avhoni he trained to considerable domestic useful- iiess. Such a course was quite common among the early white settlers, lie had for a while operated a tavern at Dunnville, previously belonging to Arthur McCann. New settlers were steadily arriving, and among them were J. J. Gage, James Reed and Captain Dix. They purchased the lower mill site and built a dam and mill where the Eau Claire Lumber Company's flouring-mill afterward stood.

Mrs. J. P. Stein, who lives about one mile north of the village of Cochrane, Wisconsin, it seems, was the first white woman who had a permanent residence and settled within the present limits or site of the city of Eau Claire, and her son, John A. Stein, who resides in this vicinity, is probably the first white child born there.

Mrs. J. P. Stein (nee Ann Elizabeth Bock) was born in the village of Rasdorf, near the city of Fulda Cur Hessia, Germany, April 17, 1818, where she obtained a fairly good common school education. In 1844, when 26 years of age, she decided to leave the fatherland, and landed in New York city the same year, going from there via the Eria canal to Buffalo, New York, the trip taking one week on the canal boat. Here she received a position as cook for the family of Captain Day, an army physician, stationed at Detroit, Michigan, and later going with this family to Allegheny Arsenal, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here she made the acquaintance of J. P. Stein, who was a blacksmith liolding a position in the United States arsenal there.

When the Mexican war broke out, Mr. Day was ordered to the front, and not wishing to accompany him, she quit her position, and in company with Mr. Stein went west, locating in Fort Madison, Iowa, where they were married. This was early in the spring of 1848. They moved from Port Madison to Galena, Illinois, and here they met a Mr. Knapp from Fort Madison, to whom Mr. Stein hired out and at once started north with him, i\Irs. Stein remaining at Galena. They landed at Nelson, Wisconsin, where Mr. Gilbert kept a stopping place or hotel. Here Mr. Stein met a Mr. Cady, who was in search of a blacksmith to woi-k for a company which was erecting a small sawmill a short distance above the junction of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers, where later the water-mill of the Eau Claire Lumber Company was constructed. The company consisted of Captain Dix, who -was at the head of it ; Messrs. Cady, Gage, Swimm, Philo Stone, George and Simon Randall. Mr. Stein at once hired out to this company, he as a blacksmith and mechanic, and his wife to do the cooking for the members of the company who were not married, one of the Randalls being married to a half-breed woman. Mr. Stein at once returned to Galena ; started by steamboat for their destination, landing at Nelson, Wisconsin, stopping with Gilbert until the company came down with a keel boat after them, it taking several days to make the trip up the Chippewa to the junction. The company had built many log cabins, one of which they occupied. They landed on the seventh day of May, 1848, she doing the cooking, and Mr. Stein the blacksmith work for the company. During the first summer, however, they built their own cabin and moved into it in the fall, and in this cabin their eldest son, John A., was born. His birth occurred November 1, 1848, and he, Mrs. Stein thinks, was the first white child born in the city of Eau Claire. She remembers no other settlements on the Chippewa at this time excepting one about twelve miles north of the then called "Allen's Mills" (the present site of Chippewa Falls). Mr. H. S. Allen then operated a sawmill where Menomonie now is. Four men from Prairie du Chien had built the mill at Chippewa Falls, and a Frenchman by the name of Brunat operated it. Mr. and Mrs. Stein, while living on the Eau Claire, acquired the Chippewa and Sioux languages, and did a lot of trading with the Indians, thereby making good money. They lived here until the fall of 1850, when they decided to give up their positions with the company and move to Wabasha, Minnesota. The company being unable to pay them any money, they took their pay in lumber, which was rafted, and they, in company with a half-breed Indian by the name of Peter Ortobee, piloted a raft to Galena, Illinois, Avhere they sold the lumber and came back to Wabasha, built a cabin and lived the winter of 1850 and '51, in the spring moving to the farm where she now resides and has lived ever since. Mrs. Stein relates many thrilling experiences during her two and a half years' residence in Eau Claire, especially with the Indians, the Sioux and Chippewas being constantly at war with each other. She remembers well when, in the fall of 1849, the two tribes had a peace conference at Eau Claire, the tribes being engaged in great festivities, during which both chiefs left their headdress in her care. Although 96 years of age, Mrs. Stein's memory is very good now (1914), and she would be willing to answer any questions asked her in connection with her residence there. She says she has never met any of that company except Mr. Swimm, who visited them some time in the early sixties, he then being a farmer somewhere between Mondovi and Eau Claire. [The above is principally taken from Mrs. Stein's own story of her experiences.] The lumbering business continued to gradually increase, but there was no communication with the outside world, except bywater or private conveyance, until 1850, when a mail route was ordered by Congress from Prairie du Chien, and a post-office shortly afterward established in the village. This was an important event in its history, and gave an impetus to its early progress. From this time to 1854, nothing of general public interest occurred in the settlement. Some changes, however, took place in regard to the ownership of the mill property. H. Cady sold out his interest in the mill on the Eau Claire to a young man named Swimra, and Simon Randall parted with his share to Mr. Pope and purchased that of Captain Dix in tlie mill on the lower dam. These new firms carried on business under the respective names of Gage, Reed & Randall and Stone, Swimm & Co. Like all other lumbering firms, these men were compelled to seek credit for merchandise, etc., during the winter months, while trade was at a standstill with them. Among others who furnished them with goods was a ]Mr. Sincere, of Galena, then the center of lumbermen's supplies. He had exacted the promise that his account should be liquidated out of the proceeds of the first raft that went down the river in the spring. Several other creditors hild similar claims, and Mr. Swimm found it necessary to ask ]\lr. Sincere to wait for payment until the second raft went down. Instead of compljang with this request, he procured a warrant luider the laws then existing in Illinois, and lodged his debtor in prison, although no fraud had been attempted. There he remained until his partners secured his release.

The Rev. Thomas Barland, a Congregationalist, who had settled on a farm two miles from the village in the fall of 1819, was the first man to conduct a regular Protestant church service in Eau Claire. The meetings were held in Gage & Reed's boardinghouse (the site of the Eau Claire Grocery Company's building on Eau Claire street) during the winter of 1852-53. The same thing had been attempted by a Methodist minister named Mayne in the previous summer. A Catholic mission was, however, established on what was afterward known as the North Side, in 1850, a part of which Avas, a little later on, laid out and platted by Augustus Iluysen and W. T. Galloway. The mission flourished and developed into St. Patrick's Churcli. This was the first sacred edifice built in Eau Claire. "^ - In 1855, W. H. Gleason and R. F. Wilson negotiated with the owners, J. J. Gage and James Reed, for, and obtained, a half interest in the town plat of Eau Claire known as East Eau Claire. By agreement, it was immediately surveyed by the first-named parties and recorded at Chippewa Falls, the then county seat, as the village of Eau Claire, the first in the valley, with the names of W. II. Gleason, E. F. Wilson, J. J. Gage and James Reed as proprietors. Congress had, in March, 1856, passed an act donating all the alternate sections of land embraced within certain parallels along the lines of certain proposed railroads therein described in trust to the state of Wisconsin. One of these roads, commencing at Portage City, was to extend to Tomah, and thence to St. Croix county. This branch was designated in the charter of 1857 as the Western Wisconsin Railroad. Ten years was the time fixed upon within which it was to be completed. The valley had to be crossed at some point, and speculators were everywhere on the alert to know where that particular point was to be, especially as the general supposition was that the road would be constructed forthwith. Some of the wildest and most visionary schemes ever generated in the mind of man owed their birth to this land grant, which was conferred upon an organization known as the Milwaukee & LaCrosse Railroad Company, at the head of which was Byron Kilbourne, of Milwaukee. Stock was issued to the extent of several thousand dollars. The undertaking was boomed to the utmost extent. Various routes for the road were considered, some crossing the Chippewa from above and others below the falls. Reports were circulated that surveys were being made in several sections, and speculation was rife.

Early in the summer of this .year, Stone, Swimm & Co. sold the mill owned and operated by them to Carson, Eaton & Downs, of Eau Galle. They immediately repaired and remodeled it, putting in the latest improved sawmill machinery, and invested liberally in pine lands on the streams tributary to Eau Claire. At this period there was not a dry-goods store, nor even a blacksmith shop, nor any business, in fact, outside the manufacturing of lumber, existing in the locality. The population was estimated at one hundred. Two houses only were owned in the village, and the whole volume of capital invested there did not exceed !ii20,000. Adin Randall came from Madison and began the erection of the Eau Claire House. E. E. Shaw and Henry Huntington started a store on a small scale, afterward the American House, and latterly the Hart House, and Chapin M. Seely erected a residence house, all on the east side. It was finished for occupation the following spring, and M'as the first plastered building in Eau Claire. The first death and burial of a white man, William Reed, occurred in June, 1855.

The year 1856 was quite an eventful one, and the new village, proud of its position, began to show unmistakable signs of prosperity. New settlers came in, and there was a general movement forward. An added impetus was created when the legislature, having this year created the county of Eau Claire, selected this village as the county seat. According to the provisions of the act for the organization of the county, an election of officers was held on the last Tuesday of December, 1856, and the town board of tlie town of Eau Claire was constituted the county board until the next annual election. The town boai'd was represented by C. M. Seeley, chairman; E. W. Robbins and M. A. Page, supervisors. The officers elected were : treasurer, Adin Randall ; county clerk, C. F. Babeock ; register of deeds, C. H. Howard ; clerk of the circuit court, Mr. Olin.

Gage & Reed disposed of their entire interest in the mills, pine lands and half the village plat to Chapman & Thorp, who, during the first year, entrusted the whole business to Gilbert E. Porter, of Michigan, a young man full of energy and capacity, who afterward became a prominent citizen. The Eau Claire House was completed by Adin Randall and opened for business. The first bauk was started under the free banking law with the title of the Bank of Eau Claire. W. H. Gleason was president, and C. H. (Jlcnson cashier. Its principal manager was C. M. Seeley, who liad liad considerable experience in the matter of finance, and was to all appearani'c cautious and conservative in his business methods. As a consequence confidence was inspired in the institution.

Daniel Shaw located a sawmill at what was called Shawtown, on the west side. He soon proved himself to be an important accession to Eau Claire, and his operations were among the first incentives to the growth of the west side to its present dimensions and popularity as a residence location. Ingram, Kennedy & Dole purchased the site for their first mill at this time, and a small mill was put up by Adin Randall. He had the west side platted in August of this year (1856) by Frank Moore and W. W. Spear, and recorded it as Eau Claire City, but it was more familiarly known as Randall Town for a number of years. The land was covered with brush at this time, without a finished building on it. By the fall of the following year about thirty houses had been erected, but fiirther progress in this direction was ultimately checked for some time when it was discovered that Adin Randall had executed a mortgage on the whole of the land, and no title could be given to intending purchasers. Mr. Thomas E. Randall, in his story, says of him that he was "a strange com- position of reckless energy, of daring enterprise, with want of punctuality, or an adaptation of means to end. With many good business traits, he lacked some element of success that made him always unsafe, and lost to him the confidence of the business community."

Permission was given to Adin Randall by the board of supervisors in the following March to operate a ferry across the Chippewa river between the east and west sides of the city. Reed's Hall, which became famous by reason of the meetings held in it, was erected in 1857 and opened on September 15 of that year. It was burned down in April, 1869. The following winter, 1857- 58, a school was opened in what is now the second ward. This building was afterward known as the Universalist Church. The seed of the first Methodist Episcopal Church was sown on the east side in the fall of 1858, which also has to its record the arrival of the first Norwegian settler, S. A. Lund. The Eau Claire "Times" was started in August, 1857, and the Eau Claire "Free Press" in the folloAving October. A number of efforts were made to establish similar enterprises about that time, but they lacked support. Another bank came into existence this year, that of Hall & Brother, wlio were non-residents. Its manager was D. R. Moon. This and the one previously mentioned were banks of issue. The terrible convulsions in the financial and commercial world that set in this year came with a crushing effect on these institutions, and they were forced into liquidation. W. H. Gleason, who was president of the Eau Claire Bank, and R. F. Wilson were proprietors of half the village on the east side. Flushed with siiecess of their speculations during the previous eighteen months, they were ambitious for fresh operations. Unfortunately for them and their connections, they acted precipitately on an unverified report that the Tomah and St. Croix Railroad would cross the Chippewa at O 'Neil's creek, and invested $20,000 in lands at that point. A village plat had been laid out and recorded at ChippeAva city, a few lots sold, a saloon or two started and a state bank. That was all. Byron Kilbourne's organization vanished into air, and, like the baseless fabric of a vision, left not a cent behind. The bank of Mr. Gleason, it was claimed, was compelled to siispend mainly by reason of the withdrawal of deposits to embark in Chippewa city property.

The firm of Chapman & Thorp had, early in the season of 1857, purchased the entire interest of Carson & Eaton in the Eau Claire mill, pine lands, power, etc., for $125,000, and began the construction of a steam mill on the site of their lower mill. Tlie subsequent tightness of the money market forced them into pecuniary difficulties, and they were only saved from bankruptcy through the temporary assistance of friends in the East. The first shipment of wheat from this point occurred this year. It is true that it was only a few hundred bushels, but in 1861 it had increased to 150,000 bushels.

A bill was introduced in Congress this year by C. C. Washburn for the creation of a new land district in and in close proximity to the valley, with Chippewa Falls as its headquarters. Just before its final passage, Eau Claire was offered as a substitute. A strong fight was made by the respective partisans of each village. Ultimately it was agreed to refer the point to the Pi-esident of the United States, who decided in favor of Eau Claire. Dr. W. T. Galloway was appointed registrar, and N. B. Boyden receiver. The Methodist Episcopal Church inaugurated a school on the west side in 1857 known as the Methodist Institute, and erected the necessary building, aided by a local subscription and a contribution from an eastern educational fund. It was conducted with considerable ability for several years, and did a large amount of good. The introduction of the public graded school system superseded its iisefulness, and it was ultimately sold to the city and was occupied temporarily by the high school of Eau Claire.

Among the settlers in the village in 1857 were the Rev. A. Kidder and family, Joseph G. Thorp and family, Peter Wyckoff, the Jackson brothers, John Wilson, George A. Buffington, Dr. F. R. Skinner, W. P. Bartlett and Alex. Meggett. During the winter of 1857-58 many of the villagers had to mutually assist each other, owing to the depressed condition of the money market and commercial interests. Credit was, temporarily, an unknown quantity.

The lands of the Fox River Improvement Company were in the market to a limited extent in 1859, and the business of disposing of some of them was transacted at the land office on Eau Claire street. By the terms of the grant, the lands could not be pre-empted by actual settlers, but could be covered by land warrants, which was issued in great quantities. N. B. Boyden was the receiver at this period. One night near the time the returns were due at Washington, the office was broken into by burglars, the safe blown open and a large sum of money taken. The loss fell upon the government. A stage route was established in this year between Eau Claire and Wabasha, and the first graded school opened on the west side. The second Aletho- dist Episcopal Chureli was orgauized iu 1861, located on the west side. What is now the Eau Claire National Bank was organized by C. C. Spafford in this year.

Reference has already been made to the grant of land by Congress in 1856 for the construction of a railroad from Portage City to the Mississippi at LaCrosse, wdth a branch from Tomah to the St. Croix river. The scheme collapsed. In March, 1863, several business men of St. Croix, Dunn, Chippewa, Eau Claire and Jackson counties, among whom were D. A. Baldwin, Capt. William Wilson, J. G. Thorp, H. S. Allen and W. T. Price, promoted a new organization to construct that part of the road from Tomah to the St. Croix. It was incorporated under legislative act at the date named with the title of the Tomah & St. Croix Railway Company. The first meeting was held at Durand on July 9 of that year. At the next session of the legislature, the land grant was conferred upon the company with the right of way and the privilege of locating the line on its present course, except that its terminus was to be at Tomah. Subsequently, the line was changed, leaving the original line at Warrens and running to Camp Douglas on the Milwaukee road. It was determined by the courts that the terminus could not be thus changed, and settlement, however, was finally made by which the change became legalized. The grant was renewed and the land exempted from taxes until 1870. The preliminary expenses in surveying the route, etc., were $20,000. D. A. Baldwin, of Hudson, had sufficient confidence in the success of the undertaking to advance the money. The work was done and the necessai'y maps prepared in 1864-65. The next step Avas to find capitalists who would invest the requisite funds to construct and equip the road. Mr. Baldwin was selected by the directors of the company to carry on the negotiations in this direction. After trips had been made to the principal eastern cities, and the Atlantic twice crossed, Mr. Baldwin's efforts were, after the labor of two years, crowned with success. Mr. Jacob Ilumbird, of Cumberland, Maryland, a prosperous railroad contractor, furnished the entire funds to complete the first thirty-two miles of track to Black River Palls, the payment of which, and all other sums for contract work, was secured by first mortgage on the roadbed. Before commencing operations, the name of the company had been changed to the West Wisconsin Railway by an act of the legislature. The road was completed to Augusta early in 1870, and in the following August the then welcome sound of the locomotive which connected it with the East Avas heard in Eau Claire. It was made the occasion of such rejoicing as has never been equalled in Eau Claire. A meeting of citizens was held at Marston's Hall on the evening of July 25, 1870, M'hen the subject was discussed, and the following committee appointed with full power to make all necessary arrangements to celebrate the event in a proper manner: Alexander Meggett, H. P. Graham, Daniel Shaw, Martin Daniels, George A. BufRngton, John Wordsworth Nelson, Texas Angel, Orrin H. Ingram, D. E. Brown, Ole Bruden and Matthias Leinenkugel. The reception and entertainment took place in the public park on the west side. Provisions were made for free entertainment by private hospitality of not less than 300 persons for not less than two days. The amount raised by voluntary subscription Avas $1,500, and was sufficient to defray the entire expense of the occasion. Not less than 3,000 guests were provided for and dined in a sumptuous manner, ladies presiding at the tables.

The electors of the county had voted in aid of this road the sum of $60,000 in bonds. By a trick, the wording of the resolution was made to read, "the county may issue bonds" to that amount, instead of "shall." Judge Mead and W. P. Bartlett each claim the credit for this deception. This aid was voted to secure the location of the road at Eau Claire instead of Chippewa Falls. The court decided that under the particular phraseology tlie county board had an option either to issue or refuse to issue the bonds. The county board, after the road Mas secured at Eau Claire, refused to issue the bonds, a clear case of repudiation.

The first congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1864, and the Second district school was established this year on Farwell street. It became well known as the Bartlett high school.

A destructive flood occurred in 1866 on the Chippewa liver. Jams of ice, logs and driftwood came down in such force that booms, piers and all other obstructions to the irresistible waters were carried away. Many thousand logs were deposited on tlie islands of the Mississippi.

The Dells Dam

Tlu- actual basis of the industries of the whole of Eau Claire was the immense forests of pine above it and tributary to the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers. The only method in those early days of securing the timber was to put it into the streams and float it down to the mills, whii^h were located at Eau Claire and below on the Chippewa river. This method was confined to seasons of freshets or high water. In order to secure the supply of logs that had been or were to be floated down the streams it was necessary originally that piers should be constructed in the streams and booms attached thereto, thus making a reservoir from which the logs would be taken into the mill and manufactured into lumber. In order that those belonging to each concern could be thus secured, they had to be taken from the mass of logs coming down the river and turned into such reservoirs, permitting those owned by other parties, as well as those bound for a distance below to pass without hindrance. Such method of securing logs was not only expensive and difficult when large quantities were floating in the stream, but a considerable portion of those belonging to the mill owner could not be secured and would pass beyond his booms or reservoir down the stream, and be lost, unless they were subsequently picked out and brailed or rafted and disposed of to parties operating on the Mississippi river. ''

In order, therefore, to successfully operate the mills at Eau Claire, it became imperative that some other means should be provided by which the logs destined for manufacture at Eau Claire could be safely secured and deposited, so that each mill could and would receive what was destined for it. At an early date this was attempted by excavating a canal from the river, commencing near the mill of Smith and Buffington, into Half Moon lake, a distance of 100 rods or more, such lake forming a natural reservoir for an almost unlimited quantity. This was not a complete success for two reasons. First was the fact that the lake was considerably higher than the river, and the river had to be at a flood of twelve or more feet in order to obtain a current through the canal. Second, when the logs were floating in the river in great quantities, the piers and booms constructed in the river for the purpose of turning the logs into the canal were inadequate, and the logs would become jammed, and the pocket thus made become full, and the logs not held therein would pass by and down the stream. It therefore became an imperative necessity to the operation of the mills and the growth and prosperity of Eau Claire, that other means must be provided for securing logs. The Dells, so called, rapids in the Chippewa river, seemed to be a natural place for a safe and secure resei'- voir. At that point there were high, rocky banks; the river narrow, with a rock bed, and hence a dam at that place would create slack water for several miles up the stream. The construction of a canal or flume from the dam to Half Moon Lake, a distance of nearly a mile, through which the logs destined for the mills on the west side could be passed when assorted, would solve the difficult problem of which we have spoken. In order to accomplish this, liowever, as the Chippewa was a navigable stream, not only for saw logs, but, in the extreme high water, for small steamboats, with great effort the consent of the legislature had to be obtained. At that time, though since exploded, it was thought that even the legislature was powerless to grant the right or privilege. That to stop logs destined for points below, even for the limited time required to assort them, was an obstruction to navigation, which, under the ordinance of 1787, providing that the waters of the Mississippi and its tributaries should ever remain free, could not be granted.

It would seem that the project would not have met with opposition from any source, other than such as was engaged in navigation. Not so, however. About ten miles above was the village of Chippewa Falls. Its citizens would not be affected by the proposed improvement Mdiich meant so much for Eau Claire. A large sawmill was located there, operated by the Hrm of Pound & Halbert, who had constructed a dam completely across the river with only a slide therein upon which lumber manufactured at points above, at Yellow River and Jims Falls, i-ould pass. They also had piers and booms in the river by which logs destined for points below were detained until they were assorted from the mass and placed in their storage booms what was their own.

It was proposed by the interests at Eau Claire, to not only put in a slide for the passage of lumber in the dam, but also a lock through which boats, if any should want to ascend the river, could be passed through, and with this proposition they sought a grant or license from the legislature at its session in 1866, to construct such a dam, flume and necessary piers as has been stated.

It should be stated that there existed a rivalry between the two localities, Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, and that rivalry was so extreme on the part of the citizens of Chippewa Falls that it prompted them, at the instigation largely of Thad. C. Pound, to oppose the construction of such improvement at the Dells, not on the ground of any injury to them or their village, but solely on the ground that it would be the means of the building up of a large business center of Eau Claire, and make it the leading point for the manufacture of lumber in the north- western part of the state. It would thus outstrip its rival in this respect. The opposition to the improvement, as stated, was one of jealousy, pure and simple.

The legislature, after the most stubborn opposition on the part of Mr. Pound and his followers, defeated the measure. The measure Avas defeated again in 1870. In 1871 the franchise was granted by the legislature, but was promptly vetoed by Governor Fairchild. It should be stated here that Mr. Pound was not only a lumberman but a very prominent republican politician, a genial fellow and of considerable influence with his party. Al the next session of the legislature the franchise was granted and the bill signed by the governor.

The separate villages of Eau Claire, Eau Claire City and North Eau Claire, the latter not incorporated, were incorporatetr as a city in March, 1872. The effort at this time was in the name of the city, ostensibly for the purpose of creating a waterworks system for the city. Incidentally for the booming, assorting and storing of logs, as well as the improvement of the navigation of the river. Tliis bill was attacked in the Supreme Court by the opposition, and by the court declared invalid on the ground that the primary purpose of the bill, as appeared from its text, was the booming and storage of logs, and the matter of waterworks was secondary. At the next session this defect in the bill was remedied, the waterworks being made the primary purpose, and the lumber interests the incidental purpose. To remove all question as to the validity of the latter measure and to forestall any further eff'ort on the part of the Chippewa Palls people, the writer obtained the consent of the attorney general and in behalf of Ely and Vail, non-resident owners of land in Eau Claire, applied to the supreme court for an injunction to prevent the building of the dam by the city on the ground that the act was void, using all the arguments of the Chippewa Falls people in prior contests, and succeeded in being defeated (a paradox), the court upholding the validity of the act.

It may be of interest to here refer to the circumstances attending its passage and showing by what a narrow margin it escaped defeat. Mr. Pound had succeeded in postponing final action upon the bill in the Senate until the evening of the last day of the session, the bill having passed the Assembly eai'ly in the session by a large majority. In the Senate the friends of the measure lacked one vote of the necessary two-thirds to suspend the rules, and hence it appeared almost hopeless in the evening before the session to make any attempt to pass the bill. To say that its friends were discouraged is putting it very mild, indeed. The writer alone insisted upon continuing the fight to the last ditch, but with only the slight hope that some accident or unforeseen event might occur to our advantage. Senator Rice, of Waukesha, had charge of the bill, and the writer was to assist him in the parliamentary fight. Mr. Pound's tactics was to talk the bill to its death, and the senator from Columbus was selected to obtain the floor and talk and not sit down until both hands of the clock was at the hour of twelve. He obtained the floor, commenced his harangue, when it was noticed one of their supporters. Senator Barny, was not in his seat. The sergeant-at-arms was dispatched in haste to bring in the delinquent senator. He was finally corralled and brought to his seat, the senator from Columbus in the meantime still holding the floor. As Senator Barny reached his seat he immediately began addressing the chair. Tlie senator from Columbus, knowing he was friendly, slowly dropped into his seat, the chair recognizing Senator Barny. As Barny concluded, quick as a flash, and before the senator from Columbus could rise, the writer prompted Senator Rice to rise and obtain recognition from the chair (the late Judge Barron occupying it), which he did, and moved a suspension of the rules. This created a flurry in the enemy's camp, L. C. Stanley, of Chippewa Falls, immediately springing to the side of Senator Quimby. from Sauk county, and engaged his attention. In the meantime the call of the roll proceeded and the clerk announced that the rules were suspended. It appeared that Senator Quimby was so engaged with Mr. Stanley that when his name was called he did not pay attention to it and did not vote. After the vote was announced Quimby claimed the right to vote. The chair ruled that he had no authority to grant him that right after the result had been declared, but he would leave it to the Senate whether he should at that stage be permitted to vote. This, of course, required a majority vote, and hence not having a majority, the majority, disgusted at the method of filibustering to defeat the bill, voted against the motion. Senator Rice stood in his position to the end, the rules were suspended and the measure passed in regular order in quick time.

We all thought that danger of defeat was passed. The friends of the measure, after an elaborate banquet, departed for their homes, except the writer and one other, the duty of having the bill properly signed and placed in the office of -the Secretary of State being imposed upon the writer. Eau Claire was all ablaze with joy and enthusiasm. The most elaborate preparations were being made for a monster celebration. It was complete and the people in mass assembled on the day the word was expected that the bill had been signed.

However, there was not only delay, but danger. Taylor was Governor. H. S. Palmer was the leading democrat in the state. John C. Spooner was a leading republican. They appeared before the Governor and made a plea for a veto. They had the ear of the Governor. The writer was there alone to oppose. Palmer and Spooner argued that the bill Avas unconstitutional. The writer not only argued the contrary, but tried to impress upon the Governor that the able lawyers in both branches of the legislature on the judiciary committee had determined the bill was valid, and it would seem highly injudicious for him, not being a lawyer, to disagree with them. The Governor hesitated. I kncMthe inriuence against us was strong. We Avere all democrats but Spooner. I urged him not to weaken our party. After we had left the executive chamber, I returned. I felt the Governor would veto the bill, and I asked him if there was any lawyer in the state whose opinion he would respect, and eliminate what Palmer, Spooner and myself had urged. He finally said there was one man, and that was Judge Miller, of the United States Court, in Milwaukee. He consented to wait until his opinion could be obtained. I immediately went to Milwaukee, saw Judge Miller. He kindly consented to come to Madison. He came that night, and I received word late that night to meet the Governor at eight o'clock in the morning and he would sign the bill. I was there promptly and the Governor signed it and handed it to nie, and I personally carried it into the office of the Secretary of State.

The most critical period in the history of Eau Claire was tlie spring of 1867. During the previous winter parties represented by one Bacon and Davis had put into the upper waters of the Chippewa a considerable quantity of saw logs for the purpose of driving, them down the Chippewa past Eau Claire and turning them into Beef Slough, through which considcvable of the water flowed, the slough leaving the main stn'iiiu ;i IVw miles above its mouth and entered into the Mississippi a short distance from Alma, the slough foi-ming a natural reservoir for logs where at its mouth the logs could be rafted and floated to mills on the Mississippi. It was the purpose, and such would be its effect, to make a log-driving stream of the Chippewa and destroy the )uanufacturing industries along the Chippewa river. It would not necessarily have this effect if tliere were facilities along the river at manufacturing points lawfully exercised to hold logs a sufficient time to allow them to be assorted, passing those destined for points below. But the purpose was, as stated, to make the stream, as had been done with Black river, exclusively a logdriving stream where logs could be driven throughout its length without any hindrance or delay. In the spring of 1867 Bacon and Davis started their drive. The first obstruction they met was at the mill of French & Giddings located at Jim's Falls, several miles above Chippewa Falls. They had employed a large force of drivers, and without any ceremony cut the booms of French & Giddings, thus releasing all their logs as well as those of their own. They came down the river doing the same with all the booms as far as the Eau Claire county line, intending to do the same with all booms in Eau Claire and below, of which there were a large number. The result was that the river at Eau Claire was one mass of floating logs extending from bank to bank, which made it impossible to any great extent to utilize the Half Moon lake canal. The owners of mills on the Chippewa realized that unless something was done to stay the operations of this lawless band that financial ruin was the inevitable i-esult; that their mills were worthless ; that manufacturing lumber on the river was at an end. It was pitiful as we stood upon the dam at the inlet of Half Moon lake canal on that Sunday morning to see, among others, Daniel Shaw, C. A. Bullen, 0. H. Ingram, Donald Kennedy, George A. Buffington and Stephen Marston, each with pike pole in hand, attempting to push a few of their logs through the canal into Half iloon lake. The writer had never seen logs floated, assorted or secured before. He had but recently come to Eau Claire. As he stood iipon the dam in wonder and surprise why such operations were permitted which caused so much destruction and such ruin, he asked why it was permitted to be done, and received the reply that advice had been taken and they were powerless to prevent it. He replied that was strange. If there was no law in Wisconsin to prevent such lawlessness it was no place for him. He was asked if he could stop it, to which he replied he could or would move out of the state. To be brief, arrangement was made to meet him at his office at a later hour. In the meantime he had satisfied himself there was a remedy under Wisconsin laws of which he did not have much doubt at any time. At that meeting the parties Avere told that in view of the situation not only prompt but severe measures must be resorted to. He outlined his plan. To issue warrants for the arrest of Bacon and Davis and put them under bonds to keep the peace.

To have the sheriff call out a posse eommitatus, arm them and be present at the first boom in Eau Claire county, which was that ot L. W. Farwell, and as the lawless band of drivers reached that boom to arrest them all as being engaged in a riot which the statutes clearly defined. Bacon and Davis were arrested at two o'clock Monday morning as tliey came to the Eau Claire House from the scene of their operations above. The crew of drivers had not reached the Farwell boom at this time. The sheriff had called out more than 250 men, and every man was armed with a rifle or shotgun. Not one shirked. The remaining booms in Eau Claire were to be protected at all hazards. Bacon and Davis were early in the morning brought before R. H. Copeland, a justice of the peace, who fixed their bonds at $20,000. They saw the temper of the people, the 200 or more armed men parading the street ; they realized there was not only danger to their crew but possibly to themselves. Dr. W. T. Galloway, a personal friend of Davis, became their bondsman. Finally they agreed, if their men would not be molested and their personal safety guaranteed, to withdraw their men and resume their drive only at the southern extremity of the county.

The end, however, was not yet. The next year they threatened to drive the Menomonie river, but learning that Knapp, Stout & Co. had secured a stand of arms from the state, and realizing that any such attempt would be met by force, they abandoned it. However, they threatened the Chippewa again, and this time to cut the booms of the Union Lumber Company at Chippewa Palls. The writer was called in and in a stormy interview with Mr. Bacon the latter was told that Chippewa Falls was prepared with arms that had been sent to Menomonie, and that the temper of the people at Chippewa was the same as that of Eau Claire, which he had seen. The result Avas that all attempts thereafter to cut booms and make a log-driving stream, except a little threat made by one Alonzo Shrinker, who was president of the Beef Slough Company or Mississippi Lumber Company, were abandoned.

Referring again to the Dells dam, in order to comply witli the decision of the Supreme Court, it was thought to be necessary that the city be clothed with all the rights and property, not only such as were essential to the construction and operation of waterworks, but also the booming and assorting of logs. To this end the Half Moon Lake Canal Company conveyed its rights to the city. The millowners had spent a large amount of money, in the aggregate at least $75,000, in the several attempts to obtain the franchise aud the litigation growing out of it. The city issued its bonds to the amount of $95,000, the proceeds to be used in construction of the proposed dam.

A corporation was formed to construct the dam and lo operate it, the city to construct its own waterworks except certain M-aterwheels in consideration of the $95,000 for which the city was bonded, and also when completed the works were to be leased to the company for the sum of one dollar per year for the terra of ninety-nine years, and in addition the water rights aud privileges other than such as was required by the city for waterworks. The flowage rights were to be obtained by the city but paid for by the Improvement Company. The works as constructed comprised a dam sixteen feet in height across the river, necessary booms and piers for holding and assorting logs, and a canal or liume from the west end of the dam to Half Moon lake. The expense of the dam and works was considerable in excess of the $95,000 which was paid by the Improvement Company.

The Mississippi River Logging Company, a corporation created under the laws of Iowa, succeeded to the property and rights by lease or purchase of the original parties holding and operating Beef slough. The millowners on the Mississippi river still longed for the volume of pine adjacent to the Chippewa river. Some of them had made large purchases on their own account. Realizing that any further attempt to drive the Chippewa by force would be futile, they resorted to another scheme which proved eminently successful. The plan was for practically all the Mississippi millowners to join with those at Eau Clpire in a common pool. That is, the operations should be carried on in the name of the Mississippi River Logging Company, in whose name the purchase of timber and logs should be made, each subscriber to have a certain interest in the assets ai-cording to his subscription, and entitled to a certain quantity of the logs to be manufactured by him to be taken from the common mass. This scheme proved attractive to the millowners at Eau Claire It saved part of the expense of handling logs. It assured to them at all times a stock of logs. It removed all opposition to holding logs in check at the Dells for a sufficient time to turii logs as required into their reservoir, principally Half Moon lake. By reason of the extensive holdings and purchase of logs by the company, its immense resources in the way of money, logs could be secured at practically their own price. There was no other market for the independent logger. He must sell his logs to the pool or not sell at all. It was the most complete monopoly that ever existed in any branch of trade. Its restraint of trade was never equalled. The advantage on the part of the millowners upon the Mississippi was in thus being able to get their supply of logs from the Chippewa without serious opposition on the part of the millowners upon that stream. In securing all that interest as friends instead of foes, their interest in the concern was practically in proportion eight to one. The result was not only the making of millionaires of those who became members of the monopoly, but to rapidly denude the forest of pine, some eight hundred million feet passing out of the state each year to be manufactured, and thus to limit the period in which manufacture of lumber could be carried on within the state. To deprive the state and locality of the incidental benefits ai'ising from manufacture in the -way of employment of labor, the increase in population, the increase of manufacture, and the revenue by means of taxation. It was a partial paralysis of the growth and development of Eau Claire.

To be able to successfully carry out this scheme, the extensive mill and works and the large holdings of pine of the Union Lumber Company at Chippewa Falls were purchased by the same interest, but in the name of a separate corporation, the Chippewa P'alls Lumber and Boom Company. Extensive dams were constructed on the main Chij^pewa and its branches for flooding purposes, and to further obtain complete control of the stream, another corporation, merely in name, was formed to monopolize the floating of the logs, named the Chippewa River Log Driving Company.

As a temporary bait to the citizens of Eau Claire and to stifle opposition on their part, it was proposed to locate the office of this great concern at Eau Claire. It was never intended to be permanent. Tlie office of the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company was necessarily at Chippewa. The business and interest of the two concerns was common and it would not be good business judgment to have the offices of the two concerns at difi:erent places. However, the greed of this giant monopoly is not only apparent from the immense profits realized, but was made apparent at that day and continuously thereafter by the fact that it refused to pay taxes upon its property. It was found that it had 125,000,000 feet of logs that year by the records, although it had in fact twice that quantity. The authorities at Eau Claire, as was their bouuden duty, assessed it for this holding of 125,000,- 000 feet. Then came the direct threat in which the membei's from Eau Claire joined, that if the assessment was insisted upon the office would be removed to Chippewa Falls. No attention was paid to this threat, the assessment stood and in a few days the clerks, typewriters and the few articles of furniture of the office of two small rooms were taken to Chippewa Falls, leaving behind only the threat of Weyerhauser, the chief organizer, that he would make the grass grow in the streets of Eau Claire. When the tax thus levied became due, paj^ment was refused, and it was only after the safe and its contents of the company then at Chippewa Falls was seized for the tax that the tax was paid, amounting to nearly $12,000. The common council of Eau Claire, all but one of two-thirds of the members of that body, were either interested in the pool or controlled by some of the local members, adopted a resolution to refund the money thus collected. The mayor promptly vetoed it. The attempt to pass it over the mayor's veto failed only by the lack of one vote. No reason was ever given or argument advanced why the tax should not have been paid except that the citizens would derive an incidental benefit from having the office at Eau Claire. That the prup!_'!ly was subject to taxation was never questioned. The rates of toll were fixed at seventy-five cents per thousand feet of logs and timber, two cents for railroad ties and one cent for fence potts. The works were completed with a capacity of 200,000,000 feet.

The music hall at the corner of Barstow and Kelsey sti'eets was erected in 1867 and destroyed by fire in 1871. After a lapse of three or four years, what was known as the Music Hall Block was built on its site, and that part of it which was devoted to amusements was called the City Opera House iintil the Eau Claire Opera House was built in 1883.

A volunteer fire department was organized on the west side as far back as 1868, with the following officers: First foreman, James Tarrant; secretary, W. E. Demming. Engine Company No. 1 - J. Scott, Fred Rawlins, Jerry Murphy, Benjamin and John "Wells. Wales II. Willard was the first engineer. The engine was named after Hon. W. F. Bailey, president of the village. The village afterwards became merged into the city of Eau Claire. Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was organized. At a meeting held April 29, 1873, at the then city rooms in the Gleason Block the following officers were appointed : William Bonell, Sr., foreman; Peter Girneau, first assistant; W. F. Cook, second assistant; H. Slingluff, secretary; John Joyce, treasurer, and Captain John Kelly, fire warden. Among the members were John Bubser, John Hancock, John Foster, Hugh Fitzpatrick, Philip Fitzpatrick, George Sebenthal, William Bonell, Jr., D. C.

At a meeting of the fire-fighters held June 25, 1873, at the west side engine house, the City Volunteer Fire Department was or- .ganized when the following officers were elected: Eugene Bullard, chief; William Bonell, Sr., first assistant; Jerry Murphy, second assistant ; W. E. J. Demming, secretary, and John Joyce, treasurer. In 1874 Capt. A. M. Sherman was chief. The changes in 1875 were the appointment of W. F. Cook as chief, and Edward Oliver as second assistant. John T. Tinker was chief in 1876, and Julius Churchill held that position in 1877. The city purchased an additional steamer in April, 1875 - G. E. Porter No. 2. It was assigned to the members of Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, and they changed the name of their organization to Hook and Ladder Company No. 2. Engine Company No. 1 was continued up to the time the city took charge of the department.