Eau Claire County, Wisconsin - Chapter 35: The Railroads, 1914

In 1856 a grant of laud was made by Congress for the construction of a railroad from Portage City to LaCrosse on the Mississippi. 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 the road. It was incorporated under legislative powers at the date named, with the title of the Tomah & St. Croix Railway Company. The first meeting was held at Duraud on June 9 of the same 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. This grant was renewed and the land exempted from taxes until 1870 by Congress. 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 necessary maps prepared in 1864-65. The next step was 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 to principal eastern cities, and the Atlantic twice crossed, Mr. Baldwin's efforts Avere, after the labor of two years, crowned with success. Mr. Jacob Humbird, of Baltimore, a prosperous railroad contractor, furnished the entire funds to complete the first thirty-two miles of track to Black River Falls, the payment of which, and all other 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 welcome sound of the locomotive which connected us with the east was heard in Eau Claire. It was made the occasion of such a rejoicing as has never been eqvialed in Eau Claire. A meeting of citizens was held at Marston's Hall on the evening of July 25, and the following committee appointed to make arrangements to celebrate the event in a proper manner : Alexander Meggett, H. P. Graham, Daniel Shaw, George A. Buffington, John Woodworth Nelson, Martin Daniels, Texas Angel, 0. H. Ingram, D. E. Brown, Ole Bruden and Matthias Leinenkugel. The reception and entertainment took place in Randall Park on the west side. Provision was made for the free entertainment by private hospitality of not less than 300 persons for not less than two days. The amount raised by voluntary subscription was !t>l,500 and was sufficient to defray the entire expense of the occasion. Committees on reception, finance, invitations, entertainment, refreshments, toasts and music were appointed. The officers of the day were selected as follows:

People from up and down the Chippewa Valley poured into town to swell the throng, while Menomonie was headed by such rej^resentative men as Captain Wilson, John H. Knapp, S. W.

TTuiit, S. B. Freuch, Wilse Heller, W. W. Wiuterbotham and others. The Chippewa Falls delegation, headed by their brass liand. comprised upward of seventy teams, and as a distinct di'li'jiation was the largest from any one locality. Twenty vrliicles, caeh drawn by four horses, and carrying banners with appropriate mottoes were interspersed at proper distances throughout the procession bearing the following inscriptions: '"("hippewa Falls to Eau Claire, Greeting: We Rejoice in Your Piosperity ;" "Energy and Enterprise Combined - Humbird and IJaldwin;'" "West Wisconsin Railroad, Now by St. Paul, the Work Goes Bravely On;" "Eau Claire - Twenty Minutes for Refreshments, Change Cars for Chippewa Falls and Lake Su]>erior. " The leading citizens of the Falls helped swell the ranks of the procession and congratulated Eau Claire over the mutual advantages to be gained b}'^ the completion of the West Wisconsin Railroad to this point.

Long before the arrival of the first train thousands of people were gathered to- witness and hail its approach. At 10:30 its coming was heralded by the firing of cannon on an eminence commanding its first view. A momentary suspense followed this announcement, when round the curve it came. Its arrival at the (k-pot, crowded with guests, was welcomed with the wildest enthusiasm by three rousing cheers. A second train soon arrived ; ample arrangements had been made to convey the guests to the jiark and in a short time all were on the way to the place of festivity. There not less than 4,000 people had gathered, and on the platform were D. A. Baldwin, president, and Jacob Humliird, superintendent of the West Wisconsin road ; G. L. Becker, l^resident of the St. Paul & Pacific; E. F. Drake, president of the St. Paul & Sioux City ; J. C. Burbank, president of the Chamber of Commerce; 0. E. Dodge, secretary; General Sanborn, C. D. Strong, II. S. Moss and P. Berky, St. Paul; Governor Fairchild. (ieneral Atwood, Judge Cole, Judge Orton and Attorney-General Barlow, of Madison; General Rusk, of Viroqua ; Mayor Joseph Phillips, Councillors C. M. Sanger, John Black and Alderman E. Durr. of Milwaukee; on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and citizens, John Nazro, chairman; Senator Denster, Professor Jewett, L. Everingham, A. R. Matthews, G. W. Chandler, C. A. Battles and wife, C. A. Fulsora, H. Niedecken, F. D. Inbush, W. J. McDonald, D. D. Goodrich and others from Milwaukee: from LaCrosse, Mayor Rodolf, Judge Lord. Capt. Joe Elwell, W. W. Jones, J. J. Cole and A. E. Tenney ; Captain Condit and Thomas Tyler, of Sparta; Senator Kershaw, of Adams county;

Senator Price, D. J. Spaulding and J. V. Wells, of Black River Falls; Senator Satterlee Clark, of Horieon; Captain Wilson and J. H. Knapp, of Menomonie ; A. Pound, J. A. Bate, H. S. Allen, and the old pioneer, John Brunette, of Chippewa Falls ; Webster, of the Chamber of Commerce, Chicago ; 0. E. Britt, J. D. Inbush, John F. P. Adams, E. D. Chapin and many others representing Milwaukee. The representatives of the press were: Horace Brightman, of the Milwaukee Sentinel; P. V. Duester, of the Su Boti; F. A. Moore, of the Wisconsin; B. F. Wright, of the St. Paul Pioneer ; J. H. Gates, of the Press ; 0. E. Dodge, of the Dispatch ; I. L. Asher, LaCrosse Republican ; Lute A. Taylor and Frank Hatch, LaCrosse Leader; Cooper, Black River Falls Banner ; Brown, Augusta Herald ; Sid. A. Foster, Durand Times ; George C. Ginty, Chippewa Herald ; J. 0. Culver, State Journal ; S. W. Hunt, Dunn County News.

After music by the band the vast assemblage was called to order by the president, Hon. J. G. Thorp, who introduced Alexander Meggett, Esq., chosen to deliver the congratulatory address. Being a resident of the city from an early period and familiar with its steady rise and progress he was well fitted to perform the duty. He set forth in a vivid manner the advantages of the valley; its unbounded facilities for manufacturing; its central and commercial importance; its agricultural advantages with its many other claims to distinction and closed with a deserved tribute to Messrs. Baldwin and Humbird, to whose energy, zeal and financial ability the city was so greatly indebted for the consummation of this important event in her history. A brief but felicitous response to this address was made by Hon. John Nazro, of Milwaukee, in the absence of Hon. Matt. Carpenter, who was unable to be present.

Music by the band followed, then the announcement of dinner at the grand pavilion, prepared for the occasion on the other side of the park. A large "wigwam," open at the sides and roofed with evergreens, held ten tables, each seating seventy persons and presided over by the representative ladies of the city. They were spread with linen, silver and dainty food from their homes, decorated with flowers from their gardens and the feast was enjoyed to the fullest extent by the guests, who voiced their appreciation enthusiastically.

Nearly three thousand people were dined in a most systematic and satisfactory manner. Then came a. return to the pavilion for the speakers and the post-prandial toasts. Space will not admit of a recital of the responses, admirable as they were. The iirst toast was this: "The President and Officers of the "West AViseonsin Railroad : Today we celebrate the successful progress of this work. The first reward of persevering labor and persistent hope and energy that met and conquered opposition and crowned the work with victory. Such men can never know defeat." D. A. Baldwin, president of the road, responded in a brief but telling speech. Senator Clark, in his usual humorous vein, to "The Ladies." Senator Price to "The Old Stage Coach - to let without money and without price - dearer than ever on this our parting day." Governor Pairehild to "The State of Wisconsin" in a happy manner, and equally so was Mr. Nazro in his response to "Milwaukee - May the iron bond that now connects lis serve to unite us socially and commercially." "St. I'aul and Milwaukee - Representative cities of their respective states. Soon to become twin cities, so united that no envy will disturb, no .iealousy sever." To this responded Gen. John B. Sanborn, and Mr. Drake, president of the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad, "Chicago - Queen City of the West - rival of the Ocean City of the East." In response to this Mr. Webster, of the Chicago Board of Trade, made a short, witty speech. "The Gate City - LaCrosse. ' " In answer to this Mayor Rodolph, of LaCrosse, made a speech tilled with good hits. Gracefully acknowledging that his city would suffer from the completion of the West Wisconsin, with a good-natured inimitable sarcasm he so used the fact as to make telling hits and secure abundant applause. "The Western Terminus of the West Wisconsin Railroad, soon to be united closely with the Chippewa Valley and the East. M-dY the acquaintance of the past ripen into friendship in the future." Captain Wilson^ of Menomonie, was called out by this toast and responded brietly and to the point. Judge Orton, of iladison, made an able and comprehensive address in reply to the toast, "Our Country - tried as by a furnace of fire, she still lives - the embodiment of republican institutions." General Atwood, of the State Journal and member of Congress for the Second District, responding for "The Press," and Judge Cole, of the Supreme Court, for the judiciary, were listened to with great interest and frequent applause, and these closed the serious part of the program. Then Gen. Ossian E. Dodge, secretary of the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, gave evidence of his wonderful powers as an improvisator. He composed and sang a song which was a complete report of the entire celebration, including the speech of Judge Cole just concluded. It was received with uproarious demonstrations of delight. The song over, the vast throng began to disperse, carriages were brought into requisition, distinguished guests and strangers from abroad seated in them and driven through portions of the city on tlic west side to the site of the railroad bridge across the Chippewa and thence to the depot. Here "good-byes" were interchanged, and as the train moved off Eau Claire received from her departing guests a hearty round of cheers, which evinced their satisfaction with the day. This road afterward became a part of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, and still later a part of the Northwestern system. Now through trains run through Eau Claire from Chicago to Los Angeles, Cal., over the Northwestern road in connection with the Northern Pacific over a double track road.

Eau Claire, March 7, 1910. - Editor Telegram. - A few days ago you printed an article calling attention to the fact that this year marks the fortieth anniversary of the completion of the first railroad into Eau Claire, and suggesting some sort of a celebration to mark the event. The idea is a good one and we hope it will be acted on. It would be a decided improvoiiient over the street fair of recent years.

You spoke of the railroad celebration of 1870 having been "one of the greatest ever held in the city." That is not putting it strong enough. Although a much smaller city than now a celebration was held that in point of attendance and notables present has never been equaled in the history of Eau Claire.

The writer has a pamphlet, published at the time, which gives a complete account of the celebration with the names of those who took part in it. So far as M^e know it is the only account in existence. Your readers may be interested to see the names of the officers and committees, also of the ladies who had charge of the tables in Randall Park, where free dinners were served to over three thousand.

Committee on Toasts - W. P. Bartlett, G. E. Porter, L. M. Vilas, William F. Bailey, Rev. Mr. Dudley, Rev. Mr. Lockwood and Rev. Mr. Aitehison.

First Table - Hon. George C. Teall, assisted by E. S. Chase, W. A. Teall, Mrs. George C. Teall, Mrs. J. G. Callahan, Mrs. R. F. Wilson, Mrs. Clarence Chamberlin, Mrs. William T. Weber, and Mrs. Arthur Ellis, Mrs. Stephen V. Wyckoff, and Miss Mary T. Meggett, Miss Libbie French, Miss Ella Blair and Miss Mary Marston.

A. R. Watson, Mrs. S. S. Kidder, Mrs. James F. Moore, Mrs. G. A. Buffington, Mrs. A. V. Mayhew, Mrs. D. F. Crabbe, Mrs. A. M. Teague, Miss Augusta Kidder, Miss Sarah Cole, Miss Martha Kidder, Miss Nellie Kidder, Miss Sarah Kidder.

Chippewa Falls & Western Railway. Li 1875 tlie Chippewa Palls & Western Railway Company constructed a road from Chippewa Falls to Eau Claire, which was connected with the Wisconsin & Minnesota Railroad from Abbotsford to Chippewa Palls in 1880.

Wisconsin Central Railroad, which has been taken over by the Soo Railway Comijany and now forms a part of this great system, came into Eau Claire up to April, 1890, over the tracks of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Company's tracks for a mile outside the city, but since that time this railway has used its own terminus, its depot being on Dewey and Eau Claire streets.

The Chippewa Valley & Superior Railroad. This company began the construction of its line from Wabasha, Minnesota, to Eau Claire in 1881. The road was completed and opened for traffic in November, 1882, and was later transferred to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company. It is now known as the Chippewa Valley Division of that company 's system, and follows the Chippewa river course for fifty miles, having five or six stations on the way. The extension to Chippewa Falls was opened for traffic December 31, 1883, and has since been in operation.