Trempealeau County, Wisconsin - Chapter 23: More Historical Papers, 1917

Trempealeau Mountain Park. Trempealeau Mountain, the thrilling history of which has been told in earlier chapters, is soon to be a state park. John A. Latsch of Winona, whise benefactions have given to the people of Minnesota a vast reserve lying north of Winona along the Mississippi, proposes to make the gift to the state in order that the residents of Trempealeau County may enjoy the pleasures to be found in romping at play over this unique mountain and the land at its base. These are people who live in the county where his father, the late John Latsch, lived and was engaged in farming for many years. Latsch Valley, in Trempealeau County, has carried Mr. Latsch's name through the years. The donors will make the mountain a memorial to his father, as he has his rich gifts to the city of Winona. The deed that Mr. Latsch will make will be to the Wisconsin Historical Society through the conservation body.

Four years ago residents of Trempealeau County interested themselves in the proposition of preserving this rare mountain. They found barriers, however, in the effort to purchase the property from the individual owners. Finally, after Judge H. A. Anderson, Whitehall ; Attorney F. C. Richmond and Attorney E. E. Hensel, both of Arcadia; and Dr. E. D. Pierce, Trempealeau, had decided that the project was too great and the difficulties too serious to make immediate action possible, the proposition was abandoned for a while. Dr. Pierce, however, was determined that the plans should be carried out. His interest in the matter brought the attention of Mr. Latsch to the mountain and the surrounding territory, and in June, 1916, the project began to take definite shape. Now Mr. Latsch owns practically all of the land on the mountain, in all about 130 acres. He also recently purchased the Brady farm across the bay and opposite the mountain. This is to be a portion of the park. In this farm tract are over 200 acres.

Because the mountain is an island and its treasures not easily accessible to the "commercial pirates," much of its original growth and peculiarities have been retained. Probably nowhere on the upper Mississippi is there a more unusual bluff, not only because of its scenic prominence but because of its unusual contour and the rare plants that grow upon it.

There are over 30 varieties of wood on Trempealeau Mountain, among them the Chinkopin, southern locust that blossoms and has pods like beanpods. There are thousands of kinds of wild flowers. :«*mong the shrubs there is the famous gensing and it was a place where Indians came for years to secure "medicine." The rare wild huckleberry grows there. Apart from the other bluffs surrounded by water, the mountain has preserved its original flora. It cannot be pastured. That explains why the ladyslipper, the painted cup, the quaint showy orchid, the hepaticas, the anemone, the

On the mountain there have been built many of the famous mounds, some of them still unexplored. In recent years wonderful discoveries have been made. These mounds, it is proposed, will be restored and its timber and flora kept intact for the future generations.

The residents of Trempealeau County have expressed to Mr. Latsch a feeling of gratitude for his eagerness to assist in preserving so great a treasure. He has won their everlasting thanks for presenting the mountain. Important and extensive improvements will be made to the mountain and the park by the State Society.

The settlers looked upon Trempealeau Mountain in the earliest day as a historic landmark - a guiding hand in the wilderness - and that feeling has been handed down so that the people today of this vicinity have a friendly interest in the old mountain and regard it as their historic home ground. People have heard its traditions told - its singular place in history - beheld its beautiful part of the Mississippi River scenery and in the evolution of things no wonder that they have come to have a sentiment in favor of its preservation in a wild state so that it may be handed down to future generations adorned in all the glory of its old-time attire.

Many citizens of Trempealeau and vicinity have in the past expressed a desire to have the mountain preserved as a State park. The Trempealeau County and State Historical Societies have been interested in it, but it remained for John A. Latsch, of Winona, to offer a solution for the problem for acquiring title and turning it over to the State. It is desired to preserve the mountain in its natural grandeur, keeping its flora intact and re-establishing its despoiled mound, erecting suitable markers and making cozy by-ways through its woodlands so that the botanist, the geologist, the bird student and whoever else may enjoy the call of the wild, may come and drink their fill of outdoor glory.

Galesville University, I'ecently renamed Gale College, is located at Galesville. It was founded by the labors of the Hon. George Gale, LL. D., assisted by donations of the citizens of Galesville, La Crosse, Winona, and a few other friends of education, mostly residents of Wisconsin. The charter was obtained from the Legislature of Wisconsin in January, 1854. The board of trustees was organized in 1855 ; the college building commenced in 1858 ; the prepai'atory department opened for students in May, 1859, and the collegiate department in September, 1861, the first college class graduated July 13, 1865.

Judge Gale, the founder, was the first president, though the educational and literary management of the institution was under the supervision of the Rev. Samuel Fallows, later a Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, Chicago, 111. During the years in which the building was under construction the school was conducted in the county court house.

The first epoch in the history of the school includes the years between 1859 and 1877. It was deemed desirable to place the institution under the control of some church organization, and this was accomplished when, in 1859, the Methodist Episcopal Church accepted this trust, which remained in its charge until the year 1877. During this period the school board labored under great difficulties. A considerable amount of money was required to erect the building, and to meet the requirements from time to time, and being in the early settlement days, the number of those who were able to render pecuniary aid was very small; hence the burden fell heavily on these few. The attendance, which had averaged about 50 students per term, was greatly decreased by the outbreak of the Civil War. Many of the young men in attendance responded to their country's call for soldiers. This decrease in attendance added to the difficulty of meeting the financial requirements. But, with the firm conviction that the attainment of greater educational facilities was worthy of their best efforts, the pioneers willingly assisted to the extent of their ability, and the enterprise was not abandoned.

In 1861 Prof. Fallows resigned his position as principal, and was succeeded by Mr. Magill, who served in that capacity only a short time, and who was in turn succeeded by the Rev. J. L. Farber, of New Yoi'k. Rev. Harrison Gilliland was the next president, and he was elected to fill the office of president of the Board of Trustees, which had been made vacant by the resignation of Judge Gale.

For a time after President Gilliland took charge the school seems to have prospered, the records showing an attendance of more than 100 students per year. But the financial condition of the institution 'caused the officers much anxiety, and application for aid was made to the church. The Conference of the M. E. church accordingly passed a resolution to raise a sum of $50,000 among its members. An attempt to solicit this money was made, but proved futile.

Pi'esident Gilliland then tendered his resignation, and recommended that the institution be placed under the control of some religious denomination which was able to render the necessary financial support. Accordingly, in 1876, the Chippewa Presbytery then in session in La Crosse was requested to appoint a committee to confer with the local board for the transfer of the control of Galesville University from the M. E. church to the Presbyterian General Assembly. After some reluctance the charge was accepted by that body, and a board of trustees was appointed which assembled for the first time on May 15, 1877. This body made provision for ascertaining and meeting claims against the institution and for procuring pecuniary means for the operation of the school. The course of study was readjusted so that the schedule, instead of being collegiate grade, was modeled after the plan of Philip's Academy. A Normal Course for teachers was also developed. A faculty was appointed with R. S. Winans as president. The following year John W. McLawry was made president, and Rev. John Moore, the resident pastor, also became a member of the faculty.

At a meeting of the officers in March, 1878, a resolution was made to petition the War Department to provide for an instructor in military tactics and drill in Galesville University. This petition was granted, and in 1880, Lieut. John L. Clem, known in the story of the Civil War as the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga, was appointed as such instructor and entered upon his duties at once. This arrangement which provided military training for the young men at the university was a happy one. The real advan- tages to be derived from such training were appreciated, and a lively interest was aroused, which together with the well-deserved popularity of Lieut. Clem, combined to attract a large attendance of students. This increase entailed the need of more room and the enlargement of the building was agreed upon. In 1881, the building, which originally was two stories high, was enlarged by the addition of a third story, thus providing space for more students and also for drill room in winter.

Lieut. Clem was succeeded in 1882 by Lieut. G. N. Chase, who served in that capacity until 1883, when the military department was discontinued. In January, 1884, the main building was destroyed by fire. This was such a terrible blow to the institution that for a time its fate seemed dubious. But such was the untiring zeal of the friends of the institution at home and abroad that in the course of a year a new building was erected on the site of the one destroyed. For several years during the early '80s excellent work was done at the college. Under the able guidance of such scholarly men as Moses Peters and E. O. Hagen, a large number of young men, since prominent in their professions, laid the foundations of their education. Rev. McLawry, having tendered his resignation. Dr. J. Irwin Smith assumed the presidency in the year 1886, and continued in the discharge of the duties appertaining to that office for a period of two years. Rev. Smith had previously rendered the institution valuable aid in the capacity of financial agent. In the early '90s the attendance began to decrease from year to year, until the number of students became so small that to maintain the institution under those conditions was impossible. Something had to be done to give the school a new impetus.

In March, 1901, the deliberations, which finally resulted in the transfer of the control of the institution from the Presbyterian Board of Trustees to the Lutheran Synod, were commenced. The La Crosse Conference of the Lutheran Synod, then in session in La Crosse, elected a committee to go to Galesville for the purpose of examining the property, and to confer with the local board to determine the conditions under which the transfer might be effected. The committee, after having performed its duty, reported that by the payment of $6,500 the transfer could be made. The city of Galesville pledged itself to furnish $2,500, and the purchase was made in August, 1901.

It was deemed necessary to make extensive repairs on the building before the school could be opened. A sum of more than $2,000 was contributed by members of the Lutheran congregations in the district and judiciously expended in repairing and improving the building. This work was completed in the fall of the year 1901. On the first day of December the institution was dedicated, its name being changed from Galesville University to Gale College. Prof. H. G. Stub, of Minneapolis, performed the ceremony. On the following day the school commenced its work under the new administration with Rev. L. M. Grimmestad, who has since remained with the school, as president.

The time during which the school has been under Lutheran supervision has been a period of success and constant progress. The old courses have been improved, and additional courses have been introduced. In 1908-1909 a music department was established, which has now become a permanent and prominent feature of the school. During the same year the Classical and Scientific Courses were introduced, taking the place of the Academical Course. To the Commercial Department was added a Four- Year Course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Accounts. All of these courses, as well as the Luther College Preparatory and the Normal Parochial Courses, have continually been improved and broadened. In addition to the courses mentioned above, some work of Collegiate grade has also been carried on.

Musical and literary organizations have always played an important part at Gale College. A band was organized by Prof. A. F. Giere in 1903. Several tours were made during the summer months. Perhaps the most successful was the tour of 1909, when a distance of 800 miles was covered, the route of travel being through Western Wisconsin and Southern and Central Minnesota. An orchestra was organized by Prof. H. Onsgard in 1911. This work is now being successfully carried on by A. M. Fredrickson.

The Utile Cum Dulci, a literary society organized by students of the school 35 years ago, is still in a flourishing condition. All students are members. Normannalaget is a Norwegian society based on the same general principles as the Utile Cum Dulci. At this point may be mentioned the Gale College Club, organized in 1906, which has for its objects the lending of moral and financial support to the institution. All friends of the school are kindly requested to become members of this organization.

The Boys' Dormitory, built in 1906, furnishes comfortable accommodations for 55 students. The Ladies' Hall, completed in 1915, is a beautiful structure which accommodates about 50 students. This building contains also a gymnasium which fills a long-felt need.

For a church home the students have the Trinity Lutheran church, a pleasant and attractive building, erected by the Galesville congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod in 1909. - (By L. M. Gimmestad, President.)

The advantage of a college of this size and order, is the individual attention that can be given pupils to develop them in accordance with their mental qualifications and ability. In other words it brings out the individual brain strength and character of the pupil, thus enabling action on the part of the faculty, along the most beneficial lines, in other words, give the students a harmonious education.

. The faculty comprises the Rev. L. M. Gimmestad, A. B., President, and a staff' of five assistants, each well qualified for the work of education. It well becomes the character of this work to compUment Rev. Gimmestad on the splendid success he is making of the college and in qualifying the graduates for the position in life they desire to occupy. He is also entitled to the gratitude and unqualified consideration of all those who are interested in the college. He has sacrificed his personal ambition in a worldly way, to y build up an institution creditable to himself and the denomination he represents. He is a scholar of fine attainment, an orator of finished ability, and

Arcadia in 1876. Arcadia Village, succeeding Old Arcadia, was started in the winter of 1873 when the railroad came through, and grew in 1874 and 1875. In the spring of 1876, when the flood came, the flats already contained a village of considerable size, the business houses being scattered along Main Street both sides of the track, and on side streets.

The depot was located on the present site. Northeast of it was the elevator of Elmore & Kelly, and still further along the elevator of Krumdick & Muir, who also dealt in agricultural implements. Along the track southwest of the depot, and across the street, were the elevator of the W. P. Massuere Company and the farm implement warehouse of A. E. Smith & Co., on opposite sides of the track from each other, and further southwest, and like the Smith Company on the east side of the track, was the elevator of Canterbury & Smith. East of Elmore & Kelly was the lumber yard of J. W. Hiles, of which Henry Wirtenberger was the manager, and east of the Krumdick & Muir elevator was the lumber yard of H. Ketchum, of which C. E. Hollenbeck was the agent.

East of the depot, on the north side of Main Street, was a saloon owned by George Hiles and operated by James Hiles. Then came the livery barn of Le Vant Johnson. Next was the lumber office of H. Ketchum. Next east was the E. J. Gorton general store. Then came a vacant stretch of land. Further east there were two buildings, the first being the blacksmith shop of Nichols & Pike, and the second being the millinery store of Mrs. Ranee Jones.

The Arcadia Hotel, of which John Eckel was the proprietor, occupied the present site of the Wolfe Opera House. South of this on the east side of the street, there were thi-ee buildings, the first going south, being the meat market of John Nickly, the second being the dry goods and grocei-y store of Mutz & Stariha, and the third being the saloon of J. K. Cysewski.

East of the Arcadia Hotel, on the south side of Main Street came the office of Drs. Frank L. Lewis and George N. Hidershide. Next was the Burt House, of which John and Richard Burt were the proprietors. Then came the general store of W. P Massuere Company. Next, on the corner of Washington street was the drug store of I. R. Bryan & Co.

East of Washington Street on the present site of the W. P. Massuere Co. was the hardware store of the Merrill Brothers, L. G. and Benjamin. In the upper story of this building the Masonic order met. Considerably east of this was the poolroom and saloon of W. W. Barnes. Still further to the east was the Shamrock Hotel, of which A. Flynn was the proprietor. South of the Merrill Bros, hardware store, and on the east side of Washington Street was the Merrill Bros, lumber yard.

West of the depot on the north side of Main street there was a large vacant space. The present site of the Fugina Brothers Fertig Store was a swamp. Between the track and Commercial (Grant) Street, north of Main street and west of the track there was not a business house except the John D. Rainey Commercial Hotel, which stood on its present site. On the -west side of Commercial Street, and north of the present site of the

Fugina Brothers Fertig Store, was the livery barn of the Bigham Brothers. Next north was the saloon of Matt. Danuser. Next was the tailor shop of Tim. Selck. Further along was the store of Bohri Brothers & Hensel. Still further was the saloon and restaurant of George Kump.

There were no business houses on River Street except the shoe and repairing shop of Henry Klug, who was on the corner east of Jackson Street and south of River Street.

On the north side of Main Street, west of the present site of the Fugina Brothers Fertig Store, was the meat market of Anton Baertsch, Then going west came the furniture store of Zeph Dupois (in the upper story were the offices of Capt. J. D. Lewis and P. H. Varney), the restaurant of Emile Dohlan, the saloon of Gregory Ripply, the tin shop of Thomas E. Murphy, and the millinery store of Mrs. F. A. Morgan. Next west, and on the corner of Jackson Street was the Fugina Brothers & Fertig store.

Across Jackson Street to the west, and on the corner, was the furniture store which had been built by Herman Tracy and was operated by F. J. Tracy and Casper Wohlgenant under the firm name of E. J. Tracy & Co. Further to the westward was the building which housed the postoffice and the Arcadia Leader, N. D. Comstock being the postmaster, and G. A. Hacston the editor of the Leader.

On the south side of Main Street, west of the track, was a vacant space. THen came the feed store of John Maurer. Next west was the general store of Gasal Brothers. Then came the harness shop of Richtman & Mallinger. Further to the west was the saloon of John Kastner. Next was the wagon shop of Joseph Kutz, and on the corner of Jackson Street was the blacksmith and machinery shop of Christ Van Wold. Across Jackson Street to the west, on the other corner was the harness shop of John Hentges. Still further along was the cigar factory of Jacob Schneller. The planing mill of Nic. Mueller was on the east side of Jackson Street, some rods south of Main Street. (Outlined by John C. Gaveney, after examination of the newspaper files and consultation with old settlers.)

Pioneer Schools. School conditions were materially difl"erent in the early days from what they are now. The pioneer schoolhouses had homemade desks placed close to the wall. Sometimes as many as twenty pupils had to rise to let the classes pass to and from, recitation. In many schools there were no recitation seats and the classes had to stand. The desks and woodwork were often unpainted, but teacher and pupils were expected to keep all as white as soap and sand would make them. Each teacher, with the help of her pupils, cleaned her own schoolhouse. Long-handled dippers, washbasin, soap, towels, and mirrors came gradually, as did maps, charts and other helps. The three R's, with the addition of grammar and spelling, were the essentials, and pity the teacher who could not do all the "sums."

It may be that undue emphasis was placed upon arithmetic, as nothing was omitted, even though it had no practical value in itself. But for those pupils who had no hope of ever studying the higher mathematics or a foreign language, the mental discipline from their arithmetic was invaluable.

In mental arithmetic drills, and it was mental, the pupil would listen attentively while the teacher read a problem once. He would then stand.

repeat the problem correctly, give each step in the solution, and the conclusion, training along many lines. The pupils of early days did not have the culture that the pupils of later days have, but they learned how to work, they were able to help themselves, and they could spell.

What a frolic was the old-time spelling school ! How the children did work over those spelling lessons ! Books were taken home and hours were spent preparing for the next spelling school. Often three or more schools met and fought hard, if bloodless, battles for the championship. Yes, it was exciting fun, but it also taught spelling.

The children furnished their own text books, and often there were not enough to go around. Nor were the books always suited to the needs of the child. Four different kinds of readers or arithmetics were often found in one class.

Out of school the teacher was truly a part of the family with which she boarded. She sat with them around the kitchen fire, washed in the family basin, used the common family towel, and shared not only a room, but a bed with one or two children. The food was plain, but plentiful and wholesome, and although the houses were small and often very cold, they were real homes. Every one shared the joys and sorrows of the others. - By Margaret Anderson.

The Galesville Fair. The agricultural fair or "cattle show" was a tradition brought from the Eastern States, from whence most of the settlers came. In 1859 the time seemed ripe for such a venture in Trempealeau County. The rich virgin soil had brought forth abundantly. The pioneers were boasting of vegetables of great size, of experiments made in raising the standard of crops, of excellent results with stock, and of the success in solving the many problems incidental to the creation of a rich agricultural region from the hills and valleys that had only a few years before been an untraversed wilderness. A fair would not only give the widely-scattered settlers a chance to compare experiences and results, but would also demonstrate the resources of the county and attract immigration.

"A. Call. - We, the undersigned, desirous of organizing an Agricultural Society in the County of Trempealeau, do appoint a meeting for that purpose, to be held in the Court House at Galesville, on the 1st of October, 1859, at 2 o'clock p. m. It is to be hoped and expected that every town in the county will be fully represented. The cause is one that should engage the attention of everyone. Come, old and young, that we may have two essential qualities - experience and fire. - George H. Smith, A. Cary, Isaac Clark, George Gale, Alex. A. Arnold, Ryland Parker, Samuel F. Harris, William T. Clark. Romanzo Bunn and George Y. Freeman, of Gale, and H. Lake and John B. Duning, of Preston."

The ofiicers chosen were : President, George H. Smith ; vice-presidents, Isaac Noyes, Alex. A. Arnold and John B. Duning; secretary, George Y. Freeman; treasurer, Isaac Clark; general committee, John C. French, of Gale; Cyrus E. Turner, of Trempealeau; Henry Lake, of Preston; Jacob T. Holmes, of Caledonia; David Bishop, of Arcadia, and Willard H. Thomas,

Preparations were at once made for the first fair. Seventy-five men contributed $1.00 each, and the people of Galesville turned out with axes and grubhoes and cleared the brush from the lower table about where the Public Square is now located and surrounded it with a race track, a track rough and uneven, but nevertheless one which answered its purpose. The fair was duly held October 21 and 22. The entries numbered 168 and the competition was keen. All the cash awards were returned by the prize winners. On the second day an address was delivered by Prof. Samuel Fallows. At the 1860 fair the exhibits were increased in number and quality. The third fair was held at Trempealeau in 1861, the only fair of the society that has been held outside of Galesville. Preparations were being made for the Civil War, and a feature of the gathering was a military parade by the Galesville Greys and the Trempealeau Guards.

The annual fairs were held on these grounds until 1892, when the present grounds were purchased and put in use that fall for the Thirty-third Annual Fair. Improvements which were at once inaugurated have continued until the grounds and equipment are numbered among the best in the State.

Some 20 years later interest in the fairs seemed to wane. From the first the maintenance of the fair had been a financial burden to the people of Galesville. and vicinity, and had frequently necessitated contributions of considerable size. The unpaid $1,000 due for the property was a constant menace to the existence of the organization.

New life was infused in 1907 when the citizens organized the Galesville Park, Fair & Improvement Company and by soliciting subscriptions paid the outstanding indebtedness on the property and took over the land which it leases to the Agricultural Society free. Since then the fairs have increased in importance and success, until the year 1916, when rumor of an infantile paralysis scourge reduced both the attractions and the attendance.

The present officers are: President, Carl McKeeth; vice-president, Emil Francar ; secretary, Ben W. Davis ; treasurer, J. A. Kellerman. The executive committee consists of the officers and of all the living ex-presidents, of whom there are now two, Capt. D. D. Chappell and N. H. Carhart.

1913, was organized as the Trempealeau County Poultry & Breeders' Association in October, 1912, by M. F. Risinger, John A. Markham, Walter E. Sprecher, L. C. Larson, H. J. Hacker, C. A. Sherwood, C. C. Kremer and Bert Thompson. In 1914 Mr. Markham succeeded Mr. Risinger as president. Shows have been held as follows: 1912, Whitehall; 1913, Independence;

1914, Blair ; 1915, Alma Center ; 1916, Arcadia. The 1917 show is scheduled to be held at Independence, but probably will not be held on account of war conditions.

Agricultural Development. Agriculture in Trempealeau County had its beginning on Decorah Prairie, when the squaws of Decorah's band planted a

The agriculture of the white man originated in this county in 1836, when the Rev. Daniel Gavin, the Swiss missionary, and his helper, Louis Stram, broke some land near a clear spring, east of Mountain Lake and some three miles northwest of the present village, and endeavored to teach the Indians farming. The attempt was not a success. John Doville, who arrived in 1838, started a garden on the land broken by Stram. Oats and peas were the principal crop. The oats were threshed in a primitive way with horses driven in a circle. Doville also broke a tract of land in the upper part of the present village. In those days the pigeons were a serious drawback.

The history of agriculture in Trempealeau County is the history of very many newly settled regions. The early settlers found a land rich in the natural resources of a silt loam soil. A land, which, with a minimum of labor and the use of the crudest of agricultural implements, yielded large crops of wheat, oats and corn.

For a few years after a piece of land was broken the yields were amazing, 45 to 50 bushels of wheat per acre not being unusual. Their machinery at that time consisted of a breaking plow, crossing plow, V-shaped drag and a scythe, cradle and flail.

A few years before the Civil War broke out a threshing machine run by a tread-power was introduced. This was little besides a cylinder, concave and fan. It had no straw stacker and one man stood at the rear with a fork and threw the straw back. In a short time a machine run by horse-power and tumbling rod, and equipped with a straw-carrier and measuring device was invented ; and the settlers would have thought they were pretty well fixed, except that every bushel of grain in Trempealeau County had to be hauled either to Trempealeau or Fountain City, a round trip of 50 miles or more over roads that were barely passable.

Some little improvement was made on farm machinery during this time, but not much. And the threshers were not greatly changed for many years. Not long after the war, reapers began to be used; great heavy, clumsy machines, very apt to clog in heavy grain and requiring two men to operate them. One drove and the other was strapped to a post set in the center of the platform and removed the grain with a rake as it was cut.

Their haying was all done with a scythe, hand-rake and pitchfork. They kept only such cows as were needed to supply the family with milk and butter, and raised a few hogs for their own use, and sometimes hauled some dressed pork to the lumber camps and exchanged for lumber.

But this method of farming could not continue forever. Grain crops gradually dwindled until the yield of wheat was very small. Chinch bugs and weeds helped to crowd it out. Wheat was about their only money crop and when that failed they were at a loss how to live. At this time many, through a ruinous system of usury practised by money lenders who profited by the farmers' misfortune, were compelled to gather up their personal belongings and journey on toward the West, there to repeat the sad experiment of trying to take from the land continually without putting anything back. But others, strong in the faith which every true farmer must have in his "spadeful of earth," hung to their homesteads, and soon after they saw a great hght, for Gov. W. D. Hoard came preaching the gospel of corn, clover, cows and creameries.

The land had by this time become so robbed of humus, nitrogen and phosphorus that only meager and unprofitable crops could be raised. But with the advent of clover and cows, agriculture received a stimulus which has had a healthy and prosperous effect upon the county's farming industry ever since.

Farmers, pretty generally, started rotating their crops, keeping cows and hogs, thus adding to the fertility of the soil, and also giving them a steady income instead of the uncertain one afforded by grain raising.

About this time better machinery began to come into use and many farmers found their labors lightened by the use of combined reapers and mowers. These machines were usually drawn by three horses, two abreast and one on the lead ridden by a small boy. This was done to avoid injury to the unbound gavals which would result from driving three horses abreast.

The next evolution w^as in the nature of a harvesting machine which required three men to opei'ate it. One drove and the other two bound the grain as it was elevated to them. This was followed by the self-binder.

The old horse-power threshers were gradually improved until we now have the modern steam thresher with wing feeders, automatic elevators and weighers, and wind stackers. Nearly every farmer now uses a cream separator in place of the old gravity system of separating cream. Harrows, disks, cultivators, drills and seeders have come into universal use, and the land has been brought back to its oi'iginal fertilitj\

Silos and leguminous crops have insured the farmer a summer ration for his stock all the year round. And Trempealeau County has in this year 1917 the proud distinction of raising 156,000 bushels of wheat and of being the banner winter wheat county of Wisconsin. - By W. E. Bishop.

The Orchard and Its Advancements. The apple stands at the head of the list of all fruits and thrives in more localities than any fruit grown. In the early settling of Trempealeau County, along in the '50s, very few trees were set, and what were, were an experiment. The first apples in Trempealeau County were harvested in 1858 by George Batchelder. In about 1860 . Messrs. Gray and Sparks started a nursery southeast of the village of Trempealeau, and induced the farmers to set trees. Then came E. Wilcox in 1862 and at the close of the war bought out Gray and Sparks and started to run a nursery on a larger scale. In an article written by E. Wilcox in March, 1870, to the Record, he stated that those who had orchards doing Avell were E. Barnard, J. Nichols, Amos Whiting, L. D. Ladd, Mr. Burns, D. W. Gilfillan, A. Grover, C. Perkins, J. Rhodes, Mr. Bomun, Mr. Gary, Mr. Wilbur, S. S. Luce, George Markham, Henry Lake and others. E. Wilcox was a strong believer in the idea that apples would succeed in Trempealeau County, and had set out an oixhard of 1,500 trees. J. Nichols had three orchards of considerable size. These trees were coming into bearing nicely when the severe winter of 1872 destroyed most of them, as well as

In the fall of 1871 W. A. Jackson, of Galesville, bought 500 trees of Wilcox and buried them in the ground over winter. They thus escaped the severe winter and were set out the following spring. A few other farmers did likewise, only on a smaller scale. These trees did well. Those who were not discouraged replaced their orchards with hardier varieties, and in the fall of 1882 or 1883 A. J. Scarseth, of Galesville, packed 500 barrels of apples. The empty barrels were procured from the cooper shop of Wilson Davis, conducted in connection with the flour mill. These apples were sold to E. White, of Winona, with the exception of a few barrels which were shipped farther west. There were some fine specimens of Snow, Perry Russet, Golden Russet, Utter, Seeknofurther, Pound Sweet, Talman Sweet, St. Lawrence, Ben Davis and many other varieties.

We boys, who were then in our teens, never will forget how these apples swelled our stomachs; and also the taste of those apple dumplings and the boxes of apples stored for winter. I also remember helping father load about 500 pounds of hay on the rack, and in the center of the load, on top, were placed 20 sacks containing one bushel each, and taking them to Winona, selling them for from $1 to $1.25 a bushel. The apples were free from worms' or other defects.

Then came another winter when it seemed that the mercury would never stop going down. This was in 1884, the low temperature killing nearly all varieties but the Dutchess of Oldenburg, Transcendent and a few top-worked varieties on the Transcendent. Those Dutchess and Transcendents bore well, but there was no market for them. Twenty-five cents a bushel was considered a good price for these varieties. Almost everybody had a few trees.

William Kass was another lucky man who had 160 trees buried in the ground. The winter of hard frost last mentioned (1884) froze mostly Utter's Large. This variety comes into bearing in from five to seven years after planting. Mr. Kass was known as "The Apple Man from the Little Tamarack," and had everything his own way for 10 years.

In the spring of 1891 I set out 500 trees. It was a favorable season and I did not lose half a dozen. Some of the neighbors laughed at the folly of trying to raise apples in Trempealeau County, but I thought I knew my own business. Their ridicule served to aggravate me, like when one tries to drive a hog bound to go the other way. So the following spring I set out 1,000 more trees and later added 300 to that. Then N. Perkins planted out 500 trees. Mr. Kass, S. D. Grover, M. S. Grover, John Perkins, William Trim and J. Nicholls planted 100 trees each. Many others tried smaller lots.

In 1895 I planted out in nursery rows 10,000 root grafts. In three or four years these trees were sold to the neighbors, George Trim buying the largest amount at any one time, something like 650, and Ed Grover was another heavy buyer. The tree agents from outside the State got busy and sold one-acre orchards. These amounted practically to nothing. The first fruit these orchards bore were sold to the grocerymen of Winona. Each year these orchards were more productive. In 1902 we began to ship in barrels to Minneapolis and St. Paul. The output of the crops at this time was about 3,500 bushels. Mr. Ward, of Winona, came over and bought five carloads of late fall and winter apples. These were delivered in bushel crates at his cold storage. That same fall two dealers came along from Milwaukee. We sold them a car of No. 2 apples, which was shipped to the iron mines of Northern Wisconsin. The years 1908 and 1909 were two more banner years, with an estimate of 10,000 bushels each year. W. H. Craig, of Winona, was a heavy buyer and shipping was general. In 1910 the spring opened up early and the trees were in full bloom by the 20th of April, one month ahead of time. A snow storm and a heavy freeze settled the apple crop for that year. This freeze set all of the older trees bearing every other year. Then 1911, 1913 and 1915 were our fruit years. There are a few exceptions with the younger trees. There has been about 20,000 bushels raised each fruit year since 1910, and they have been distributed as far north as Duluth, Winnipeg, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Illinois. There are many varieties being planted that will not withstand our severe winters. When one comes along they will die out. In the southern part of Trempealeau County there are about 225 acres planted to apples, about half of which are bearing fruit. (By John Grover.)

First Meeting in Sumner. "At the first town meeting held in the town of Sumner, April 6, 1858, the following number of votes were cast for town oflficers: William Harman received 13 votes for chairman supervisor; James T. King, 13 for supervisor ; Jay H. Chase, 13 for supervisor ; Alvin H. Daniels, 13 for town clerk; Austin Ayrs, 13 for treasurer; Henry C. Blanchard, 12 for superintendent of schools; Alva H. Daniels, 13 for justice of the peace ; George Silkworth, 12 for justice of the peace ; David R. Chase, 13 for justice of the peace ; James Chase, 13 for justice of the peace ; Austin Ayers, 13 for assessor ; John Spalding, 13 for constable ; H. C. Blanchard, 13 for constable; Russel Bowers, 13 for constable; Albert Taylor, 11 for town sealer. Whole number of votes cast, 13. William Harman, James T. King, Jay H. Chase, inspectors ; Alva H. Daniels, clerk.

"We, the undersigned inspectors of election, after comparing all the votes, find that the following persons were elected to the following town offices in and for the town of Sumner, composed of township No. 24, range 7, 8 and 9 :

"William Hartman, chairman of supervisors ; Jay H. Chase and James T. King, supervisors ; Alva H. Daniels, town clerk ; Austin Ayrs, treasurer ; A. C. Blanchard, superintendent of schools; Alva H. Daniels, George Silkworth, David H. Chase and James Chase, justices of the peace; Austin Ayers, assessor ; John Spalding, H. C. Blanchard and Russel Bowers, constables ; Albert Taylor, town sealer of weights and measures.

"We further certify the above to be the result of the first town election for town officers held at Blanchai'd Tavern on Beef River Station on April 6, 1858, and that the above report is true and correct. Dated at the town of Sumner, this 6th day of April, 1858. William Harman, Jay H. Chase, James T. King, Inspectors of Election.

The village owns the village hall, which is used for general village purposes, and the electric light plant. The hall was purchased from the W. C. T. U. and had previously been used as a reading room. The electric hght service, which is secui-ed by tapping the lines between the Hatfield Dam and Winona, was installed July 4, 1915. Before this the streets were lighted with kerosene lamps on corner posts.

The village part was platted for its present purpose when the surrounding lots were laid out. The band stand therein was erected about 1888 through the efforts of Dr. C. H. Cutter, and the members of the band here at that time. - (By A. A. Gibbs.)

Independence Municipal Improvements. The waterworks system in Independence dates from June 14, 1886, when M. Mulligan, the village president, volunteered to ascertain the cost of the waterworks at Galesville and report at the next meeting. June 22 of the same year J. C. Taylor, Henry Hanson and L. E. Danuser were appointed a committee to ascertain the cost of pum.ps to put out fires. Sept. 13, 1886, President M. Mulligan was instructed to make arrangements with the Mill Company, and to draw up a contract with Goulds & Austin for pumps, pipe and the like. There was actually built and constructed that fall, three blocks, about 1,000 linear feet, extending from the Mill on Railroad Street and Washington Street, to what is now known as Lyga's Corner. This main was laid so shallow that the entii'e system froze up solid during the following winter. In the following spring and summer the main was lowered. Sept. 7, 1887, a 200-pound bell was purchased for the village hall. Feb. 27, 1888, firemen's caps and belts were purchased. Aug. 6, 1894, J. Zimmers, A. Gai'thus and C. H. Short were appointed to investigate the waterworks of other places. On petition of 23 voters, a special election was called for Aug. 25, 1894, to vote on the question of issuing bonds of $2,500 for a waterworks system, but owing to certain technicalities which were not observed, a second election was called May 30, 1895, and at this meeting it was decided by a vote of 102 to 2 to issue bonds of $3,000 payable in three, four and five years. A. J. Bautch, 0. P. Huff and C. H. Short were appointed on the committee to consult with an engineer. Plans and specifications were accepted May 6, 1895, and a contract was let to J. F. Zilla to build an artesian well, 500 feet deep, on the village lot. A lease was secured from Albert J. Bautch for the site for a reservoir on the hill just west of the village limits. June 20, 1895, the contract was let to install the waterworks for $5,244.34. Aug. 20, 1895, the well was completed and Mr. Zilla paid $722.06. That summer the pumphouse and reservoir were completed. Sept. 25, 1895, a contract was made with John Dagan to lower the old water mains from Third Street to the Mill. Dec. 9, 1896, trouble had developed at the pump by reason of sand. The trouble continued. By a resolution passed Oct. 11. 1897, a large and shallow well was constructed, arranged to filter water through from the creek. The well was in working order early in the summer of 1898. Jan. 24, 1901, it was voted to extend the mains on Fifth Street, 640 feet, and on Third Street, 460 feet, with four new hydrants.

Sept. 12, 1908, a contract was awarded A. J. Bautch to extend the water mains across the lake, and up to the Catholic church, and to install the proper hydrants. On June 22, 1909, the citizens by a vote of 65 to 54 rejected the proposition to bond the village for $3,200 for a sewer system. But on March 27, 1911, in accordance with a petition previously presented, the village board ordered an election to be held on April 25, 1911, on the question of bonding the village $3,500 for waterworks and a like amount for a sewer system. On the date set both propositions were carried, the sewer vote being 95 to 37 and the water vote being 95 to 35. Jan. 23, 1911, a contract for the sewer system was let to F. C. Robinson & Co. for $9,200. Oct. 24, 1911, the village board purchased for $1,000 an acre of land from Jacob Jackson, on which to dig wells and erect a pumping house. Oct. 31, 1911, a contract was let for about $700 for an addition to the sewer system on Fifth Street. April 19, 1912, a contract was let for furnishing an oil engine, pumps, pump house, extension of the water mains and completion of the entire work, at $4,000, and on May 29, 1912, it was voted to purchase an oil tank for the water plant at $470. Oct. 6, 1913, an extension of the sewer system was voted, 620 feet, for $690. In October, 1915, sewer and waterworks extensions were made at a cost of $3,200.

Independence is noted for its excellent street system. As early as May 24, 1886, the village purchased at a cost of $218.50 a road grader, probably the first in Trempealeau County. May 31, 1886, John Elstad was appointed street commissioner at $2 for each day's work of 10 hours. It was also decided that the road grader be let to districts desiring it, the grader to be in charge of a man designated by the village board, his wages to be paid by the district using it. On Aug. 7, 1899, by a vote of 59 to 3, the citizens declared in favor of issuing bonds of $3,000, payable in two, three and four years, with interest at 5 per cent, for the purpose of building a 150-foot span steel bridge over Elk Creek at the mill. The contract was let Sept. 4, 1899, to J. G. Wagner & Co., of Milwaukee, for $5,047. May 11, 1900, a sidewalk resolution was passed, leading to the construction of many miles of cement walks. Aug. 23, 1913, the village board took the necessary action to place certain streets of the village on the county system of prospective highways, and raised $1,000 to macadam the following year the Osseo-Independence highway from the mill to the north limits of the village. The work was done in 1914, and $3,000, including county and State aid, was expended. Aug. 3, 1914, the board raised $2,000 for 1915 street improvements under the State aid plan, so that $6,000 became available. May 20, 1915, the board adopted brick laid over a sand cushion as the type of pavement for the main streets of the village. In 1915 there was constructed on the main street of the village 7,500 square yards of asphalt bound brick pavement at a cost of $11,000, 1,900 square yards of macadam pavement costing $1,600, and curb and gutter costing $500. In 1916 there was constructed 3,500 yards of brick paving costing $5,500, and 2,000 linear feet of curb and gutter costing $1,050. The permanent street improvements for the two years cost the village $25,000, without creating anybonded indebtedness.

The sightly village hall at Independence has an interesting history. June 14, 1886, the board voted to purchase a building from John Sprecher for $135. May 17, 1886, it was voted to purchase lot 4, block 10, original plan, 60 by 120 feet, for $100. Later lot 5 was purchased. As the years passed, there came the necessity for a larger hall. Consequently at an election held May 5, 1902, by a vote of 79 to 18, it was decided to issue bonds of $8,000, payable in eight instalhnents, the first in two years, and then annually thereafter, for the purpose of erecting a village hall and electric light plant. C. G. Maybury, of Winona, was secured as architect. All the original bids were found to be too high, and so the plans were revised to reduce the cost. Aug. 20, 1902, the contract was let to H. and F. Roettiger, of Fountain City, for $11,000. At a special election held May 25, 1903, by a vote of 66 to 20, the voters declared in bonding the village for $2,950, payable in six annual installments beginning in 1917, for the purpose of erecting an electric light plant. The cyclone came Oct. -3, 1905, causing considerable damage and suffering in the village, and partly demolishing the city hall. A temporary roof was built. July 30, 1906, a contract was let to C. A. Sweet for completing the hall at $2,812. and the heating contract was let to J. V. Cummings for $1,225. The same year $200 was expended for stage scenery and $135 for a piano. Aug. 20, 1909, it was voted to buy a new boiler for the electric light plant at $1,366. July 14, 1910, it was voted to buy a clock and bell for the city hall tower at $1,000 from the Seth Thomas Clock Company. March 7, 1892 the first appropriation was made for a public library. July 22, 1907, $500 was appropriated for the purpose of installing a library in the city hall. The franchise to the Arcadia Telephone Company was granted July 11, 1896, and to the Independence Farmers' Telephone Company on Feb. 4, 1901. - (Gathered from the Records by John A. Markham, village president, and Jacob Jackson, village clerk.)

were passed: 1. Hogs not to be allowed free commons under a penalty of one-quarter of a dollar for each head. 2. Five dollars ($5) raised for the purpose of buying a burial ground. 3. Motion made, seconded and carried that the board of supervisors be appointed a committee to confer with Giles Cripps and H. W. Whitmore for the purchase of a burial ground. 4. Moved, seconded and carried that we hold the next town meeting at the schoolhouse. 5. Moved, seconded and carried that this meeting be adjourned at 4 o'clock p. m., Nov. 5, 1864.

At a meeting of the board of supervisors held at the house of George H. Markham, April 9, 1864, it was determined that the town of Burnside should compose one road district to be known as road district No. 3. Dated April 9, 1864. G. E. Parsons and Talcott Moore, supervisors. At a special town meeting held at the schoolhouse, district No. 1 of the town of Burnside, on June 20, 1864, a tax of $100 was raised for the purpose of opening a road to Beef River; also a tax of $50 for the contingent expenses of said town. G. E. Parsons, chairman ; T. Moore and A. C. Baker, inspectors.

A special meeting was held June 20, 1864, at which it was determined that road district No. 3 should hereafter be known and described as road district No. 1 of the town of Burnside. By an order of the town board dated July 6, 1864, a new school district was established as district No. 2. Nov. 8 school district No. 3 was established. By an order of the town board dated Dec. 10, 1864, these two districts were consolidated as school district No. 2. By an order of the town board dated January 23, 1865, two new road districts were formed as districts No. 1 and No. 2.

At a special town meeting held Jan. 23, 1865, held at the schoolhouse in district No. 1 of the town of Burnside for the purpose of raising $660 to procure volunteers, the proposition was carried unanimously. The proposition of raising a tax of $264.69 to pay the indebtedness of the town on the back call, was carried by one vote, votes standing 7 for, 6 against. In the poll list of this meeting are the names of Michael White, James Reid, J. L. Hutchins, T. Bennett and Nephi Nichols for the first time recorded ; total votes, 13.

There is a record, June 29, of $168.67 paid the town of Arcadia in full on this fund at the town meeting April 4. 1865. There were 20 votes cast. It was voted that $100 be raised for the contingent fund ; that no money be raised for town school purposes ; and that no highway tax be raised for road purposes.

At the town meeting April 3, 1866, the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved, That the public money raised for bounty purposes by the county of Trempealeau shall be paid only to the soldiers who have been honorably discharged from the service of the United States and to the heirs of the soldiers who have died before receiving the county bounty of $50. Resolved, that in order that the public money raised for bounty purposes may not be paid to other than the soldiers or their heirs, the county board of supervisors should take no cognizance of any transfer or assignment of bounty, but should adhere to the rule heretofore adopted to allow the bounty only on the application of the soldier, accompanied by his certificate of honorable discharge from the United States service, and on the application of the heirs of deceased soldier upon satisfactory proof of the service and death of the soldier and the heirship of the applicants. Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be presented to each of the county supervisors."

The following territory was taken from the town of Burnside and added to the town of Lincoln, to take effect April 1, 1867 : The southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter, section 25 ; the east half of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter, and the southeast quarter of the northeast half, section 35 and section 36 ; town 22, range 9 west.

At the election held April 7, 1868, the question of removing the county seat from the village of Galesville to the village of Trempealeau, 44 votes were cast, 10 for removal and 34 against.

May 3, 1873, a special election was held for the purpose of voting on the proposition to grant bonds to the amount of $20,000 to aid the Green Bay and Lake Pepin Railroad (now the G. B. & W). The vote stood 9 for and 93 against, with one deficient.

In 1879 the inhabitants of that part of the town that now comprises the town of Chimney Rock (township 23) agitated the splitting of the town. The question was voted on at the spring election of 1880 with the following result: In town 22, for, 38; against, 157; in town 23, for, 110; against, 5. The proposition not receiving a majority in both parts of the town, it was lost. It was again voted on in the spring of 1881 and carried. - (By James N. Hunter.)

Early Adventures. At the time of the Indian Massacre of 1862, the settlers were greatly frightened, and many left. George Hale, who was working for the Markhams at Independence, went to Fountain City with a team, and obtained a keg of powder and lead. The settlers were determined to hold their ground against all comers. The Watson family from the town of Hale fled to the Markham house for mutual protection. But the Indians did not come. Some time previous to the Massacre the Indians borrowed a rifle from Giles Cripps, promising to return it a little later. Cripps made sure he had lost his gun and was greatly surprised some weeks later when the Indian returned the rifle in good condition. Cripps felt sure that the gun had been in use at Mankato in the Indian uprising.

In the early days, great difficulty was often encountered in obtaining a physician. During the second winter or early fall that the Markhams were here, Mr. Lyne, the tutor, was taken dangerously ill. George H. Markham started on foot for Black River Falls, fording the Trempealeau River and other streams. He took supper at Jim Finn's place east of Blair, and found Dr. Hutchinson, of Black River Falls, who gave him some medicine and promised to follow later. Mr. Markham then ate some food, and set out

The Flood of 1876. The great flood of March, 1876, marks an important epoch in Trempealeau County life, for while there were no casualties, and only a few serious injuries, old pioneers date all the events of the early days as happening "before the flood" or "after the flood."

The flood was ushered in by a severe rain. Soon every river and creek was flooded. In the Trempealeau Valley, where the Green Bay had caused a number of new villages to spring up, the damage was the worst. Some of the millers in order to save their dams, opened their sluice gates, and this made the condition in the lower valley all the worse. The villages and hamlets were flooded, the people had to go about in boats. There were a number of thrilling rescues, amusing stories are told of people taken from wood piles and box cars, and even of one adventurous cow which made its way with its calf up a pair of stairs and was found the next morning safe on a stair landing, many feet above the raging flood. The flood was followed by severe cold, some isolated families had to burn furniture and laths from their houses to keep warm. Vast tracts of water froze shortly afterward, making the valley one great ice field.

The saddest affair was at Independence. It began to rain there in the forenoon, and continued most of the day. The ground being hard frozen, the creeks were soon roaring torrents. Toward evening four boys - Lee Fay, Fred Hill and two Schmidt boys - went on the railroad bridge across Elk Creek to watch the ice break up. So intent were they in watching the ice that they did not observe that the track was covered with water, and they were unable to get off" and had to cling to the truss of the bridge all night. As they had told no one where they were going, their friends were unable to locate them and when found next day they were in a pitiful condition. The physicians called concluded that immediate amputation of the feet was necessary. The operation was performed by Drs. George N. Hidershide and Frank L. Lewis, of Arcadia.

The experience of Dr. Geo. N. Hidershide in this connection throws an interesting light on the life of a physician in the early days. Word reached Arcadia of the tragedy at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and Dr. Hidershide, crossing the raging river in a skifl", secured a saddle horse from a farmer and started on his errand of mercy. At the Two-Mile Bridge he was forced to take to the hills. At every valley he had to go nearly to the head of the stream, as all were too swollen for crossing. All that terrible chilling night he toiled on his way, and it was not until 5 o'clock the next morning that he reached his destination at Independence, only nine miles from Arcadia. He made the boys as comfortable as he could, and then returned to Arcadia. Later he and Dr. Lewis performed the amputating operation.

Borst Valley. This valley comprises parts of three towns. Its two westernmost branches head in Dover, Buffalo County ; the main east branch rises near the center of Chimney Rock ; the lower half of the valley lies in Burnside, where its general slope is to the southeast. In greatest length

The valley never bore the name of its first settler, whose family and others called it Little Elk. Afterward by many it was known as Warring Valley. Later it sometimes was designated as Borst Valley. Fifteen years after the coming of the first settler another name was added - Markham Valley, for a man who arrived in 1875. All these names were current at the same time. There never was concerted action on the part of the inhabitants to decide upon a single designation, nor rivalry as to choice. The valley's present name appears to have been generally adopted about 1892.

William S. Cramer, a native of Connecticut, was the first settler. His wife, Deborah Ann, nee Smith, was a native of Ohio. They emigrated from Ohio to Marquette County, Wis., in 1851. A few years later they went to Green Lake County, and in 1861 moved to Butler County, Iowa. In October, 1863, they reached Borst Valley. All these migrations were made by ox team, for the Cramers were typical pioneers. They had five boys - George F., Elmer, Theodore, Charles and Willie. Mr. Cramer squatted on the northwest quarter of section 11, town 22, range 9, a half mile above the valley's mouth, and began gathering logs to build a cabin. A few of these were cut on his claim, the rest being taken wherever a suitable tree was found. The red oak bolts from which he split shakes for the roof Mr. Cramer secured in the head of a coolie above George Hale's location in Pleasant Valley, about five miles distant. In November the family occupied the cabin, moving in before the door was hung or the window fitted.

After finishing the cabin Mr. Cramer went to La Crosse to make homestead filing and learned the land had been withdrawn from entry pending determination of definite limits of a land grant to a railway that afterward became the Omaha line. He returned home, built a shed for the oxen, gathered firewood sufficient for a year or more and laid in a stock of family supplies. Then on Jan. 13, 1864, he enlisted at La Crosse and became a soldier of the Civil War. His son George says Mr. Cramer's enlistment was credited to the town of Gale, that he received $450 bounty, was assigned to Company G, Thirty-second Wisconsin Infantry and sent to Tennessee. Mr. Cramer died of dysentery in the military hospital at Nashville, Sept. 3, 1864, aged about 43.

Mrs. Cramer continued to occupy the claim, making only such improvements as would supply the family with corn and the necessary vegetables, until the land was restored to entry in 1866, when she sent her son George, then about 18 years old, to La Crosse to make homestead entry, instructing him to file in her name. Finding this not permissible, George made entry for himself as head of the family. In 1869 they sold relinquishment of the homestead to Henry B. Fay.

Wanderlust had a firm hold on Mrs. Cramer, an impulse acquired in early life. On leaving Borst Valley she went to Bear Creek, between Mondovi and Durand. where she married Peter Vroman, who died six months later. Notwithstanding the legal change of name, she was known through life as Mrs. Cramer by her old acquaintances. In 1876 she moved to Kansas and in 1878 returned to Wisconsin. Three years later she emigrated to

Oregon and took a homestead six miles west of The Dalles, where she passed a settled life for 25 years. Then seUing her land, Mrs. Cramer went to Western Oregon, and in 1911 to San Diego, Cal., where she died July 3, 1912, in her 83d year.

Of the Cramer children, Willie died in the spring of 1864, aged 3 years. His was the first death in Borst Valley, and his burial in the plot that afterward became the Cripps Cemetery was the first interment there. Theodore and Charles in the early '80s went to Oregon, where the first named died in October, 1913. Charles is near Hosier, Ore., and Elmer near Kellogg, Minn. George was the last of the family to leave Trempealeau County, going to the West in 1887. He hves near Hillsboro, Ore.

In the fall of 1863 Hamlet D. Warring, native of New York, and Lowell Fay, native of Massachusetts, came to view the valley and selected locations. Both returned the following spring, and with them came Mrs. Lydia Meigs, Warring's housekeeper ; Reuben and Harriet Meigs and James and Angeline Hosier. Reuben was Mrs. Meigs' son and Harriet and Angeline were Warring's daughters. They came from Oxford, Marquette County. Mr. Warring located above and adjoining the Cramer claim and Meigs directly west and adjoining Cramer's. Hosier squatted on section 3, but in the fall abandoned the claim and returned to Marquette County. Mr. Warring brought the first horses and the first reaper to the valley. He lived there until his death, Dec. 19, 1888, aged about 75 years. Mrs. Lydia Heigs moved to Hinnesota in the late '70s. Reuben Heigs died in Hontana. His widowlives in North Dakota.

Lowell Fay located at a point where the valley merges into Pleasant Valley. With him were his wife and son Lea. In 1865 Hr. Fay was followed by his sons Henry B. and Aaron, both Civil War soldiers. Henry settled first in Lincoln, but in 1869 he bought the Cramer relinquishment and built the first brick house in Borst Valley. Except Aaron, the Fays moved to Hinnesota in the early '80s. Aaron died at the Hilwaukee soldiers' home in 1916.

Samuel Beswick bought land at the mouth of the valley from an Eastern owner in 1864. Mr. Beswick was a bachelor. He died in the early '90s and his farm passed into possession of Fred Cripps.

In the fall of 1864 came James Kelly and wife, natives of Ireland, with their sons, James, Jr., and John, and daughters, Laura and Marcella. They were from Marquette County. Hr. Kelly located on section 4, Burnside. James Kelly, Jr., married Cornelia, daughter of Talcott Moore, of Pleasant Valley. This was the first marriage of a Borst Valley resident. With the exception of James, Jr., who lives in Northern Wisconsin, the Kellys removed to Hinnesota in 1869.

Daniel and Emily Borst, with four children, arrived in the valley in 1865, coming from Harquette County. Their homestead was in section 34, Chimney Rock. They went to South Dakota in 1870, thence to Washington State. Daniel died at Seattle Sept. 12. 1906. Emily died early in 1917.

In the fall of 1865 George and Martha Meigs reached the valley, coming from Marquette County. George was Reuben Meigs' brother and Martha was H. D. Warring's daughter. George was a Civil War soldier, serving in a New York regiment. His homestead was Mosier's abandoned claim in section 3, Burnside. The first child born in the valley was his son Decatur, July 22, 1866. Mrs. Meigs died April 10, 1873. George moved to Minnesota in 1878, and thence to Montana, where he died early in 1917 in the soldiers' home at Columbia Falls.

In 1866 William Nicols, a native of Scotland, purchased from a nonresident owner a quarter section adjoining the Cramer claim on the east and built a cabin. The next year he broke a few acres. In 1874 he married Giles Cripps' daughter Emma. Mr. Nicols died May 17, 1916, aged 80 years. Of the earliest settlers he continued longest in possession of a single tract of land - 50 years.

The next settlers were Martin W. and Sarah Ann Borst, from Decorah, Iowa, who reached the valley May 12, 1867. They had six children : Virgil, Curtis, Henry, Harvey, Mina and Russell. Mr. Borst visited Trempealeau County in 1866. He first contemplated erection of a grist mill at the site of the present Elk Creek Mill in Pleasant Valley, and made homestead entry of the 160 acres near there that afterward became the Christ Gassow farm. Negotiation for the millsite and flowage rights failing, Mr. Borst abandoned his homestead entry and bought land in Borst Valley. These purchases comprised tracts in both Burnside and Chimney Rock. His house was built on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 3, Burnside, and in the vicinity he operated for several years the largest farm in that region. Mrs. Borst died Nov. 22, 1873. Mr. Borst left the valley in 1878, going to South Dakota. He returned to Wisconsin in 1889, and died at Mondovi, Dec. 21, 1899, in his 87th year. Of the Borst children, Curtis was killed by road agents Nov. 27, 1877, at Frozen Man's Creek, 40 miles west of old Fort Pierre, South Dakota; Russell died at Independence Nov. 11, 1888; Virgil lives in St. Paul, Minn. ; Henry, Harvey and Mina (Mrs. C. J. Ward) are residents of Mondovi.

Peter Peterson Norman made homestead entry in the upper part of the valley in the fall of 1867 and started erection of a log house. The following spring he brought his family. With him this time came his brother Sever. These men were the first Norwegian settlers in Borst Valley.

Among those who came in the next four years were the following : 1867 - Peter and Emma Decker; Mrs. Decker, a widow, and sons Stephen and George ; Joseph Mericle and wife and George Mericle. ^11 came from Winneshiek County, Iowa. Peter and Emma were the last of the party to leave the valley, going to Ellendale, N. D., in 1884. Silas Parker and family came from Galesville, remained a year and removed to Hale.

location with his wife, Lucy, and daughter Lydia. Mr. Back was killed by lightning Sept. 6, 1875, his being the first violent death in the valley. His wife died exactly seven weeks later. George L. Back, son, and George Bartlett and Robert Brookins, sons-in-law of Lyman, made homestead entries, but did not occupy them until the following March. George L. Back is still a resident there. The others left many years ago. George Fisk and family and Augustus Huguenin and wife arrived from Iowa. The latter soon returned to Iowa. Mr. Fisk in 1872 emigrated to California. William Harris and William Barnhart, with their families, came from Dorchester, Iowa, and settled in the west branch, the first in the Burnside section, where he established the first blacksmith shop in the valley. In 1872 he sold to Michael Lee. Mr. Barnhart's location was at the head of the branch. He lived in Dover, half his farm lying in that town. He sold to Charles Short. Chester Beswick bought land in the lower part of the valley, moving in with his family the following February. He now lives near Blair. Al Osgood and wife, from Arcadia, and John Sprinkle and wife, from the head of Wickham valley, were residents in 1868, remaining but a year.

1869 - Palmer Back, another son of Lyman Back, arrived from La Crosse, bought the Kelly location in section 4, Burnside, and moved thereon. In 1871 he sold to William Russell and left the valley. David Barnhart, whose wife was a daughter of William Harris, came with a large family from Marengo, 111., and settled in the west part of Chimney Rock. He moved to Eau Claire County in 1883. Thomas and Elizabeth Burt came from Glencoe, Buffalo County, and located in the Burnside section.

1870 - In March Mrs. Laura Campbell, widow with a large family, arrived from Grant County, Wis. Soon afterward she married P. H. Varney, also from Grant County, and lived at Arcadia, where she died Feb. 18, 1879. None of the Campbell family acquired land in the valley. In May William Hunter, native of Scotland, his sons, William, Jr., and James N., and daughter, Janet, reached the valley, coming from Allegheny County, Pa. They settled in the Burnside section. Mr. Hunter, Sr., died in June, 1897, aged 74 years. His sons are still living in the valley. With the Hunter family came Charles and Mary Short, also natives of Scotland. Mr. Short bought the William Barnhart place and lived in Dover. There were eight children in the Short family, two of whom are David and Charles Short, of Independence. The elder Short died in May, 1907, and his wife in December, 1914.

1871 - In the spring of this year William and Christina Russell, natives of Scotland, came from Allegheny County, Pa. Mr. Russell bought the Kelly Homestead from Palmer Back. The Russells at that time had four children: Alexander, Mary, Isabella and Christina. Mary is the wife of Anton Liver, living at Independence. The three others are dead. William Russell died April 26, 1887, aged 55 years. Mrs. Russell resides on the old homestead. - (By Virgil Borst.)

The Green Bay & Western Railroad has been one of the principal factors in the development of central Trempealeau County. Incorporated by special Act of the Wisconsin Legislature, the company was, April 12.

1866. chartered as the Green Bay & Lake Pepin Railway Company, with Wabasha as its objective western terminal. Four miles were graded in 1869 and 30 miles in 1870. Track laying was commenced in the fall of 1871, and completed 39 miles from Green Bay to New London, Dec. 20, 1871. Four days later the first passengers were carried by special train. During the summer of 1872, 110 miles between New London and Merrillian Junction, in Jackson County, were graded and the tracks laid. The whole work was completed at 5 o'clock on the afternoon of Dec. 24, 1872. During the summer and fall of 1873 the tracks were graded and iron laid from Merrillan Junction to Marshland, where connections were made with the old La Crosse, Trempealeau & Prescott Raih'oad, now the Madison division of the Chicago & North Western. The first regular passenger service between Green Bay and Winona was inaugurated Dec. 18, 1873. Sept. 5, 1873, the name was changed to the Green Bay & Minnesota Railroad. At that time it was believed that the road would be consolidated with the Winona & St. Peter, John L Blair being a large stockholder in both roads. But the Chicago & North Western absorbed the Winona & St. Peter, and the Green Bay was left to its own devices. The struggle was a severe one. Running through 209 miles of a new and sparsely settled country, the receipts were not sufficient to maintain it. January 24, 1878, it went into the hands of a receiver and remained in the receiver's hands until sold, Oct. 15. Jan. 20, 1881, it was sold to John L Blair, representing the bondholders, and reorganized as the Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul Railway Company. Articles of incorporation dated May 6, 1881, filed in Wisconsin May 16, 1881. The company defaulted on bond interest and the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company was appointed Trustee in Possession, the trusteeship continuing from March 23, 1885, to Oct. 25, 1886. A second default was made on the bond interest and the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company again appointed Trustee in Possession. Trusteeship from Aug. 1, 1890, to June 10, 1896. The property was sold under foreclosure May 12, 1896, to Mark T. Cox and others. The deed of sale from Mark T. Cox and others to the Green Bay & Western Railroad Company is dated June 5, 1896.

In 1891 a spur track was completed from Marshland to East Winona, and the Winona terminal was established at the Burlington station instead of at the North Western station.

At the time of building the Green Bay & Western Railroad through the fertile Trempealeau Valley in 1873, the now prosperous cities of Dodge, Arcadia, Whitehall and Blair were but little hamlets. Little was known of them for the reason they were so small, one passing through the country would not consider a few houses grouped together as of sufficient importance to give them a name.

The railroad crossed the Jackson and Trempealeau County line three miles east of the now prosperous city of Blair, which was so named in honor of the famous and well-known pioneer railroad builder of the West, Hon. John I. Blair, of Blairstown, N. J. He was the first man of great wealth who, far in advance of the times, realized the vasrness of the great Northwest and lavishly advanced his money in building railroads to develop the countrv now so fertile. He trusted with unerring judgment to the future to bring returns on his investments, and, thanks to the all-wise Providence, his hfe was spared to see his judgment confirmed and his investments in several of his railroads, notably the Chicago & North Western Railway, bring ample returns, for he lived to the ripe old age of ninety-five years.

At the time the railroad passed the present location of Blair, there were but a few scattering farm houses, and the store of T. I. Gilbert, which was at the west limits of the present village. The first store in the village was built by C. C. Hanson and T. I. Gilbert in 1874, and was burned in the fire of 1891. Blair is now a very thriving village of about 700 people, doing a lai'ge business in general farm products.

The next hamlet passed by the railroad on its westerly course was what is now known as Whitehall, a beautiful and thriving little city of about 1,000 souls, on a broad, flat plateau of land between picturesque hills on the north and south sides and is the county seat of Trempealeau County, the county seat having been moved there from Arcadia in 1878. The first store was built by H. E. Getts in 1874 and still stands just noi'th of the John O. Melby Bank. At the time of the advent of the railroad there was but one farm house to mark the location. Like Blair, it derives its support from the rich farming land surrounding it in every direction and from the very fertile Pigeon Creek Valley leading to the northeast.

Independence, the next thriving little city six miles west of Whitehall, was a farm owned by Jake Pampuch at the time the railroad was built and until it was bought by D. M. Kelley in 1876, and the present village of Independence was platted May 30. There are about 900 people living in this village, which is supported by a very rich farming community.

Arcadia, eight miles to the west, with a population of 1,200, is a very prosperous city. At the time of the building of the railroad there was a little hamlet about one mile to the southeast of the present business location of Arcadia. The first store was built by A. F. Hensel in 1874 and was operated as a general store by Bohri Bros. The first elevator was built in 1873 by Remby, Canterberry & Smith on the site now occupied by the W. P. Massuere & Co. elevator. The same year Elmore & Kelley, of Green Bay, Wis., built an elevator at Arcadia, they being the first two elevators built along the line of the railroad in Trempealeau County. Arcadia was for a time the county seat, having been moved there from the village of Galesville, where it was located for many years. It is supported by a very large area of very productive farming land.

From Arcadia westward the railroad followed the low land bordering on the Trempealeau River, which in the early days got on an annual rampage at the opening of the spring and caused very great damage to the railroad, notably in the great floods of March, 1876, when the railroad between Arcadia and Marshland was nearly obliterated and was out of commission for two months.

Thirteen miles to the west of Arcadia we arrive at the village of Dodge, at the west side of Trempealeau County. It was named in honor of William E. Dodge, of New York City, a prominent financier for many years. He was associated with John I. Blair, Moses Taylor, Joseph H. Scranton, E. F. Hatfield and many other well-known financiers of New York in the pioneer railroad building of the West. He was also connected with many philanthropic institutions and at one time was treasurer of Protestant Syrian College at Constantinople, Turkey. Unfortunately for the village of Dodge, it was located too near the city of Winona, Minn., where the farm products were mostly marketed. However, within the last few years conditions have changed and the business has improved very much.

From Dodge the railroad passes into Buffalo County and soon passes over the Father of Waters into the beautiful city of Winona, Minn., the history of which is well known. - (By F. B. Seymour, Oct. 10, 1917.)

The Risberg County Accounting System. Paudor K. Risberg, county clerk of Trempealeau County, has evolved a system of county accounting which is being adopted in many other counties of the Northwest. When he became county clerk nine years ago, after a long career as an educator, he found that the county accounting system was far from satisfactory. In the neighborhood of a hundred different officials had at the time the authority to issue orders for money upon the county treasury. The State registrar of vital statistics, the asylum trustees, the county highway commissioner, the circuit judge, the county judge, clerk of court, district attorney, county clerk, sheriff, county assessor and every justice of the peace in the county were authorized by law to draw orders upon the county treasury; and in addition to this the county treasurer was authorized to pay out all State taxes and all school funds, together with certain fees to town and village treasurers, without any written order from anybody.

The danger of two or more officials issuing orders upon the same funds is very apparent, for the reason that one official does not know w-hat amount of orders the other one has issued, and no one of them knows at any given time whether there is sufficient money in the treasury to meet his order.

When the new state highway law of 1911 went into effect the old accounting system was found inadequate, and something had to be done to handle the funds of the county in a more modern and businesslike manner. Plans were drawn up by Mr. Risberg and submitted in part to committees, a new system being a vital necessity. In 1915 the work had progressed so far that it was submitted to the county board and was unanimously adopted.

The new system provides that no money shall be paid out of the county treasury except upon a written order signed by the county clerk and countersigned by the county treasurer ; a voucher must also be on file in the office of the county clerk for every order issued. The following records are parts of the system :

Mr. Risberg has also devoted his spare time to systematizing the old records in the clerk's office, so that any document from the first organization of the county is easily to be found, and in addition to this he has compiled many statistics from the records which were in the custody of the clerks before he took office.