Alma, Wisconsin

It has a length of five miles in a straight line north and south, but consideraly more, along the Mississippi. Its width is greatest on the northern boundary line, and least on the line between Sections 2 and 11, the corner of Sections 1 and 2, 11 and 12 being close to the Court House, only 6.80 chains from the Mississippi. It is bordered on the West by the river, the course of which at that place is fully described in " Topography." On the Eastside it joins the Towns of Alma and Belvidere, the former of which comes into the actual city on the corner above described, a few lots having been laid out around the Southwest corner of Section 1. On the South the Town of Belvidere also adjoins, while along the Northern boundary line the Town of Nelson extends. For about five miles high and steep bluffs extend, there being no level land between them and the river and sloughs, except the bottoms or islands. The city proper, is situated on the slope of the bluffs, and has but two streets running in the direction of the river, though quite a number crossing them, of which, however, but few are practicable, though some of them have been put into such a condition between Main and Second Streets as to afford communication. Second Street is from 50 to 60 feet above the level of Main Street. The railroad, running close to, or in fact upon part of Main Street in the Lower Addition, it was found necessary to build a graded road from the junction of Main Street with North Street, to the junction of Hill Street with Second Street in order to prevent accidents to teams becoming frightened by the approach of trains. Of the founders of the place a lengthy account has been given in the chapter on Early Settlement and Pioneers. What wa 5 the "Village, and is now the City, of Alma, was part of the Town of Alma, which was organized in March 1856, or rather by the Annual Town meeting and election in April of that year. This election was held at the house of John Marty accordto resolution of the county board. In 1868 it was found desirable to dissolve this connection and the place was incorporated as a village. Owing to some defects in the charter, which could not readily be amended, the citizens applied for a city charter, which was granted by the legislature ot 1885. The first Mayor of the new city "was Martin Polin; he was succeeded by Charles Schaettle, jr. The present Mayor is Hon. John W. DeGroff. The different parts of the city were laid out as follows: Plat of Ahia May 1855, recorded in Vol. 4, page 57. Victor Prohsfs Addition May 6, 1855, recorded in Vol. 4, page 67.

Passage source: History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, published 1888.

The lives of the pioneers of Twelve Mile Bluff, as the place was called in former times are described in the chapter on Pioneers. After their time others began to arrive. One of the most important families was that of John Marty, consisting of himself and wife and one daughter. The latter was married to W. H. Gates," February 23d, 1856, the second marriage on record. The Martys, John and his brother Nicolas, arrived in 1851. There seems to have been but little activity in any thing until the place was laid .out in lots. The business of the early settlers was making shingles and getting out cordwood. About the same time with the Martys Mathias Hammer, now of Lincoln, arrived. They got their mail from Reeds Landing, Minn., and did all their dealings of store goods at Galena, 111., giving their orders to the steamboat captains, who "would bring the goods on the next trip up the river. The goods needed at that time included provisions of all kinds, flour pork, etc. beside^ articles of clothing and tools for work carried on. The first business opened at Alma was a saloon, kept by a man named Beyer, who had come from Keokuk, and it was located in a shed adjoining the house or shanty of John Marty. In 1855 the following houses were built: By Gates, J. A. Hunner, John Hemrich, Philipp Kraft, J. R. Hurlbuit and E. E. Heerman. They were all along Main Street, above Olive Street, except that of J. R. Hurlburt which was on the corner of Second and . Orange Streets. Hurlburt and Kraft opened hotels, the former the Alma House, the latter the Wisconsin House. The brewery of John Hemrich was also built the same year. ; About a year or perhaps two before that time Rudolf Beiner had arrived and taken lodging in the old shanty built originally b ! V. Probst and J. C. Waecker, and in company with John Marty he laid out the Lower Addition. Most of the above information I have received from Mr. Gates, who was for a long time a prominent citizen of Alma. He was of versatile talents, and undertook a great many things, without, however, achieving any decided success in any particular one. Among other things he kept hotel in both, the Alma House and after that the Sherman House, after the latter had been built. He was elected Register of Deeds in J 857 and Sheriff in 1863. I think he kept the first store in the place in the house on the- corner of

Passage source: History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, published 1888.

Orange and Main Streets, which is at present occupied by Mathias Ruben as a bakery and fruit store. Mr. Gates was also elected to many local offices, and, I think, was the first chairman of the Town of Alma. He is now a practicing physician at Gary, Deuel Co., Dakota Territory. He was also the first postmaster of this place, the office having been established in 1856. This office, the establishment of which shows, that the place had become of some consideration, has since its establishment been administered by the following gentlemen:

Passage source: History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, published 1888.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Alma City - it names this place 8 more 8 times.