Buffalo Town

Buffalo Town

The territory lying within the corporate limits of the city is lot very easily described, nor is the description of some of it very lasily understood, since some perfect forties are described as lots vith numbers. The reason for this is that the surplus on the lorrection line was made into two lots, which necessitated the numbering of the northern half of the section as lots, there being 10 of them in perfect sections, as for instance in Section 5, adjoining the city.

Sec. 6, Lot 6, also laid out in five acre lots and forming with the above Subdivision B. Lots 4 and 5 are laid out in 80 acre lots. W J of 8E i and lots 8 and 9 and some of the smaller lots along the slough are laid out in lots and blocks as far as they conuist of dry land.

The large island between the Buffalo City Channel and Pomme de Terre Slough on the one, and the Mississippi River on the other side, has never been officially surveyed and the greater part of it would fall into Range 13, It is not in the corporation. A survey by Robert Strohmann has never been accepted by the government.

The city was incorporated by Chapter 197, Private and Local Laws of 1859. The charter was amended by Chapter 178 General Laws of 1861. The official name is City of Buffalo.

ing homes to themselves in the Far West, .and attempted in 1854 a settlement in Kansas, which, however, was abandoned on account of the troubles of the times in that territory. After this it was concluded to go to a more northern state, and, as appears from records, land had been purchased and part of the plat laid out in 18.D6. A proposition had been made to buy land close to Alma, but It was never ratified. Frederick Pfeffer and J. P. Moessinger acted as commissioners of the society, the latter being a surveyor, The colonization society had in 1854 as many as 178, and later at the division of the lots 228 members. There is a peculiarity in the lots of Buffalo Cit,', that they are all laid out at right angles and conformable to the cardinal points of the compass, which occasioned along the slough on Front Street a number of inconvenient little corners, that. could not very well be utilized. Mr. Pfeffer, who has been for many years the President of the Society and is now since 1858 a resident of the city, explained this curiosity by saying, that there were too many surveyors in the society, who abhorred any deviation from government survey lines. The plat, I believe was begun by J. P. Moessinger and finished by Rob. Strohmann, who came up from Cincinnati for that purpose and remained in this county until he enlisted in the 34th Reg. of Infantry.

In 1858 the society built the saw mill which is mentioned in the chapter on Manufactures. In the same year Mr. Schaettle built a store and came with stock for the same, the brewery was also started. A number of houses were also built, and quite a number of settlers, partly from Cmcinnati, partly from other parts, had arrived,- as I found when in March 1859 1 came to the place. Fred. Laue had been there during the winter and had fixed on the site for the saw mill of Buecker & Co. for which April 10th, 1859, he brought up the machinery. Edward Gunkel kept saloon and boarding house. Joachim Guettinger, Caspar Huber, Herman Protz, Ferdinand Horst, Adolf Ranch, Adam Hellmann, Henry Busdicker etc. had come from Cincinnati, Henry Erding from Baltimore, others from other places. The island at the corner between the Buffalo City- Channel and the Mississippi was inhabited by Andrew Vogt, and Peterson Bro. It would be too tedious to mention all the citizens. High hopes were entertained by most of them for the future growth and prosperity of the city and the society expended, among other things, a considerable sum of money to build a road across the Belvidere Bluff' to the Waumandee. The surrounding country Ijegan to fill u[>. In 1859 Mr. Schaettle built a large house, designed for a store, dwelling house, saloon and dancing hall, and the lower sawmill went into operation. The representation of the place by two members in the county board of supervisors brought out a decided opposition against the place, as may be learned from the chapter on organization. The city, however was always in funds, as the taxes were at that time regularlj'- paid by almost every one of the owners of lots, most of whom resided at Cincinnati. In the mean time it was demonstrated bj' experience thi»t navigation could reach the place only at high water. This was very inconvenient, but a ferry was established between the city and the settlement at Mount Vernon, Minn., about two miles below Minneiska, which in some measure remedied the deficiency. But although the number of settlers increased from time to time, there was also by and by a sensible decrease. In 1861 the city made some exertions to get the county seat, but with what result may be seen in the chapter on organization. In the course of time the owners of lots began to refuse or neglect the payment of taxes and houses began to be moved out of the town to neighboring farms. The want of communication by water crippled every enterprise, and of the original settlers but very few remain, while, however the population is now more numerous than twenty years ago. The charter is still in force, though the representation has been reduced to one member in the countyboard. The city has a good and large schoolhouse, a Catholic and a Lutheran church, one store, blacksmith shop etc. It is situated about one mile from the railroad station at Cochrane, but has a postofiice of its own, receiving its mail from Cochrane by -special messenger, just as previous to 1860 from Fountain City.

Long as this sketch has grown, it might have easily been made much longer, but many items of interest may be gathered from other chapters, and from personal remarks in the appendices to the tables of Early Settlers and the lists of soldiers. The population of the city is now, as it has always been, entirely German, the few stragglers of other nationalities never staid long enough deserve particular attention.

Town Of Buffalo

Township 18: Sections 3, 10 and 15 along Trempealeau River and 6, 8, 16 and 17 along the Mississippi are fractional, 4, 6 and 9, cut up by sloughs, are also fractional, in Range 10.

Section 1 in Range 11 is on the Mississippi and fractional. Adjoining towns are Cross and Village of Fountain City in this, Trempealeau in Trempealeau County. The town is very hilly, rolling on the top of the bluffs, and well watered in the valleys of which there are two Piper's and Plath's.

The town of Buffalo was at first the whole county, as may be seen from the act establishing the latter. It naturally grew smaller and finally, after the establishment of the town of Milton or EJagle Mills was reduced to the present size, if we add to it the land contained in the village of Fountain City. Within the present limits Charles Bippes was the first settler, first on the bluff, afterwards in the valley, which was named after him, but by a corruption of the name is now called Piper's Valley. He came with his brother-in-law, Adam Raetz, in 1851, was at the first election chosen clerk of the county board, but never served, and has not lived in this county for many years. Henry Plath and Henry Heuer settled in 1854, G-ottlieb Keller, Gottlieb Kranse and Jacob Botzett in 1855 also Alfred Street, Fritz Thuemmel, Christian Diener, Andrew Risser, William Multhaupt and Michael Schniep. The settlement after this was quite rapid. The Greenbay Railroad runs through the eastern and southern part of the town, which occasioned the establishment of Marshland Station and postoffice. The first marriage is said to have been that of Jacob Botzett to Christina Simon in 1856. The first death was the father ofWm. Multhaupt. The first birth was Henry Street, son of Alfred Street in the winter of 1857.

The population of the town is mostly German, but there are some Scotch, Irish and Polish' families and one American family. The southern part of the town is opposite the city of Winona, and much of the trade of the town is done in that place, a well built road leading across the bottoms. There is within the limits of this town a village plat near the railroad station of Bluff Siding, called Town of Colbert, which is recorded in Vol. 17, page 216, with which I am not further acquainted.

Town Of Canton

The territory contained in this town is Township 24 of Range 12. Before its organization the east half of it belonged to Naples the west half to Maxville. The surface of the town is full of hills^ between which there are several valleys, from which the -treams run to the Big Bear Creek excepting North branch of Little Bear Creek. The soil in these valleys and on the slopes is well suited to agriculture. There are but few farms on the bluffs, where the soil is the same as usual in similar situations.

It appears that the northern part, adjoining Big Bear Creek was first settled, it being level and the soil rich. The so-called Tuttle farm is said to have been occupied by a man named Quackenbos in 1855. When Geo. Tuttle came is not known, but m 1862 he was a Justice of the Peace. I never knew him and the farm is now owned by David Gifford. In I860 Lewis Knifiin and Julius Parr settled in North Branch, T. W. Glasspool, sen., in the Glasspool Valley, Earl \Var<l and Thomas Inschcoe in the Big Bear Creek Valley. In 1861 Louis Owen, L. W. Keezar and J. V. Jones opened farms in North Branch Valley, in 1862 Geo. Kees in the same neighborhood. The first death is said to have been that of a daughter of Lewis Knifhn in 1862.

After several fruitless attempts the town was set off by the County Board in 1867 and organized in 1868, electing Jas. E. Walker chairman and T. W. Glasspool Townclerk The name of Page, or rather Paige, suggested by the leading advocate for the organization, was soon changed to Canton at the request of citizens and the suggestion of Mr. Glasspoole.

The population is about equally divided, consisting of German, Irish, Norwegians and Americans. Since the completioli of the Chippewa Valley Railroad the trading of this town is mostly done at Durand, Pepin Co., where the settlers also have their postoince. Formerly most of the wheat went to Alma, sometimes by way of Modena, sometimes by way of North Branch and across the bluffs.

Town Of Cross

There may be some errors in regard to one or two forties, adjoining the town of Milton or that of Buffalo, such small alteration having escaped my attention.

This town was set off, July 20th 1867, at the same time as the Town of Milton, of parts until then belonging to the Town of Buffalo. Hon. Edward Lees, now of Gilmanton, was the first Chairman, John Burt the first Townclerk.

The surface of the town is very much broken up. The bluffs are steep and most of the valleys narrow. Eagle Valley in the western part begins in the town of Glencoe, crosses a corner of Waumandee and finally ends in the town of Milton. There are in fact two valleys, one east of the last named, also beginning in the town of Glencoe. The two streams and the valleys join in Sec 15, T. 20, R. 11, where the joint valley is widest. The valley next in size is Bohri's Valley, also consisting of two different valleys with a stream in each, the streams uniting a short distance before flowing out into Treampealeau bottom. Other, but smaller valleys are, Buehler's, Barths's Grover's etc. The soil in these valleys is rich black loam, on the bluffs it is more clayey, Peter Schank is considered the first settler within the limits of the present town of Cross and also the first farmer in the county, having settled on his farm in 1850, remaining for three years without a neighbor. In spring 1853 Andrew Baertsch settled in the town where he yet lives, the oldest in regard to settlement, of any man now living in the county, having come in 1847- In 1853, Philipp Menzemer and Geo. Zimraermann also settled. Rev. John Aldermatt also came in 1853. In 1854, Christ. Bohri sr. and his family, John Sutter, J. Camastral, Christian Buehler, Henry Keller and Fred, erick Binder came, in 1855 Ed. Lees, John Burt, Wm. Burt and

The first two denths were those of Ambuehl and Camastval, who died in summer 1854 of cholera which they had contracted in their journey from the East, where this disease was then raging. The first child born in Cross was Christian Baertsch, son of Andrew and Mary Baertsch. He was born Sept. 1st, 1853. There is a postoffice in, and of the same name as, the town, situated in Sec. 5, T. 19, R 10, kept by Gottlieb Bohri, who also keeps a tavern. There are some six or seven Scotch families in the town, the remainder are Germans, except a few Polish families.

Town Of Dover

The territory of the town of Dover is Township 23 of Range 10. The town is bounded on the north by Naples on the east b}^ Burnside, Trempealeau Co., on the south by Montana, on the west by Gilmanton. It was set off from the town of Gilmanton, of which it had been a part, at the annual meeting of the countyboard of 1870, and organized at the next spring election, with A. J. Nims as chairman and W. H. Edes as townclerk. The surface of the town is very much varied, steep bluffs on the southern and northern boundaries with some hills through the center running east and west along Elk Creek and Bennett Valley Creek, north and south on Three Mile Creek. These creeks and valleys are djescribed in Topography. The soil on both sides of Elk Creek in its middle course is sandy, but some of the side valleys even of the distance are productive. Bennett Valley is considered the best part of the town for agricultural purposes. -This Valley received its name from the fact that Dr. Jesse Bennett, formerly of Fountain City had selected considerable land in it, for which he employed Hon. Noah D. Comstock. The first settler in this town was certainly Samuel S. Cooke, a native of Franklin Co., Ohio, who came up in 1855 and purchased the Southeast quarter of Section 27, moving upon it with his family in June the year after. He lived in a perfect solitude, considering Patrick Mulcare of Glencoe as his nearest neighbor, until after a while he found the " Loomis Settlement," as Gilmanton was then called, about seven miles west of his own location. Mr. Cooke was a great hunter iind, although at times he and his family had to subsist on the products of the chase, he did not hunt for that alone, but also for the gratification of his passion. The reader is referred to tiie appendix to Class II, List of Earlj' Settlers, for further particulars. The brothers Marvin and James Pierce owned a considerable piece of land, nortii and east of Mr. Cooke, and spent two or three summers u^jon it, but never remained during winter. This was between 18-56 and 60. The sec)nd actual settler was George Wooster, who located farther down, the next Edward Cartwrigh who located farther up Elk Creek, at the head of it. The first setler in Bennett Valley was W. H. H. Amidon, followed by Paul Smith, S. W. Bailey, Roderick 'J. Bailey, Squire Loomis, Theodore Lockwood and others. The Edes brothers held the land on which Jos. Rast now resides long before they moved upon it. My first acquaintance with the surface of the town dates back to 1866-67, when I explored with the compass the eastern valleys. There were at that time but two Norwegian families about two miles and a half to the north from Mr. Cooke's, John Paulsen and Ole Everson, and in Bennett Valley the Bartletts were the only family who lived above Paul Smith, that is east of him. I remember also that when out surveying with .John Hunner, jr., we met a caravan of Norwegian immigrants, who were clambering across the bluffs and hills with their wagons and cattle. About that time the Davis relationship, quite numerous, began settlements on Three Mile Creek. The town afterwards filled up rapidly and finally set up for separiite existence. At present the population consists largely of Norwegians with a few Americans and others.

Village Of Fountain City

In making out this description I discovered that Sect. 27 of this township is not included in the map of Fountain City, nor in that of the Town of Buffalo. (See Atlas.)

settlement and political organization of this county began, and upon which it was for some time concentrated. I think, however, that in previous chapters on Organization, Settlement, Pioneers, Manufactures, Education, Press, etc., I have related all that is interesting.

Among those who arrived soon after the pioneers, whose biographies will be found in the proper chapter, .John Adam Raetz was one of the first. He is still a resident of the corporation. He was born in Gondelsheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, and came to America in 1847, first settling in Stevenson Co., 111. He and his family landed on the 18th of May, 1851, at Wild's Landing, where now the stonehouse stands. For some time three families were crowded together until after some time they made a path to Holmes' Landing. He burnt the first lime at that place, which sold at 11.00 a barrel. At Holmes' Landing he lived together, or in the same house,, with old man Peter Schank, and then made a settlement on what is now called Schumacher's Farm, where he built a small house in Oct. 1851, and passed a very severe winter. In the coming sj)ring he lost all his cattle except two yoke of oxen, his money was gone, and with the exception of some thousands of fence rails and a few cords of wood, he had to relinquish his claim. Indians seem to have bothered them considerably, so that they were often scared, and many a night they could not go to bed. So far his own narrative. It strikes me as somewhat singular that not one of the early settlers still rem lining in the place relates any thing of the Indian fight of which Hon. Augustus Finkelnburg gives such a vivid description in his centennial oration. I would not, of course, deny the truth of the story, and the informant of Mr. Finkelnburg may have drawn on his imagination, but it is also singular that even Thomas Randall in his History of the Chippewa Valley has little to say about the Indian fights and hostilities in the extensive region of which he treats. It must, however, be remembered that Sioux and Winnebagoes werfe quite near together in this neighborhood, and were as much at war as Sioux and Chippewas who lived further north. Adam Raetz was elected District Attorney at the election in Novembei' 1853, but it is reasonably certain that he never acted as such.

the first election, the following fourteen were residents of Holmes' Landing at the time: John Buehler, Christ. Wenger, Caspar ' Wild, Andrew Earth, John Haeussinger, Jas. M. Pierce, Marvin Pierce, Adam Raetz, Henry Goerke, Adam Weber, Lawrence Dressendoerfer, Ulrich Kritzenthaler and Henry Funke. They must have arrived during 1851, '52 and '53, except those who were there before that time, for whom see Pioneers.

The year 1854 witnessed the arrival of Ferdinand Fetter, who afterwards became a leading citizen of the county. Justice of the Peace, Clerk of Circuit Court, and County Judge. Tony Burk, who came up from Le Claire, Iowa, told me about Mr. Fetter, when he returned for his family. Henry Teckenburg, who established the first regular and properly equipped store, after having bought out the stock of Henry Goerke, came in the fall of 1853. Gottfried Huber kept saloon and tavern in 1855 and later, and was in 1856 a Justice of the Peace. It takes everybody and everything to make the world, and it takes a great many to make even a village, and only very few of them will be afterwards remembered, and will remember much of their own life and circumstances during their young years, when they have grown old. The inquiries of the historian are sometimes baffled by this forgetfulness; sometimes, too, he grows cautious, and even suspicious, in listening to stories, which in fact, or at least in appearance, seem to contradict each other.

City is very similar to that of Alma, but more favorable in having at least in the upper part a better chance for building and concentration, and in having numerous springs \vhich issue out of the bluffs on the slope instead in the bed of the river. The valleyb as well aS the bluff lands adjoining the village are settled by farmers. I have in the chapter on Transportation called attention to the graded roads leading to different parts of the village. The village was, as long as it belonged to the town of Buffalo the natural center of it. In the division of the town of Eagle Mills, Buffalo received the greater part, because it was in the interest of Fountain City to control the roads over which the trade of the Waumandee Valley had to come to the place. The incorporation of the village disconnected the lower and the upper part, and the legislature of 1870 in granting the incorporation also reorganized the town of Milton and defined the limits of the town of Buffalo.

A postofl&ce was established in the place in 1854 with Marvin Piefce as the first postmaster, who kept the office in Block 18, on lot 121. In the course of time the following gentlemen have held the ojB&ce: M. Pierce, Henry Teckenburg, M. W. Hammann, P. Moeckel, R. W. Feigl, A. Finkelnburg, S. Karth, John Maurer, Tobias Voegele and the present postmaster J. B. Oenning. The ppstoffice is now, and has been for a long time, on lot 78, Block 11 in the center of the upper village.

Before the construction of the Green Bay railroad Fountain City commanded the trade of the Waumandee, Montana, Glencoe, Cross, Milton, the southern part of Belvidere, and of Buffalo. Even from the town of Arcadia I remember to have seen farmers, who brought wheat and other products to Fountain City to market. The construction of that road and the inevitable boom of the new stations of Arcadia and Independence diverted much of the Montana, some of the Waumandee and all of the Glencoe trade in that direction at least for some time. The Burlington and Northern railroad put the place like Alma, on a new footing. The results of it can not yet be positively stated. But so far the people have taken advantage of this new means of transportation aixd communication by establishing new enterprises, which may make good use of it, and which are more extensively mentioned in the chapter on Manufactures.

Not having mentioned this company at any other place in this history, I give here the report of the Secretary, furnished at my urgent request, in full.

The Fountain City Mutual Farmers' Fire Insurance Company organized May 16, 1874, with 27 members, who were then insured in the aggregate of $28,630.00. On that day £he first'boaid of directors were elected as follows:

The cost of insurance in this company averages since organization about 15 cents per one hundred per.annum. Its business is spread over the whole county; it insures farm property of all descriptions, except dwellings riot provided with brick chimneys. Live stock is insured for every member in the whole county; that is, wherever the insurance law of the state permits it; implements needed away from the owner's farm are also insured everywhere. Buildings are insured at two-thirds of their value; pei'sonal property at its value. When losses occur and the treasury is empty, an assessment is made, and nine such assessments ha've been made since the day of organization. Aim and object of the company appear from the above.

Fountain City also has a we'd regulated fire department. It is also the headquarters of an association for improveiiient of the breed of horses. This ought to have been mentioned in the chapter on Agriculture, but I am not informed about jjarticulars.

There is one trait in the character of the people of Fountain City, which I can not leave unnoticed. Of course, the population, though mostly German by nationality, is composed of many elements, which do no more harmonize naturally than in other places, nor, for aught I know, any less. But whenever any improvements or new new enterprises are suggested it is remarkable how soon the means are found. One cause of this, I think, lies in the fact that every one is requested to contribute and to become a shareholder, even those who could contribute only their labor, so that all become interested.

Socially the people of Fountain City also seem to agree very well, notwithstanding the presence of differences in politics, religion, and other accidental trifles, which are so often the cause of dissensions everywhere.

Town Of Gilmanton

The territory of the Town of Gilmanton is described as Township 23, Range 11. It consists of the western parts of Elk Creek Valley, part of the Beef River Valley and the Gilman Valley. Tributary to the Elk Creek is Hadley Creek, which comes from the north-east part of the town and flows through a valley whose slope on the east side is gradual but rather abrupt on the westside. Erskine Creek comes from the southern part and flows nearly north, Bailey Creek and O'Hara Creek flow in about the same direction, all these fall into Elk Creek below the mill-po.(id. The surface of the town is, very variable. Some steep bluffs are in the southern part, hills in the central part, and bluffs again in the northern part of which a spur comes down towards Elk Creek, terminating in Mount Tom. The most prominpnt peak of the southern range, nearly detached from it, is Eagle Peak. Some of the soil is light and even sandy especially south of Elk Creek. On the westside of Beef River the country is rolling, rising, however, towards the north into steep bluffs. Almost all of the fand is heavy clay loam and well suited for agricultural purposes. Gilmanton is bounded by Mondovi on the North, Dover on the East, Alma and Lincoln on the South and Modena on the We it. The valleys must have been very inviting to settlers, yet at a time when Alma and Fountain City were already laid out, there was yet not a single settler in this town. The late Lyman J. Claflin more than. once related in my presence, how he and one or two companions, one of them Ezra Hutchinson, came from Beef River Station, now probably Osseo, went down Beef River Valley prospecting for settlement, how they came clown to the very spot where Mr. Claflin afterwards settled, without having had anything to eat for two days and finally managed to get to Alma, and how glad they were to get under the hospitable roof and to the well supplied table of John R. Hurlburt, who had just begun to keep tavern in the old Alma, afterwards American, House. Mr. Clafiin went to La Crosse and borrowed a compass, for which he paid one dollar per day, returning it after a use of five days. This was in June 1855 at which time he and Ezra Hutchinson entered the first land on the eastside of Beef River.

It appears that soon after Samuel Gihnan and his four sons, Franklin, Edson, Andrew J. and Daniel, took up land in Sections. 8 and 17 in the so-called Gilman valley, building cabins and cutting hay for their stock. Philo Englesby settled in the fall of 1855 in what is called now Allen's Valley. In spring 1856 came with Mr. Claflin, who had returned East, the Vermonters, Wm. Loomis, Dan Loomis, Abijah P. Loomis, Ezra Hutchinson, W. H.H. Amidon, M. E. Ferry and T. C. Bailey, forming the so-called "Loonris Settlement," on the east side of Beef River. Chauncey W. Rathbun came about the same time, also Frank Hatschboth, settling in Gilman Valley. In June of that year the first child was born. Wealthy J. Rathbun, who grew up a lovely girl, and was married and died in the valley.

The first religious meeting was held by Rev. B. F. Morse at the house of Mr. Eathbun. For schools see chapter on Education. The first marriage was J. A. Bush and Almira Hatch in Spring 1857. Mrs. Bush died about two years after her marriage, and this was the first death. The town of Elk Creek was set off July 20, 1857, and then embraced Dover, Gilmanton, and the east half of Modena. The name was changed to Gilmanton May 25, 1858, and the part in Range 12 taken off Nov. 12, 1861. The mill was built 1861, for which see Manufactures, where some other remarks will be found. In 1862 the first volunteers went from Gilmanton, and the big scare on account of the Sioux outbreak in Minnesota led to the formation of a company of homeguards, Capt. Lyman Stiles, Ltnt. Judson Hutchinson. The scare soon subsided.

The post-office was established in 1858, with \Vm. Loomis as the first postmaster. He kept the office at his house in Sect. 22, until 1865. It was then removed to the house of R. E. Puller, who was postmaster until May 15th, 1866. Since then J. W. Howard is postmaster, and keeps the office as an annex to his store.

There is a plat of what is usually called the ''village" of Gilinanton, formerly called "Mann's Mill." This plat was recorded in Vol. 33, page 247, June 9th, 1876. In this village we find the mill, three coaimoa country stores, one drugstore, two blacksmith shops, one tavern, the school house and a church.

Town Of Glencoe

The territory of Glencoe consists of Township 21, Range 10, and of Town 20, Range 10, the following sections 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10 onTreiupealeau River fractional, 4, 5, 6 and 7 entire. The surface is very broken in all parts of the town, and contains a number of valleys of which the Muir Valley in the Eastern part has a length of over six miles with a number of side valleys in all of which we find'streams. Muir Creek flows South into Trempealeau River. Cowie's Creek takes the same course, west of the former. Eagle Creek has its source in Sec. 31 and flows through Cross and Milton into the Waumandee Creek. Irish Creek has its sources in Sec. 17 and flows West into Waumandee Creek. The slopes are everywhere steep, but on the top of the bluffs there is a rolling woodland, which has in many places been cleared and is very well adapted for agriculture. The land in the valleys is rich and there is but very little poor farming land in the town. The town is bounded on the east by the town of Arcadia in Trempealeau Co., on the west by Waumandee and Cross, on the North by Montana, and on the south by Cross. The town was at first known as Cold Springs and was organized as such June 8th, 1857, but the name was changed to Glencoe in 1859, at the suggestion of Hon. Geo. Cowie who settled in 1855 and still resides there. Until the organization of the town of Montana Township 22, Range 10, also belonged to Glencoe. The first settler was Patrick Mulcare who came in 1854; he is now dead. In 1855 George Cowie and Jas. Paulds, sen., arrived. Henry Wirtemberger also arrived in 1855. James Paulds jr., William Muir, David J. Davis and J. P. Pernholz came and com- tuenoed improvements in 1856, Thomas Courtney and Andrev Cashel in 1857- The first marriage was that of William Ashton t( Elizabeth Faulds solemnized by Andrew Baertsch, then a Justic( of the Peace. The first child born in the town was George M., soi of George and M.irgareth Cowie. This was Oct. 10, J 856. Thi first death was that of Mrs. Cashel, wife of Andrew Cashel. Thi town of Glencoe is, as remarked in the chapter on Transportation remarkable for its graded roads, of which it had the first, and ha; now the most of any town in the county. At first the trade o Glencoe was mostly with Fountain City, but since the building o the Green Bay railroad Arcadia affords the most convenien market. A postoffice was established in the town of Glencoe Sept 4th, 1858 with Geo. Cowie as postmaster, which office he held unti Nov. 1885, when he resigned. After sonie time of interruptioi J. J. Smith was appointed, who on his removal from town left i to bis brother Phil. Smith.

The population of Glencoe consists of Germans, Scotch anc Irish. In regard to schools and churches see the chapters on Ed ucation and Religion.

Town Of Lincoln

A mistake about some forties is possible, since I did not keej informed precisely as to any alterations except the last. Thetowi of Lincoln is of such an irregular shape, as to occasion question about it, but those who have seen the country, readily understani that it was intended to give the town the command and care c such roads as by necessity the inhabitants have to travel in goin, to their customary markets and about other business. The towi is bounded on the north by Gilmanton and Alma, on the west b;

The town of Lincoln was the last town organized in this county up to present time. It was set off at the annual meeting of the county board in 1871 and named for President Lincoln at the suggestion of Charles Jahn. It consists of parts of Waumandee, Belvidere and Montana, the two sections, 25 and 36 in Range 12 having also at the time belonged to Waumandee. The surface is hilly and the principal part of the town consists of the main and tributary valleys of Little Waumandee Creek, which are described in Topograph}'. The first settlers within the limits of the present town were Henry Mueller and Mathias Profitlich who came in 1853. The following year Jacob and Anton Fink, Andrew Hueller and Franz Theodore Schaaf came directly from the Rhine country. In 1855 Franz Jahn, Gustav A. Kretschmer, Franz Ginzkey, Fred Schmidt, Christian Schoepp, sr., and Fred Schaub arrived. Fred Zirzow, Joseph Hohaus, Jacob Braem , Joseph, Charles and William Jahn, and George Goll came in 1856.

The first marriage was that of Gustav A. Kretschmer to Sophia Ginzkey, who were married at Fountain City by Marvin Pierce, then County Judge. The first birth was a son of Franz and Theresa Jahn. The first death was that of Jacob Fink, who was killed by a falling tree on his farm.

There were once two postoffices in the town, one at the Lincoln House, kept by G. A. Kretschmer, and one in the upper part of the valley, kept by Henry Haunschild. Both are now abandoned. The town contains [two taverns, one shoeshop and one blacksmithshop. In regard to schools, churches and the mill see the chapters on Education, Religion and Manufactures. The population is at present entirely German, with the exception of John Haigh, the first, and also the present chairman. He is an Englishman.

Town Of Maxville

The territory of the town of Maxville consists of Township 24, Range 13 and of that part of Township 24, Range 14 which lies on the east side of Chippewa River. The course of Chippewa fiiver and Beef Slough has been so extensively described, that a repetition would only be tedious. The town also contained some times the much discussed and disputed " Mile Strip " that is the north- ern tier of Sections in Township 23, Ranges 13 and 14, about 8 square miles, but this bone of contention has been at the last meeting of the county board of supervisors returned to the town of Nelson, and may be left out of.the description of this town. The surface is hilly in range 13, the few sections on the prairie do not materially change the character. Range 14 consists largely of swampland or overflowed lands and some meadows. The prairie is sandy as is also the main part of Spring Creek Valley. Blufflands, and side valleys are usually of a good quality of soil.

The settlement of Maxville was not very early in the history of this county, although the prairies formerly had a very inviting appearance. In 1855 William Bean, John Laffe'rty, Geo. King, Abbott Reed, Michael Aaron and Rev. Edward Doughty came to settle.. The following year 'Barney McDonough, William Allison, Jas. Mair and Herman Fuller came, but the most promising arrival was that of Coleman and Maxvell in 1857, with cattle, horses and household goods. They were deceived by the blooming appearance of the prairie, its easy cultivation, and for a few years, abundant crops. The town of Bloomington was set off from Bear Creek at the same time with Nelson July 20, 1857 and organized at the next town election. At the annual meeting of the countj^- board in 1858 the name was changed to Maxville as a compiliment to Mr. Maxvell. Joe Scafe was then living at the place now owned and occupied by Barney McDonough. Some pretended toJiim that they could not spell the name of the town. Joe was ready for them! It is spelled with a hem, a hai, a hex, a ve, a hi, a double hell and he. He v\ras English, you know! He lives now in Missouri. After a while the prairie was exhausted, and Coleman and a number of others left in course of time, but in about the same measure as the prairie became deserted, the bluffs became cleared and cultivated. Barney McDonough and some of Wra. Allison's family are still residents. Of old settlers I may mention Johnson, Yarrington, Jas. B. Gref::n and others, also J. B. Mace, Morrris Towers, the Carrolls in Mosquito Hollow on the other side of the bluffs etc. Some few remain, others have taken the places of those who left. There was once a postoffice on the prairie, near the schoolhouse of District No. 1, and once there also was a good country store. Both are things of the past. The poplation is American and Irish, The northern part of the town is not very far from Durand, Pepin Co., and does its trading there, where they also have their postoffice. The southern end is adjacent to Little Bear Creek, and trades at Wis'ha Mokwa, Nelson and some times at Wabasha. -

Town Of Milton

The original town of Milton was laid out July 20, 1857, and was much larger than the present one. In May 1858 the name was changed into Eagle Mills, a cheap advertisement of Fetter's and Mehrrnann's mill, or perhaps because this mill and the dam^^ necessary for the mill, and at the same time a highway, caused so much noise and contention. This con tant drain on the county treasury and consequent dissatisfaction finally resulted in the vacation and distribution of the town of Eagle Mills, in which the Town of Waumandee received the northern part, that of Buffalo the remainder. All this is, however, sufficiently explained in the chapter on Organization. When the village of Fountain City was incorporated the town of Milton was reorganized, embracing, however, only those parts which had fallen to Buffalo in the distribution above mentioned. These are described as follows:

The western part is level and swampy, the soil sand with a shallow layer of arable earth, the eastern and southern part is hilly and contains the lower parts of the valleys of the Waumandee Creek and of Eagle Creek, containing a notable portion of swampy meadows, but good soil on the slopes and on top of the bluffs. Adam Weber, one of the pioneers, settled finally in 1853 at the entrance of Eagle Creek Valley, Michael Obermeier in the same year north of him. Soon after and before 1856, Benedict Haney, Henry Kessler, sen., Jacob Blum, Sebastian Klett and Ludwig Moehlenpah came. The brothers Kammueller must have been among the earlier settlers. Carl Rieck and family came Oct. 1855 and so the town filled up. The first election in the original town was held in 1858 in the house of Fred. Binder, resultiag in election of Ferd. B''etter for chairman and Fred. Binder for clerk. There never was a postofRce in this town. Regarding the mill, see chapter on Manufactures, regarding first school see Education. The population of Milton is all German.

Town Of Modena

The description of the Town of Modena is Township 23 of Range 12. The surface is hilly with the exception of some small parts in the western boundary line. The same parts are also sandy, while valleys as well as the surface of the bluffs consist of excellent agricultural lands. The town was set off at the annual meeting of the county board in 1861 and organized next spring. The land had previously belonged to two adjoining towns, the east, half to Gilmanton, the west half to Nelson, which now are situated as described. On the north is Canton, on the south Alma. The settlement of this town was somewhat delayed in comparison with adjacent towns and the first was made by Wm. Odell sr., and his sons, David White and Wm. Odell jr., in 1858. The following year J.W. McKay settled, Fred. Sisson, and R. P. Goddard came in 1860, David Lamphers, Thomas Shane, probably Orlando Brown and others came in 1861 or settled in Brown's Valley at that time. But the great influx of population was about and after the passage of the homestead act, which was taken advantage of by different people, especially by Norwegians in the western half of the town. -A postofBce was established in 1863, and was kept on what is called the Carpenter place, then belonging to Benjamin F. Babcock, the first postmaster. The office was since that time held by B. F. Babcock, O. Brown, E. P. Sweet, W. H. Dunham, L. Hanan, E. J. Carpenter, B. P. Babcock again. Miss M. Babcock, M. N. Goddard, Chas. Ducklow and now is held by N. J. Canar at his house.

There is something like a village in Section 23, not, of course, incorporated, nor regularly laid out, containing stores, schoolhouse, two blacksmithshops, the mill etc. and also the postoffice. The plat is not recorded, but is in the Atlas. There is another postoffice in this town called Urne and situated on Section 6 which was established 1872 for the accommodation of the people of the upper valleys of Little Bear Creek. The postmasters of that office are named in the table in the chapter on transportation. With regard to first school, the mil), religious societies etc. see the pro- per chapters. The population of the town consists of a majority of Norwegians, a considerable number of Americans and some Germans. The trade of this town is yet largely with Alma to which place the road is mostly level.

Town Of Mondovi

The territory of the town of Mondovi is Township 24 of Range 11. It is bounded on the north by the town of Albany in Pepin Co., on the east by Naples, on the south by Gilmanton and on the west by Canton. Beef River flows through Section 13 in a western, through Section 14 in southwestern and through other sections in a generally almost southern direction. The northern part is comparatively level and adjoins the valley of Big Bear Creek. From the hills of this plain and those in the town of Albany flow some streams which form what has been named Farrington's Creek. From the heights in the southern part of the town Dillon's Creek flows toward Beef River. The soil in the corner between this latter creek and the river is largely sandy up to the foot of the hills and there is some sandy land west of the village near the river, but otherwise the land is of as good quality as in most towns. The southwestern part of the town is very hilly, with many valleys between the bluffs. The original town of Naples, of which Mondovi is the western part was set off in the shape it had for so long a time on the 20th day of March 1857, and in 1881 at the annual meeting of the county board the separation of the two towns into Mondovi and Naples was resolved upon.

The first settlers in this town came in 1855 and were H. P. L. D. and P. Farrington, Wm. Van Waters, Thos. Glasspool and Harvey Brown. Rev. B. F. Morse came in 1856. Luther Eager and family came the same year, also John Callahan. At the first election Orlando Brown was chosen chairman, Harvey Brown town clerk, J. W. Bump treasurer and L. D. Farrington assessor. It must be remembered that at this election, and only this the town of Naples consisted of Townships 23 and 24 Ranges 10 and 11 and that Hon. 0. Brown then lived in Townshij> 23 R ii There were only 19 votes at this election, which does not seem to indicate a very dense population for such a large town. The fi marriage was that of Mr. and Mrs. Billings and the knot was tied

The village of Mondovi is laid out about the corner of ?ec. 11, 12, 13 and 14 and the plat recorded in Vol. 4, page 560, May 17, 1869. It is situated upon a level plateau, perhaps fifty feet above the surface of Beef River. It has a very handsome situation and contains numerous stores, two hotels, three churches, a handsome schoolbuilding, two mills, one newspaper etc. Of the churches I have given a lengthy history in the chapter on Religion; the mills are mentioned in the chapter on Manufactures. The village has, according to the census of 1885, 340 inhabitants almost exclusively Americans from the New England .and other eastern states. Some years ago, especially before the construction of the Chippewa Valley railroad, the trade of this region was principally tributary to Alma, as present but very little of it, if any, goes in that direction. Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls furnished always a very good market for cattle, " hogs, eggs and butter and do so yet, though somewhat divided with Durand as a nearer shipping place.

The population outside of the village is' mostly American in the neighborhood of the village, but largely Norwegian in the southwest part of the town. There are also a number of Irish families in different parts of the town.

Town Of Montana

The surface of the town is very rugged, but Bull's Valley and its continuation southwards along Waumandee Creek are wide, and most of Danuser's Valley is also wide, while the side valleys are located between steep bluffs, the northern range of which divides the Elk Creek Valley from Bull's Valley oi rather the upper valley of Waumandee Creek. The eastside of the town belongs to the basin of Trempealeau River. There are numerous swampy places along those creeks that cannot be used for anything but meadows. The land which admits of profitable tillage

- in the valleys as well as on the bluff, is of good quality. Montana is bounded on the north by Dover, on the east by the town of Burnside in Trempealeau County, on the south by Glencoe and Waumandee, on the west by Lincoln. The first settlers within the limits of the town were in that part which is in Range 11 and formerly belonged to Waumandee. The families of Dlrich Von Wald and Christ Kindschy sen., were the first, and came in 1856, also August Helwig, and they settled on adjoining sections. They wore for two years the only settlers. A Mr. Bull settled at the entrance of the valley which was named after him. His place was on the turn of the old state road wcstvvards. John Bugbee was for a long time the only- settler in Bull's Valley, but as he went to the war in 1861, 1 can not say whether he settled before or after that. In Danuser's Valley Conrad Christ and Andrew Florin settled in 1858, Florian Schnoller arid Balthasar Carish in 1859. A Frederick Schmidt also settled there, receiving from a small tamarack swamp near his residence the sobriquet of Tamarack Schmidt. At the time when I first got acquainted with that neighborhood Florian 'Danuser, Thomas Gasser, J. G. Senty, George, John and Leonhard Flury, Martin Nick, Wm. Pieper, Carl Koenig, Gregory Ripley, Geo. Dascher, John Durisch, Christ. Veraguth and others were all living in Danuser Valley or some side valleys, but Bugbee was still alone in Bull's Valley. Henry Wieraer, Carl Herzfeld and the brothers Henry and Ludwig Pabe were the first residents beyond the mountains. This was as late as 1866. So far the eastern part still belonged to Glencoe, the western to Waumandee.

On the 8th of July 1867 the new town of Montana was set off, and organized 1858 at the town meeting held in the log schoolhouse on Danuser's land, Peter Theissen was elected chairman and J. P. Remich clerk. Both of them had come but the year before and hailed from-the eastern part of Wisconsin. Before that time Caspar Meili, sen.. Math. Hansen, Caspar Rupp, Michael Gebus and Jacob Weisenberger and Fred Zeller had been settlers for some time. The railroad land in the town had become open to entry and homesteads were taken up rapidly, so that in a s.iort time the town was well peopled.

Hellmann, Justice of the Peace, performed the ceremonies on the same day and place. The first child born in the town was George Kindschy, son of Christ, and Elizabeth Kindschy. About scliools, churches, etc., see the appropriate chapters. A postoffice was established in 1870. The first postmaster was Fred Zeller, after him Christ. Kindschy, jr., John Kindschy, John Meuh, Aug, Helwig, jr., and xMr.s. C. Walker. The population of Montana is mostly German, with some few Irish, Norwegians and Poles.

Town Op Naples

The Town of Naples is contained in Township 24, Range 10. It is in the northeast corner of the county, and bounded on the north by the town of Drammen in Eau Claire Co., on the east by the town of Albion in Trempealeau (]o., on the south by Dover, on the west by Mondovi. The surface of the town is hilly along the southern boundarj' and these hills or bluffs send their spurs northwards towards Beef River, where they are rounded off, and the valleys between tliem shallow and wide. Along the northern boundary the hills are continuous and one spur extends to the neighborhood of Mondovi. Between this spur and the higher bluffs Bond's Valley is situated, which extends partly into the town of Mondovi. Along Beef River, more or less on both sides sandy plains extend, among the hills there is some swampy land, and the soil is onlj' in a few places rich.

The present town of Naples is the eastern half of the old town of that name, from which the town of Mondovi was separated by a resolution of the eountyboard at its annual meeting in 1881. By its organization at the town meeting in spring 1882 the new town with its old name went into its independent existence. The first chairman was Henry Adams, tiie first clerk L. A. Merritt.

The settlement of the town began at about the same time as that of Mondovi. Henry Adams came in 18-55 and returned to settle in 1856. John LeGore also came in 1855. They were for some time almost the only settlers east of Mondovi and south of Beef River. Both are yet living in the town. It is unfortunate, that there are no more authentic reports about other settlers, of whom many may hav^ come soon after the above. In the absence of these rejjorts I can only give the names of those whom I know by report to have been there a long time. Among them are John Pace, Obed Hilliard, M. S. Merritt, L. A. Merritt, Alexander

Harvey, Joseph Bond, W. B. Rowe, H. Knapp, S. E. Hanscome, Adam Alt, J. E. Rosman and others, who came at different times. Prom the great number of Norwegians in the town, most of whom went on homesteads, it may be concluded that before 1863 the population was not very numerous. Most of the earliest settlers were Americans. With regard to schools, churches etc. see the chapters on Education, Religion, Agriculture etc.