Chaseburg Village

Chaseburg Village

This town, like that of Webster, is six miles square, comprising township 14, range 6 west. It is bounded on the north by the county of La- Crosse ; on the east by the town of Coon ; on the soutli by the town of Harmony ; and on tlie west by the town of Bergen.

The town is watered by one river, which is fed by a large number of small tributaries. The Coon river is formed by three or four small >ireams in the northeast part of the town, and lakes Its course through sections 12, 13, 24, 2C and 27, and on the southeast quarter of sectior -28 flows into quite a large basin. From this il continues its course northerly, then westerl\ through sections 28, 20 and 29, and leaves the town on the northwest quarter of section 30.

The surface of the country is very roUinj. and hilly, but in the valleys and on the bluffs i^ found soil that when fully cultivated will produce bountiful crops.

1 he first settler in the town was Ole Peterson Gullord, a native of Norway, who came to this country in 1848, and to this town two years later (1850). He entered eighty acres of land on section 13, which he has since increased to 200 acres. In 1854 he married Caroline Evenson, and four children have been born to them - Peter, Amii-1, Charles and Joel.

Peter Oleson Brye made his home here for a short time, but was induced by the settlers of the town of Coon to pitch his camp in their midst, that they might have the benefit of his educational facilities.

Even Egleston came into the town in 1853, and was the first to erect a house in the vicinity of Chaseburg. He was born in Norway, in IS. -5, and was here married, the same year he settled, to Gena Olson. They have eight children - Belle, Thomas, Eiel, Anna, Ole, Hannali, Eleas and Halvor. Mr. Egleston entered 100 acres of land on section 33, where he still resides.

Knudt Olson joined his brother and fellowcountrymen herein 1855. He entered 100 acres of land on section 12, and has since increased his land to 2G0 acres. He was born in Norway, in 1827, and came to America in JS49. At the age of thirty he married Rachel Sarson, who has borne him six children. Three are living - Lewis O., Elizabeth S. and Olus M. Tlie deceased are Albert A., Lewis O. and Anna. Mr. Olson has been a member of the town board of supervisors for the past eight years.

Organic

This town was set apart early in 1858, ;ind the first town meeting held at a school liouse near where Chaseburg now stands, April 6, 1858, when the followini: "flicers were elected : J.

Religious

Tlie larger part of the settlers of this region are Norwegians, and those that reside in the Coon valley, and along the Coon river, and its riilges on either side, through the towns of Bergen, Hamburg and Coon, and from the town of Coon and northeast into La Crosse county, (a population of about 1,400 souls) are members of the Coon Valley" Norwegian Lutheran congregations. These people worship at three different churches, known as the Upper Coon Valley, Middle Coon Valley and Lower Coon Valley. These three congregations, previous to 1874, together with that at Fish Creek, in the town of Monroe, La Crosse county, were connected with the Coon Prairie parish. Their ministers were: Rev. H. A. Stub, who officiated about six years ; Rev. A. C. Pre us, about nine years, and subsequently the Rev. H. Halvarson who still preaches at Coon Prairie, Viroqua, and other points. *In 1874 the four congregations previously mentioned, were formed into a se]iarate parish, and their first minister was Rev. A. S. Meling. Since July, 1882, Rev. E. Jensen, formerly of Jefferson Prairie, Wis., has been in charge of the parish.

The Middle Coon Valley congregation is the only one of the three located in the town f>f Hamburg. It was organized in 1854, by the Rev. H. A. Stub, with the following named members: Ole Johnson, Anders Olson Th;i- Inng, Even Eielsen, Hans Kongelstad, Erik Marsiuen, Anders Nilsen Klomsten, Nils Eriksen Marking, and others. Tlie first services were held at the residence of Ole Johnson. The church is of logs, 30x24 feet in size, and was erected in 1859, at a cost of $500. The present membership is about 250, and the Church'is in a good financial condition. The present trustees are : Christian Nilson, Stephen Nilson and John Hagen. A parochial, or weekly religious school is under the auspices of the Church, and held for about sixty days each year, under Harold Hofl", the teacher.

Hamburg has always had a good class of public schools. In 1884 the town was divided into seven districts, each being provided with a fair building. The school population was at this date one half Norwegian and the other half made up about equally of German and American children.

The Village Of Chaseburg

This village is located on section 28, on the east side of Coon river. It was laid out and platted by George Swain and George Little, on June 4, 18(56, and was named in lienor of Henry Chase, who had been instrumental in founding the village. The original plat comprised twelve blocks or squares, and the first dwelling house was erected by George Swain.

.Joseph W. Hoyt is also postmaster of Cha^eburg, and owns 190 acres of land in this town. In 1861 he enlisted in the 1st regiment, Vermont Cavalry, but was discharged a little later, on account of sickness. He was chairman of the board of Hamburg town for five years, also chairman of the county board for two years. In 1870-71, he represented the county of Vernon in the State Legislature. He was- married, in 1863, to Elizabeth Isham, and three children

Dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes - J. W. Hoyt, L. C. Steinburg; hardware - J. W. Hoyt and Thomas Parkin; saw mill - George Swain; grist mill - Granville Akin; harness - August Getting; blacksmiths - J. C. Markle and 1 lioinas Lattimer; hardwood lumber - George Swain; veterinary surgeon - Monroe Vincent; manufacturer of shoes - Andrew Peterson.

A prominent man of this village was Henry Chase, who came from Vermont in 18(5-2, and after a sliort stay in Dane county, came to this place, and was instrumental in building up the village which bears his name. He was elected a member of the State Assembly in ]8'i8. He, in company with George A. Lyttle, owned the Coon River Mills at this point. Mr. Chase died in March 1872, leaving a wife and three children. After his death, Mr. Lyttle tnok Mr. Chase's interest in the mill.

Biogkaphicai, Sketches

Peter O. Hrye, is a native of Norway, and (^ame to Racine Co., Wis., in August, 1840. He remained there one year, and then moved westward to ]iad Ax (now Vernon) county, in the fall of 1850. He passed over the present site of Viroqua on the -'Jlst of October, and from there went straight to the Kickapoo timber. He worked there the following winter, and in the spring rafted the logs down the Kickapoo and Mississipi)i rivers as far south as Quiiicy, HI. He made his home in the town of Viroqua untilJune 27, 1857, when he joined his brotlier in Hamburg town. He lived there until the spring of 1859, when he was persuaded to move over the line into what is now the town of Coon, for the purpose of assisting in the organization of the new town. The inhabitants were mostly Norwegians, and did not understaid English, and .Mr. Brye enjoying the knoivledge of that tongue, was elected to the most impoitant town ofiices, in April, 1859. He was re-ekcted to the same offices each succeeding year until 1867. In the fall of 1866, he resigned his offices, and rejoined his brother Knudt Olson, in Hamburg town, with whom he has since made his home. Mr. Brye devotes his attention and money to the selling of lands.

Lars Finstad was born in Norway in 1823, and emigrated to the United States in the year 185.S, and settled in Hamburg on section 28. That same year he entered eighty acres, which he has since increased to 150 acres.

Mr. Finstad was married in 1845, to Hellena ScOioll, by whom he has had eleven children, five of whom are now living - Hans, Christian, Edward, Mebin 1>. and Jane. Christian is now married to Ella Johnson, and three childnn have been given to them.

Hon. George W. Swain, who located in the town of Hamburg in 1863, was born in the Granite State, in 1824. He there received a good common school education, and in 1845, removed to the adjoining State of Vermont, where he resided for eight years. In 1853, he came west to Dane Co., Wis., and ten years later settled in this town. He purchased a saw-mill and 240 acres of laud, lying on sections 28, 14 and 6, from Messrs. Chase and Lyttle, and in 1860, surveyed and platted the village of Chaseburg. Mr. Swain was in 1870 a county supervisor. He is a strong republican in politics, and in 1878 was the nominee of his party for State senator, against A. D. Chase, the candidate of both the democratic and greenback parties. Mr. Swain was elected by a handsome majority. He still owns the saw-mill and carries on a large business in getting out wagon and plow stuff and hard-wood lumber. He also owns the only hotel in the village. Mr. Swain was united in marriage, in 1849, to Hannah Chase. They have reared four children - Josiah B., who married Mary Lattimer, Cora E., wife of Frank E. Aiken, Allie L. and Nellie J. Mrs Swain was born in New Hampshire, in 18-.'5, and when five years of age accompanied her parents to Vermont. She was there married to our subj<.'Ct, and in 1863, came to the town of Hamburg with the honor of being the first American woman in the town. Her daughter Nellie was the first American child born in the town.

parents removed to I'utnam Co., Ind., where they remained till 1851, when they moved to LaCrosse Co., Wis., and se tied in what is called the "Ramsey Cooley," where Mr. Markle remained until he was called to defend his country in 1861. He then enlisted in the 2d regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, company B, and was discharged in 1864. Mr. Markle was wounded at the battle of South Mountain in the left arm and at the battle of the wilderness was wounded in the right arm. In 1867, Mr. Markle came to tbe village of Chaseburg, where he has carried on the business of blacksmithing and manufacturing wagons, and now owns sixty-two acres of land on section 28, also a house and three lots and a smith wagon and paint shop in the village of Chaseburg Mr. Markle was married in 1869, to Neoma J. Maxwell, of Vernon county, who has borne him four children - Berthier E., Claud O. and Cora B. Charles died in 1883. Mr. Markle's father, George Markle, was born in Pennsylvania in 1818, and now resides in LaCrosse Co., Wis. His mother, Elizabeth Markle, is also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1818, and is now living in La- Crosse Co., Wis.