Muscoda Village

Muscoda Village

The town of Muscoda, occupying the extreme northeast corner of the county, claims a priority in history which is ante-dated by but few of the corporate divisions of the county. Tradition hath it that the feet of the first explorers, who, with dauntless hearts, penetrated the mysterious wilderness, and with unswerving faith pushed the sharp prow of their birch canoe through the lapping waters of the beautiful " Ouisconsin," that the feet of these explorers pressed the soil of the present town at a date cotemporaneous with their first appearance in search of the great river of which such wonderful tales had been told them by the dusky aborigines. Yet all this is mere tradition. The probabilities are that the excellent landing-place afibrded at this point might have attracted the attention of Marquette, Joliet, or, later on, Hennepin ; but there is nothing in the writings of these explorers or their biographers that places the fact even within the widest boundary of certainty.

A second tradition, of a more recent period, gives to the plain stretching away on either side the name of " English prairie," so named, says the legend, from the fact that a number of English families settled here at as early a date as 1812 or thereabouts, but were subsequently massacred by the Indians. This too, must, however, be relegated to the region of myths for want of corroboratory testimony.

The first authentic knowledge possessed of any actual residents at this point gives this honor to parties by the name of Armstrong, who had a trading-post here, probably at a date immediately succeeding the Black Hawk war. But it is not until 1835 that the present town of Muscoda begins to take form and substance. During this year, Col. William S. Hamilton came in and erected a diamond blast furnace near what is now the intersection of Main and Seventh streets. The excellent landing-place and favorable facilities afforded for shipment appear to have induced this movement on the part of the Colonel. It did not, however, prove to be a paying investment, and was subsequently abandoned. The chimneys of the old furnace were standing so late as 1847, and the antiquarian of to-day may even still discover traces of the foundation near the river bank. The new settlement, as it appeared a few years later, is thus described by Mr. Charles Rodolf, at present living at Muscoda, enjoying the blessings of a green old age near the scene of his early hardships and trials :

" In 1838, I went to English Prairie, now Muscoda, at the solicitation of Col. W. S. Hamilton. I hauled and purchased lead ore for him that summer at Peddler's Creek, Centerville, and Upper Diggings. The lead, when smelted, was then shipped from Muscoda to Galena, via the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, a steamboat coming up regularly every week. At that time, the Wisconsin contained at least a third more water than now.

" Prominent among the interests that gathered around the furnace at this time or a little later was the land office, which was removed here from Mineral Point. Albert Paris was Register, and Levi Sterling Receiver. William, Garland kept a small lumber-yard and also ran a boarding-house. Thomas J. Parrish had a store which was in charge of Edward Beouchard. A blacksmith-shop was run by Hardin Moore, while a second hotel and boarding-house was kept by W. S. Booth. There were at that time a great many Indians - Winnebagoes - near and at

Muecoda, and I remember many evenings noticing some of the younger squaws sitting on the river bank singing Indian and French melodies. I remember one time, one Indian sold to F. J. Parrishone musk-rat skin for corn fifteen times. Parrish bought the skin of the Indian and threw it into a loft, and went for a few ears of corn. In the meantime, the Indian stole the skin and put it under his coat, so when Parrish returned he sold it to him again. This was repeated several times, Parrish each time going for corn, which was carried away each time by a squaw. Parrish all the time thought he was making a good trade.

^'Tbe Indians were very peaceable. Atona time, Humphrey A. Springer and myself had taken an old deserted Indian farm, as a claim, near the mouth of the Baraboo River. We occupied the house and made some improvements, and I had traded here with the Indians. One day a person, part Indian and part French, came with about thirty Indians to drive us away. He told me that we had to leave, and that he had come by order of Capt. Low, of Portage, to lock up the house - peaceably, if possible, with force if we did not submit to his order. My friend, not understanding French, was perfectly astonished to see me take my double-barrel gun, cock it, hold it before the leader's head, and make him leave the house walking before me about one hundred and fif y yards across the creek, myself holding a bead on him till out of reach. Springer, during this time, had seized a rifle and covered me in the rear, afraid that some of the Indians would step up behind and tomahawk me ; but I knew the Indian character too well, and feared no trouble. The Indians stood perfectly quiet, looking on, till I returned ; then they fairly danced a war dance around me, and I had to mount my pony and ride to their camp near the river, where they extended their hospitality to me.

" There was no further endeavor made to drive us ofi", and the Indians were afterward quite friendly. Springer always took pride in narrating the ' daring exploit,' as he called it.

" We had that summer (1838) some very eminent visitors at the Prairie, being Mrs. Alexander Hamilton aind Mrs. Halle, wife and daughter of the great Gen. Alexander Hamilton, of Revolutionary fame, and also mother and sister to William S. Hamilton. They were delighted and pleased with our western prairies, as also with the Wisconsin River."

" I came to the Territory of Wisconsin, then Michigan Territory, in the summer of tbe year 1834, and located near Fort Hamilton, now Wiota. This was one of the largest settlements at that time, containing stores and smelting furnaces for lead ore, belonging to Col. Willjam S. Hamilton.

" The county at that period was full of fine game - plenty of deer, some elk, wild turkeys, grouse, prairie chickens, pheasants, quails, pigeons, wild geese and ducks. The prairies were full of prairie wolves, the timber of raccoons, wild-cats and lynxes, also once in a while a bear. The wolves were not dangerous, though in the winter of 1836-37, I was followed by a drove of them for about twelve miles, from near Gratiot's Grove till I reached the Pecatonica. The night was dark and they rushed several times near the wagon, but by swinging my whip at them I caused them to retreat. Their howling music could be heard every evening, and sometimes in the daytime. In winter on the prairie, from Fennimore to Peddler's Creek, they could be seen in groups of from three to six almost every day, but as the county became settled they disappeared, as has nearly all the other game of which we have spoken.

" In the summer of 1836, I visited, for the first time, Wingville. Thomas J. Parrish, Esq., was the principal owner and business man of that part of the county. He had, considering the times, good buildings - dwellings and store, also a water blast furnace, to smelt lead ore - and was smelting and sending a great quantity of lead to Galena. Mineral at that time was worth from |8 to $10 per thousand at Wingville, while pork was $27, and flour $15 per barrel ; so it took about 3,000 pounds of mineral to buy one barrel of pork, or about 2,000 pounds to buy one barrel of flour. But the miners seemed to do well, and always had a little leisure and money for a quiet game.

the county of Grant and one half in the county of Iowa. The county line was in the middle of its principal street. I was hauling mineral ore from theje to English Prairie, now Muscoda. That summer there were a great many miners there, and some very good diggings being worked. Frank Kirkpatrick and William S. Madden sold their diggings for $10,000 to Thomas J. Parrish. Capt. Wohn and partners worked a good diggings. Hohlsauser & Co., H. M. Billings, and HoUenbeck & Underwood all had valuable diggings. There were two stores there at that time ; one kept by Thomas J. Parrish, and the other by Prentice as agent for other parties. There were also two hotels and boarding-houses, one kept by J. D. Parrish, and the other by Mrs. H. Townsend. The lead ore was bought by Moses M. Meeker, who had a large furnace on Blue River, about one mile from Centerville. Thomas J. Parrish bought ore also for his furnace at Wingville, about four miles from Centerville, and William S. Hamilton bought it for his furnace at English Prairie, now Muscoda, about eighteen miles from Centerville.

" In 1842, I moved to Centerville, opened a store and purchased one-half interest in the Billings & HoUenbeck diggings. A store previous to mine was kept there by William Garland and Hugh McCracken. fcJaloons were kept by Ambrose Parrish and William Popejoy. In the summer of 1843, considerable float diggings were discovered, and a large number of miners came there, who camped that summer and fall in wagons and tents around the diggings. Business was lively of all kinds : sportsmen came from all parts of the country.

" I rented the furnace of Thomas J. Parrish, at Wingville, that summer, and sent my lead to Potosi! After I quit smelting, I sent for two years considerable mineral or lead ore to Potosi, to Thomas Palliser and Frank Cholvin. During this time Joel Landrum, Esq., and myself attended to all the legal business. In 1847, I left Centerville, moved my store and house to Highland, then Franklin, in Iowa County, on wheels, which were made purposely, to which I had twenty yoke of oxen hitched."

The first attempt at corporate improvements was made by Thomas J. Parrish, Charles Bracken, Col. Nichols and others. This portion of the village now known as "Lower Town," was included in that section bounded by Wisconsin avenue and Division street, but the date of the platting is uncertain, the probable time being somewhere early in the forties.

In 1847, the settlement contained about fifty inhabitants, and numbered in its confines the following buildings: The residence of Thomas J. Parrish, "Billy" Garland's hotel, a second institution of the same kind kept by L. J. D. Parrish, the residence of Mr. Prater, which was by himself and a Spaniard, and the old log building once occupied by the land oflBce, and at this time used as a store. All of these buildings were, with the exception of the cidevant land office, large double log cabins, built after the Kentucky pattern, and one of which (Prater's) still remains, a perpetual reminder of the days gone by.

By 1853, the population had crept up to the neighborhood of two hundred, and the settlenient boasted of two good general stores - one run by S. A. Quincy, and the other by Messrs. Palmer & Ward, Mr. Palmer at present being a resident of Boscobel. During the year, Mr. Jonathan B. Moore brought in a stock of goods and opened a third store. The buildings occupied by these establishments are still standing in Lower Town, the names of the proprietors Standing out on the weather-beaten fronts in fast-fading characters. During the season, P. B. Mclntyre and Charles Wright put up a building and commenced the manufacture of wagons and plows, at the same time attending to the needs of the equines in the way of shoes.

In the year following, the minds of the inhabitants were occupied with the premonitory shadows that told of the swift approach of the new railway, although it was not until two years later that its actual entrance was made into the town of Muscoda. This road, as projected, passed about three-fourths of a mile to the eastward of the original village. During 1865, the land now included within the upper town was purchased by James Moore and C. K. Dean from the former proprietors, who resided at Galena. They afterward disposed of a portion of their purchase to a syndicate comprising B. H. Edgerton, Judge Jackson and H. E. Dawson. The town was then platted and lots placed on sale, but from numerous causes, prominent among ^hich was a defect in the titles of partition, the city became such only on paper, and the territory finally, a decade later, passed into the hands of Gen. Jonathan B. Moore. Many improvements had, however, marked the progress pf the village up to this date. During the year 1856, J. B. Gailer & Co. erected a steam saw-mill, which they afterward sold to Bull Bros., and, some years later, it succumbed to the ravages of the fire fiend. In 18.58, James Moore erected a steam flouring mill in the village. The mill was operated for some years, when the machinery was sold and removed to other localities. During the month of October, 1856, the railroad made its appearance in the village, and the shrill whistle announced that the little municipality was in direct communication with civilization.

In 1858, the Catholic denomination erected the first church in the new town, and the year following the improvements included a second steam saw-mill, which was built by 0. C. Denny and partner. This too, in a few years, was numbered with the things that were, having been disposed of to other parties and by them moved away.

Up to the year 1868, but little advancement had been made in the upper town, the houses then comprising it being almost computable on the fingers of one hand. This year. Gen. Moore commenced the erection of a bridge across the Wisconsin, at a point just above Wisconsin avenue ; the structure was completed the same year, the first team passing over it September 16. The effect of this enterprise on the part of Gen. Moore was speedily seen. New life seemed infused into the stagnant town ; houses and business blocks began to show their proportions against the sky, and, in a few years, a liyely little town stood out in bold relief upon the broad prairie.

A steady and healthy growth has characterized the village from this time forward, drawing,^ as it does, not only from the country about it, but reaching out to the wide district on the opposite side of the rivpr, making the prospects for the future fully as bright, and, in a certain sense, possessed of a much more rosy radiance, than those of the past.

Town Organization

By an act of the County Board, passed at the session of 1851, it was enacted that Townships 8 and 9, and the north half of Township 7, of Range 1 west, shall constitute a separate town by the name of Muscoda, and the first town meeting shall be held at the house of James Moore. In accordance with the above, the first election in the new town was held at the Wisconsin House, kept by Mr. Moore, on Tuesday, the 6th of April, 1852. Mr. Alfred Palmer was appointed Chairman, with William A. Moncrief, Jesse Locke and A. J. Thompson as Inspectors. The number of votes cast at this election was 117. Muscoda has, up to the present time, remained unincorporated, either as village or city ; and, from outward appearances, it has no reason to regret the course thus marked out.

1852 - Supervisors, James Moore, Chairman, A. Dickenson, Edward Dorsey ; Clerk, A. J. Thompson ; Treasurer, A. Dickinson ; Assessor, James Moore ; Justices of the Peace, R.. Barnes, E. Dorsey, W. G. Spencer and James Moore ; School Superintendent, A. J. Thompson.

Muscoda Bridge

This structure which has done so much for Muscoda in a commercial point of view, owes Its conception and erection to the stirring enterprise of Gen. Jonathan B. Moore. As stated the bridge was erected during 1868, and the beneficial results which were expected to accrue to the village, were apparent from the first. Starting from the southern abutment.

the first portion reached is the draw, 140 feet in length, the channel of the river at this point diverging to this shore, and, therefore, determining the position of the draw. Beyond this comes the bridge proper, with two spans, of 150 feet, or 300 in all, succeeding which, is the pile bridge, which spans the islands formed at this point, and the slough ; this portion of the structure is 1,272 feet in length, making the total length of the bridge 1,712 feet. The cost of this improvement was $24,000. Previous to the erection of the bridge, Muscoda drew but' little from the opposite side of the river, and the yearly exports of grain during this period amounted to but a few thousand bushels. Now between 150,000 and 200,000 bushels are shipped from this point annually. In every way, the bridge must be considered a most prominent factor in the advancement and success of Muscoda.

Post Office

The first post office at Muscoda was established in 1839, W. S. Hamilton being commissioned as Postmaster, probably retaining the office during his continuance at this point. The names of those who served in the capacity of mail distributors, for the years succeeding Col. Hamilton's departure, have escaped the memory of those acquainted with the early history of the place. The mail at this early opening of the post office was carried by Edward Beouchard. In 1849, the post office was kept in a building about a block of Garland's Hotel, but the name of the guiding spirit of the mail-bags is buried in the dim sea of forgetfulness.

In 1850, James Moore was commissioned as Postmaster, the ofiBce being in his store at lower town. Three years later, he resigned the position in favor of F. Z. Hicks, who held the office until 1855. From that date until 1861, T. E. Chesebro distributed the mail as Uncle Sam's agent. He was succeeded by J. L. Marsh, who remained in charge of the office until he joined the army in September, 1862. After the resignation of Mr. Marsh, the duties were transferred to Mrs. E. Harris, who continued as Postmistress until her death some few years later. At Mrs. Harris' decease, she was succeeded by her daughter Annie; she, however, being unable to attend to the growing duties of the office, resigned in favor of A. R. Tyler, who handled the mails until July 12, 1868, when the post office, together with all the records was destroyed by fire.

During the year, Ralph Carver was appointed to succeed Tyler, and continued as Postmaster for nine years succeeding. In March, 1877, he turned the office over to Frank A. David, the present agent for Uncle Sam, whose rule is spoken of in terms of heartiest satisfaction. The office is situated at present in the stone block owned by Gen. Moore, on Wisconsin avenue.

It would appear that educational advantages were afforded to the youth of the new settlement at an extremely early date. In 1839, a school was started over which Allan Booyer wielded the birch, and initiated the youthful idea into its first acquaintance with the " rule of three " and minor mysteries. Unfortunately those who followed this pioneer master, have failed to have their names recorded in the memories of those still living. The school year at this time, was a very short one, consisting generally of a few months' school during the summer, the teachers being mainly of the gentler sex, who could get along on a smaller stipend than their masculine compeers, besides taking more kindly to the pleasures of "boarding 'round.' The first schoolhouse was a log building, built by Col. Hamilton in 1854, Charles W. Wright doing the carpenter work. George R. Frank taught the first school in this building, which was subsequently disposed of the Methodist Episcopal society, who still own it as a church. The present schoolhouse was built in 1860, the dimensions of which are 30x60, and cost $2,500. High school was organized in 1877, and the rules and regulations governing it were adopted February 22, 1878. The first board consisted of J. B. Mclntyre, P. A. Daggett and 0. P. Manlove, and H. R. Smith was the first Principal. July 14, 1879, the voters of the village changed this from a town high school to a district high school. Only one class, consisting of Donald McDonald and Mary Garland have graduated from this school, they graduating in 1880.

The report for the school year commencing in 1878 and ending in 1879, shows the whole number enrolled to be fifty-seven, and the whole number of days' attendance 7,462, and the report for the school year commencing in 1880 and ending in 1881, shows the whole number enrolled to be seventy-one, and the whole number of days' attendance 5,499.

Gatholie Ohurch. - The first services of this denomination were held in 1855, at the house of Mr. Bartholomew Fayant, by Rev. Father Conrad, who came from Cross Plains for that purpose. The first congregation consisted of sixteen or eighteen families. This was for several years only a missionary station. Rev. Sebastian Self following Father Conrad as missionary, and continued to hold services in private houses as had been the practice heretofore.

During the year 1858, the erection of the church still used by the congregation was conceived in the minds of several of the most active members, prominent among whom were Valentine and Solomon Schneider, Peter Aesch and Mr. Remi. The architect was Joseph Schild. Mr. Dimock donated two lots to the congregation provided they would finish the church by a certain time, which was done. The corner-stone was laid July 8, 1858, and work begun on the superstructure. During the fall of this year. Father Self was succeeded by Father Winehardt who had formerly been stationed at Sauk City. Work on the new church was pushed as fast as possible, but services continued to be held at different places in the settlement. Even so late as June, 1859, Father Weinhardt held service in the schoolhouse now used by the Methodist denomination, and christened eleven children. November 30, 1859, the church was ready for occupancy, mass being said in the new building by Father Winehardt at that date. This Father remained in charge for eleven years, when he was followed by Rev. Alouis Heller, who was the first resident Pastor. Father Heller remained two years. His successor was Rev. Father Cleary, who remained but a short time. Rev. Father Weidlech then took charge of the church, remaining about two years. During 1870, a parsonage had been built at a cost of about $1,000. Upon the departure of Father Weidlech, Rev. Father Raess came for a short time, but was succeeded by Father Rademacher, who remained as Pastor until 1878. From his departure until 1880, the church was attended as a mission from Highland, by the same Father. August 23, 1880, Rev. Father Winehardt returned again to the church, which he reorganized and placed on a solid footing, and still remains as Pastor. Included in his labors are the churches at Boscobel and Avoca. The church building is a plain, but substantial structure, 50x32 feet in size, and with the priest's house makes an excellent establishment. The work on these buildings was contributed in a great measure by the members of the congregation.

Qongregational Ohurch. - The history of this church dates back to 1856, but owing to the fact that no records for this period were kept, or, if kept, have since been lost or destroyed, the date of organization with sundry other matters of importance are wrapt in the shadowy cloak of forgetfulness. The sdciety at this time was very weak. The first Pastor was the Rev. A. A. Overton, who commenced his labors with the young society in this year. Among the prominent members of the early organization were Mrs, B. M. Coates, Mrs. Farnsworth and Mrs. Col. Moore. Rev. Mr. Overton continued as Pastor for three years, when he removed to Avoca. The society was thus left pastorless, and meetings were discontinued until the arrival of Rev. Mr. Laughlin, who, however, remained but a short time, when the church was again without a Pastor. Under these dispiriting influences disintegration set in with the result that in the course of years the membership was reduced to the minimum.

In 1869, interest was re-awakened, the church revived, and steps were taken to re-organize the society. The movements thus inaugurated were successfully carried out. Rev. Mr. Jones Was sent out as Pastor, but remained only a portion of the year. In 1870, Rev. M. Jamson commenced his labors as Pastor, continuing as such for the period of five years. This reverend gentleman was much respected and esteemed by his flock, and it was with feelings of the deepest regret that they were induced to consent to his departure for another field of labor. His successor was Rev. Mr. Curtis, who remained with the church- one year. At the expiration of this time, Rev. A. A. Overton returned again to the congregation, which he had assisted in organizing so many years before. He remained as Pastor three years, being succeeded, in 1879, by the Rev. George Heigh. Under the energetic work of this Pastor, the church was for the two years of his stay advanced in a most gratifying manner. During the early portion of 1881, Mr. Heigh severed his connection with this society, since which time it has been without a Pastor. Services are held as occasion serves in the M. B. Church, or the Lutheran Church.

. M. E. Church. - In January, 1865, Rev. Austin became the spiritual guide of the church, and remained one year, to be succeeded by Rev. Brainard, who acted in the capacity of Pastor for three years, endearing himself to his congregation. He remained the full length of time allowed by the M. B. Church, and, after he left, the pulpit remained unoccupied until the coming of Rev. Smith about the year 1870.

Rev. Smith continued as Pastor for two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Jones, who remained about six months, when Rev. Mr. Irish completed his year.

The church was without the guidance of a Pastor for over four years from this date. This lapse was broken when Rev. Waldron was sent to act as Pastor for two years. Rev. Mr. Treewater was the next Pastor, and remained two years up to 1881, when Rev. Mr. Smith was again sent to assume charge of the church, and is the present Pastor, holding meetings every alternate week in the old schoolhouse, purchased by the society, for a comparatively small sum of money, from the town at the time of the erection of a larger school building in 1860.

Lutheran Church. - The first meetings of this society were held by the Rev. Winter. The first place of worship was situated about five miles south of the village, the land on which the church and school stood, at this time, being the gift of Rev. Winter, tinder his fostering care the congregation grew quite prosperous, and it was with feelings of unfeigned regret that they witnessed his departure to another field of labor. In 1869, the idea was conceived of moving the church to Muscoda. The plan met with favor, and land was purchased for a small sum and the present church building, 30x50 feet, was erected in 1870, at a cost of $1,500.

Rev. Zwolanck was the first Pastor in the new location, serving for one year, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Remi, whose pastorate extended over a period of three years, during which time the church enjoyfed a season of great prosperity. After the departure of Rev. Remi,. the society was without a Pastor until 1877. This year, the Rev. Andewood was secured, and who has remained the spiritual guide of the little flock up to the present time.

Orion Lodge, No. 70, A., F. ^ A. M., of Richmond, now Orion, Richland Co., received its dispensation to work from Grand Master Henry M. Billings, at Highland, Iowa Co., June 26, 1855. The dispensation was granted to D. L. Downs, as W. M.; J. T. Barnes, S. W., and Levi Houts, J. W. The lodge was regularly instituted June 12, 1856, and Messrs. Downs, Barnes and Houts were the first ofiicers.

The lodge remained at Orion and prospered, but was transferred to Muscoda March 20, 1875, when the name of the lodge was changed to Muscoda Lodge, No. 70. This was approved by J. P. C. Cottrill, Grand Master of Wisconsin, April 6, 1875. The lodge hold their regular meetings the first and third Saturdays of each month. The present membership is twentyeight. The officers are P. A. Daggett, W. M.; A. C. V. Elston, S. W.; S. Wentworth, J. W.; S. C. McDonald, Sec'y; John Young, Treas.; John Swingle, S. D.; M. Briggs, J. D.

Muscoda Lodge, No. 5S, A., F. f A. M., received its dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the State of Wisconsin March, 1854, and on June 12, 1855, a charter was granted authorizing J. B. Moore, as W. M.; A. A. Overton, S. W.; William G. Spencer, J. W. This lodge had a membership of nineteen, and continued to hold meetings until the 7th day of January, 1868, when the lodge notified the Grand Master of the State that the members had voted to surrender the charter, which was done June 18, 1868. The officers who were in office at the time of disbandment were S. C. McDonald, W. M.; A. R. Tyler, S. W.; 0. P. Underwood, J. W.; Ralph Carver, Sec'y ; John Smalley, Treas.

I. 0. 0. F. - On the 12th day of June, 1855, Deputy G. M. Stewart instituted Eureka Lodge, No. 73, by the authority of a charter granted by L. H. Kellogg, Grand Master of the State of Wisconsin, to C. G. Rodolf, N. G.; R. V. Alexander, V. G.; T. J. Graham, P. See'y ; 0. P. Underwood, Sec'y ; A. Palmer, Treas. The charter members were A. Palmer, C. G. Rodolf, William N. Mongrief, 0. P. Underwood, Richard V. Alexander and Thomas J. Graham. The present membership is thirty-three, and the members are divided as follows : Initiatory members, five ; members of the Degree of Friendship, five ; members of the Degree of Truth, two ; members of the Degree of Brotherly Love, twenty-one. Eleven of the members have attained the sublime position of Past Grand.

The lodge hold their meetings in Col. Moore's stone block, on Saturday evenings. The present set of oflScers are C. G. Rodolf, N. G.; Joseph Graham, V. G.; John Steward, Treas.; William Wilson, Sec'y; J. G. West, Warden; 0.,C. Deney, Conductor. The present Trustees are 0. C. Deney, P. A. Daggett and William Wilsey.

The Press

Muscoda News. - The initial number of the News was put forth December 4, 1874, the proprietors and publishers being H. W. Glasier and Charles H. Darlington. This partnership continued but a brief space of time, and January 1, 1875, Mr. Darlington purchased his partner's interest and remained sole proprietor. The News was at this time, and has since remained a five-column quarto, neatly printed, and containing the latest local intelligence. During the campaign of 1876, a Republican campaign sheet sailing under the title of the Skirmisher, compelled the suspension of the regular publication May 1, 1877. From this date lip to the Ist of September following, the News remained inert and lifeless, but at this date publication was resumed, and since continued without a break.

April 1, 1861, the paper passed into the hands of S. C. McDonald, under whope management it has been considerably improved, both in appearance and in the matter contained in its pages. It already has a circulation of over five hundred, and bids fair to far exceed this ere many months have passed. In politics the News is consistently and uncompromisingly Republican.

Western Advance. - During the Presidential campaign of 1880, a small sheet with the above name was published in the interest of the Democratic party by Mr. Satterlee. The necessity which gave birth the venture having passed, it was discontinued under the pressure of financial embarrassments.

Graham ^ Bremmer. - The main elevator used by this firm was erected in 1868, it being the first institution of the kind to be built in the village. The building is 22x60 feet in size and two stories high, a six-horse power engine furnishing the power for elevating purposes. In addition to this elevator, the same firm lease a second warehouse, 30x50 feet in size and two stories in height, the structure being known as the " Klengelschmidt warehouse."

McKittrick ^ Sons. - This elevator was erected in 1872, and is 24x24 feet in ground dimensions, and thirty feet high; in addition, it has two wings, one 24x24 and the second 24x30. The capacity of the building is about 16,000 bushels of grain.

Steam Planing-mill. - This mill, owned and operated by Messrs. Grote & Umbarger, is a two-story frame structure, 22x60 feet in dimensions. All kinds of turning, matching and scroll-sawing are done here, in addition to which the firm manufactures the " Creamery Churn." The motive power is furnished by a ten-horse power engine, and the property has an estimated valuation of $3,000.

The first hotel in Muscoda was a small one-story-and-a-half log building, built by L. J. D. Parrish in 1840. Mr. Parrish run this hotel until 1851, when he disposed of it to Jesse Locke, »nd it was then used by him as a dwelling house. James Moore built the second hotel in 1848.

This was subsequently leased to one Potter, who ran it until 1860, when Hiram Wilsey purchased it and kept it for a short time only, disposing of it to Frank Neff. After operating it for some time, Mr. Neff moved it to its present location, and sold it to John P. Krause. Michael Meyer subsequently purchased and enlarged it, and is still its owner and proprietor.

The next hotel was erected in 1851 by William Salman, who disposed of it the next year to AUanson-Dickinson. S. B. EUston purchased it in 1855, and, in 1869, moved it to where it now stands and sold it to J. D. Pfieisterer, who has enlarged and operated it up to the present time.

In the fall of 1856, John Smalley erected a two-story frame building, which he run as a hotel until 1874, when it was moved to give room for his present elegant and commodious brick structure, which in size is 100x100, and three stories high. On the first floor is a bank, the office, sample room, dining room, kitchen, etc., while in the second and third stories is an elegant hall, 30x60, together with three parlors and forty sleeping rooms. This building is substantially constructed, representing a total cost of $20,000, and would be an ornament to any city.

Source changes here: from History of Grant County Wisconsin, by Castello N. Holford, published 1900; 3,063 words in this source stream.

Muscoda Village

Early History and Growth - Muscoda Bridge - The New Town - The Great Fire - Town Organization and Officers - Village Officers - Post-ofRce - Schools - Churches - Socie¬ ties - Newspapers - Hotels - Fayette.

Early History And Growth

There is a tradition that some English immigrants settled on the site of this village at a very early day and were massacred by the In¬ dians. Nothing definite is known about it, but on the strength of the tradition the place was called English Prairie until about 1840. The present name was evidently taken from Longfellow's Hiawatha in which is mentioned 44 the muscoda, the meadow." The place was also called Savannah.

In the fall of 1832 a man named Armstrong located a trading -post here. In 1835 William S. Hamilton, son of Alexander Hamilton of Revolutionary fame, built a diamond-blast furnace near what is now the intersection of Main and Seventh Streets. It was then a good shipping point for the lead raised about Wingville and Linden, as steamboats could then ascend the Wisconsin. Ho wever, little mineral was raised near there, and the distance to the Wingville mines was too great to allow the ore to be profitably hauled, and the furnace was abandoned.

Hon. Charles G. Rodolf, who was long a prominent resident of the place, has written the best account extant of its early settlement, as follows: 44 In 1838 I went to English Prairie at the solicitation of Col. W. S. Hamilton. I hauled and purchased lead ore for him that sum¬ mer at Pedlar's Creek [Linden], Centerville, and Upper Diggings. The lead, when smelted, was shipped from English Prairie to Galena by river, a steamboat coming up regularly every week. At that time the Wisconsin contained at least a third more water than now. The men employed by the Colonel about the furnace were mostly Frenchmen.

nace at this time or a little later was the land office, which was removed from Mineral Point Albert Parrish was the Register and Levi Sterling the Receiver. William Garland kept a small lumber yard and also ran a boarding-house. Thomas J. Parrish had a store which was kept by Edward Bouchard. A blacksmith shop was run by Har¬ din Moore, while a second hotel and boarding-house was kept by W. S. Booth. There were at that time a great many Indians - Winnebagoes - about the place, and I remember many evenings noticing some of the younger squaws sitting on the river bank, singing Indian and French melodies. I remember one time one Indian sold to T. J. Parrish one muskrat skin for corn fifteen times. Parrish bought the skin of the Indian and threw it into the loft and went for a few ears of corn. In the meantime the Indian stole the skin and put it under his coat, and when Parrish returned he sold it to him again. This was repeated several times, Parrish each time going for corn, which was carried away each time by a squaw. Parrish all the time thought he was making a good trade."

In 1837 the Moore family settled near Muscoda. There were sev¬ eral brothers who became more or less prominent in the county, par¬ ticularly Gen. Jonathan B. Moore.

In 1847 the population* of the settlement (it could hardly be called a village) was about fifty, pretty thickly stowed in a few log houses Charles Stephenson and David Manlove are noted as residents of the place at that time.

In 1850 the village of Muscoda was surveyed and platted by James Moore, and in 1852 W. W. Dimock laid out an addition to the village. In 1853 the population of the village was about two hundred and it had two stores, one by S. A. Quincy and the other by Palmer & Ward. The senior partner was Alfred Palmer, afterward of Boscobel. In that year Jonathan B. Moore put in a third store. P. B. McIntyre had es¬ tablished a livery stable and John B. McIntyre a blacksmith shop in the place, both in 1851. In 1855 Herman C. Grote opened a furniture store in the village. In 1856 James Moore opened a tin shop and hardware store.

In 1855 James Moore and C. K. Dean bought the land on which the new town was afterward built. Later they sold part of it to B. H. Edgerton, Judge Jackson, and H. E. Dawson. In anticipation of the coming of the railroad, the new town was laid out, but the titles appeared to be defective, and no building was done there. Ten years later General Moore bought the land.

In 1856 the railroad was built and the depot established nearly a mile from the village At this time the settlers were (excluding those already mentioned) A. J. Thompson, C. Miller, James W. Otis, I. J. Dale, Edward Dorsey, A. Dickinson, W. G. Spencer, L. J. D. Parrish, H. Heath, J. W. Pettigrove, WilKam and John Bloyer, Charles and Royal Wright, E. Dutton, J. McDuff, A. Pyle, William Salomon, Benj. M. Coates, J. P. Richards, Henry Morgan, George R. Frank, Franklin Z. Hicks, J. L. Marsh, Thomas J. Bull, John Smalley, Seth C. McDon¬ ald, and Samuel B. Elston, with others less noted. A hotel was kept by a man named Potter. The ferry was run by Thomas Matthews In the boom incident to the coming of the railroad great things were expected of Muscoda. The Herald said: " Muscoda will be, we think, the machine-shop and lumber-yard of Grant County. " In the fall of 1856 the village contained 3 stores, 2 hotels, 2 cabinet shops, 4 wagon shops, 4 blacksmith shops, 2 shoe shops, 1 harness shop, 1 tailor shop, 1 drug-store, 1 butcher shop, 1 livery stable, 1 brewery, and 1 brick-yard. But the proprietors of the lots made the common mistake of holding them at too high prices, and business went to Boscobel and Avoca, and Muscoda went to sleep, so to speak.

In 1856 J. B. Gaylord & Co. built a saw-mill, which they sold to the Bull Brothers. It was burned some years later. In 1858 James Moore built a steam flouring-mill, but after a few years of operation the machinery was removed. In 1858 0. C, Denny built a saw-mill, which in a few years he sold to persons who removed it.

Muscoda Bridge

The business men of the place realized that, if not dead, the village was sleeping, and the people across the river in Richland County felt the need of convenient access to a railroad market. A bridge across the river was much needed. The town of Muscoda and the town of Eagle in Richland County each voted $2,000 for a bridge and the citi¬ zens subscribed $4,000 more. Miller & Stinglham, of Sauk City, took a contract to build a bridge for $20,000, but enough money could not be raised and the project fell through.

In 1868 General Moore began the erection of a bridge as his private property. The enterprise was pushed rapidly to completion and the first team passed over the bridge September 16. This structure con- sists of two spans of 150 feet each and a draw of 140 feet, beyond is a structure 1,272 feet long supported by piles. The cost of the structure was $24,000. Although the building of the bridge caused an immediate revival in the business of the place, the matter of tolls created a good deal of dissatisfaction, and in the winter of 1875-76 there was strong agitation in favor of a new free bridge, but nothing substantial came of it.

The New Town

With the building of the bridge and the clearing of the titles of the site on which the depot was located, an era of rapid building opened in 1868. Not only were many houses built in the new town, but many houses were moved out to it from the old town. Several other houses in the old town were burned that year, among them the drug¬ store of Dr. A. R. Tyler, in which the post-office was located. This was burned July 12, 1868.

The old town had contained two drug-stores. Dr. Tyler's was burned and the one established in 1867 in the old town by L. D. Holford and Dr. Wm. K. Jameson, was in 1868 removed to the new town.

The Great Fire

A good many isolated buildings in the place have been burned, four in 1868 alone, but there was no great fire until September 1, 1894. The fire caught about two o'clock in a barn in the north¬ western part of the town, where children were playing with matches. A brisk wind was blowing from the southwest, and at once carried the sparks to the surrounding buildings until about forty houses, in¬ cluding some of the finest residences, were destroyed. Help was called from Boscobel, Avoca, and Lone Rock, as there was no water supply there. Boscobel sent seventy-five firemen with ladders and buckets. The fire was stopped by tearing down inflammable property.

PfeUterer Hotel, $6,000; Matthew Viktora, saloon, dwelling and barn, $5,000; O. W. Fessel, harness-shop, dwelling, and barn, $5,000; Meyers, dwelling and barn, $3,000; Smythe's bakery, photograph gallery and dwelling, $2,000; Biba, furniture store and dwelling, $3,000; John Wade, dwelling, $1,000; Jacob Huppler, dwelling and barn, $2,000; Schumacher, dwelling, shop, and barn, $2,500; Bergmueller, dwelling and barn, $1,500; Mrs. Nothies, dwelling and barn, $2,500; Esch, dwelling and barn, $1,500; Marvin Briggs, dwelling and barn, $3,500; W. T. Briggs, dwelling and barn, $3,500; P. R. Hoyt, dwelling and barn, $2,500; Meth- odist church, $750; Town Hall, $1,000; the barns of B. McIntyre, Jacob Bremmer, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Muller, and the Moore estate, aggregate value $2,900.

Town Organization And Officers

Although in territorial times there was a precinct of Muscoday , as may be seen in the maps on pages 133 and 135, the town was not or¬ ganized until 1851. It includes all of Town 8, Range 1, except that the Wisconsin River cuts off a little at the north end. It contains about thirty-five square miles. It consists mostly of the sandy bot¬ tom of the Wisconsin and the rough hills bordering that river and Blue River and its tributaries. The population of the village is largely German and that of the country Bohemian. The town has usually gone Democratic by a large majority.

The town records were destroyed in the great fire, and the names of some of the town officers are not obtainable ; but with these excep¬ tions the roster is as follows :

1852 - Supervisors, James Moore, A. Dickinson, Edward Dorsey ; clerk, A. J. Thompson; treasurer, A. Dickinson; assessor, James Moore; supt. of schools, A. J. Thompson ; justices, R. Barnes, Edward Dorsey, W. G. Spencer, James Moore.

1861 - Supervisors, W. W. Dimock, Charles W. Wright, Peter Schmidt; clerk and supt. of schools, Ralph Carver; treasurer, John B. McIntyre; assessor, Franklin Ward.

Hu9Coda

1899 - Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and assessor same as in 1898; justices, John Kurtz, John Hulbert; constables, Louis Sherada, John Machazel, Gottlieb Muller.

Village Officers Post-Office

A post-office called English Prairie was established at this place in 1837, with W. S. Hamilton as postmaster. In 1850 James Moore was made postmaster. In 1853 he resigned and F- Z. Hicks was ap¬ pointed. From 1855 to 1861 the postmaster was T. R. Chesebro. After him J. L. Marsh held the office one year, and was followed by Mrs. E. Harris and her daughter Annie. In December, 1866, Dr. A. R. Tyler was appointed postmaster and held the office until August, 1868, when Ralph Carver was appointed, and the post-office, which had been in the burned drug-store, was removed to Jameson & Holford's drug-store. In March, 1877, Frank A. David (who had bought out L. D. Holford) was appointed postmaster and the office remained in the drug-store. David was succeeded by S. C. McDonald, Jacob Bremmer (during both of Cleveland's terms), C. F. McDonald, and A. C. V. Elston.

In 1839 a school was taught at 11 English Prairie" by Allen Bloyer. The memory of the old settlers has failed to preserve the names of his successors (or many years, but it is said that most of the schools were held for three months terms in summer and kept by young women. In 1854 a log school-house was built, Charles W. Wright doing the car¬ penter work. George R. Frank taught the first school in this building, which was afterward sold to the Methodists for a church. In 1860 a two-story frame building 30X60 was built at a cost of $2,500, located between the old and the new towns. A high school was organized in 1877 with P. B. McIntyre, P. A. Daggett, and O. P. Manlove as school board and H. R. Smith as principal. The old school-house having been burned, in 1885 a new stone building was erected in the new town.

son, Austin, Brainard, Jones, Irish, Waldron,, and Treewater. The present pastor is Rev. McCluskey. In 1860 the society purchased the old school-house and used it for a church until it was destroyed by the fire of 1894. In 1896 a handsome church building was erected It is 30X36, with a wing 15X22.

St. John the Baptist's Church , Catholic. - This congregation was establishedin 1859 as a mission to Mineral Point. In 1875 a parson¬ age was built and Rev. Albert Heller became the resident pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. J. Seberlee. In 1884 the present stone church, 44X80, was built in the new town. It has a fine chime of bells. In 1888 a parochial school was established, and it is now in charge of four sisters from Notre Dame Convent of Milwaukee. Connected with the congregation is a court of the Catholic Order of Foresters, a branch of the Catholic Knights, and two Ladies' Societies. Rev. Leo Parroch has been for many years the pastor.

The Congregational Church . - The society was organized in 1856, and Rev. A. A. Overton was the first pastor. The records are lost and few particulars can be given. In 1859 Mr. Overton removed to Avoca and the church had no pastor (except Rev. McLaughlin a short time) until 1869, when Rev. Jones came and remained a year. In 1870 Rev. William Jameson came and remained five years. He did much toward increasing and building up the church and was followed by Rev. Carter, who remained one year. After this Rev. A. A. Overton returned and remained three years and was succeeded by Rev. George Heigh, who left in 1881. The society had no building and meetings were held in the Methodist or Lutheran church. Becoming too few to maintain a church, the society was finally dissolved.

The Lutheran Church. - This society was organized some time in the sixties by Rev. Winter, who preached in a building on land do¬ nated by him about five miles south of the village. In 1870 a church building 30X50 was erected in the village at a cost of $1,500. The first minister in the new locality was Rev. Zwolanck, who served one year and was followed by Rev. Remi. Rev. Otjen is the present in¬ cumbent.

Orion Lodge No. 70. A.t F. & A. M. - This lodge was organized June 26, 1855, at Orion, just across the river from Muscoda. D. L. Downs was W. M.; J. T. Barnes, S.|W.; Levi Houts, J. W. In 1870 the lodge was transferred to Muscoda and the name changed to Muscoda

Muscoda Lodge , No. 78 , A., F. & A. M. - This lodge was organized on a charter granted June 12, 1855, to J. B. Moore, W. M.; A. H. Overton, S. W.; and William G. Spencer, J. W. The charter of the lodge was surrendered June 18, 1868. The officers at that time were: S. C. McDonald, W. M.; A. R. Tyler, S. W.; 0. P. Underwood, J. W.; Ralph Carver, Sec.; John Smalley, Treasurer.

The News. - The first number was issued December 4, 1874, by H. W. Glasier and Charles H. Darlington. Mr. Glasier soon withdrew and Mr. Darlington published the paper alone until May 1,1877, when publication was suspended. During the campaign of 1876 Mr. Dar¬ lington published a small sheet, Republican in politics, called the SA/rmisher. On September 1, 1877, publication of the News was resumed. It was a four-column quarto. April 1, 1881, the paper was purchased by S. C. McDonald, who continued its publication until some time in 1891, when it was discontinued. Publication was resumed in the spring of 1892, but again suspended in the fall of that year.

The Watchman. - This paper was begun in October, 1895, by A. J. Hood & Son and is now conducted by G. E. Hood. It is a six-column quarto. The publisher also prints a religious paper, the Church Tidings.

The first hotels in the place have been mentioned. In 1840 L. J. D. Parrish built a story-and-a-half log house and opened it as a hotel. In 1851 he sold the place to Jesse Locke, who used it as a dwelling. In 1848 James C. Moore opened a hotel, which he leased to a man named Potter, who ran it until 1860, being succeded by Hiram Wilsey, Frank Neff, John Kraus, and MichaelMeyer.

building to the new town and sold it to J. D.Pfiesterer, who ran it till it was destroyed in the fire of 1894. He has since built a large brick hotel which he still runs.

In the fall of 1856 John Smalley built a two-story frame hotel. In 1874 he moved it and built on its site a fine building of white brick 100x100, three stories high, at a cost of $20,000.

Muscoda has a brewery established in 1856 and now run by Kaiser & Lampe, who came into possession of it in 1894 by fore¬ closure of a mortgage given by Philip Geiser, who was the successor of John J. Postel.

Suicide, - Richard F. Meyer committed suicide September 21, 1894, by shooting himself with a revolver. He was a young lawyer with good prospects and was at the time the Democratic nominee for Dis¬ trict Attorney.

There are probably many residents of Muscoda who never heard of this city. It was a fine city - on paper, and it never existed other¬ wise. It was laid out at the forks of the Blue River, December 22, 1837, by John P. Sheldon, W. R. Hunter and Joseph Eneix.