"History," says an old authority, "Is the record of wicked men's deeds and other men's misfortunes," and it follows that a community that cannot lay claim to some conspicuous examples of this kind is pretty destitute of material out of which to make an interesting narrative. The reader has probably observed that since 1845, little reference has been made in these columns to the locality, which constitutes the subject of this chapter; the cause is mainly attributable to the dearth of stirring events of the character named. A brief visit with some of the earliest settlers, and enterprising businessmen, calls up a few reminiscence of the past, which will interest the reader. To the visitor of today, witnessing the vast resources and accumulation of capital, now wielded by the firm of Knapp, Stout and Company, running as it does into the millions, it may seem almost incredible that twenty-nine years ago the company commenced business with a cash capital of only one thousand dollars, and a few 'traps' and their own indomitable energy and perseverance; this has been accomplished not by speculation and adroit, lucky turning of fortunes wheel, but by actual creation of so much wealth added to the store of human comforts, using only the advantages supplied by natures abundant and common storehouse. The presiding genius whose active vigilance, sagacity foresight and untiring industry, planned, guided and controlled their extensive operations through every struggle and undertaking is undoubtedly Captain William Wilson. The class of reformers (not political) who maintained that in the allotments of life, if a husband and wife discover that they have not found 'their affinity,' and consequently their happiness, the connection should be dissolved and other attachments formed until the desired end it attained, may or may not be correct in theory, but however untenable such views may be in regard to marriage, it is undoubtedly true that in business relations, and the choice of an avocation, when one finds himself unfitted for, or continually unfortunate in the affairs of life, he may well conclude that he is not adapted to that kind of employment, and some thing else will lead to success. So thought Captain William Wilson, when, after trying his hand at contracting on public works, steamboats, and various other avocations, resulting only in disaster, he wended his way, solitary and discouraged, up to the little, old, one-horse flutter wheel sawmill, where twenty years before, Street & Lockwood had manufactured, and Jeff Davis had run away the lumber to rebuild Fort Crawford. Able friends in Fort Madison, Iowa, had promised assistance in case he found an opening that promised a safe return, but when the time came, as the case often is with the unfortunate, for actual disbursement everyone failed him, but they were willing to induce someone else to assume a risk that they were not disposed to undertake. John H. Knapp, a young law student from the 'Old Bay State,' was fixed upon as the responsible substitute for their assurances, and well did he fill the bill. Mr. Knapp brought into his partnership a young, healthy organization, good business qualifications, an ambition that rejoiced at hardship, and unspotted reputation, and what at the time was almost as difficult to obtain - one thousand dollars in cash. In the former number reference was made to the purchase and transfer of aforesaid mill and fixtures from Mr. Black and Son, to his company, which commenced operation in July 1846, under the firm name of J.H. Knapp & Company. Since the departure of Allen and Branham, with their families, no females, or, only one, Mrs. Fanny Vail, had been bold enough to seclude themselves and undertake the hardships and privations of such an isolated abode. But Mrs. Wilson was determined to share with her husband all the difficulties that the situation imposed. One other lady and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Bullard, came up at the same time. The reader will remember that at this early day there was no means of ingress or egress to any port of this valley except by the river - the 'keelboat; propelled by men with poles, going back and forth on the 'running boards' the lower end of every pole being furnished with a steel pointed, iron socket, which was thrust against the bottom, while against the other end pressed with all his might if need be the shoulder of the 'living engine,' whose duty it was to drive the boat over sandbars and rapids to its destination. On the first trip up the Red Cedar, the river being low and the boat heavily laden, got a ground four miles below their destined home, and these ladies with their children, took the foot path winding along the side of the hills, and over the steep rocky bluffs to their new homes. Of many amusing incidents related by these ladies of their first experiences in their secluded and nearly embargoed domicile, I can find room for only one. Soon after their arrival, Mrs. Blois Hurd came with her husband, who was a millwright, to reside at Gilbert's mill, three miles below, and for some months, was the only woman residing there - a beautiful lady, but whose health was very delicate. Near the close of a day in September, Mr. Gilbert, (the old gentlemen) came up and requested the immediate assistance of one or both of these neighbor women for Mrs. Hurd who had taken very ill. How were they to get there, was now the difficult problem to solve, to walk three miles over difficult, intricate foot-path, after the fatigues of the day, was too much for their strength. Their husbands were ready to accompany them, and a bright thought seized one of the party, a raft with oars all on, 'ready to pull out,' lay just below the mill; to 'tie loose' was only the work of a moment, but not one of the men had ever run those rapids, or knew how to handle a raft, but in high glee away floated the party, their hearts full of benevolence, and their head with novel ideas of traveling; down they went with wonderful speed, and hair-breadth escapes from a wreck, over the first falls, but on the second chain, where the intricate channel wound along between giant boulders, the necessity for the guiding hand of an experienced pilot soon became painfully apparent, which was immediately intensified by the bow running high and dry upon a rock, the whole craft turned and twisted, the stern was forced down by the rapid current, and threatened to break up the whole thing, that a moment before floated so gaily. No boat was near, night was coming on, the water was deep all around them, and there they were inextricably fast, nothing now remained but to wade ashore, and cautiously they followed Mr. Gilbert, supporting each other, as waist deep in water, whirling and eddying between the smooth boulders, they made their way to terra firma, and climbed the steep bank to the trial, and in their wet garments, drabbling in the sand, walked on to the residence of the sick lady, after again getting wet, by fording Gilbert's Creek. This we should consider, practicing benevolence under difficulties. The social condition of these settlements was soon after improved by better means of communication, and the addition of other families, and a pretty widow, a Mrs. Claire, who however was not long permitted to wear her weeds, for the following April 1847, Esquire Bass was sent for, from Chippewa Falls, who gave the legal sanction to the desire of Mr. William Whitcomb, for her to take his name, the first lawful marriage known to have been consummated there. But two years later, in 1849, when Thomas Piercwell and Margaret Scott found that it was not well to dwell alone, and could only be happy united, all for and semblance of law and it power to gladden their hearts, had taken its flight from this valley, so they fell back upon their inalienable rights, and a written contract much after the Quaker style, setting forth their avowals to love, cherish, and cleave each other until death should part them, was duly signed, witnessed and delivered. Even down to 1855, when the company's chief clerk, Mr. S.B. French, and Miss Virginia Bullard, were married, no legal or clerical sanction could be obtained this side of the big woods, and Captain Wilson was dispatched to Hudson for the Reverend Mr. Thayer, to tie the silken knot.

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