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lower city is built, which
represents the business portion of the place. From the base of the
bluff it rises more abruptly forty or fifty feet, and spreads out into a
semi-circle plateau, extending back about half a mile. The front
of this elevated portion is worn off into scallops, ornamented by
frequent Indian mounds. The view from this elevation is grand and
commanding. Looking tot he south are seen the emerald hills of
Minnesota on the opposite shore; the Mississippi with bold and
precipitous banks, and inset with islands, leading off to the right and
left, while the placid waters of the lake stretch away to the
north. These, together with the peculiar arrangement of the city,
combine to make the spot an attractive one. in the early history
of Prescott we find an organization of some of the leading United States
officers located at Fort Snelling, for the purpose of securing the
land at the present site of the city of Prescott. This
organization was effected in 1827, and was composed of the following
parties: Maj. Plympton, Capt. Scott, Col. Thompson, Capt. Brady, Dr. Emerson and Philander Prescott, the latter being in Indian interpreter for the Government. A claim of twelve hundred acres was made, and Prescott appointed to take charge of it until it came into market. The claim was protected until 1841, when an act was passed by Congress, denying the right of any organization to hold claims. Under this law, Mr. Prescott secured his claim of 160 acres, and a few years later he added 100 more, all of which territory occupied a large portion of the present city of Prescott. In the meantime, Prescott had been called to the fort, in performance of his duties as Indian interpreter. One Reed, a discharged soldier, was sent to hold the claim for the organization, but was afterward succeeded by a Frenchman by the name of Moshia. The same year, Hilton Doe and S.J. Hodgeden, from Ohio; J.T. Truse and J.D. McBully, from New York, landed at this point. In a short time, Doe was left alone with Reed and a small community of Indians and half-breeds. The settlement grew very slowly, from the fact of the company excluding all settlers from their claim. In 1841, William Schaser arrived, but only remained for a short time. He, however, returned in 1844, bringing with him his wife, the first white woman in this region. Mr. Schaser claims to have build the first frame house in Prescott. Their daughter, Eliza, was the first white child born in the county. In 1847, additions were made by the arrival of J.R. Rice and family, W. Lockwood, L.N. Harnsberger and George W. McMurphy. Mr. McMurphy was married to a daughter of Mr. Rice, April 24, 1848, which was the first marriage performed in the place. From this period the settlement began to grow rapidly. Prior to 1850, the improvements were very slow, when Dr. O.T. Maxon and W.J. Copp purchased the site. Previous to this, Mr. Prescott had sold several lots, and William Lockwood had opened up a small store, and was trading in a small way with the Indians. He afterward extended his trade as the settlers gathered in, by placing a more general stock. Mr. Lockwood died soon after. He was the first white person who died, and was buried in the town. Messrs. Maxon and Copp had their site surveyed and platted soon after their purchase. From this time on improvements began to increase rapidly. In 1853, Prescott became the county seat of Pierce County. The city charter of Prescott was granted in the Winter of 1856-7. At the election held in the Spring of 1857, the following officers were elected: J.R. Freeman, mayor; N.S. Dunbar, Thomas Dickerson, Seth Ticknor, Hilton Doe, George M. Oakley and N.A. Miller, Aldermen; P.V. Wise, Attorney; William Howes, Surveyor; Thomas Dickerson, Superintendent of Schools. The city at this time was divided into two wards. Soon after this al the necessary municipal officers were elected or appointed, and thus we find the embryo city equipped with all the legislative power for self-government. It now contains three wards. Prescott continued to flourish as the county seat until 1861, when by a vote of the people of the county, it was removed to Ellsworth. This was a great blow to the city, and since that time but little advance has been made. It has a population of about 1,000 and is well supplied with churches, schools, hotels, and the various industries of a river and agricultural city. The first post-office established in Prescott was in 1845, by the appointment of J.R. Freeman as Postmaster. The means of transportation in those days being by the river during the Summer months, and on the ice, or by a slow and tedious trip through the forests toward the eastern part of the State in Winter, the mails did not reach this point very often. Such being the case, no post-office was needed, and for convenience, the mail was deposited in the Postmaster's hat. So the early settlers say. The following have performed the duties of Postmaster since Mr. Freeman: J.M. Whipple, O.T. Maxon, Andrew Rader, George A. Dill and the present incumbent, William Gates. The first bank was established in 1858, with Charles Miler, president, and W.P. Westfall, cashier, with a cash capital of $25,000 which was afterwards increased to $50,000. In 1877, the bank succumbed, but in June of that year the doors were again opened by H.S. Miller, who is doing at present a general banking and exchange business. Manufactories-The manufacturing interests of Prescott are not as great as the people would wish. Several enterprises have been started, but their life has been of short duration. In 1856, Messrs. Silverhorn & Dudley started a saw-mill, which they operated until about 1861, when Mr. Dudley purchased Mr. Silverhorn's interest and erected his present steam mills, which consist of a flour and saw-mill. The flouring mill is used exclusively as a custom mill. The manufacture of wagons and carriages is carried on to some extent by F. Menicke. He established his business or present shops in 1862. He turns out, of new work, twenty-five lumber wagons and fifteen carriages, Page 717 besides doing quite an
extensive repairing business. J. Neinstadt also carries on quite an
extensive business in the way of manufacturing heavy farm wagons. He
commenced business in 1876. He also manufactures about twenty-five
wagons, together with quite an amount of repairing. RIVER FALLS The
village of River Falls, located on the banks of the beautiful Kinnickinnic
River, has a population of about fifteen hundred inhabitants. The
line between St. Croix and Pierce counties divides the village plat, and
one-third lies in St. Croix County. The river goes dashing through
the central part of the village with a current so swift that the frosts of
Winter are unable to check its course or congeal its surface. On its
banks are located four flouring mills and one saw and feed mill, which are
propelled night and day by the power gathered from its water. Quite
an extensive merchant flouring business is done, and the flour shipped by
rail to distant markets. Various religious societies have their
pleasant places of worship. The different secret societies have
their organizations and comfortable lodge rooms. The public school
building, located on the west side of the village, is a large, imposing,
structure of brick, with all the late improvements, and will accommodate
nearly three hundred pupils. The Fourth State Normal School, in the
southeastern portion of the village, is built of brick, and cost
twenty-five thousand dollars, a large portion of which was donated by the
adjoining towns. A more particular history of these institutions is
given elsewhere. Page 718 Ira Parks, settled here.
Following them came N.N. Powell, and Clark Green, and soon after, O.S.
Powell and others of the family. Captain Woods settled on Big River,
and C.B. Cox in Clifton Hollow. The settlers now began to come
rapidly, each making his claim. The Powell brothers made claim of a
large portion of the land in which the village now stands. Quite a
nucleus of settlers were gathered around this point, which, with the
valuable water-power, made it a desirable location for a manufacturing
center. The spirit of enterprise came with the new settlers, many,
if not all of whom were at this time from New England. With an eye
to the future, N.N. and O.S. Powell laid out and platted sixty acres of
land, in 1854, a portion of their claim bordering on the river, and called
it Kinnickinnic. The same year they erected the fist store, which
they filled with a stock of general merchandise. In 1856, they made
another plat of hone hundred and twenty acres, across the river, on the
west side. Additions have since been made at different times by
others. The first hotel was built by W.H. Winchester; the first
blacksmith shop by R. Griffith; first wheel-wright, N. Wales; first
cooper, C.J. Riker. Page 719
The River Falls Lime Works were first established in 1868 by Messrs.
Oakley & Nichols. In 1869, Mr. Oakley purchased Mr. Nichols's
interest and ran the works until 1879, when Mr. Oakley put in the patent
kiln. In march, 1881, Mr. J. Hale purchased an interest. With
the improvements being added, the firm expect to turn out 40,000 barrels
during the season. Page 720 Center, Plumb (sic) City, El Paso, Esdaile and Martell distributed over the inland distracts, each one being built on the bank of a perennial stream, and will in time, as the county develops, become large and prosperous villages. DIAMOND BLUFF Is a small village situated in Pierce Co., Wis., on the banks of the Mississippi River, about forty-three miles below St. Paul. It derives its name from the many particles of diamond-shaped stones found on the huge bluff which rises to a great height, immediately back of the town, and is almost perpendicular, and has always been a guide for the pilots to run the channel of the river by. This village was first settled in 1848, and among the early settlers of from 1850 to 1855, are, Enoch Quimby, August R. Mero, and John R. Niles, of the firm of Wethering & Niles. There are two general merchandise stores, two grain warehouses, one hotel and a post-office. it also has an extensive wood yard, operated by the above firm, which supplies wood for a great many of the boats on the Mississippi. There is a district school and a Methodist Episcopal Church, which was organized with five members, in the year 1855, in the back room of what is now known as the residence of Mr. Quimby. In the year 1866, it reached a membership of thirty, when they erected the building in which they now hold service, having at this writing fifty members. About a mile an a half below Diamond bluff is a cluster of Indian mounds, containing from seventy-give to 100. They are situated on ground slightly elevated above the natural banks of the Mississippi, and cover from three to four acres, being one of the largest clusters of mounds of this character in the State. They are perfectly round or circular at the base, being conical at the apex and vary in height from five to fifteen feet, and have the appearance of a regularly laid out village. No excavations have ever been made. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AUGUST R. MERO, grain, wood and stock dealer, Diamond Bluff. Was born in the State of Maine, March 4, 1832. In 1858, he came to Wisconsin, and bought a farm in the town of Diamond Bluff, Pierce Co. on which he lived until 1869, then moved into the village, and started a wood yard, which he ran in connection with his farm. In the Spring of 1874, commenced buying grain, in addition to his other business. In 1876, he shipped 44,000 bushels of grain, but as a general thing, averaged about 30,000. He was married in 1861, to Miss Mary Niles, who was born in Maine, and by whom he has three children-Alice, Clara M. and Aug. H. JOHN R. NILES, of the firm of Wethering & Niles, dealers in general merchandise, and proprietors of wood yard, Diamond Bluff. Was born in Maine, April 10, 1833. he went to St. Paul, Minn., in 1854, and worked in the pineries during that Winter, and then, in 1855, came to Diamond Bluff, where he entered 240 acres of land east of the village. He commenced farming and furnishing wood for boats on the Mississippi River, also working at the carpenter's trade. In 1879, he opened a store in company with Mr. Wethering and now does an annual business of $7,000. Mr. Niles was the third settler in what is now known as the village of Diamond Bluff. He was married, in 1867 to Miss Eleanor Rogers, who was born in Nova Scotia. LAWSON C. BURKE, merchant, Postmaster and wood dealer, Diamond Bluff, was born in Vermont Sept. 14, 1830. In 1856 he went to Minnesota locating at Hastings, where he commenced clerking in a hotel, at which he continued but a short time and then went to Red Wing and ran a hotel for two years. He then commenced farming, and after doing that for six years, he returned to Red Wing, living there until 1870. At this time he came to Diamond Bluff and opened a store. He now hold the office of Town Clerk of Diamond Bluff, and has served three years as Chairman of the Town Board. His business amounts to about $6,000 per annum. He was married in New Hampshire, in 1854 to Miss Fannie R. Carriel. CHARLES H. GRANT, carpenter and builder, Diamond Bluff was born in Augusta, Me., March 30, 1834. In the Spring of 1855 went with a colony from Massachusetts to Kansas, settling on the Neosho river. Here he remained but a short time and in the Fall of the same year came to Wisconsin, locating at Diamond Bluff where he has made his home ever since, erecting the first hotel kept in that place. In 1862 he enlisted in the 30th Wis. V.I. Co. F of the rebellion, serving until the close of the war, and was commissioned second lieutenant at Louisville, Ky., in March of 1865. After the close of the war he returned home and then moved his family to Hastings, Minn., where he had charge of Henry Butruff's sash and blind factory for eight months. He then returned to his former home, building the Methodist Episcopal church there in 1866. he has been Chairman of the Town board for one year, also Clerk for the same length of time, and has been Town Treasurer for twelve years, and is a member of the F. & A.M., Northwestern Lodge, No. 105, at Prescott; was married, in 1860, to Miss Susan Rogers, who is a native of St. John N.B. Their family consists of Carrie B., Nellie H., Mabel C., and Ethel V. BERNARD D. ENGLEY, treasurer, Diamond Bluff, was born in Lincoln Co., Me., May 5, 1826. He came to Wisconsin Sept. 20, 1857; and located at Diamond Bluff, where he farmed for four years, being also a wood dealer. He then returned to Maine and remained there two years, after which he came back to his former home and commenced in the wood business again, and his continued at that ever since. He has served as a member of the Town Board a number of terms. He was married in Maine in 1849 to Miss Lucy J. Prock, by whom he has two daughters, Laura B. and Addie M. ESDAILE The village of Esdaile is situated in the southwestern part of Pierce County in the town of Hartland, on a small stream, a distance of six miles from Maiden Rock. It is an unpretentious village, quietly nestling among the hills and valleys, which relieves the monotony of the scenery in that section of the county, and is surrounded by heavily timbered lands. The principal industry is the manufacture of hubs, spokes and bent-wood work, operated by Charles Betcher, of Red Wing, Minn. They employ seventy-five men and ten teams the year around. The village has also two general merchandise stores, a post-office, one hotel, one church and a school-house. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES JOSEPH GILLESPIE, proprietor of the Esdaile House, was born in Allegheny Co., Penn., in 1819. He worked at farming and coal mining in his native State until 1861, when he enlisted in the 4th Penn., Vol. Cav., Co. E, and served until March, 1863, when he was wounded in the right foot, which disabled him from further service. he then returned to Pennsylvania, remaining there until 1867, when he came to Wisconsin, and bought a farm in the town of Hartland, Pierce Co. After purchasing his farm he returned to his native State and brought his family to their Western home. They lived on this farm until 1877, when they moved into the village of Esdaile and built the hotel where he now lives. he was married in Pennsylvania, July 26, 1838 to his first wife, Catherine Koons, who died in 1858, and by whom he had seven children. He was married to his present wife, Mrs. Martha Burdick, who is a native of New York State, and by whom he has three children. SAMUEL E. MCDONALD, general book-keeper for the firm of Charles Betcher, hub and spoke factory, Esdaile, town of Hartland; was born in Canada on the 19th of September, 1850. Upon coming to Wisconsin he located in the town of Hartland, Pierce County, where he worked by the month. In 1871 he was employed by the above firm, first in the mill, and afterward in the office for two years, and in 1876 he started a general merchandise store in Esdaile, which he ran in company with his brother William, until 1878, when he commenced farming, at which he continued until 1881, when he re-engaged with Charles Betcher. he has held the office of Justice of the Peace in Esdaile for three years. He was married, March 14, 1874, to Miss M.J. McClenand of Freeborn Co., Minn. The hub and spoke manufactory where he is engaged employs about seventy-five men the year around, and ten teams, and in the year 1880 the wagon material shipped from there amounted to $60,000. WILLIAM MONRO, superintendent of the Betcher hub and spoke manufactory, Esdaile, was born in Canada, on the 17th of August, 1838. he came to the United States ion 1860, and first located in the State of Michigan, where he worked at his trade (that of machinist) for six months. He afterward went to Nashville, Tenn., and lived in the South until the close of the war, when he removed to Chicago, where he accepted the position of manager of the Cooper & Bros. best timber manufactory; remained there until 1869, when he came to Wisconsin and was foreman of Webster & Lawson's best timber manufactory at Menasha. In 1879 he engaged in his present position. He is a member of the F. & A.M., Maiden Rock Lodge, No. 196. He was married in Chicago in 1860 to Miss Nancy J. Wilson, who is also a native of Canada. ARTHUR J. MUMFORD, assistant foreman of the Betcher hub and spoke manufactory, Esdaile; was born in Pennsylvania, July 29, 1844, and came to Wisconsin in 1868, locating first at Ellsworth, Pierce Co., where he started a wagon shop, which he ran until 1873. He then engaged with the above firm at Esdaile, as foreman in the wagon manufactory, which position he held until the firm abandoned that branch of business, when he assumed his present position. He enlisted in the late war, in November, 1861, at Davenport, Iowa in the 16th Iowa, Vol. Inf. Co. G. and served until July of 1862, when he was discharged on account of poor health. He re-enlisted in December of 1864 in the 50th Wis. Vol. Inf. Co. G. and served until June of 1866. He was married at Ellsworth in 1866 to Miss Elsie Brown who was born in Waukesha County. They have four children-Wellman I., Nefadel, Lois and Martha B. WALTER E. WARREN, Postmaster and merchant, Esdaile, was born in Waukesha Co., Wis., September, 1857. In 1867 moved with his parents to Rock Elm, Pierce Co., where his father started a wagon making shop. In 1879 he went to Esdaile, where he started a store in company with Henry Doughtry, which they continued to run under the same name, until April of 1880, when Mr. Warren bought out his partner, and was also appointed Postmaster. He has a trade of $5,000 per annum in his store and holds the office of District School clerk. he is a member of I.O.O.F., Maiden Rock Lodge, No. 268, and also of teh F. & A.M., Maiden Rock Lodge, No. 196. He was married, May 17, 1880, to Miss Jennie Campbell, by whom he has one daughter. |
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