History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley,  Including  the Explorers and
Pioneers of Minnesota by  Rev. Edward D. Neill and Outlines of the History of Minnesota 
by  J. Fletcher Williams.
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noted on the page, are copyrighted by Debbie Barrett and may not be copied, 
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any "pay-for-view" site, linked in such a manner as to appear to be part of another 
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http://www.rootsweb.com/~wipierce and click on the link provided to free you.
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Minneapolis: North Star Publishing  Company, 1881.
[636 pp., indexed]

The copy of this book in my possession was presented by Wellington Vannatta to my great-
grandfather,   William  F. Houston of River Falls.  His son, Charles E. Houston, gave the
book to my father.
Patricia (Powell) Dawson

This is a scanned copy of the section of the book dealing with Pierce County (pp. 250-
273).  I have tried to correct scanning errors while leaving misspellings from the book
as they were. The margins have been controlled so as to retain the exact pagination.
Indexed September 6, 2000.  Provided to the Pierce  County, Wisconsin  RootsWeb site for
the personal use of its visitors  and not for sale or publication . 

This web site and its contents in the format presented, except where otherwise 
noted on the page, are copyrighted by Debbie Barrett and may not be copied, 
altered, converted nor uploaded to any electronic system or BBS, nor linked from 
any "pay-for-view" site, linked in such a manner as to appear to be part of another 
site including "frame" capturing, nor included in any software collection or print 
collection of any type without the express written permission of the author of this 
site, namely, Debbie Barrett.





PIERCE  COUNTY..

CHAPTER XLII.

PHYSICAL FEATURES--GEOLOGY-ORGANIZA­TION-COUNTY SEATS-COUNTY BUILDINGS --TOWNS.

This county was named in honor of President Franklin Pierce. It is  situated in the
western part of the state, and lies immediately south of the forty-fifth parallel of
north latitude, between ninety-two and ninety-three degrees of longitude west from
Greenwich, and is consequently west of the fourth principal meridian. It  is  triangu­lar
in  shape, the hypothenuse [sic] being formed by Lake Pepin,  the Mississippi river and
Lake St. Croix, which  secure to this county one of the longest navigable water-fronts in
the state. The boundaries on the north and east are St. Croix, Dunn and Pepin counties.
It embraces an area of 600 square miles, or 387,000  acres, the greater part being owned
by actual settlers.

This county is situated at the junction of the Mississippi river and Lake St. Croix, the
lake forming its western boundary, its southern border resting on the Mississippi.  Along
the river it presents the usual feature of valley  succeeded by bluff, broken at frequent
intervals by ravines, through which the streams from the interior seek communication with
the great river. Toward the north and east the hills become less elevated and the valleys
more extensive. This gives a di­versity to the scene, though less bold and grand than is
found in mountainous districts, yet one strongly marked. The luxuriant   sward, clothing
the hill-slope to the water's edge; the steep cliff shooting up through its mural
escarpments; the streams clear as crystal, now quiet, now ruffled by a temporary rapid,
now forming a romantic cascade over some terrace of rocks; trees dis­posed in a manner to
baffle the landscape garden­er-now crowning the height, now shading the slope; the
intervening valleys giving the picture of cultivated meadows and rich pasture lands,
irrigated and drained by frequent rivulet and stream, along which, and on the hillside,
are seen the farm-house and village, scenes of wealth, happiness and comfort; all these
and many more are features of the county. On the summit lev­els spread the wide prairies,
abounding in flowers of gayest hue, the long undulations stretching away till sky and
meadow mingle in the horizon.
The country is sufficiently level to allow of the highest grade of cultivation, perhaps
two-fifths being in an active stats of agriculture. The principal part of the farming-
land is in lhe west­ern half of the county, which was originally oak openings and
prairie; the eastern part being tim­ber land and covered by the "Big woods." This is a
belt of hard wood timber that extends from the Mississippi river to Lake Superior. In the
limits of Pierce county the timber is of the hard wood varieties, such as the red, white
and black oaks, sugar maple and butternut, all timber of first-class grade for the
manufacture of farm and other implements. There are numerous large streams distributed
over the county, such as the Kinnickinnic, Rush, Trimbelle and Isabella riv­ers, with
many smaller creeks which drain the region completely and empty into Lake St. Croix, the
Chippewa and Mississippi rivers. The cur­rent of the streams is generally swift, and
affords magnificent water-power, a resource that is used only to a small fraction of
its.capacity. Springs are numerous and give origin to streams in which abound the
speckled trout, with bass, bullheads, pike, pickerel, carp and catfish in the rivers. The
lover of wild game of the wood or prairie here may gratify his taste.

The surface of Pierce is about three hundred feet above Lake Michigan. It belongs to the
lower Silurian age, the lower magnesian lime-stone being the characteristic, at points
overlaid by the upper sand-stone, both of which project from the hills and mounds. There
is also an occasional layer of shell sand-stone covering the higher elevations. The soil,
derived from the decompostion [sic] of three formations, is always of excellent quality,
rich in organic matter, as well as in salts. This gives a rapid growth to plants. and a
durability that en­ables it to withstand a long succession of crops.

Pierce  county was formed from St. Croix by an act of the legislature approved March
14th, 1863, and organized with full powers. By the same act, the county seat was located
at the vil­lage of Prescott, with liberty to change the same to any other point at any
general election. The same act called for an election of county officers in November of
the same year, and made the town board of Prescott the county board of su­pervisors,
which board was formed of Osborn Strahl, as chairman of the board; Silas Wright  and
Sylvester Moore, supervisors. On motion, H. Teachout was appointed clerk, pro tem. The
first meeting was held at the home of S. Moore, November 15th, 1853. The following
persons were appointed as judges of election: J. R. Freeman and J. Hewitt, and O. T.
Maxon, justice of the peace. One hundred and ten votes were cast, the majority of which
elected N. S. Dunbar, sheriff; J. R. Freeman, treasurer; S. R. Gunn, clerk of the court;
Henry Teachout, clerk of the board; J. Olive, coroner; P. V. Wise, district at­torney; J.
E. True, surveyor. At the first meet­ing of the county board held November 16th 1853,
three county superintendents of the poor were appointed; R. G. Thompson, Jonathan Bailey
and J. R. Freeman. At the same meeting a tax of fifteen mills on the taxable property of
the county was voted for the current expenses of the county. At the same meeting, a
license was granted to Lovejoy and Tell, to run a ferry across the mouth of the St. Croix
river between Pres­cott and Point Douglas, said parties required to give bonds to the
county for a faithful fulfill­ing of the law in such cases required. The fol­lowing are
the rates allowed to be charged as fer­riage; foot-men, five cents; man and horse, twenty-
­five cents; ox, cow, or mule, fifteen cents each; two horses and wagon or carriage,
fifty cents; one pair of oxen and wagon, fifty cents; one horse and buggy, thirty-five
cents. At a special meet­ing called at the house of O. Strahl, January 18th, 1854, J. M.
Whipple was appointed to the office of register of deeds, the vote being a tie at the
regular election. It was voted to allow said Whipple the usual fee, as regulated by law,
for transcribing the records of St. Croix county to the records of Pierce county. It was
voted to allow P. V. Wise $40 per annum, as district at­torney. It was voted to form the
following new towns. The town of Greenwood with the following boundaries: Commencing at
the range line between 17 and 18, where said line  crosses the township line, between
townships 27 and 28, run­ning south on said line to the south-east corner of said
section, running between sections 12 and 13 of township 26, range 18; thence due east on
the same line between said sections 12 and 13 in said township to the section line
running north and south between sections 9 and 10 of township 26, range 19; thence due
north through the centre
of townships 26 and 27, of range 19, to the town­ship line between townships 27 and 28,
of range 19, thence due east on said township line to the place of beginning; the first
town meeting to be held at the house of Col. Stone, near the source of Rock Branch.
On motion; it was voted to form a new town, with the following boundaries: Commencing at
a point where the range line, running between ranges 14 and 15, crosses the township line
be­tween townships 27 and 28, south on said range line to the township line between
townships 27 and 28; thence west on said township line to the range line between ranges
18 and 19; thence north on said range line to said line between townships 27 and 28;
thence on said township line to place of beginning; said town to be known as Martell; 
the first election to be held at the house of Amos Bonesteel; the remaining part of
Peirce county to be known as the town of Prescott.
The following is an aggregate valuation of real and personal property, as taken from the
asses­sor's list of November 16th, 1853: Real estate, $24,452; personal property, $3,616;
total, $28,068, as certified to by P. V. Wise, deputy clerk.
That year, at the November election, W. J. Copp was chosen circuit judge, and received
in Pierce county ninety-six votes. Same fall, Mason Stone was elected county judge.
The place of holding the county court at this time was somewhat varied, using whatever
hall or empty room they could secure, the jail being the only county building then
erected.
The following are the returns of the county election held November7th, 1854:
Congressman, C. C. Washburn; state senator,Moses S. Gibson; assemblyman,-Smith R. Gunn;
sheriff, J. Olive; county treasurer, J. Bailey; county surveyor, O. Strahl;  clerk of
circuit  court, John Truax;  dis­trict attorney, A. C. Stowell; register of deeds, S. T.
Otis; clerk board of supervisors, N. N. Pow­ell; coroner, C. B. Cox; county judge, Col.
M. Stone; sealer weights and measures, Wm. Mc­Murphy.
At a meeting of the board of county supervi­sors, called March  2d, 1855, a petition was
pre­sented asking for the formation of a new town, with the following boundaries:
Townships24, 25 and 26, range 15, and fractional township 24 of range 16, and townships
25 and 26 of range 16, and fractional township 24 of range 17, and town­ships 25 and 26,
range 17; said town to be known as the town of Isabella; first election to be held at the
house of Abner Brown. At the same meeting a petition was presented for a new town, with
the following boundaries: Township 26, range 18; to be known as the town of Trimbelle; 
first election to be held at the house of F. Otis.
At a meeting of the board held at Concert hall, Prescott, November 26th, 1856, a
petition was presented asking for a new town with the following boundaries: All that part
of Pierce county lying within the boundaries of fractional township 25, range 19, and
township 25, range 18. and fractional township 24, range 18, be, and is hereby, set off
from the town of Prescott, and en­titled the town of Diamond Bluff; the first elec­tion
to be held in the village of Diamond Bluff, at the house of Daniel Comstock.
At a meeting of the board of Pierce county, held at the clerk's office March 3d, 1857,
petitions were presented asking for the establishing of a new town, with the following
boundaries: Com­mencing at the north-east corner of section 3, town 27, range 19; thence
running  on the line of said township to the centre of Lake St. Croix; thence down said
lake to the middle of the south­west line of the south-west quarter of section 3,
township 26, range 20; thence following the line of the city of Prescott to the north-
east corner of the city limits;  thence north to the middle of the north line of the
north-west quarter of section 2' township 26, range 20; thence following the line between
townships 26 and 27 to the south-east corner of section 34, township 27, range 19; thence
north to the place of beginning; the first  election to be held at the house of A. P.
Manning, in  the village of Clifton Mills;  said  town to be known as Clifton.
At the same meeting a petition was granted to establish a new town with the following
boun­daries: Commencing at the north-east corner sec­tion 1, township 26, range 19;
thence west on the line between townships 26 and 27 to the middle of the north line of
the north-west quarter of sec­tion 2, township 26, range 27; thence south to the north-
east corner of the city limits; thence south on the east line of the city of Prescott to
the mid­dle of the Mississippi river; thence  down said river to the line between
townships 25 and 26, on
said town line to the south-east corner of section 36, township 26, range 19; thence
south on the line between ranges 18 and 19 to the place of be­ginning; said town to be
known as the town of of [sic] "Oak Grove"; the first  election to be held at the village
of Pleasant Grove.
The following resolution was passed: That the above named towns of "Clifton," "Oak
Grove" and "City of Prescott," shall pay their share pro rata of the indebtedness of the
present town of Prescott.
At the same meeting the board voted that township 26, range 17, Pierce  county, be and
is hereby set off and established as the town of "Perry," and that the first election of
said town be held at the house of D. H. Filkins, in  said  town. At a special meeting of
the board of supervisors held in the city of Prescott, March 30th, 1857, it was voted to
divide the town of Isa­bella in the following manner: Beginning at the south-west corner
of township 24,range 17,and running  due north on the west line of township 24 and 26
across said town, that all that part of said town of Isabella  situated east of said
boun­dary line,be  and is hereby known as "Pleasant Valley;"  the first election to be
held at the house of Jeremiah Fuller. At a meeting of the county board of supervisors,
called at the council hall, city of Prescott, November 14th, 1857, it was voted to form a
new town from the town of Isabella, township 25, range 17, west, to be known as the town
of "Hartland ;" the first election to be held at the house of Joseph Sleeper.
At the same meeting it was voted to establish a new town with the following boundaries:
All that portion of Diamond Bluff in fractional town­ship 24, range 18, sections 1, 2, 3,
4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and fractional sections
33, 34, 36 and 36, of township 25, range 18, for and the same is hereby set off into the
new town of "Trenton ;" first election to be held at the store of J. AkeIs. At a
subse­quent meeting of the board held Friday, March 26th, 1858, a petition was received
from the legal voters of Greenwood township,  asking to have the name of the town changed
to "River Falls,"  which  was  granted. At the same meeting Jesse M. Southwick was
appointed county treasurer in place of J. Ayers resigned, the former having held the
position of deputy. The records reveal  to us the facts in connection with the
resigna­tion; the county business had been somewhat loosely kept and the county credit
was very much impaired during his administration. It was evi­dent that he had little
knowledge of the proper manner of doing public business. One early settler remarked, "The
Pierce  county treasury  ac­counts were carried  in  the top of the treasurer's  hat,
subject to the four winds of heaven,"  and no doubt were often disarranged, so much so,
that it required the labor of a committee several months to get them settled up.
At a meeting of the board, held November 18th, 1858, it was voted to set off township
26, ranges 15 and 16, which boundary included a por­tion of Pleasant Valley township,
into a new town to be known as "El Paso ;" first  election to be held at the house of
George P. Walker, in  said town.
In accordance with an act of the legislature, approved March 15th, 1861, the question of
the removal of the county seat from Prescott to Ells­worth, was  submitted to the people,
with the following result: nine hundred and seventy-­three votes were cast, of which six
hundred were for removal, the remainder opposing.	
At the next session of the county board, the officers went to the point designated in
the act, and did business in a board shanty erected for their comfort. Soon after this,
there was a meet­ing of the board held at the new county seat, which was the scene of a
lively contest. The eastern delegation presented and contended for a bill calling for an
appropriation for the erection of permanent buildings. The Prescott faction opposed it,
and wished only for those of a tempo­rary character.
No amicable arrangement could be secured and the meeting adjourned "sine die.'' The
fol­lowing  year an act was approved calling for an election to return the county seat to
Prescott. The effort, however, was a failure, and the seat of government remained at
Ellsworth.
Temporary buildings were used until 1869, when their present beautiful and substantial
buildings were erected. The same year an appro­priation of $3,000  was made for the
purchase of a poor farm, which is located near Ellsworth.
At a meeting of the board, held April 17th, 1861, the sum of $2,000 was voted for the
erection


of suitable buildings for holding the courts of the county, a]so for a jail for the use
of said county; the buildings to be erected on the following: the south-west quarter,
section 17, or the south­east quarter of section 18, or the north-east quar­ter of
section 19, or the north-west quarter of section 2O, in township 26, range 17 west, on
any part of said land as may be determined by the ­board of supervisors. The vote stood
as follows: nine for and five against. At a meeting held June 11th, 1861, it was voted to
add $4,500 to the sum already voted. At a meeting held Novem­ber 16th, 1861, it was voted
to organize town­ship 25, range 15, into a new town to be known as Union, the first
election to be held at the house of Frank Masher. At a meeting of the board, held
January, 13th, l862, a petition was granted asking that the name of the town of Perry be
changed to Ellsworth.	~-:
At a meeting of the board, held January 14th, 1862, it was voted to form a new town with
the following boundaries: township 25, range 16 west, said town to be known as the town
of Salem. A petition of the voters of the town of El Paso, asking for the formation of a
new town with the following boundary: township 26, range 15, said town to be known as
Rock Elm; the first election to be held at the house of J. Pickett.	.
At a meeting of the board held at Prescott  November 10th, 1868, it was voted to form a
new town with the following territory: township 27, range 15, said town to be known as
Spring Lake, the first election to be held at the house of A. M. Wilcox. A petition of
the voters of the town of Martell was granted by setting off a new town with the
following territory: township 27, range 16, said town to be known as Deerfield; the first
election to be held at the house of Albert Martin.
At a meeting held February 1st, 1869, it was voted to vacate the town of Isabella,
township 24, range 17, and attach the same to Hartland, to be known as Hartland; first
election to be held at Hodgeman's school-house. At same meeting it was voted to change
the name of township 24,  range 15, and township 24, range 16, known as Pleasant Valley,
to Maiden Rock. At a meeting of the board held May 26th, 1869, it was voted to change the
name of township 27, range 16, known as Deerfield, to Gilman. A meeting of the board was
called August 9th, 1869, at which time the contract was let to D. C. Hill to build the
court-house, his bid being $13,455.	
At a meeting of the board held June l9th, 1871, a canvass of the votes of the town of
Hart­land had been taken in regard to a division of the town. A majority  were in favor
of the following division: township 24 north, of range 17 west, to be set off and called
Isabella.
At a special meeting of the board called June17th, 1872, it was voted to issue bonds of
the county to the amount of $5,000, for the normal school fund; said bonds payable March
1st, 1873.
The first records of the judicial courts held at Prescott, 1854, were kept on sheets of
foolscap paper fastened together with wafers, such as were used to seal letters in the
days of yore. The first case before the court was as follows: "State of Wisconsin, Pierce
county; Wm. Woodruff versus Charles D. Stevens, August Loehmen and Charles Peschke. In
court of said county. In equity.  On reading and filing the bill of complaint in this
case on motion of S. J. R. McMillan   and  H. M. Lewis,  solicitors for counsel J. S.
Foster, it is ordered that a writ of injunction be issued in the case, pursuant to the
prayer of said bill upon said complaint. Some one, in his behalf, filed with the clerk of
said court a bond for damages and costs in the sum of $1,70O, with surety to be ap­proved
by the clerk  or judge of said court. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 22d day of May, A. D. 1854. (Signed) Wiram Knowlton, judge of the sixth
judicial dis­trict."

ELLSWORTH.
The village of Ellsworth is located on the edge of the "big woods," at about the center
of Pierce county. An act of the legislature, ap­proved March 15, 1861, submitted to the
people by vote, the question of the removal of the county seat from Prescott to
Ellaworth, at the same time ~: designating its location in case of removal. The popular
vote decided the change contemplated in the act, and the court house was thus placed near
the center of the county in a most beautiful lo­cality. The village has a population of
about six hundred inhabitants; surrounded by a fine farm­ing  country.  The county
buildings were erected in 1869, of brick and stone, at an expense of $30,000. There are
other small villages located
in different parts of the county, such as Maiden Rock, Diamond Bluff, and Trenton, on
the river; and Clifton, Spring Valley, Rock Elm, E1 Paso, and Martell, located in their
respective towns of the same name.

PRESCOTT.

CHAPTER XLIII.

 CITY CHARTER--SCHOOLS--CHURCHES--MANUFACTURES--BIOGRAPHICAL.

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: Major Plympton, Captain Scott, Colonel Thompson,
Captain Brady, Dr. Emerson, and Philander Prescott, the latter being an Indian
in­terpreter for the government. A claim of twelve hundred acres was made, and Prescott
appointed to take charge of the claim until it came into market. The claim was protected
until ]841, 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 one hun­dred more, all of which territory occupied a large portion of the
present site of the city of Prescott. In 1838 a trading post was established at this
point.
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 afterwards succeeded by a Frenchman by the name of Moshia. The same
year, Hilton Doe, 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 built 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 Geo.W. McMurphy.  Mr.
McMurphy  was married  to a daughter of Mr. Rice April 24th, 1848, which was the first
marriage performed in the county. The second was that of H. N. Hol­man in 1853. From this
period the settlement began to grow quite rapidly.
We find that the list  of early settlers at this date was as follows: Hilton Doe in
1838, who remained for a short time, when he went below on the river and held the
position of Indian farm­er for seven years; he returned again in 1845. George Schaser
came in 1841 and remained a short time; he returned again in 1844.  Thing Broth­ers  and
the Cornelison  Brothers came in 1847;  J. R. Rice the same year. Dr. Aldrich came in
1843; W. Lockwood in 1846; W. McMurphy  and L. Harnsberger in 1848; N. S. Dunbar, Ly­man
Smith and J. D. Freeman in 1849; Dr. O. T. Maxon, W. J. Copp and Dr. Beardsley about 1850.
This county was still  a portion of St. Croix county, but in 1849, the town of Elizabeth
was set off and comprised what is now.the county of Pierce. The first officers  elected
at the organiza­tion of this new town were Wilson Thing, chairman of the board, Aaron
Cornelison,L.N. Harnsberger, supervisors; Hilton Doe, clerk; George W. McMurphy,
treasurer. In 1851, by an act of the legislature, the name of the town was changed to
that of Prescott, in honor of Mr. Prescott. The city is located at the junction of Lake
St. Croix, with  the Mississippi, which   forms a large curve or point of land on which
the city is built, and which was known in olden times as Lake Mouth. Extending back from
the water's edge for some forty rods, the ground has a gentle rise, on which is built the
business portion of the city;  from the base of the bluff it rises more
abruptly, over forty feet to the table lands on which the resident portion of the town
is situated. From this elevation the city of Hastings at dis­tance and the bold bluff of
the Minnesota shore pre­sents a scene, both grand and romantic, with the old 'father of
waters" extending away to the east and west while the placid waters of the lake stretch
away to the north. The large stretch of levee on the river and the lake, so well adapted
to business purposes, combine to make this point one of the finest locations for a city
on the river. 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, Mr.
William Lockwood had opened up a small store, and was trading in a small way with the
Indians; afterwards extended his trade by placing a more general stock, as the settlers
gath­ered in and his trade increased. Mr. Lockwood died soon after; he was the first
white person that died, and was buried in the town. Messrs. Maxon and Copp had the site
surveyed and platted soon after their purchase. From this time on, im­provements began to
increase quite rapidly. In 1853, Pierce county was separated from St. Croix county and
the county seat established at this point by an act of the legislature of that year.
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: Mayor, J. R. Freeman; aldermen
for the First  ward,  N. S. Dunbar, Thomas Dickerson  and Seth Ticknor;  Second ward,
Hilton Doe, George M. Oakley and N. A. Miller.  On motion, George M. Oakley was chosen
secretary of the meeting. On motion, Alderman Ticknor was elected presi­dent of the
council; J. W. Beardsley was elected clerk of the council; J. J. Foster, justice peace of
the First ward,  and A. Edwards justice peace for the Second ward. A resolution was
presented and passed, declaring N. S. Dunbar and Hilton Doe senior aldermen for the
ensuing year. On motion, the council elected P. V. Wise, city at­torney; William Howes,
city surveyor; Thomas Dickerson, superintendent of schools for the city. At the same
meeting, C. H. Weigh presented bonds and was declared elected justice peace. It was voted
that the city attorney receive fifty dollars for his salary for the year; it was voted to
pay the city clerk fifty dollars per annum as sal­ary; voted to pay the city surveyor
three dollars per diem while  engaged. The first  division of the city was made in the
following manner: First ward, all that part of the city south of Kinnic­kinnic  street
and east of the Mississippi river. All north of Kinnickinnic street and east of the
Mississippi river to be known as the Second ward.
At a meeting of the council held May 9th, 1857,  it was voted that the city treasurer be
required to give bonds to the amount of $10,000. Also that the superintendent of schools
be required to give bonds of $1,000, said bonds to be ap­proved by the council. At a
meeting of the council held on the 18th of the same month, the following committees were
appointed by the mayor: On finance, Dunbar, Dickerson  and Miller; on auditing, Dunbar,
Ticknor and Miller;  on  schools and schoolhouses, Dunbar, Oakley and Dickerson; on
streets, Dunbar, Doe and Ticknor;  on cemeteries and public property, Mil­ler, Oakley and
Dunbar; on license, Ticknor, Doe and Miller; on printing, Oakley, Dickerson and Doe; as
board of health, Dickerson, Miller and  Oakley; on ordinances, Oakley, Miller and
Tick­nor. John Henderson was chosen pound-master, and L. R. Smith city marshal. Thus we
find our embryo city equipped with all the legislative power for self  government. In
1869 a new divis­ion of the city was made, and another ward added, as follows: all that
part of the city south of Kinnickinnic street as First ward, and all lying between
Kinnickinnic  and Cherry streets shall be known as the Second ward; all north of Cherry
to the city limits, shall be known as the Third ward -each ward extending back from the
river to the eastern limits of the city.

SCHOOLS.
The first steps taken in the matter of educa­tion, were by Mrs. Olive in the spring of
1851. In connection with her household duties she opened a school in her house, which was
a por­tion of what is now merchant Harnsberger's, and gave instruction to all the
children that she could gather together in the neighborhood where she was living, which
was the first  school taught in the county. The first school taught in Pres­cott was bv
Miss St. Mathews in the spring of 1852, in a large log house situated between Main street
and the levee. The first  districtschool organization was effected in the fall of 1852,
by the election of the following
officers, viz.: G. W. McMurphy, director; N. S. Dunbar, treas­urer; O. T. Maxon, clerk.
Said district  was composed of a portion of the towns of Clifton, Oak Grove and Prescott.
The first school taught was by Miss Helen Smith in the spring of 1853, in a portion of
the house owned by H. N. Hol­man. The first  school-house built by the district was a
portion of what is now the public school building. From these small beginnings, step by
step the matters of education were carried for­ward until July,1859,  when the subject of
a graded school was agitated. A call was issued to the legal voters in joint  district
No. 1 to meet at the school-house, July 22d, 1859, and vote on the following resolution,
viz.: " Resolved, that the sum of fifteen hundred dollars be raised by join t school
district No. 1 for the purpose of building addi­tions to the present school-house in said
district, suitable for the purpose of maintaining   a graded school." There were 136
votes cast-76 for and 60 against; 16 majority. Sealed proposals were called for, and four
were handed in. The lowest bid was by M. W. Barb,  who contracted to erect the building
for the sum of one thousand four hundred and ninety-eight dollars, after certain
specifications furnished by the board. The school­house, when completed, was valued at
twenty-­five hundred dollars. The board of offlcers at the date of building and re-
organizing of the schools were L. D. Newell, director; G. W. Mc­Murphy, treasurer; P. V.
Wise, clerk. The re­port of the superintendent of schools, August 31st, 1860, was that
there were residing in the city, between the ages of four and twenty, 355. The number
attending school during the year was 273. The schools at this date are in a very
flour­ishing condition, with five departments under the following board of efficient
teachers: G. L. Bow­man, principal, with the following assistants: Miss Florence Olive,
Miss A. McCray, Miss Allie Ellis, Miss Mary Tabor and Miss Hattie Ives.

CHURCHES.
The first  class in connection with the early his­tory of the Methodist Episcopal church
of Pres­cott was formed in the fall of 1853, under the labors of Rev. Norris Hobert, a
missionary from the Methodist Episcopal conference. The first  members of the class were
Silas Wright and wife, and Frederick Hyatt, they being the only mem­bers of that
denomination in the town at that time. Mr. Hyatt being an earnest worker in the good
cause, together with his other labor as that of a house carpenter, devoted a portion of
his time in forming plans to establish a Sabbath school, which was accomplished that
fall, and was the first Sabbath school organized in the county. The first services were
held in the school-house, which was located on the present site of the public school, and
a part of the same building that is now used by the Baptist society for their church. To
this small class of three devoted persons, in the spring were added others from among the
new settlers, and during the next year a society was organized, and soon steps were taken
to build a house of worship. Their first house was completed in 1856; built of wood,
22x30 feet, and located on the same site of the Lutheran church. In 1858 they added
twenty feet to its length. In 1868, during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Richardson, steps
were taken to erect their present fine, commodious church, which is of wood, 40x70, and
was completed and dedicated September 8th, 1870, during the ministry of Rev. J. D.
Searles. Their present membership is eighty; present pastor, Rev. Wm. Haw.
The First Baptist church of Prescott sprang from the early labors of Rev. E. W. Cressey,
a missionary sent in 1853 by the American Baptist Home Missionary society, to labor at
Prescott and other points. Their first meetings were held in a small unfinished house
owned by Mr. Hol­man. Afterwards in a building down in the town, used as a tailor shop
and law office during the week. During the winter following, the school-house was
finished and they were per­mitted to occupy it for a portion of the time, which made a
more comfortable place to hold their meetings.  A church organization was ef­fected
February 6th, 1854. Rev. T. B. Rodge was the first  regular minister called. The church
has labored under many difficulties   since its or­ganization. They have occasional
services.
The foundation was laid for the establishment of the Lutheran church at Prescott, in
1865, under the ministration of Rev. C. Hayer, who labored three years, when Rev. J.
Schadegg, from Oak Grove, succeeded him,  October, 1868. During  his
ministry in March, 1874, the church was organ­ized. They held their meetings for a while
in the Congregational church. In the fall of the same year they purchased the old
Methodist church, which was located on the site of their present church, to which the
society have made additions and repairs until they have a fine church. Thirty-five is
their present membership.
The Episcopal Church of Prescott was organ­ized under the auspices of the Calvary
mission about 1872. The first step taken toward es­tablishing and maintaining services at
this point, was by Rev. John Williamson, a missionary from the above mission, in 1859,
who continued his labors two years, when he was followed by Rev. A. B. Peabody in 1861.
Rev. J. L. Breck followed him, preaching occasionally for two years. Rev. T. Wilkinson
visited them occasionally and held services. The church was regularly organized under the
preaching of Rev. William Guild in 1872.  Rev. Mr. Thorp preached for them occasionally
for a short time. They held services in the Dill hall. In 1880 com­menced his labors with
them, holding service in the Baptist church. They have at this time  twenty-five female
communicants, no males.
The First Congregational Church of Prescott was organized at Point Douglas, February
15th,  1852, under the ministrations of Rev. R. Hall, who was laboring  at different
points in Wiscon­sin and Minnesota in the employ of the Home Mission  society. Owing to
tbe arrival of settlers and the changes made by the opening up of new fields, the church
was removed to Prescott, De­cember 22d, 1854. Rev. Mr. Hall continued his labors with
them until 1856, when Rev. Mr. Boutwell, also a missionary, labored with them for a time.
The church held their services for a while in the school-house. Steps were taken in 1855,
toward the erection of a church, but it was not completed until 185S. Rev. H.W. Cobb was
the first minister called to labor with the church; he remained one year. They have a
fine church  edi­fice built of stone, 40x50 feet, with tower and bell. Removals and death
has so thinned their members that they are unable to support preacb­ing at this time.
The Presbyterian Church of Prescott was or­ganized in 1866. Their church  was erected in
1866. Change incident to all new countries has seemed to withdraw a large portion of its
support; under these circumstances preaching is not main­tained at this time.
The Catholic Church of Prescott was organized under ministry of Rev. Father Vervais. The
society erected their present church, which is of wood, 24x60 feet, in 1868. The
membership con­sists of about fifty families. The Rev. Father Hansas, living in the town
of Oak Grove, holds services once in two weeks. Their house of wor­ship is located on the
bluff, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country.

SOCIETIES.
Prescott Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 154, was insti­tuted September 6th, 1868, with the
following charter members, viz: Daniel J. Dill, David Lord, Samuel Small, Isaac W.
Pierce, Henry C. Colton. Its first offlcers were as follows: D. J Dill, N. G.; S. Small,
V. G.; H. C. Colton, R. secretary; David Lord, treasurer; W. R. Gates, W.; B. F. Paine,
C. Its present officers are as follows, viz: E. R. Welch, N. G.; W. H. Leavitt, V. G.; A.
L. Roberts, R. S.; D. J. Dill, treas­urer; William Lessman, R. S. N. G.; Paul Freese, L.
S. N. G.; A. Edwards, W.; N. McGill, C. The lodge is in a flourishing condition. It holds
its meetings weekly in their nicely fur­nished hall in the Meacham block.
The North-western Lodge A. F. and A. M. of Prescott was first  instituted in 1856, and
worked under a dispensation until June 12th, 1858, when they received their charter.  E.
A. Meach­am, W.. M.;  H. Harvey, S.W., and G. H. Nichols, secretary. The lodge held its
first meetings in a building on the corner of Orange and Front streets owned by A. H.
Young and Company. They now occupy rooms in the third story of John Dudley's store,
fitted up in fine style. Their present offlcers are as follows, viz:  W. F. Mc­Cray, W.
M.; John Wicks, S. W.;  N. S. Dunbar, treasurer;  A. B. Failing, secretary;  B.
Catzen­berger, S. D.;  A. M. Rudy, J. D.;  S. Johnson, tyler. The lodge is in  fine
working  order, with a membership of fifty-eight.
The Independent Order of Good Templars, Lodge No. 319, was organized September 25th,
1876, with eighteen charter members. The first  officers were: J. S. White, W. C. T.;
Miss J. D.

Newell, W. V. T.;  George N. Ross, W. C.;  Clara McCray, W. S. E. C.; Dr. E. S. Akers,
W. F. S.; Ada Covell, W. T. R.; Frank A. Ross, W. M.; Lottie Newell, W. D. M.; Ida Rubey,
W. I. G.; J. W. Howes, W. O. G.; Gertie Ives, W. R. H. S.; Hattie V. Newell, W. H. S.; A.
Gray, P. W. C. T. This lodge has been in a prosperous condition since its organization.
They have at this time over one hundred members.
The Prescott Juvenile Temple, No. 108, was organized March 17th, 1877, by Lillie J.
Robin­son, and was named Wide Awake. It had ninety charter and twenty-one honorary
members. C. Smith was the first superintendent, and held the offlce for three months,
when Nellie Bancroft was elected to the office, which she held until she resigned in
February last. The number of ini­tiations  since its organization, ninety-six;  deaths,
three. The children have collected a library  of  fifty-four volumes through different
entertain­ments given by the lodge. Amount of money received aside from library fund,
fifty dollars. Twenty-eight members have passed into the sub­ordinate lodge, and fifty-
six members in good standing at this time. Great good has been done through this lodge,
which is now in a prosperous condition.
The Prescott Temple of Honor was organized December 27th, 1878, with forty-five charter
members. The first  officers elected were as fol­lows: J. S. White, W. C. T.;  H. C.
Goodsell, W. V. T.;  H. S. Miller, W. T.;  T. J. Griffln, W. R.;  J. Weeks, A. W. R.;  E.
G. Babbidge, W. F. R. W. Bosworth, W. M.; John Roddy, P. W. C. T. This lodge has
initiated one hundred and three members, and has at times been in a very pros­perous
condition. They hold their meetings in Odd Fellows hall each Friday. The offices are held
by the same persons mentioned above, ex­cept the W. C. T., which is held by W. Haw.
The Prescott Grange No. 161, was first  organ­ized in Pierce Valley, town of Clifton,
June 9th, 1873, by state deputy, A. H. Edwards, with twenty-two charter members. The
first officers  elected were as follows: J. S. Capley, W. M.; John Mozer, overseer;  A.
B. Hickox, lecturer; Erastus Tubbs, steward; W. Findley, assistant steward; L. H.
Cadwell, chaplain; Edward Ham­mond, treasurer;  C. W. Wright, secretary;  Ed­ward
Walters, gate keeper; Mrs. Maggie Walters  ceres; Mrs. P. Johnson, pomona; Mrs. S.
Ham­mond, flora; Mrs. M. A. Wright, lady steward. The lodge was moved to Prescott, July
lOth,1873. They have had as high as ninety-four members; death and changes incident to
all such enterprises have decreased their number until but forty-five answer to roll
call, in good and regular standing. The society holds its meetings in their finely
furn­ished hall in the second story of the Dill block, the third Saturday of each month.
The following are the officers at this time: J. S. Capley, W. M.; W. F. McCray, overseer;
F. C. Bliss, lecturer; E. A. Brown, steward; E. F. White, assistant steward; A. Watters,
chaplain, Thomas Davis, treasurer; Mrs. E. A. Bailey, secretary.
The Pierce County Agricultural Society was or­ganized March 15th, 1859. Officers at the
date of organization were, O. T. Maxon, president, with  one vice-president from each
town; George M. Powell, recording secretary; Oliver Gibbs, cor­responding secretary. The
grounds of the society are located about one-half mile east of the city on the higher
ground. The grounds are nicely finished with one-half mile race track and build­ings
suitable for the display of products of the county. The present offlcers are, W. T.
Bunker, president; Col. D. J. Dill, secretary; Frank C. Ross, corresponding  secretary.
The meetings of the society are well sustained and fine displays are made each year, with
a good attendance from this and adjoining counties.

PRESS.
The first newspaper published in Prescott was in the winter of 1854, by C. E. Young, the
first copy of which appeared on the 14th of February, and was given the title of the
Prescott Paraclete, republican in sentiment. In the fall of 1855 Oliver Gibbs purchased
an interest in the paper, and the title was changed to the Prescott Tran­script. In 1857,
Messrs. Lusk, Wise and Bailey commenced the publishing of a democratic paper entitled the
Pierce County Democrat. In the fall of 1861, Mr. Lute A. Taylor moved the River Falls
Journal to Prescott, and published it as the Prescott Journal until the fall of 1868 when
he sold it to Messrs. Flint  and Weber, who pub­lished it until June, 1871, when the
offlce with the material were destroyed by fire. The sub­scription list was sold to
Messrs. Kimball and Morse of the Pierce  County Herald, of Ellsworth. In 1873,  April
1st,  M. B. Kimball
commenced the publication of what was known as the Pres­cott Clarion. He sold his
interest to E. C. Kibbe, the same year, who changed the title to that of Pierce County
Plaindealer. July 1st, 1876, E. H. Ives, purchased the paper, and has pub­lished it since.
The mercantile interests of the city of Prescott are represented by the following firms,
viz: John Dudley, E. A. Meacham and Son,  John G. Theurer, Jacob Freese, general
merchandise; N. S. Dunbar, groceries; McGill and Wilkinson, L. Jurgens, and W. Sesemann,
boots and shoes; Carlos McCray, and E. R. Welch, drugs; C. Mc­Cray, books and stationery;
George S. Holister, and Joseph Firner, Jr., hardware; H. S. Miller, banker: J. S. White,
F. A. Ross, and E. H. Ives, attorneys;  Arthur Young and H. C. Colton, physicians and
surgeons; J. R. Gardner, veteri­nary  surgeon; G. H. Miller, Frank A. Ross, and W. H. H.
Clements, insurance agents; I. P. Peterson and son, and Arniel  Cosminskie, watch­makers
and jewelers; M. T. Dill, Redmon and Son, O. S. Hutchinson, E. W. Haviland, Theurer and
Rader, and J. K. Havens, grain dealers; Mrs. J. A. Abbott, and Mrs. P. D. Freese,
mil­linery, dressmakers;  N. Swanstrom, and John Sheehan, merchant tailors; W. Rittman,
Charles Maurer, and Clemens and West, harness makers; J. K. Havens and Joseph Firner,
Jr., agricultural implements; C. E. Meacham, furniture; John Dudley,  lumber;  C. O.
Boughton, and Krueger and Beeler, meat market; N. S. Morgan, livery stable; A. B.
Failing, machine shop and boat building; John Neinstadt, John Murry,   Anson Bancroft,
and Samuel Elfman, manufacturers of brick.
J. W. Taylor,   barber  shop; William Miller and Mrs. Bloomer, bakery;  E. R. Welch and
Joseph Maurer, confectionery; N. P. Husting, brewery; B. Katzenberger, cooper shop;
Central house, D. Fielding, proprietor; Union house, JohnHarwell, proprietor; St.
Nicholas, George Shaser, proprie­tor; Prescott house, M. J. Beeler, proprietor; omnibus
and steam ferry, W. H. H. Leavitt, pro­prietor;  rope ferry, William B. Dibble,
proprietor.
Prescott has some fine, substantial improve­ments, among which we would mention the
post­office, Dubley, Meacham and J. Freese blocks, built in 1870, Meincke block in 1871,
the Dill, Dun­bar and Theurerblocks built in 1872, the Gray block in 1873, the Holister
block 1876, and Ives block in 1879.
The manufacturing interests of Prescott are not as extensive as the good people of the
city would wish. Several enterprises have been started, but their life has been of short
duration The location for manufactories is second to no point on the river as a
convenient point for river and lake shipment. The history of those now in existence, as
far as can be arrived  at, is as fol­lows: About 1856 Messrs. Silverthorn  and Dud­ley
established a portable saw-mill at this point, which they operated until about 1861, when
Mr. Dudley purchased Mr. Siverthorn's interest and erected his present steam mills, which
consist of a saw-mill, 40x50, with one upright, one rotary and one edger saws. Also, a
flour  mill, 40x70 feet in size, with two flour and one feed run of stone; used
exclusively as a custom mill. The manufacture of wagons and carriages is  carried  on to
some extent by F. Meincke. He established his business, or present shops, at this point
in 1862. His main shop is of brick, 24x60 feet; paint shop of stone attached, 26x60;
blacksmith shop of wood, 28x60. He turns out of new work twenty­ five lumber wagons and
fifteen carriages, together with quite an extensive repairing business.
J. Neinstadt also carries on quite an extensive business in the way of manufacturing
heavy farm wagons. He commenced his present en­terprise in 1875, then in rented shops. In
1878 he purchased his present shops, which are built of brick, 22x62, with paint shop
20x36. Last season he manufactured about twenty-five new wagons, together with a large
amount of repair­ing.
The Prescott brewery, N. P. Husting, was es­tablished in 1866; building 50x60. He turned
out about 800 barrels during the past year. He finds a market in Prescott and in the
country back from the river. In connection with his brewery he is quite extensively
engaged in fatten­ing cattle.
The Prescott machine shop was established in 1876 by H. B. Failing, the present
proprietor, who erected his shop the same year, of wood, 24x 40 feet. The shop is well
equipped with all kinds of machines necessary to enable them to do first-
class repairs. During the summer months he has a large amount of repairing in connection
with the river boats. In connection Mr. Failing man­ufactures row-boats for which he
finds a ready market for all he can manufacture, with his other business.
The first bank was established in 1858. May 28th, the bank was organized and chartered
un­der the state laws of Wisconsin. and known as the "City Bank of Prescott." Charles
Miller  president, and W. P. Westfall  cashier, with a cash capital of $25,OOO, which was
afterwards in­creased to $50,000. The bank continued to oper­ate under the same title and
by the same firm un­til the spring of 1877, after the act was passed "taxing state
banks," when the bank succumbed to the pressure and closed the doors. In June, 1877, the
doors were again opened under the title of "Bank of Prescott," by H. S. Miller, who is
doing a general banking and exchange business.
The first post-office established in Prescott was in 1845, by the appointment by Uncle
Samuel of J. R. Freeman, post-master. 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, so to have matters
convenient the mail was deposited in the postmaster's hat. So the early settlers say.
With change of administration the next in­cumbent of the office was J. M. Whipple; then
O. T. Maxon. Next in course was Andrew Rader, then George A. Dill, next  William  Gates.
The dates of these transfers we are unable to ob­tain, as the parties were not at hand.
The last appointment and the present incumbent of the office received the appointment
1877.

BIOGRAPHICAL.
Parker Adams was born in  St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1817, and was reared on a farm.
His education was limited to that received at the com­mon schools. In 1855, he settled at
River Falls, Wisconsin, making that place his home two years; thence to Prescott where he
has since re­sided. He has occupied the office of justice of the peace in Prescott. His 
marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of ex-Governor Kinney, of Illi­nois. took place in
1842. They have had three children, two living.
Charles O. Boughton was born in  Litchfield, Connecticut, December, 1829, and there
remained until nine years of age. He then accompanied his parents to Elyria, Lorain
county, Ohio, making that place his home for five years.  In 1850, he, with his father
went to California, and on returning, after a stay of two years, came by way of the
isthmus. They embarked at San Francisco, on the propeller Union, and when off the coast
of South California, about seven hun­dred and fifty miles from San Francisco, they were
wrecked; the vessel was lost, but all on board succeeded in getting ashore. For
seven­teen days they subsisted on clams, when they were rescued by a passing vessel, and
crossed the isthmus, embarking in the Brother Jonathan with five hundred passengers; when
in the gulf stream the ship took fire, but by the heroic efforts of the crew and
passengers it was saved. After reaching home Mr. Boughton removed to Galena, Illinois,
and engaged in milling. In 1864 he came to Prescott, and has followed different
pur­suits, the past ten years having been in the meat business. His wife was Miss Sarah
Kelly, mar­ried in 1865. Six children have been born to them, all living.
Dr. Henry C. Cotton is a native of Maine, born October 17th, 1840. He attended the
public schools until nineteen years of age, then entered the medical college at Albany,
New York, from which he graduated in 1861. The next year he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-
first New Jersey, as a private, serving nine months then joined the Twenty-ninth Maine
Veterans as assistant sur­geon and served until honorably discharged, June 28th, 1866. At
New Richmond, Wisconsin, he began the practice of medicine, and one year subsequently
removed to Prescott, and has since been a practitioner at this place His wife was Miss
Emily Edgecomb, a native of Maine, mar­ried in 1866. They have two children.
Col. Daniel J. Dill was born in Dillsburg, York county, Pennsylvania, February 24th,
1830. Re­maining on his father's farm until nineteen years old, he received a good
practical education, then was employed as a traveling agent for a whip manufactory in
which he continued ten years. In 1869, came to Prescott and engaged in merchan-­
dising until 1877, and is still counted among the leading business men. In 1861,
answering to his country's call, he enlisted in  Company B, Sixth Wisconsin, being
appointed captain, served one and one-half years in the Army of the Potomac, then was
appointed by Gov. Solomon, of Wis­consin, colonel of the Thirtieth Wisconsin, and was
honorably discharged at Madison, 1865. One year previous, he was on the plains under
Gen­eral Sully, and assisted with the regiment in building Fort Rice, Dakota. During his
last year was provost marshal general of the Kentucky de­partment on General Palmer's
staff. He married in 1867, Miss Mary P. Johnson. Three children have been born to them,
all living.
George A. Dill was born at Dillsburg, Pennsyl­vania, December 24th,1831. When fifteen
years of age he went to Williamsport and remained in that vicinity three years. He
purchased cattle in Iowa in 1853, and brought them to Prescott for sale. The following
year he began opening land, which he sold in 1855, and engaged in mercantile and grain
trade. In 1868 he and Miss Annie Harvey were united in marriage at Freeport, Illinois.
They have one son, George A. Jr.
N. S. Dunbar was born at Fredonia, New York, June 22d, 1820. When a lad of fourteen
years, he removed with his parents to Niles, Michigan. In 1840 he began the battle of
life, going to Mus­catine, Iowa, there learning the trade of bricklayer and stone-mason.
Becoming a resident of Prescott in 1852, he embarked in the grocery trade, con­tinuing
eight years; then added a general stock. In 1868, he disposed of his stock and lived  a
re­tired life two years, then again entered business as a grocer, still remaining. Mr.
Dunbar was elected the first sheriff of Pierce county in 1854. He married, in 1842, Miss
Amanda Roach. They have two children.
Richard Fielding was born at Bangor, Maine, 1844. When quite young moved with his
parents to Massachusetts, where they ]ived four years; then came to Shakopee, Minnesota.
He made that place his home twelve years, thence to St. Paul for four years, and finally
located at Prescott and began the pursuit. of agriculture. In 1862, he enlisted in
Company B, Sixth Wiscon­sin Volunteers; was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness in
his left wrist, losing his hand from the effects; was honorably discharged in June, 1865.
He started the Central house at Prescott in 1880. His marriage with Miss Francis E.
Mil­ler took place in 1867. Two children have been born to them.
Joseph Friner, deceased, was born at Baden, Germany, 1827, where he learned the trade of
tinsmith. He came to America in 1849, landing in New York city; worked at his trade in
that city, also in  Cincinnati, New Orleans and St. Louis. Removing to Prescott in 1855,
he started in the hardware trade on a small scale, doing all the work himself. He
continued in the trade until the time of his death. His wife was Bar­bara Neff, whom he
married in 1850. His widow and her three children   survive him.  Francis,  now the wife
of Andrew Winter  of Prescott; Joseph Jr. married Miss Nancy Kempf, in 1880;  and
Theodore.
Henry  A. Jay is a native of Allegany county, New York, born May 18th, 1831. At the age
of two years his parents removed to Binghampton, and when nineteen years old he returned
to his native place. For five succeeding years he attended school, during the time
beginning the study of law. During the spring of 1855 he came to Prescott and first gave
his attention to the manufacture of brick, then to agriculture  and milling until 1858,
when he began the practice of law with J. S. White of this place. In 1864	 he abandoned
the practice of 
law and took charge of John Dudley's interests, remaining in his em­ploy until 1878. He
and Miss Jeanie Houston, a native of Canada, and of Scottish descent, were married  
October 18th, 1855.  At the age of forty-­one she departed this life, leaving  three
children.
William L. Leavitt was born at Naples, Maine, 1841, where he made his home until 1861.
Com­ing to Prescott at that time he followed farming until enlisting in Company I,
Twelfth Wisconsin, in 1863. Was honorably discharged at Madison, in 1865, and returned to
Prescott. He was elected city marshal in 1868, which office he held until 1880, then was
chosen alderman of the first ward. Since 1878 he has given his attention to steamboating.
His marriage with Lydia P. Jones, took place in 1860; their union was des­tined to be a
short one, for she died in 1866, leaving two children. His present wife was Mary A.
Smith, who has borne him  seven children, six of whom are living.

Carlos McCray, born at Ellington, Connec­ticut, June 23d, 1826 When a lad of twelve
years, he accompanied his parents to Allegany county, New York, remaining six years, and
dur­ing the time attended school. He engaged in farming in Walworth  county, Wisconsin,
from that time till 1854, then removed to Prescott, where his father died in 1872.
Engaging in agri­cultural pursuits until 1861, he then embarked in the drug trade, and
was also appointed post­master. He was married in 1849 to Miss R. A. McKeen. They have
five children living.
Captain Edgar A. Meacham, born May 31st, 1832, at Brandon, Vermont. Here his childhood
days were passed, and on attaining majority he began the mercantile trade at his native
place, con­tinuing, until removing with his parents, to Prescott in 1856. On their
arrival,  he, in  com­pany with his father, Col. A. A. Meacham, purchased a steam saw-
mill, which they op­erated one year; then sold, and established a sash and door factory.
In 1871 his father disposed of his interest to another son. Mr. Meacham, in 1876  opened
a general store in this place and formed a partnership with his son, Edgar L. He enlisted
in 1862, and was appointed first lieuten­ant of Company F, Thirtieth Wisconsin; the next
year was promoted to the rank of captain of the same company, receiving his discharge at
Camp Randall in  October, 1865. He was united in marriage with Eliza Belknap in 1854.
They are the parents of four children living.
Griffin H. Miller, a native of Westchester county, New York, was born in 1821. His
educa­tional advantages were somewhat limited during his youth. Remaining at the old
homestead until 1848, he then retired from agricultural pur­suits, and engaged in the
loan and discount busi­ness at Cross River, same county. In 1857 he came to Prescott and
has since been engaged in the same business, although at times giving his time to
agriculture, standing to-day as one of the leading capitalists of Prescott. Mr. Miller
be­came identified with the Methodist Episcopal church when twenty years old and has
since been one of its staunch members. His wife was Miss Joanna B. Silkman; married in
1842. They have six children living.
E. N. Redmon was born in 1827, in Scott county, Illinois.  He was employed in his
father's store  as clerk until reaching man's estate; then went to California and engaged
in mining and trading until 1852. Returning to his home he tarried only a brief time,
then removed to Daven­port, Iowa, and for five years was in the dry goods trade with his
father-in-law, Frederick Knapp. In 1857 he became a resident of Pres­cott, and embarked
in grain speculation, buying and shipping the first bushel from this landing, and has
been connected with the grain trade since. Mr. Redmon owns and cultivates a farm near
Prescott; also owns three thousand acres in Dakota, one thousand of which are under
culti­vation. He has held the office of sheriff of Pierce county two years. His marriage
with Sarah A. Knapp took place in 1852. They have three sons.
Frank A. Ross, a resident of Prescott nearly his whole life, was born in Grundy county,
Illi­nois, March 24th, 1856. When a babe of one and one-half years, he came to this place
with his parents, and attended school until eighteen years old. He then taught the
district school of Pres­cott; afterwards read law with J. S. White. De­cember, 1872, he
was admitted to the bar. One year previous he married Miss Hettie Newell of this place.
Lyman R. Smith is  a native of Onondaga county, New York,born  July 5th,1814. Remain­ing
at his native place till 1836, then came westward to Niles, Michigan, and located on a
farm, engaged in tilling the soil until 1845; then went to Muscatine, Iowa, where he
worked as a stone-mason. Five years subsequently he visited California, and there
embarked in mercantile trade, also in mining. In 1852 he became a resi­dent of Prescott.
Except ten years spent at Fari­bault, Minnesota, this place has been his home. He has
been twice married; in 1840 to Miss Leah Van Vleet, who died in 1843, leaving two
child­ren. His present wife was Miss Mary Amorett Dunbar, who has borne him three
children, one living.
N. Swanstrom, a native of Sweden, was born 1832. Here he learned tailoring, after having
at­tended school until twelve years old. In 1868 he came to America and after a residence
of short duration at Point Douglas became a citizen of Prescott, which place he still
makes his home. Working at his trade as a journeyman a short time he finally in 1870
opened an establishment
for himself. In May, 1856, he married Annie Anderson, who died in 1867, leaving four
child­ren.
Samuel C. Williams, born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, 1834. During early life he
learned the printer's trade, and worked on several Ohio and Pennsylvania newspapers. In
1857 he came westward to St. Paul, Minnesota, and was for a time in tXe old "Pioneer"
office. The year fol­lowing he began farming in Minnesota along the Crow river, and in
1861 answered his country's call by enlisting in company F, First Wisconsin, serving
until honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. Since returning to civil life he has
been a painter at Preseott. In 1858 his marriage with Isabel Chinnock took place; they
have three children living.

RIVER FALLS.	

CHAPTER XLIV.	

EARLY SETTLERS-FIRE  OF 1876-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES- BIOGRAPHICAL.
The village of River Falls as we find it to day, located on the banks of the beautiful
Kinnic­kinnic 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 flour 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 build ing,
located on the west side, is a large imposing structure of brick with all the late
improvements, which will accommodate nearly three hundred pupils. The Fourth State Normal
School in the south-eastern portion of the village, is built of brick and cost twenty-
five thousand dollars, a large portion of which sum was donated by the adjoining towns. A
more particular history of their permanent improvements is given in another part of the
chapter.
The early settlers of the Kinnickinnic  Valley  at, and near the village of River Falls.
First came Joel Foster in the fall of 1848, to this, then wild, but beautiful spot, which
had hardly been visited save by the red man of the forest. Next to follow and settle in
the fall of 1849, were D McGregor, James and Walter Mapes. In 1850, Mr. Hayes, W. Tozer,
Mr. Penn and Ira Parks, settled here. Following  them, came N. N. Pow­ell and Clark Green
and soon after, O. S. Powell and others of the family.  Capt. Woods settled on Big River;
C. B. Cox, struck his first oil 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 on 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 centre. 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 in 1854, a portion of their claim bordering on
the river, and called it Kin­nickinic. The same year they erected the first  store, which
they filled with a stock of general merchandise. In 1856, they made another plat of one
hundred and twenty acres, across the river on the west side. Additions have been made at
dif­ferent times by others. The first hotel built was by W. H. Winchester; first
blacksmith shop by R. Griffith; first  wheel-wright, N. Wales; first cooper, C. J. Riker.

FIRE.
Like most other towns, River Falls has had its drawbacks, which came in the shape of
fire and flood. Its worst mishap was the great fire of 1876. At half past one o'clock on
the morning
of the 30th of January, 1876, fire was discovered in the office of E. B. Homes, next to
the post­offlce. The wind at the time was blowing a gale from the south, which swept the
fire with fearful rapidity. There being no fire department or or­ganized company, the
fire continued its course un­til it had destroyed some of the most valuable property in
the village. The morning light found the labor and savings of years laying in ashes. The
following is a partial list of those who were losers in the great conflagration, the
aggregate estimate of which was $30,000: G. I. Ap Roberts, general merchandise; S. G.
Dodge, hardware; C. R. Ellis, store; Messrs. Hedderly and Davis; Mr. Watson, harness
shop; the office of A. D. Andrews and Company; the Odd Fellows hall; Good Templars hall
and several others were included in the general loss. The amount of insurance was very
light. The next issue of the Journal was set up, and the forms locked ready for the press
were saved, and by the activi­ty and enterprise of the publishers, and the kind­ness of
the publishers of the Star and Times, the paper was out on time for distribution that day.

SCHOOLS.
The same spirit of enterprise which had from the first, manifested itself in the early
settlers of this beautiful valley in other matters, was manifested in matters of
education. The first step taken towards providing the means for the education of their
children was the building of a school house in the fall of 1854, at a cost of $500, which
amount was contributed by C. B. Cox, G. W. Pratt, N. N. and O. S. Powell, J. F. Nichols,
Asaph Pratt, B. C. Flint, W. H. Win­chester, Pomeroy Brothers, and others. The site was
donated for the purpose by Messrs. Powell Brothers. The house was 20x30, a portion of
what is now known as the Baker Institute. The entire charge of the construction of the
house was placed in the hands of G. W. Pratt, then town superintendent of schools. Miss
Helen Flint was the first teacher employed and her salary was paid by subscriptson. The
next year, district No. 1 was regularly organized, and the school house was transferred
to the district board. Miss Laura Pratt was the first teacher under the new regime. The
same spirit of enterprise and a desire to es­tablish their reputation for an interest in
edu­cational matters, prompted a few of the leading settlers of the town to take steps
toward provid­ing a more thorough course of education. A joint stock association was
organized and incor­porated as the "River Falls Academy Associa­tion" in the spring  of
1856, and a building was erected during the same year on the west side of the river on a
beautiful site, donated by N. N. and O. S. Powell; at an expense of about $5,000; size
about 36x66, two stories. Professor Benjamin Wilcox was employed as the first prin­cipal.
It was maintained as an academy until 1860, when the clamor for free schools, where the
many under all circumstances of life, might enjoy the advantages of a more complete
education, in­duced the association to sell the academy build­ings to the joint district
No. 1, for a public school at the moderate sum of $1,500. The first prin­cipal employed
was Prof. Allen H. Weld, assisted by Mrs. Weld. In the fall of 1879 the house was
destroyed by fire. A temporary building was erected, and a school held in it during the
next spring and summer, and steps were at once taken for the erection of another
building. After much discussion on the different plans, it was at last de­cided to erect
a building containing all the mod­ern improvements and large enough to accomo­date [sic]
300 pupils. The building is a most beauti­ful structure, built of brick on the site of
the old academy, at an expense of $15,000.

CHURCHES.
The Congregational Church of River Falls. The early  settlers of this region were
accustomed to gather for religious  worship  at the residence of Mrs. Penn, about a mile
and a half north of the village, in the town of Troy, on the farm now owned by Professor
A. H. Weld. A Sunday ­school was organized in 1853. In July, 1854, Rev. Richard Hall,
superintendent of the Home Missionary society of Minnesota and northwest­ern Wisconsin,
preached the first sermon in River Falls, in the pioneer store, which had not yet
re­ceived its stock of goods. After that, services were held with occasional preaching,
sometimes in the store, sometimes in the Prairie mill, and sometimes in Mr. Luke
Pomeroy's barn, until the school-house on the corner of Fourth and Maple streets was
finished. The church was organized February 3d, 1855, with seventeen members, viz:


Mason Stone, Mary B. Stone, N. Wales, Mary J.  Wales, N. N. Powell, H. L. Wadsworth, Ann
R. Wadsworth, Geo. W. Pratt,  A. Pratt, H. Pratt,  Persis Pratt, Eunice  C. Pratt, J. F.
Nichols,  S.H. Nichols,  S. M. Pratt,  Mrs. P. Pratt and Mrs. S. McHan. Rev. James
Stirratt preached for them six months, each alternate Sabbath. In March, 1856, Rev. W. R.
Stevens was installed pastor, and remained until 1862. .
 "He was a giant in body and a giant in mind; tall of stature and tall in intellect. We
had long been looking for a minister we could all look up to, and he completely filled
the bill-for all ordinary mortals had to look up or they couldn't see half way to the
top. Usually  sedate, he had an under­current of genuine humor, and often indulged in the
keenest sarcasm. These traits were manifest on his first Sabbath with us. Mr. Stirratt,
his predecessor, was a very tall man. We had rigged up a sort of three-story desk for
him, but in the presence of Mr. Stevens said desk dwindled to most diminutive
proportions. It was with a se­vere struggle that he managed to get through his first
sermon, and as he came out of the house he said to a brother with a look bordering  on
despair, 'That desk was so low that I couldn't preach but half my sermon, and that the
upper half.' Some men are great without knowing it. Mr. Stevens comprehended every inch, 
and with the utmost good nature would answer all questions thereunto pertaining. On his
way hither he stopped at Prescott over night. The next morning as he was walking near the
river he perceived he was the observed of all observers. When one called out, 'I say,
stranger, where did you lodge last night ?'  With the utmost gravity he replied: 'My 
head lodged in Barker's hotel, my feet in in­finite space.'"
He had much to do with shaping the early his­tory of this region, and during his
ministry 116 members were added to the church. The edifice they now occupy was built in
1857 and dedicated in July, 1858. In November, 1862, Rev. W. Gill became pastor and
remained until 1875.
In 1867 steps were taken to build another church. Lots were purchased and the
founda­tion laid, and the frame erected and enclosed for a house to cost about $10,000,
when a huricane [sic] prostrated the structure. Not feeling able to re­pair the loss at
once, they abandoned the project  for the while. In 1875, Rev. John Ball came and
preached one year; Rev. T. C. Jerome one year. In 1879 Rev. N. T. Blakeslee, their
present pas­tor was employed and a beautiful parsonage was erected adjoining the church,
the whole cost­ing $2,OOO. The society hope[sic] to be able to com­plete their new church
during the coming year. Since its organization the church has enrolled 306 members. But
with the changes incident to all societies they have but 158 members at this time.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized March 3d, 1881, with a membership
of fifty. The following officers were elected: Mrs. N.T. Blakeslee, president; Mrs. W. E.
Kellogg, Mrs. M. Pomeroy, Mrs. E. Boutwell, vice-presi­dents; Miss R. Taylor, secretary;
Miss Hattie Levings, corresponding secretary; Mrs. G. W. Farnsworth, treasurer; Mrs. N.
T. Blakeslee  and Mrs. O. S. Powell  were chosen to conduct the temperance column in the
Journal.
The First Baptist Church of River Falls was organized as a branch of the First Baptist
Church of Hudson, April 12th,1857. Their first covenant meeting was held on the 18th day
of April. The following day, the l9th of April, the ordinance of Baptism was administered
in the beautiful waters of the Kinnickinnic. June 1st, 1857, Rev. A. Gibson, under the
appointment of the American Baptist Home Missionary society, took the pastoral charge of
this new field, which in August,1857, by letters of dismission from Hudson church become
an independent church with fifteen members. In 1861, their first house of worship was
commenced and completed in 1862. April 6th, of the same year, Rev. Mr. Gibson was given
leave of absence to the army. Rev. T. E. Kuley became a stated supply until April 6th,
1863,when Rev. M. Bailey  supplied the pulpit  for a time. April 7th, 1871, Rev. J.
Statthard was called to the church and remained until 1874. June 6th, 1875 Rev. H. N.
Hony became their pastor and continued until September 18th, 1875, when Rev. C. K. Colver
took the field and remained until July,1878, since which time they have had no regular
service.
The Catholic Church of River Falls was organ­ized under the ministry of Rev. Father
Connelly of Hudson, in 1875,  with  a membership of thirty ­eight families. Their fine
house of worship was built in 1876. Rev. Mr. Kelley of Hudson has had the church under
his charge since its organi­-


zation, holding services at this place once a month. There are now connected with the
soci­ety, forty-six families. They soon hope to have a regular priest.
The Episcopal Church of River Falls was first convened under the labors of Rev. John
Wil­liamson, a missionary from the Calvary Mission, in 1859, holding services in the
school-house. He also extended his labors to other points. He con­tinued his labors with
this mission until 1870, when Rev. A. P. Peabody took his place, preach­ing every
alternate Sabbath at a school-house lo­cated in what was known as Glass Valley, four
miles south of River Falls. He continued his labors until the spring of 1865, when the
services were transferred to the village and held in a hall until the spring of 1871,
when Rev. Charles Thorp came and was located at the Falls, and held ser­vices regular.
During his ministry the church regularly organized, with sixteen communicants, and the
erection of their present beautiful house of worship was commenced and completed in 1872.
The building is of brick, about 40x60, and located on the west side of the river. Rev. F.
Durlin   commenced his labors with them in 1873. Rev. Mr. Langlois preaches for them
occasionally at this time.

SOCIETIES.
Odd Fellows Lodge, number 199, was first or­ganized February 2d, 1872, with the
following charter members: A. Morse, B. F. Pierce, J. W. Pierce, H. S. Baker and James
Stoddard. They were in a flourishing condition when the great fire of January 30th, 1876,
destroyed the building   in which their hall was located, and their charter,  together
with their furniture and fixtures. The charter was re-issued in December, 1876. The
officers elected at that time were as follows: C. Henry, N. G.; M. E. Cady, V. G.; W. E.
How­ard, secretary; W. S. Hodson, treasurer. The lodge is in a flourishing condition at
this time, with the following list of officers: W. S. Ensign, N. G.; C. G. Knowles, V.
G.; P. F. Lowell, sec­retary; T. Martin, treasurer; W. P. Marshall, permanent secretary.
The Masonic Lodge of River Falls was char­tered June 15th, 1859, with the following
charter members: Amos Saunders, W. A. Tozer, James A. Short, S. K. Rollins, Clark H.
Crossman, P. H. Sain, T. McCleary, Benj.  Wilcox, Z. B. Flint ,  and B. C. Vannatta.
Meetings were held in the B. Wilcox hall, which was burned in 1876. The first officers
elected at the date of organization, were as follows: C. E. Abbott, W. M.; A. Saun­ders,
S. W.; W. A. Tozer, J. W.; J. A. Short, treasurer; Benj. Wilcox, secretary, P. H. Sain,
J. D.; C. H. Crossman, S. D.; S. K. Rollins,  tyler. In 1860 their place of meeting was
changed to the C. B. Cox hall. In 1869 they removed to what was afterwards known as the
Masonic hall, in the Wolf block, where they remained until 1879, when they returned to
the Cox hall, where they now hold meetings. Their present officers are as follows: T.
McCleary, W. M.; Joseph Stephens, S. W.; D. D. Proctor, J. W.; O. Strahl, treasurer; W.
H. Saunders, secretary; W. A. Ben­nett, S. D.; Frank Scribner, J. D.; and T. W. Hammond,
T.
The A. O. U. W. received their charter June 8th, 1878, and was organized with twenty-two
charter members. The organization was effected by the election of the following 
officers: P. M. W., O. C. Hicks; M. W., E. E. Getchell; G. F., P. F. Lovell; O., W. A.
Burnett; recorder, L. W. Austin; financier, William G. Cheever; receiver, D. D. Proctor;
G., E. G. Farnsworth; O. W., Manley Healey. The society is in a flourishing condition at
this time, with a membership of thirty-six in good standing. They hold meet­ings in the
same hall with the Odd Fellows, over the store of G. I. Ap Roberts. The present officers
are as follows: P. M. W., S. J Oakley; M. W., W. G. Cheever; G. F., O. C. Hicks; O., D.
D. Proctor; recorder, W. A. Burnett; financier, E. W. Jackson; receiver, Geo. E. Reed;
G.. John Scott; J. W., C. P. Butler; O. W., E. G. Farnsworth. .
The River Falls Temple of Honor was insti­tuted May 31st, 1878, with thirty-five charter
members. The lodge held its meetings for a time in the River Falls institute. The use of
the Odd Fellows hall was obtained, and the lodge met there, every Monday evening, for two
years. Much  good has been accomplished by this lodge, in reclaiming the fallen and
throwing around the pathway of the young, protection from the evil influences of bad
company. They afterwards united with the Good Templars, and the two lodges occupied the
hall of the latter on different evenings. The lodge was organized with the

following officers: G. B. Merrick, W. C. T.; J. C. Flynn, W. V. T.; Joseph M. Smith, W.
T.; and J.D. Pardee, W. R.
The Juvenile Temple of Honor, number 109, was organized March 15th, 1877, with the
followi­ng officers: W. Dodge, C. T.; Lettie Thayer, T. T.; Hiram Nye; R. S.; Walter
Wales, P. C. C; B. Hauser, F. S.
The temperance question is strongly repre­ented by the different lodges of the village.
The oldest temperance organization of River Falls is that of the I. O. G. T., the first
organization of which dates back several years prior to the present organization. Like
all temperance soc­ieties, its life was spasmodic. The last charter for lodge 360, is
dated March 15th, 1877, with sixteen charter members, with the following offic­ers: Rev.
S. W. Horner, W. C. T; Mrs. B. J. Knowles, W. V. T.; W. T. Bennett, W. C. The lodge has
initiated over one hundred and seventy-five members since its last organization.
The Bank of River Falls was organized Janu­ary 1st, 1874, with Joseph M. Smith as
cashier. Engaged in general banking and exchange busin­ess; also, in  foreign exchange.
They represent several of the leading fire insurance companies. The extensive milling
interests of the town fur­nish a large amount of banking business.
Hudson and River Falls railroad. One of the most important events in the history of
River Falls was the completion of the Hudson and River Falls railroad. The celebration of
which occurred October 26th, 1878, by a large excur­sion, composed of many of the leading
citizens of St. Paul, Stillwater and Hudson. The benefits of. ~ a railroad to this
thriving town had been the sub­ject of discussion for many months. How to se­cure the
much-desired improvement was the question. The matter began to assume shape in the early
spring of the same year, through assistance rendered by some of the leading citi­zens of
the neighboring cities. The Hudson and River Falls Railroad Company was organized by the
election of the following officers: President and treasurer, Horace Thompson; secretary,
C. L. Hall; vice-president, A. D. Andrews; directors, H. Thompson, A. K. Wilder, C.
Gotzian, and A. B. Stickney, St. Paul; D. M. Sabin and R. F. Hersey, Stillwater; C. S.
Hall and J. Comstock, Hudson; A. D. Andrews and E. R. Stephens, River Falls, with  A. B.
Stickney, superintendent of construction, who was also general manager of the St. Paul,
Stillwater and Taylor's Falls and West Wisconsin railroads. An arrangement was made with
the first named road to operate it.
The intention of the management was to have completed the road by the 4th of July, but
un­foreseen obstacles prevented its completion until the date of which we speak, the day
long to be remembered by the people of this good town and county. The first three or four
miles of the road out from Hudson are up the sides of a high bluff, with a grade of
ninety-three feet to the mile, which required an immense amount of labor and time to
accomplish. Reaching the table lands, the remainder of the road was speedily constructed
over the rolling prairies.
Manufactories of the Kinnickinnic  Valley. The pioneer saw-mill was erected in 1850, by
C. B. Cox, at what is now know as Clifton Hollow. The following year he erected the first
flour-mill at, or near the same point. In 1852; N. N. and O. S. Powell built a saw-mill a
short distance be­low where the Greenwood mill now stands; this mill was destroyed by
fire in 1856. They erected another saw-mill  a short distance below the Junction mills in
1865, which was also destroyed by fire in 1872. 
Prairie flour mill located on the north branch of the Kinnickinnic  river, was built by
C. B. Cox in 1854, two and one-half stories above basement; main building 36x36 feet,
with wing on the south side, with two run of stone. The power was a wooden scroll wheel
with twelve foot head of water. In 1856, this was replaced by an over­shot wheel. It was
run as a custom mill until 1860, when Mr. Cox commenced to do merchant work. In the
spring of 1866, a forty-eight inch turbine wheel was placed in the mill and other
re­pairs made. In 1874, J. D. Putnam and Com­pany purchased the entire interest in the
mill, and over-hauled it, putting in machinery for man­ufacturing the patent process
flour, also adding another run of stone, and have run it as a mer­chant mill exclusively,
with   a capacity of sixty ­five barrels per day. The same year the company built a
substantial ware-house and grain elevator, across the street from the mill. 40x60 feet,
with a capacity of 45,000 bushels of grain, and large storage room. They have also
rebuilt  their dam,
placing it up the stream a short distance on a solid rock foundation, giving them the
most sub­stantial dam on the river, with additional power. This season they have added
another story to the mill and remodeled the whole inside structure, putting in eight
rollers of Stevens' patent, with two run of stone. They expect to be able to turn out one
hundred barrels per day.
On the same branch, a short distance to the south, is located the Greenwood mills, built
by  C. B. Cox and Caleb Green in 1858, size 30x60 feet, two stories, with two run of
stone. The first wheel was an old-fashioned central discharge, with eight and one-half
feet head, run as a cus­tom mill. In 1873, Messrs. Pomeroy and Bowron purchased the
entire interest. In a short time Mr. Pomeroy sold his interest to Messrs. McKay and
Woodruff. In 1877, Mr. George Fortune purchased the entire interest and rebuilt the mill,
cutting off ten feet of its length and adding another story, replacing the former wheels
with two Leffel wheels, one forty-eight and the other twenty-six inches, also three run
of stone; ca­pacity, about forty-five barrels per day. Mr. Fortune keeps a flour and feed
store on Main street where he is in daily attendance on custo­mers.
Still further to the south on the same branch, we find the Foster mills, built in 1854,
as a saw­mill, with an old fashioned flutter-wheel and nine feet head of water, with one
upright and one circular and slab saw. He run his first mill un­til the spring of 1868,
when he removed it and erected a new mill 40x75 feet, two-stories, plac­ing a thirty-five
inch Leffel wheel with one up­right, one edger and one slab saw. In 1877, he added one
run of stone and a corn sheller for a feed mill.
At the junction of the north and south branches is located the great flouring mills of
Messrs. Freeman and Stevens, known as the Junction mills, which were built in 1867 as a
merchant mill by C. B. Cox and A. D. Andrews. The orig­inal mill was 30x50, three stories
above basement, with five run of stone, propelled by two Leffel wheels, twenty and twenty-
six inches, with twenty-eight feet head. In 1870 Mr. Cox sold his interest to A. D.
Andrews. The same year Geo. Fortune purchased one-fourth interest. Three years afterwards
A. A. Freeman purchased an  interest in the mill, and the same year an addi­tion was made
of 60x60 feet to the main build­ing, also a wing on the west side 30x60, and on the east
side 30x50, taking out three of the origi­nal four-foot stones, and adding eight four and
one-fourth foot stones; also placing new machinery of the Smith patent to enable them to
manufacture the new process brands of flour.
In 1877 Mr. A. A. Freeman purchased the en­tire interest, which he still owns, except
one ­sixth interest in the business which he sold to E. R. Stephens of Minneapolis.
Finding that the water-power was not sufficient to drive the machinery during the entire
year, they added to the power in 1879, a Harris and Corliss engine and three boilers
which gave the mill a capacity of 400 barrels per day, giving employment to twenty men.
In 1880 they adopted the Hungarian roller system, placing in the mills eighteen sets of
double rollers, thirteen reels, seven purifiers and six aspirators, with seven run of
stone.
They have a large elevator, 50x70 feet, with a capacity of 60,000 bushels, and in
addition large storage sheds 30x200 feet. The Hudson and River Falls railroad runs to the
mill and takes away the product, which amounts to about thirty car-loads per week. On the
opposite side of the river the company have their cooper-shops, which give employment to
twenty or thirty men, turning out from 300 to 400 barrels per day.
To the south of the mill, located on the south branch, is the "Cascade mill," built in
1868 by William Barker; size 32x60 feet, two and one-­half stories above the basement,
with ware-house connected 32x40 feet. The original mill con­tained two run of stone, with
a twenty-inch Leffel wheel. In 1876 another run of stone was added. The entire cost of
the mill was about $13,000; capacity of about forty barrels per day, used only as a
custom mill. For the want of water the mill is obliged to stand still for a por­tion of
the year. Mr. Barker being a practical mill-wright has superintended the construction of
his own mill.
Among the first thoughts of the people coming to this far away country, is writing back
to the loved ones left behind in the dear, old home. This led to early measures for
establishing a post ­office; moreover, the mails had been a source of pleasure in the old
home. Quite natural it was
that they should inquire for the same here. As the settlement increased and facilities
for trans­porting the mails improved, the government was importuned, and Charles
Hutchinson received the first appointment as postmaster in 1854, and the first office was
established in the Pioneer store, N. N. Powell being appointed deputy. It continued thus
until the fall of 1858, when Jerry E. Webb was appointed and held the office in the same
place until 1862, when W. A. Tozer re­ceived the appointment. He removed the offlce to
the next building south. With a change of administration came the appointment of Milton 
Webster, October 6th, 1868, which was under Andrew Johnston's administration, whose term
was short, and so was Mr. Webster's. In 1869, April 12th, it was transferred to George P.
Brackett. The next change was made October 9th, 1871, when J. E. Flint, the present
in­cumbent, was appointed.

THE PRESS  OF RIVER FALLS.
The River Falls Journal was established June, 1857, under the auspices of Taylor
Brothers. Shortly after, Horace Taylor sold his interest to his brother, L. A. Taylor,
who continued the publication for a short time, when he removed it to Prescott, where he
conducted it until the fall of 1868, when he sold it to Messrs. Flint & Weber. In June,
1871, the material of the Journal office was destroyed by fire and the subscription list
transferred to Messrs. Kimball and Morse, of the Pierce County Herald. After fifteen
years of conflict with various adverse circumstances, the Journal once again appears on
the very soil where it was first planted. This time published by A. Morse & Co., Friday,
August 2d, 1872. Novem­ber 15th of the same year it appears, as published under the firm
name of A. Morse and Son. No­vember 16th,1876, J. D. Moody purchased an in­terest in the
Journal, and the firm became C. R. Morse and company, which continued until February
24th, 1881, when J. H. Wilkinson purchased Mr. Moody's interest, and the firm appeared as
Morse and Wilkinson. Democratic in politics, and has a large list of subscribers.
The River Falls Press was established July 23d, 1874, by George B. Merrick, editor and
pro­prietor, with strong republican sentiments. In 1877, Walter S. Fowler bought one-half
interest, and assumed the entire control of the mechanical department of the paper.
Though much younger than the Journal it still has many warm friends and a fair list of
subscribers, and is flourishing like a "green bay tree."
The St. Croix Valley Driving Park Association was organized under the statutes of the
state of Wisconsin, September 13th, 1872. The amount of capital stock of said association
was $5,000. The following were the members of the association at the date of its
organization, viz: D. McGregor and G. P. Brackett of Troy, St. Croix county; W. Taylor,
A. H. Lord, G. W. Fortune, F. J. Burhyte, J. H. Lord, Joel Foster, and T. Cleary of
RiverFalls. The object of the associa­tion was the improvement of the stock of the
val­ley and surrounding country. Beautiful grounds were fitted up by the association, on
the west side of the river.	
The River Falls machine shop was established July, 1872, by the Messrs.Touny Brothers.
The power for the shop was furnished at the Foster mills until 1878, when the firm
erected a two-­story shop in the south part of the town, 24x56 i3 feet. The firm  are
engaged in the manufactur­ing of brass work, turning and lathe work, with a general
repair shop. The motive power is a six horse-power engine.
The River Falls lime works were first  estab­lished in 1868, by Messrs. Oakley and
Nichols. In  1869 Mr. Oakley purchased Mr. Nichols's interest and run the works until
1879, when Mr. Oakley put in the patent kiln.  March, 1881, Mr. J. Hale purchased an
interest. It now is run under the firm name of Oakley and Hale. The product of the works
during the past year was20,000 barrels. With the improvements being added, the firm 
ex­pect to turn out 40,000 barrels during this sea­son.
Amber cane syrup manufactory. O. S. Powell  embarked in this new enterprise in the
spring of 1880, erecting a building for the purpose, 42x80 feet, with what is known a
steam train for oper­ating the same, with a capacity of 500 gallons per day. While last
season was very unfavor­able for growing the cane, he was among the most succesful
operators in the west. He manufactured 10,000 gallons. The quality, when compared with
ten other states represented at St. Louis at the Cane Growers association, was pro- 

nounced as superior. Also at the Cane Grower's association at Minneapolis he received
the prem­ium over all other manufacturers of syrup. He grew twenty acres of cane last
year. Expects to grow forty acres this coming year.
The business blocks erected since the fire  of 1867 are:  The Burhyte and Wolf blocks in
1867; Brackett block, in 1868; Howard, Ap Roberts, Bradshaw and Dodge blocks, in 1877; 
Scales, Nel­son, Opera, Davis aad [sic] Jenson blocks in 1878: Fleming block in 1878;
McGregor block in1880.
The business interests of River Falls are rep­resented by four mercantile houses
carrying stocks of general merchandise, three groceries, three drug stores, three
hardware stores, two furniture, two boot and shoe stores, one harness shop, one
watchmaker, one book store, three mil­lineries,  three merchant tailoring establishments,
two photograph galleries, four hotels, two restau­rants and two livery stables. There are
seven blacksmith shops, three wagon-makers, one stave mill, one marble shop, three lumber
dealers, two meat markets, three dealers in agricultural im­plements, one barber shop and
one cooper shop. The professions are represented by five physicians and surgeons, six
attorneys and one dentist. There are also five insurance agents.
The compiled statistics of the Hudson and River Falls railroad at River Falls station
during the ten months ending December 31st, 1880. The total amount of imports was
8,356,040 pounds. Among the leading articles are wheat, lumber, general merchandise,
agricultural imple­ments, etc. The total amount of exports foot up to 26,761,357 pounds,
among the leading items of which we find wheat, mill stuff, flour, wool, lime, and barrel
stock. The grand total for ten months was 35,117,397 pounds. Adding the same pro­portion
of business for the two months not in­cluded in this statement and the business of this
station during the year 1880, would amount to 40,970,266 pounds of freight, out and in,
or enough to load 417 cars at 20,000 pounds each, with goods coming in, and 1,838 cars
going out; a total of 1,755 carloads during the year- -a good showing for a town of its
size.

BIOGRAPHICAL
G. I. Ap Roberts is a native of North Wales, born in 1836. He and his parents settled in
Columbia county, Wisconsin, in 1850, and three years later he began selling  goods as
clerk for Townsend Brothers, at Fox Lake. He removed to Hudson in 1859, and was employed
as clerk by C. E. Darling for one year; after which he came to River Falls, and here made
his home until 1862. H e then spent two years at Hudson, where he was married to Miss
Sylvia Brownell, of Ver­mont. During the fall of 1864 he returned to River Falls, and
began business for himself. The fire  of 1876 destroyed his store, so the fol­lowing
season his present substantial place of business was erected. Mr. and Mrs. Ap Roberts
have six children: Mabel,  Eleanor, Percy, Paul, Elizabeth and Robert.
William Barker was born at Wakefield, New Hampshire, in 1814. His early life was passed
in	 Maine, moving
 there at the age of ten. and re­mained until 1857. He also learned the trade of mill-
wright, and was engaged in milling at Brooksville. In 1857 he came to River Falls and
began in the pursuit of his trade. For three years he held the office of sheriff of St.
Croix  county, Wisconsin, and afterward built the Cas­cade mill, which he still owns. His
marriage with Eliza Walker took place in 1848; her death occurred in 1880.
Dr. R. R. Bourn is a native of Massachusetts,where he was born November 29th, 1816. At
an early age, moved with his parents to Geauga..county, Ohio, remaining  there until
1845, when he came to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Here he made his home about four years, then
returned to Ohio and began the study of medicine, and graduated from the State Medical
Institute of Ohio in 186S. He afterward praticed [sic] in  Columbia county until1870,
then located at River Falls, where he has since practiced homeopathy. He married Myra  J.
Rockafellow in 1838, who has borne him two children.
George Fortune is a native of Scotland, born in 1840. When quite small he came to
America with his parents and located in Lower Canada, where he made his home until the
spring of 1857. Removing to River Falls he began working in the mills, and being
successful purchased the Green­wood mill in 1877. His wife was Mary J. Fra­zier, to whom
he was married in 1873. Three children  have been born to them, all of whom are living.
G. R. Griffin was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 6th, 1829. Here he learned the
trade of blacksmithing, and in April, 1851, came west, landing at Hudson, Wisconsin, with
forty-one others from his native town. He made that place his home until 1853, when he
removed to River Falls and began blacksmithing as a journeyman, which he continued during
the first winter. The spring following, he opened his shop and has since been doing a
good business. Mr. Griffin has been twice married; his first wife was Mary A. Wal­den,
who died, leaving two children. He married Miss C. C. Fuller in 1862. They have one child
living.
A. H. Lord was born in Greenfield, Hancock county, Maine, 1839. At the age of twelve
years he moved to Stillwater, Minnesota, with his pa­rents. Two years later he removed to
River Falls on a farm, where he lived with his parents until 1871. He then moved to the
city and bought a livery stable, in which he has since been engaged. He was elected to
the office of sheriff of Pierce county, January, 1881, also held the office of deputy
sheriff four years previous. He married Miss Louisa Backus in 1861, who has borne him two
children.
Lyman H. Merrick, deceased, was born in New York, 1802. He was located at Painesville,
Ohio, for several years engaged in milling. In 1852 he came to Prescott, Wisconsin, and
until the time of his death was a prominent citizen. He married Betsy C. Page in 1825,
who died five years after. His second wife was Cornelia M. A. Whelpley, who bore him
seven children, three of whom are living: Elizabeth P., George B. and Samuel W.
Abner Morse, deceased, was a son of Calvin and Elvira Morse, and was born at Randolph,
Orange county, Vermont, October 31st, 1819. He was the oldest of eight children, three of
whom, David M., of Galesburg, Illinois, Edwin and Betsey Woodbury,of Bethel,Vermont,
survive him. When Abner was three years old his father removed .to Bethel, Windsor
county, Vermont, where he purchased a farm and reared his family. The sons grew to
manhood as tillers of the soil, consequently Abner's opportunities for acquiring an
education were somewhat limited. After having reached his eighth year, his schooling was
confined to three months' attendance each year at the district school until  attaining
his  eigh­teenth year, when he attended a select school one term. The winter following,
he taught one term and afterward attended the Royalston Academy two terms, closing his
studies at the age of twenty. During the following ten consecutive winters he pursued the
vocation of teaching. His sympathies were ever with the down-trodden and oppressed, and
though his father was a strong democrat, he himself espoused the aboltion [sic] cause and
became an active member of that political creed. Upon the organization of the republican 
party he entered its ranks and remained true to its principles. Mr. Morse was first
married in 1843 to Miss Julia A. Smith, but this union was destined to be of short
duration, the young wife dying of consumption in the autumn of 1844. He was remarried in
1846, at Braintree, Vermont, to Miss Mary Randall. He removed to the west in 1854, and
located at River Falls, where he con­tinued to reside until his death, with the
excep­tion of a brief residence in Minnesota. He was for about one year editor of the
Green Mountain Herald, published at West Randolph, Vermont. For five years he maintained
an active connec­tion with the River Falls Journal, and, in 1877, suffered a paralytic
stroke that rendered him in­capable of further participation in the active du­ties of
life, and from the effects of which he never fully recovered. He was admitted to the
practice of law in 1871, and had acquired an extensive local practice at the time of his
sad misfortune. Mr. Morse was ever active in the interests of any community with which he
identified himself;  generous, and possessed of a social and hospitable nature; always
ready to relieve the distressed, and we fain would believe that his great misfor­tune,
and that his death, also, is mourned by all who knew him. He leaves a wife, son and
daughter, who have bestowed upon him the tenderest solicitude and care, unceasing in
their efforts to lighten, as far as possible, the burden of his life, and who now mourn
his departure to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns.
Frank Pomeroy was born in Steuben county, New York, October 25th, 1824. He remained at
his native place until twenty-six years of age, en­gaging in the pursuits of lumbering
and farm­ing. In 1851, he removed to River Falls and be-
gan working for his brother; two years later, he purchased a farm of eighty acres, and
soon after added forty acres to it. He erected a saw-mill on Rush river, and operated it
two years, since which time he has pursued the quiet and inde­pendent vocation of
farming, at River Falls. He married in 1859, Mary Shepard, a native of Massachusetts. Six
children have been born to them, five of whom are living.
Oliver S. Powell was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, June l9th, 1831. He re­moved
to Hancock county, Illinois, at  the age of twelve, with his father, and for the next
seven years made his home with his  sister in that county, attending school. In 1850, he
came to St. An­thony, Minnesota, where his brother had located one year previous. During
the fall of the same year, the two brothers came to the present site of River Falls, made
a claim and pur­chased and kept in operation a threshing machine, the first north of
Prairie du Chien. During the winter Mr. Powell attended school at his old home, and with
the spring-time returned to River Falls, bringing with him a drove of cattle, which
proved very profitable to him, owing to their scarcity. He was elected to the state
legislature in 1869, and was instrumental in locating the normal school at River Falls.
He married Miss E. Nichols in 1860. They have seven children.
John D. Putnam was born in Windham county, Connecticut, 1837. Until twenty-one years of
age, he remained at home, acquiring an educa­tion, and during the time attended the state
nor­mal school of Connecticut. In 1859, he came to Wisconsin and located on a farm near
River Falls. Enlisting in the First Wisconsin Infantry as a private in 1861, he served
until appointed regimental commissary, in which rank he re­mained one year, then received
his honorable dis­charge in 1864. Returning to civil life, he re­mained on his farm until
1873, then rented the Prairie mill at River Falls, and the following year purchased an
interest. His wife was Miss Catherine Lovell, whom he married in 1859. They have six
children living.
E. R. Stephens was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, 1847. He began in the miller's
trade when thirteen years old, in which he con­tinued, in his native place, until the age
of twenty. He tben removed to Iowa City, Iowa; after a short time came to Minneapolis,
Minnesota,	 and worked at his trade until locating at River Falls
 in 1877. Having purchased an interest in the Junction mill, he has since made this city
his place of residence. He was married to Elma Brown in 1871, who has borne him five
children.
H. L. Wadsworth was born in Erie county, New York, July 10th, 1821. At his native place
he	 gained a know-
ledge of the shoemaker's trade, and in 1846 came west and made his home at Beloit,
Wisconsin, where he engaged in the shoe trade six and one-half years" He then followed
the independent life of farming, nineteen years, near River Falls, after which he began
his trade in the city. He represented his district in the legislature of 1867, and has
also held many town offices. His marriage with Miss  A. R. Baldwin occurred in 1841. They
have eight children.
Professor Allen H. Weld was born at Braintree, Vermont, September 7th, 1809. He
graduated from Yale College in 1886, and soon after­wards commenced teaching. During the
first six years he was principal of the Academy of North Yarmouth, Maine, which, while
under his supervision, attained a favorable reputation throughout the whole state. While
at that city he published "Weld's Grammar," "Weld's Latin Lexicon," and other well-known
text-books. Going south to Maryland, he taught a large school for six years, then
returned and assumed charge of the Ladies' Seminary at West Lebanon, New Hampshire. In
1857 he came to River Falls, and has since been engaged chiefly in farm­ing, having a
fine homestead near the city. H e was county superintendent of schools several years and
for nine years was a member of the board of regents of normal schools. In 1832 he married
Harriet Wood, and by her had two children, one of whom, A. P. Weld, is a resident of
River Falls.
Allen P. Weld was born at North Yarmouth, Maine, 1839, his father being Professor Allen
H. Weld. He graduated from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, with the degree of A. B., in
1859. The same year he came west and passed his time chiefly on his father's farm until
1864, when he determined to pursue the profession of lawyer. Graduating from the Albany
Law School, in 1866, he opened an office two years later at River Falls, and has since
given his almost exclusive attention to his practice.

[end of Pierce County]