Spring Valley, Pierce County Wisconsin
Spring Valley Sun - December 20, 1906
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Spring Valley was settled in 1860-63, by a few farmers and trappers, many of the
first settlers being woodsmen who had logged along the Eau Galle river, and had been
attracted here by the natural beauty of the location.
Among these men were Alf and Geore Wilcox and John Francisco.  George Wilcox took
up the land now covered by the north half of the village; his cabin stood about
where E. Hunter's residence is; his brother Alf owned the land south.  It is said
that George sold his claim for a gun and $17 cash.
At this time there were no settlers north or east of Spring Valley for many miles;
Rock Elm and Olivet had a few.
Among those who soon located here were Simeon Andrus, Wm. D. Akers, John Graham,
Lewis Hess, G.F. Weisemann, Jack and Tom Kelley, Robt. Greer, Henry McClaine, Chas.
Bailey, Peter Loohn, Ephraim Moore, John Rosencranz, H. M. Preson, Chas. King,
M.Tio, Ole and H.H. Gaarden, Geo. Lynch, Christ Johnson, Elias Weldon, the Nordrums,
Asa Curtis, Peter Vanasse, Harrison Irish, and others.
But it was not until the iron deposits were discovered here that the village of
Spring Valley was settled.  In the falls of 1891 word went out of the new iron town,
and the next spring the "boom" was on.  The railroad was built to town, an iron
furnace was here from Black River Falls, stores, saloons, and dwellings were built,
and the next fall the one thing needed was added-a weekly paper, the Spring Valley
Sun.
Of the panic of '93 and its effects on the young town and the various ups and downs
of the village, we will not speak.
Spring Valley is an incorporated village, lying in the northeast part of Pierce
Co., on a branch of the C. St. P.M. and O.R.R.; it has a population of about 1400
people; its manufacturing enterprises, business houses, schools and churches are
described in detail in this paper under the proper headings.