Fifty Years In The Northwest Part 15

Buena Vista, Willow River, Hudson 1849 Malone, Troy 1851 Rush River 1851 Pleasant Valley 1851 Somerset 1856 Hammond 1856 Star Prairie 1856 Dayton, Malone, Kinnikinic 1857 Cold Spring, Richmond 1857 Erin Prairie 1858 Brookville, Eau Galle 1858 St. Joseph 1858 Cylon 1859 Warren 1860 Springfield 1860 Emerald 1861 Stanton 1870 Cady 1870 Baldwin 1872 Forest 1881 Glenwood 1885

Some changes were also made in the boundaries of the towns. No progress was made in the erection of county buildings until 1856, when a contract was made by the commissioners with Ammah Andrews to build a court house for $14,300 on the ground originally purchased of Moses Perin. The final cost was $20,045.

ST. CROIX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

An important event to the county was the organization of the St. Croix Agricultural Society, in 1857. Beautiful grounds were chosen on the bluffs one-half mile south of the city of Hudson. The annual fairs of this a.s.sociation, formerly held in rotation at various points in the county, now limited to the grounds south of the city, have always been well patronized and successful.

POMONA GRANGE.

The Pomona Grange of St. Croix county holds quarterly meetings at various points, alternately. There are subordinate granges at Hudson, Richmond, Hammond, and Warren. There is a co-operative store in the city of Hudson which is well sustained. These granges are in a flouris.h.i.+ng condition.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

At the taking of the last census there were 2,289 farms in St. Croix county, containing 202,588 acres of improved land, valued at $7,015,198. The farm implements were then placed at a valuation of $346,374; live stock, at $810,525; and all soil products at $1,815,266. The stock numbered 6,272 horses, 319 mules, 442 oxen, 5,624 cows, and 6,149 other cattle.

The average yield of products throughout the county can be fairly placed at these figures: Wheat, 1,375,000 bushels; oats, 800,000 bushels; rye and barley, 35,000 bushels; corn, 200,000 bushels; potatoes, 150,000 bushels; hay, 20,000 tons; cheese, 180,000 pounds; b.u.t.ter, 350,000 pounds.

During the past few years agriculture has steadily increased while rapid strides have been made in manufactures, so that the totals would be quite materially enlarged now over those of 1885.

MANUFACTURES.

In manufactures the statisticians have the county down for 112 establishments with a capital of $740,197, utilizing materials to the amount of $1,105,203, evolving products to the sum of $1,488,192, and paying $107,469 in wages per annum.

As to manufactures, in round numbers there is produced in the county: Lumber, 50,000,000 feet; s.h.i.+ngles, 18,000,000: laths, 7,000,000; furniture, $120,000; barrels, 125,000; flour, 160,000 barrels.

ST. CROIX POOR FARM

Is located in the northwest part of Kinnikinic, section 11, on each side of the Kinnikinic river. It was purchased in 1870 for $1,000, and the probable present value is $10,000.

FIRST TAX ROLL OF ST. CROIX COUNTY, 1848.

ST. CROIX FALLS.

=========================================================== NAMES. | AMT. PROPERTY. | TOTAL TAX.

----------------------------+----------------+------------- John McKusick | $1,500.00 | $10.50 Leach & McKean | 5,400.00 | 37.80 Edward Johnson | 1,115.00 | .81 Falls of St. Croix Company | 59,700.00 | 417.90 Dexter & Harrington | 2,585.00 | 18.09 A. W. Russell | 405.00 | 2.83 Edward Worth | 199.00 | 1.39 Peter Lombair | 40.00 | .28 Serno Jonava | 75.00 | .52 J. McLanglin | 2,204.00 | 15.43 Wm. Town | 144.00 | 1.01 J. Cornelison | 75.00 | .52 George De Attley | 50.00 | .35 S. Partridge | 418.00 | 3.37 Dan Foster | 30.00 | .21 A. Livingston & Kelly | 185.00 | 1.29 John Powers | 21.00 | .14 Thos. Foster | 10.00 | .08 George Field | 45.00 | .31 Adam Sebert | 240.00 | 1.68 Weymouth & Brother | 130.00 | .91 S. S. Crowell | 150.00 | 1.05 Lewis Barlow | 103.00 | .72 I. S. Kimball | 30.00 | .21 Philip B. Jewell | 7,235.00 | 50.64 Kent & Mahoney | 3,631.00 | 25.42 H. Crandall | 219.00 | 1.53 Daniel Coite | 85.00 | .57 M. M. Samuels | 375.00 | 2.62 W. H. C. Folsom | 800.00 | 5.60 W. W. Folsom | 210.00 | 1.47 J. Sanders | 207.00 | 1.45 G. W. Brownell | 1,755.00 | 12.28 Richard Arnold | 205.00 | 1.45 Wm. R. Marshall | 15.00 | .10 Dr. Palmer | 10.00 | .07 Joseph Lagroo | 25.00 | .17 J. Bascan | 25.00 | .17 B. Cheever | 1,100.00 | 7.70 H. H. Perkins | 2,000.00 | 14.00 Levi Lagoo | 50.00 | .35 M. Shults | 2,000.00 | 14.00 +----------------+------------ Total | $94,801.00 | $1,642.72 ------------------------------------------------------------

WILLOW RIVER.

=========================================================== NAMES. AMT. PROPERTY. TOTAL TAX.

----------------------------+----------------+------------- James Purinton | $800.00 | $5.60 Wm. R. Anderson | 75.00 | .52 Samuel Clift | 15.00 | .10 Joseph Kelner | 15.00 | .10 P. D. Aldrich | 195.00 | 1.36 Moses Perin | 240.00 | 1.68 Ammah Andrews | 409.00 | 2.86 John B. Page | 1,128.00 | 7.89 Lewis Ma.s.sey | 185.00 | 1.29 Joseph Lagrew | 190.00 | 1.33 Wm. H. n.o.bles | 299.00 | 2.10 Lemuel n.o.bles | 40.00 | .28 Milton E. n.o.bles | 339.00 | 2.37 John Collier | 125.00 | .87 Philip Aldrich | 361.00 | 2.52 Peter F. Bouchea | 136.00 | .96 A. Smith | 105.00 | .73 McKnight | 149.00 | 1.03 Wm. St.e.e.t.s | 143.00 | .79 Joseph Abear | 38.00 | .24 +----------------+------------ Total | $4,949.00 | $38.71 ------------------------------------------------------------

MOUTH OF LAKE ST. CROIX.

================================================================== NAMES. |AMT. PROPERTY. | TOTAL TAX.

----------------------------+---------------+---------------------- Thomas M. Finch | $176.00 | $1.23 Mrs. Lockwood | 1,181.00 | 8.27 Freeman, Larpenteur & Co | 300.00 | 2.10 Frank Trudell | 50.00 | .35 Louis Barlow | 600.00 | 4.20 Fog & Crownenbald | 2,625.00 | 18.39 I. L. Minox | 183.00 | 1.26 J. R. Rice | 545.00 | 2.81 G. W. McMurphy | 425.00 | 2.97 H. Doe | 340.00 | 2.38 Wm. Kimbrough | 60.00 | .42 W. H. Morse | 135.00 | .61 Wilson Thing | 385.00 | 2.69 W. C. Copley | 50.00 | .35 Willard Thing | 164.00 | 1.15 George s.h.a.gor | 1,000.00 | 7.00 George Barron | 180.00 | 1.26 Joseph Monjon | 235.00 | 1.64 Joseph Monjon, Jr. | 60.00 | 42.00 Henry Thaxter | 75.00 | .52 Aaron Cornelison | 325.00 | 2.27 James Cornelison | 265.00 | 1.85 Lewis Harnsberger | 75.00 | .52 ----------------------------+---------------+------------------ Totals | $9,434.00 | $68.91 ==============================================================

The above roll was published in pamphlet form, certified to by Wm. R.

Anderson, clerk of board of county commissioners, and an order issued to Moses Perin to collect such taxes, and pay over to the treasurer of St. Croix county. The amounts were duly collected.

HUDSON CITY.

The first settlement in St. Croix county was made on the present site of Hudson city in 1838 by Peter Bouchea, Louis Ma.s.sey, Wm. St.e.e.t.s and Joseph Lagroo, Frenchmen, who subsisted chiefly by hunting and fis.h.i.+ng, but who also raised garden crops of corn, beans and other vegetables. These people were contented and jovial, fond of dancing and social enjoyment. Beyond the mere pleasure of living they seemed to have but little care and were without enterprise or ambition. More enterprising and industrious people followed them to the new settlement, and as the public lands were not open for entry until 1848, settled upon the lands and made some improvements, awaiting patiently the time when they could acquire a legal t.i.tle. The original claimants of the town of Buena Vista in 1848 were Peter Bouchea, Louis Ma.s.sey, Wm. St.e.e.t.s, Joseph Lagroo, Joseph Lenavil, ---- Revere, Ammah Andrews, W. H. and M. V. n.o.bles, John B. Page, Philip Aldrich, and W.

R. Anderson. These parties, after the survey and prior to the entry of the land, made an equitable division of their claims. Peter Bouchea and Louis Ma.s.sey were then delegated to purchase the lands, which they did, Bouchea purchasing the southwest quarter of southeast quarter of section 24, towns.h.i.+p 29, range 20, and Ma.s.sey, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 24, towns.h.i.+p 29, range 20. Deeds were then made to the various claimants according to the original agreement. The first individual survey of lots was made on Ma.s.sey's entry, Harvey Wilson, of Stillwater, being the surveyor. The village thus platted was at first called Buena Vista, but some confusion arising as to the t.i.tle of lots in 1851, the legislature changed the name of the town and village to Willow River, which, by vote of the people in 1852, was changed to Hudson. The original proprietors of the village of Buena Vista were Paschal Aldrich, James Sanders, Moses Perin, James R. Patten and Joseph Abear. Additions were surveyed in 1849 and 1850 by Gibson, Henning and others. To avoid confusion we shall discard the earlier names applied to what has since become the city of Hudson and speak of it solely by its later and better known name.

In 1840 the locality, as seen from a pa.s.sing steamer, seemed a wilderness of orchard oaks and maples, filling the valley of Willow river, and clothing the slopes of the hills. A closer view might have revealed an occasional shanty, a cabin of the first French settlers, with small gardens, the whole inclosed by high picket fences as a protection against strolling Indians. Seven years later loggers were at work on Willow river under Capt. J. B. Page. The same year a couple of frame houses appeared in the oak openings. The first was built by W. H. n.o.bles, which is still standing and is occupied by Mrs. Col.

James Hughes. The second was built by Ammah Andrews and is now occupied by Horace Champlin. In 1848 James Purinton commenced a saw mill and dam at the mouth of Willow river, which were not, completed until 1850. In 1848 Wm. H. n.o.bles started a ferry over the lake. James Purinton opened a store and Moses Perin built a hotel and boarding house, which stood opposite Champlin's present livery stable. In 1849 Miss Richards, from Prairie du Chien, taught the first school. Mrs. A.

M. Richardson, the wife of the Methodist minister, the second. A school house was not built until 1855. John G. Putman built the Buckeye House, corner of First and Buckeye streets. Horace Barlow built a residence. Mr. Stone also put up a store building. The first attorneys, Daniel n.o.ble Johnson and Col. James Hughes, commenced practice in Hudson in 1849. The first public building stood on the lot now occupied by the Methodist church. It burned down in the spring of 1851, and an account of the fire, as published at that time, stated that the "court house, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational and Episcopal churches, together with the high school buildings, were all consumed." It is but fair to say that there were no regular church organizations at this time, but occasional services by local and transient ministers. Rev. Lemuel n.o.bles, a Methodist minister, preached the first sermon in 1847. The first society organization was that of the Baptists, Rev. S. T. Catlin, pastor, in 1852. In the same year Rev. A. M. Richardson was regularly appointed as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1855 the First Presbyterian church was organized under the pastorate of Rev. Chas. Thayer, and Rev. Wilc.o.xson became the first rector of the Episcopal church. In 1856 Rev. Father McGee took charge of the Catholic church. In 1857 Rev. C. H. Marshall was called to the pastorate of the Congregational church. A Norwegian Lutheran church was organized in 1876. All of these church organizations have good church buildings, and the Catholic church has a flouris.h.i.+ng school connected with it. School interests were not neglected by the early settlers. A good school house was built in 1855 and graded. The first deed recorded covering Hudson property was by Louis Ma.s.sey and Frances, his wife, to Wm. H. n.o.bles; warranty; consideration, $67.18; situate in east half of southwest quarter of section 24, towns.h.i.+p 29, range 20.

CITY GOVERNMENT.

Hudson was incorporated as a city in 1857, and the first munic.i.p.al election was held in April of that year. The city was divided into three wards. A. D. Gay was the first mayor. The following were the first aldermen: First ward, James B. Gray, Milton V. n.o.bles, J. M.

Fulton; Second ward, Alfred Day, R. A. Gridley, Chas. E. Dexter; Third ward, Chas. Thayer, N. P. Lester, N. Perry. The remaining city officers were: City clerk, O. Bell; city attorney, Cyrus L. Hall; surveyor, Michael Lynch. At the first meeting of the city council, after the appointment of committees on by-laws, bond sales, salaries, etc., license for selling intoxicating liquors was fixed at fifty dollars per annum for hotel keepers, two hundred dollars for wholesale dealers, with various grades for retail saloons. The first license issued was to John Cyphers, for keeping saloon and billiard hall.

MAYORS OF HUDSON CITY.

1. A. D. Gray, 2. Alfred Day, 3. Silas Staples, 4. John Comstock, 5. S. N. Clough, 6. A. D. Richardson, 7. C. R. c.o.o.n, 8. H. L. Humphrey, 9. J. H. Brown, 10. Simon Hunt, 11. Lemuel North, 12. C. H. Lewis, 13. H. A. Wilson, 14. A. J. Goss, 15. P. Q. Boyden, 16. D. C. Fulton, 17. M. A. Fulton, 18. Samuel Hyslop, 19. Sam. C. Johnson, M. D.

20. Wm. H. Phipps.

CITY SCHOOLS.

Graded schools were established in 1859. They have ever maintained an excellent reputation. In 1860 Charlotte Mann was chosen princ.i.p.al, and taught the eight ensuing years. A new school building was completed in 1887 at a cost of $25,000. This building is devoted to high school purposes. The schools of the city are graded. There are eleven departments and twelve teachers. Each ward of the city has a separate building. The school fund amounts to about $5,000 per annum. The schools are under the control of six commissioners.

A MILITARY INSt.i.tUTE

Was organized at River Falls by Prof. J. R. Hinckley, and shortly afterward removed to Hudson, and a building worth $7,000 erected for its accommodation. In 1880 it was purchased by the Catholics, and it is now known as St. Marys Academy.

MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.

The first saw mill, as already noted, was completed in 1850. It was known as Purinton's saw mill. Other saw mills were built, but destroyed by fire. We have no record of owners.h.i.+p and losses, but estimate the aggregate of the latter as near $100,000. The Willow River mills, built in 1867, consist of two flouring mills, with a capacity of four hundred barrels per day. Connected with these are a large elevator and cooper shop. The present proprietors are Cooper, Clark & Co. The invested capital is $150,000. The Hudson Lumber Company, in 1883, built a saw mill, below the steamboat landing. This mill has a capacity of 18,000,000 feet per annum, and has a planing mill attached. It is complete in all its departments, manufacturing all cla.s.ses of lumber, from timber to mouldings. The capital stock amounts to $100,000. The officers are H. A. Taylor, president; C. R.

c.o.o.n, vice president; M. Herrick, secretary; F. D. Harding, treasurer; S. W. Pierce, superintendent. The Hudson Foundry and Machine Shop was established in 1870. The North Hudson Foundry and Car Shops are doing a fine business. The Hudson Carriage Works were established in 1885, and the Hudson Furniture Manufactory in 1883. The amount invested in this enterprise is $180,000, and it furnishes employment to one hundred men. C. R. c.o.o.n is president of the company. There are two breweries--Moctreman's, established in 1857, and Yoerg's in 1870.

BANKS.