HISTORIES: "Items of Interest Over the Years" of Barron, Barron County, WI

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                   Items of Interest Over the Years

James Bracklin, first Barron County Treasurer, won some notoriety in early 
Barron County history. While on a boat trip on the Menomonie (Red Cedar) 
River, a satchel containing county records and a sum of county money fell 
overboard and was lost.

John Quaderer first came to Barron County in 1854, and his crews logged 
along the Hay River. Later he gained the reputation of having supervised 
the banking of more logs along the Menomonie (Red Cedar) River than any 
other man.

"East of the city of Barron, and about three miles away on the east bank of 
the Menomonie (Red Cedar) River, is a lonely grave in which lies all that 
is left of the first white woman, Miss Philander Ball, who died in Barron 
County in 1859. She came from Michigan and the general belief is that the 
death was caused by poison administered by some squaws who were jealous of 
her charms." (from the History of the Chippewa Valley)

"The first death in the city of Barron was that of a daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. Phylander Ball in 1863. The mother died a few days later. Both are 
buried on the banks of the Menomonie about a mile north of the Soo railroad 
bridge at the locality long called Lousberg" (from the History of Barron 
County). Here we shall have to choose between these two versions. The birth 
of the first white child in Barron settlement occurred in 1865. A daughter 
was born to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jones.

In November, 1880, John Quaderer had the settlement surveyed and platted as 
a village. He not only gave Court House Square to the county, he also 
donated to the city, the mill site of ten acres where Parr Manufacturing 
Company once had a plant. He donated 40 acres to the railroad. This tract 
was near the heart of the city. He sometimes drove to Eau Claire for a load
of provisions. On the return trip he often saw so much hunger and distress 
among the people along the road, and being a generous hearted soul, he 
could not ignore their sufferings. It is said by the time he arrived back 
in Barron, he did not have a great deal of his load left. "Faith, hope and 
charity,--and the greatest of these is charity."

On September 17, 1890, the sawmill of the Parr Manufacturing Company was 
completely destroyed by fire. A new plant with a capacity of 40,000 feet 
per day was built. It employed about 30 men.

On July 4th, 1876, many people from all over the county gathered in Barron. 
A dance was held in the new courthouse.

Before the Soo Line was built through Barron (1884), A.R. Thurston operated 
a stage line from Barron to Cumberland and from Barron to Cameron. He also 
carried the mail. William Bartlett also ran a stage several times per day 
between Barron and Cameron.

For many years, Knapp Stout and Company floated from ten to twelve million 
feet of pine logs down the Yellow River. Two ingenious "Parker" gates at 
the Taylor dam, had to be opened to let the logs pass through.

William Rhodes observed his 99th birthday on March 31. He and Mrs. Rhodes 
will observe their 75th wedding anniversary on April 16th. Mr. Rhodes is 
an ardent Braves baseball fan. Mrs. Rhodes is past 94.

Mrs. Frank Hulbert died April 11th. She was 98 years old last December 8th, 
and had lived in Barron for 59 years.

John Quaderer was the father of eleven children. Two of these children are 
still living. They are; Lawrence Quaderer of Couderay and Anna Quaderer 
(Mrs. Otto Kahl) of Prairie Farm.


--From the Souvenir Historical Album of the Barron Centennial-1960
(used by permission)