History: History of Knapp, Dunn Co., WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Tammy Knight 20 March 2002 ==================================================================== The following information, HISTORY OF KNAPP, was copied from the book: KNAPP & Surrounding Area, 100 years, 1874 - 1974, Centennial Celebration September 6 - 7 - 8, 1974 DEDICATION To The Senior Citizens of Knapp, Surrounding Countryside, and Also Those living Near and Far; Who Have Spent Many Years Recording Knapp's History in Their Minds and In Their Hearts; Who Have So Graciously Shared Their Memories So That We May Be Able To Assemble This History of Knapp, - We Dedicate This Book. HISTORY OF KNAPP One hundred years is just a short period of time in civilization, but to the people of one small settlement in the hills and woods of northern Wisconsin, it is their lifetime and part of their forefathers' lifetime. Through the following pages, we will attempt - with stories and pictures - to bring you back through the years of history from the Village of Knapp and surrounding country-side. We will try to bring forth the highlights of the past 100 years, gleaned from historical records, history books, and from the etchings of the minds of all the old-timers who have shared their remembrances with us. Kanpp lies in a valley protected on the north, south and west by hills through which flows Wilson Creek. The village altitude is about 940 feet above sea level with surrounding hills varying from 1100 to 1200 feet. The area around Knapp, which includes part of the townships of Stanton and Lucas, is surrounded by fertile farms with many of them located in the hills and the valleys, so that they would be close to a good source of spring water for their family needs. The first settlers who came to the valley in the early 1860's to homestead were Omar Cole, John Bailey, A. K. Humphery, Charles Bailey and David Bailey - along with others who took up their claims here. The West Wisconsin Railway, built by Humbert and Baldwin, first ran trains through Knapp in 1871. It was at this time that the people started to move into the area in search of jobs related to the railroad and the fast growing lumber industry. The first plat of Knapp on record was made late in 1874 and others followed in 1875. The first plats were surveyed by J. H. Webster for John and De Lila Merrill and for Arch K. Humphrey and Lydia J. Humphrey. A plat in East Knapp was made in 1875 for E. P. Bailey, Lucinda Bailey, Solomon Fletcher and Amy A. Fletcher. In 1871, at the time of the railroad's completion, most of the people settled in what is now the far eastern end of the village. Some settlers built their small log houses up the valley next to the large spring which lies on the present village property. The railroad brought right-of-way to lay a pipe from this spring down across the Solomon Fletcher land to the railroad tracks for which the railroad engines stopped to take on water before the long climb out of the valley. The outlet of this water pipe was located where the present County Highway "0" crosses the railroad tracks. At this time in 1871, Knapp was called Bailey Town - probably named after the Bailey family who owned most of the land in East Knapp. There was a railroad depot here and also the first Knapp Post Office attended by A. K. Humphrey. Being that Knapp was transformed from Bailey Town, this was where the first manufacturing was started- Owing to the large supply of various kinds of timber in the vicinity, the first manufacturing business was sawmills, and the first was erected by James Bailey. The Knapp, Stout and Co. had a small sawmill in Knapp in those early days, and it was from the Knapp family that the village took its name. Mills were then started by Omar Cole and A. K. Humphrey, later being run by A. C. Poore and Omar Cole. In 1876 the Northwestern Hub and Spoke Factory was started in Knapp by Knute Hubbard and Thomas Morgan, who also operated a store and blacksmith shop. In 1877 Morgan sold his interest to Mr. Hubbard and in 1879 he disposed of the factory to E. T. Bond of South Evanston, Ill. About 25 men were employed and the concern manufactured about 40 full sets of hubs and spokes per day. In 1882 the business was sold to Albert R. Hall and George Christian of Minneapolis. This factory was located between the present Hwy, 12 and the railroad tracks, directly north of the original Methodist Church and next to the house later built by George and Nellie Dieter. Another large business started in h nape was Bailey Manufacturing, which was organized in 1880, with a capital of $100,000. The incorporators were E. P. Bailey and S. J. Fletcher. They took over the sawmill built by Jim Bailey, and added it to a large plant for the manufacture of lumber, wagons, trunk slats, and the combined springtooth cultivator and seeder. The company employed 80 to 100 men and a store was also run in conjunction with the factory, the sales of which it is said averaged about $40,000 a year. The concern failed in 1883 and the works were taken over by Stillwater parties who operated them for a year or so and then quit. This factory was located a short distance west of County Highway "O" between the railroad tracks and Highway 12. The Bailey House was located directly south of the factory on the south side of Highway 12. Another of the active businesses of Knapp was run by Chas. Townsend, who had opened a Drug Store in 1884 and later went into manufacturing, leasing a mill from the Hardwood Mfg. &, Storage Co., which was located in the area north of the present Feed Mill. He operated it for two seasons as a spoke factory and later as a sawmill and factory for the manufacture of staves for syrup barrels. Mr. Townsend extended his activities to include a creamery and a grain elevator, but competition from a cooperative creamery forced him to give up his creamery business. In 1904 the elevator was sold to the New Richmond Roller Mills.