HISTORIES: History of Sand Creek, Dunn Co., WI ********************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Dan Dietsche 10 January 2005 ********************************************************************* Sand Creek - The village of Sand Creek, situated in Section 13 of the town of Sand Creek (Township 31, Range 11), and on the Red Cedar River, was surveyed and platted in July, 1871, the survey and plat being made by W. Weissenfels for H. P. and Mary J. Graham, Samuel and Clara A. White and Robert and Mary R. Folles, all of the city of Eau Claire. Sand Creek is a somewhat retired rural community, the nearest railroad station being New Auburn on the "Omaha," which is about eight miles to the east and slightly north, while Ridgeland on the "Soo" lies about 12 miles to the west. Soon after the platting of the village, or in 1872, a dam across Sand Creek and a flour mill were constructed, and for some 12 years thereafter the mill was an important enterprise of the village, though it and the dam were several times carried away by floods. Finally in 1884 another flood washed them out and they were not rebuilt. In 1873 the first school was started, and in the same year Tucker & Pomeroy had a small store in the village, which they later sold to Ezra Clark, and soon after that another store was established. The village grew and prospered until in addition to the mill, it contained five stores, three blacksmith's shops, three hotels and two wagon shops. The population was then (1880) about 130. The height of prosperity was reached about 1881, in November of which year H. Brewer surveyed and platted a small addition for Ole Nelson. A stage line furnished transportation three times a week between Menomonie, Sand Creek, and Rice Lake, F. E. Smith being the contractor and E. L. Doolittle the carrier. About 1881, however, the village began to decline, which was due, partly at least, to the fact that the railroad now known as the "Omaha", which was then in process of construction and completed as far as New Auburn, did not build through Sand Creek, but passed some miles to the east of it, thus depriving it of direct rail communication. In 1891 the population was given as 100. At that time, in addition to the post office, there were in the village several stores, a blacksmith's shop, a church, a district school, a grist mill and a flour mill. Of the two mills the former was operated by A. T. Johnson and the latter by P. S. Peterson & Co. The population of Sand Creek village is now about 110. A large creamery, owned by the Farmers' Store Company, has been in successful operation for 18 or 20 years. The Cooperative Store Co. also conducts a mercantile enterprise that is well patronized and financially stable. A combined feed and planing mill-the one formerly operated by the Johnson family, and which is located half a mile west by south across the river-has within the last few years passed into other hands. In the vicinity there used to be a carding mill, which ceased operation after the raising of sheep was given up here. Telephone service is furnished by the Prairie Farm, Ridgeland & Dallas Telephone Co., which was organized in the fall of 1906 and took in Sand Creek as an additional exchange. There is a brick schoolhouse, housing a two-room graded school built within the last two years, a bank, a hotel, several stores, a garage and a blacksmith's shop. The Bank of Sand Creek, which is a state bank, was established in 1918 and has membership in the State Bankers Association. It has a paid up capital of $10,000, with a surplus and undivided profits (Jan. 1, 1924) of $4,060, and deposits of $144,280. William Larson is president; Theodore Nelson, vice president; and J. M. Moe, cashier. The Norwegian Lutheran Congregation of Sand Creek was organized Oct. 3, 1867, and in 1881 a church edifice was erected two miles west of the village, which is a frame building with a seating capacity of about 200. The congregation has also two other churches, one situated about five miles west on Lower Pine Creek and the other on Popple Creek, while the parsonage is in the village of Sand Creek. There has been a resident pastor (in the village) since 1871. The following pastors have served this congregation or parish: Revs. K. Torstenson, Harald Haakenson, D. J. Growe, J. Waage, 0. T. Flaaten, M. Flekke, 0. Neilson and Rev. Engel Olsen, the last mentioned being the present incumbent. About 100 families now belong to the congregation. The societies connected with it are: The Ladies' Aid (four branches in four different locations), the Young Peoples' Society, the Dorcas Society, and the church choir. --Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County Wisconsin, 1925," page 222 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm