HISTORY OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY - CHAPTER 14 Menomonie and
Dunn Counties


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Faithful Record of all Important Events, Incidents, and
Circumstances that have Transpired in the Valley of the
Chippewa from its Earliest Settlement by White People,
Indian Treaties, Organization of the Territory and State;
Also of the Counties Embracing the Valley, Senatorial,
Assembly and Congressional Districts, and a Brief
Biographical Sketch of the Most Prominent Persons in the
Settlement of the Valley. BY Thomas E. Randall 1875.  Free
Press Print.  Eau Claire, Wisconsin

CHAPTER 14 Menomonie and Dunn Counties

"History," says an old authority, "Is the record of wicked
men's deeds and other men's misfortunes," and it follows
that a community that cannot lay claim to some conspicuous
examples of this kind is pretty destitute of material out of
which to make an interesting narrative. The reader has
probably observed that since 1845, little reference has been
made in these columns to the locality, which constitutes the
subject of this chapter; the cause is mainly attributable to
the dearth of stirring events of the character named.

A brief visit with some of the earliest settlers, and
enterprising businessmen, calls up a few reminiscence of the
past, which will interest the reader.

To the visitor of today, witnessing the vast resources and
accumulation of capital, now wielded by the firm of Knapp,
Stout and Company, running as it does into the millions, it
may seem almost incredible that twenty-nine years ago the
company commenced business with a cash capital of only one
thousand dollars, and a few 'traps' and their own
indomitable energy and perseverance; this has been
accomplished not by speculation and adroit, lucky turning of
fortunes wheel, but by actual creation of so much wealth
added to the store of human comforts, using only the
advantages supplied by natures abundant and common
storehouse.

The presiding genius whose active vigilance, sagacity
foresight and untiring industry, planned, guided and
controlled their extensive operations through every struggle
and undertaking is undoubtedly Captain William Wilson.

The class of reformers (not political) who maintained that
in the allotments of life, if a husband and wife discover
that they have not found 'their affinity,' and consequently
their happiness, the connection should be dissolved and
other attachments formed until the desired end it attained,
may or may not be correct in theory, but however untenable
such views may be in regard to marriage, it is undoubtedly
true that in business relations, and the choice of an
avocation, when one finds himself unfitted for, or
continually unfortunate in the affairs of life, he may well
conclude that he is not adapted to that kind of employment,
and some thing else will lead to success. So thought Captain
William Wilson, when, after trying his hand at contracting
on public works, steamboats, and various other avocations,
resulting only in disaster, he wended his way, solitary and
discouraged, up to the little, old, one-horse flutter wheel
sawmill, where twenty years before, Street & Lockwood had
manufactured, and Jeff Davis had run away the lumber to
rebuild Fort Crawford.

Able friends in Fort Madison, Iowa, had promised assistance
in case he found an opening that promised a safe return, but
when the time came, as the case often is with the
unfortunate, for actual disbursement everyone failed him,
but they were willing to induce someone else to assume a
risk that they were not disposed to undertake. John H.
Knapp, a young law student from the 'Old Bay State,' was
fixed upon as the responsible substitute for their
assurances, and well did he fill the bill. Mr. Knapp brought
into his partnership a young, healthy organization, good
business qualifications, an ambition that rejoiced at
hardship, and unspotted reputation, and what at the time was
almost as difficult to obtain - one thousand dollars in
cash.

In the former number reference was made to the purchase and
transfer of aforesaid mill and fixtures from Mr. Black and
Son, to his company, which commenced operation in July 1846,
under the firm name of J.H. Knapp & Company.

Since the departure of Allen and Branham, with their
families, no females, or, only one, Mrs. Fanny Vail, had
been bold enough to seclude themselves and undertake the
hardships and privations of such an isolated abode. But Mrs.
Wilson was determined to share with her husband all the
difficulties that the situation imposed. One other lady and
her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Bullard, came up at the same time.
The reader will remember that at this early day there was no
means of ingress or egress to any port of this valley except
by the river - the 'keelboat; propelled by men with poles,
going back and forth on the 'running boards' the lower end
of every pole being furnished with a steel pointed, iron
socket, which was thrust against the bottom, while against
the other end pressed with all his might if need be the
shoulder of the 'living engine,' whose duty it was to drive
the boat over sandbars and rapids to its destination.

On the first trip up the Red Cedar, the river being low and
the boat heavily laden, got a ground four miles below their
destined home, and these ladies with their children, took
the foot path winding along the side of the hills, and over
the steep rocky bluffs to their new homes.

Of many amusing incidents related by these ladies of their
first experiences in their secluded and nearly embargoed
domicile, I can find room for only one. Soon after their
arrival, Mrs. Blois Hurd came with her husband, who was a
millwright, to reside at Gilbert's mill, three miles below,
and for some months, was the only woman residing there - a
beautiful lady, but whose health was very delicate. Near the
close of a day in September, Mr. Gilbert, (the old
gentlemen) came up and requested the immediate assistance of
one or both of these neighbor women for Mrs. Hurd who had
taken very ill. How were they to get there, was now the
difficult problem to solve, to walk three miles over
difficult, intricate foot-path, after the fatigues of the
day, was too much for their strength. Their husbands were
ready to accompany them, and a bright thought seized one of
the party, a raft with oars all on, 'ready to pull out,' lay
just below the mill; to 'tie loose' was only the work of a
moment, but not one of the men had ever run those rapids, or
knew how to handle a raft, but in high glee away floated the
party, their hearts full of benevolence, and their head with
novel ideas of traveling; down they went with wonderful
speed, and hair-breadth escapes from a wreck, over the first
falls, but on the second chain, where the intricate channel
wound along between giant boulders, the necessity for the
guiding hand of an experienced pilot soon became painfully
apparent, which was immediately intensified by the bow
running high and dry upon a rock, the whole craft turned and
twisted, the stern was forced down by the rapid current, and
threatened to break up the whole thing, that a moment before
floated so gaily. No boat was near, night was coming on, the
water was deep all around them, and there they were
inextricably fast, nothing now remained but to wade ashore,
and cautiously they followed Mr. Gilbert, supporting each
other, as waist deep in water, whirling and eddying between
the smooth boulders, they made their way to terra firma, and
climbed the steep bank to the trial, and in their wet
garments, drabbling in the sand, walked on to the residence
of the sick lady, after again getting wet, by fording
Gilbert's Creek. This we should consider, practicing
benevolence under difficulties.

The social condition of these settlements was soon after
improved by better means of communication, and the addition
of other families, and a pretty widow, a Mrs. Claire, who
however was not long permitted to wear her weeds, for the
following April 1847, Esquire Bass was sent for, from
Chippewa Falls, who gave the legal sanction to the desire of
Mr. William Whitcomb, for her to take his name, the first
lawful marriage known to have been consummated there.

But two years later, in 1849, when Thomas Piercwell and
Margaret Scott found that it was not well to dwell alone,
and could only be happy united, all for and semblance of law
and it power to gladden their hearts, had taken its flight
from this valley, so they fell back upon their inalienable
rights, and a written contract much after the Quaker style,
setting forth their avowals to love, cherish, and cleave
each other until death should part them, was duly signed,
witnessed and delivered.

Even down to 1855, when the company's chief clerk, Mr. S.B.
French, and Miss Virginia Bullard, were married, no legal or
clerical sanction could be obtained this side of the big
woods, and Captain Wilson was dispatched to Hudson for the
Reverend Mr. Thayer, to tie the silken knot.