HISTORIES: Pepin Co. History from the book "Historical & Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley, WI, 1891-2" ************************************************************************ 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: Nance Sampson, Archives File Manager 19 November 2004 ************************************************************************ "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley Wisconsin," including a general historical sketch of the Chippewa Valley; ancestral records of leading families; biographies of representative citizens, past and preset; and portraits of prominent men. Edited by George Forrester, Chicago, Illinois: A. Warner, Publisher, 1891-2. PEPIN COUNTY CHAPTER XII (pages 278 - 294) Geographical Position And General Description -- The Old Trading Post And Mission Of Michael The Archangel At Stockholm -- Early Swedish Settlers In The Village -- Officers Of The County -- Members Of Assembly -- Population And Assessed Valuation -- The Wheeler-Carter Murder Case By a special act of the legislature approved February 25, 1858, the county of Pepin was formed from a portion of Dunn county, and contains 244 square miles, or 145,127 acres. The county-seat was located on section twenty-five, in township twenty-three, range fifteen west, or, in plain language, the village of Pepin. The county itself is located in the western portion of the state, and is bounded on the north by Dunn and Pierce counties, on the southwest by Lake Pepin, on the east by Eau Claire county, on the southeast by the Chippewa river, which separates it from Buffalo county, and on the west by Pierce county. It is well watered by the Chippewa, Eau Galle and Roaring rivers, and a number of tributaries to those streams, including Arkansaw, Cranberry, Porcupine, Plum, Bear, Fall and Rock creeks. The territory was occupied by the Chippewa and Sioux Indians alternately, and the last battle between them was fought here in 1851. The formation of the county is very irregular, and its general surface is fairly level, although undulations are frequent in some sections, with a few ranges of hills and bluffs in others. The eastern towns are principally prairie lands, composed chiefly of a rich loam, with oak openings, hay marshes and tamarack swamps. The bottoms of the Chippewa and Eau Galle rivers are a series of natural hay meadows, from which prolific crops are obtained. In the western section the ground is more undulating, and covered with large forests, principally of hardwood timber, including red and white oak, ash, elm, hard and soft maple, basswood, hickory, butternut and birch, while the soil is a heavy loam, with a clay subsoil. About one-third of the land in the county is under cultivation, and the soil is particularly adapted to raising wheat, corn, oats, hay and potatoes. Dairying is also carried on to a considerable extent, and is rapidly increasing. Vegetables, berries and small fruits grow abundantly. The farm products of the county for 1890, according to the official returns are as follows: Wheat, 116,943 bushels; corn, 212,290 bushels; oats, 194,918 bushels; barley, 38,844 bushels; rye, 25,811 bushels; potatoes, 72,921 bushels; root crops, 1,432 bushels; cultivated grasses, 5,024 tons; butter, 156,518 pounds; cheese, 10,000 pounds. A plentiful supply of speckled trout is to be obtained from the creeks, and a great variety of the fresh-water finny tribe in the rivers. Potsdam sandstone and magnesian limestone are found in various parts of the county. The latter produces a good quality of lime. Between the hills the soil varies from a few feet to a hundred feet in thickness above the sandstone, and is composed mostly of drift-earth and stones of various kinds and sizes. Numbers of Indian mounds are scattered throughout the county. Skeletons have been found in many of them, some of unusually large proportions, together with implements of war, and different kinds of pottery, suggesting that many hard-fought battles have occurred in this locality in a by-gone age. The county is divided up into the following townships: Albany, Durand, Frankfort, Lima, Pepin, Stockholm, Waterville and Waubeek. ALBANY TOWNSHIP is of regular government size containing thirty-six square miles, and is bounded on the north by Dunn county, on the south by Buffalo county, on the east by Eau Claire county and on the west by the town of Lima. It is watered by Rock and Dutch creeks and a tributary of the Buffalo river. East Pepin is on Rock creek, about eight miles from Caryville, the nearest shipping point. There is a post-office here, and about fifty inhabitants. The township had a total population of 459 in 1890. DURAND TOWNSHIP is much less than a regular government township, and is bounded on the north by Dunn county, the Chippewa river, which runs in a southwesterly direction nearly the whole length of the township; on the south by Buffalo county and on the east by the town of Lima. Besides being watered by the Chippewa, Bear creek courses through the township from southeast to northwest. Sleeping Rock is in the southwest corner. Its population in 1890, exclusive of the city of Durand, was 253. FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP is less than the regulation size, and irregular in formation. It is bounded on the north by the town of Waterville, on the south by the town of Pepin, on the east by the Chippewa river and on the west by Pierce county and the town of Pepin. Plum creek runs through it from northwest to southeast, and it is also watered by Elk, Little Plum and Porcupine creeks, both tributaries of the former. There was a post-office at Ida, eight miles from Durand, but it has been discontinued. Dead lake is in this town, and is supplied by springs. It is about four miles in length by half a mile in width. Its outlet is the Chippewa river. Porcupine is a hamlet, with about 100 inhabitants, and located eight miles southwest of Durand, the nearest shipping point. There is a post-office, with a mail service twice a week, and a steam saw-mill, with a capacity of 20,000 feet a day, owned and operated by J. P. Flagg. It was built in 1880. Ella is on the banks of the Chippewa river just above Round Hill, and eight miles from Durand. It was surveyed and platted in October, 1871. There are about fifty residents here, with a post-office, general store, Lutheran and Methodist churches, district school and a saw-mill, owned and conducted by Messrs. Magill & Minder. Round Hill was formerly called Meredith. It was surveyed and platted in April, 1858, under that name, but nothing ever came of it. Nicholas Bowman erected a small saw-mill here many years ago and operated it until he died. It is now utilized as a boarding-house by the Mississippi River Logging company. The first store in the county was opened in 1853 in this township by J. S. McCourtie. It had a total population of 648 in 1890. LIMA TOWNSHIP is of regulation size and is bounded on the north by Dunn county, on the south by Buffalo county, on the east by the town of Albany and on the west by the town of Durand. It is watered by Fall and Bear creeks and Dry brook. It had a population in 1890 of 765. PEPIN TOWNSHIP is very irregular in construction. It is bounded on the north by Pierce county and the town of Frankfort, on the south by Lake Pepin, on the east by the town of Frankfort and the Chippewa river, and on the west by the town of Stockholm. Bogus and Lost creeks and Roaring river meander from the north in a southerly direction, the two first named discharging themselves into the lake and the other into the river. The village of Pepin, the first white settlement in the county, is on the lake of that name, or, more properly speaking, on the left bank of the Mississippi river from its source. It has also a station on the Chicago, Burlington & Northern railway. The surrounding scenery is very romantic, especially from its variety. Across the river are the verdure-clad bluffs of Minnesota in their everlasting majesty. On the Wisconsin side the village is in the midst of undulating hills and stretches of prairie land, occupied by a prosperous farming community. The village has now a population of about 400, although it is reported to have had as many as 1,200 in 1878. William Boyd Newcomb, a river pilot, was the first settler at this point. It was then, and for some years afterward, known as North Pepin. He came into this vicinity from Fort Madison, Iowa, in 1845, and the next year staked out his claim where the village now stands. The first dwelling place was built by him. It was constructed of logs. He moved into it with his family. It was on the same lot as that now occupied by the office of the Pepin "Star." He received a patent from the land office at Hudson of the property on which the main part of the village now stands. At this period the nearest post-office was 200 miles away, at Prairie du Chien. The population of the embryo village increased rapidly. Among the early settlers were Ebenezer Thompson, Otis Hoyt, James Little, Elias Brock and B. O'Connor. S. Carlos Fayerweather came in 1853 and engaged in farming. The first frame house was built by Elias Brock in 1853 and the first school was taught in it in the winter of that year by Louisa Ingalls. There were about twenty scholars. A post-office was established in the winter of 1854- 55. John Newcomb was the first postmaster. His successors were Benjamin Allen, H. D. Barron, Joseph Manning, W. B. Newcomb, M. B. Axtell, Minas Richards, Solomon Fuller and William Dunlap, the present incumbent. Pepin was surveyed and platted as a village in 1855 by W. B. Newcomb, Otis Hoyt and Benjamin Allen. A. W. Miller, then a resident of Hudson, was the surveyor. Elias Brock was the first purchaser of the village lots. B. O'Connor opened the first store that year. It was erected by Ebenezer Thompson. George W. Brant built and opened the first blacksmith shop at the same time. The first hotel was also put up and operated by Ebenezer Thompson, and a warehouse was built by A. C. Allen and others. It was afterward transformed into a hotel and conducted by J. A. Dunn, and now by Mrs. Ella Dunn. The first religious services were held at the residence of W. B. Newcomb in 1850 by Rev. Mr. Hancock, from Red Wing, Minn. The first house of worship was erected by the Methodist Episcopalian organization in 1856. It was, too, the primal one in the county. It was demolished in 1864 and the present commodious brick structure erected on its site and dedicated in 1867. The Rev. Mr. Smith is the present pastor. His immediate predecessor was Rev. Mr. Chase. A large store and warehouse was built in the same year, 1856, which has since been remodeled and refitted into an elevator. It has a capacity of 20,000 bushels. In 1874 a small elevator was erected by F. Stahl, with a capacity of 15,000 bushels. The first school-house was built by E. W. Gurley in 1857. The cost of it was raised by subscription. When Pepin was established as a school district under the laws of the state this building was utilized as a district school and subsequently as the high school. It has five departments. Daniel E. Cameron is the principal. It the same year, 1857, a newspaper was started by U. B. Shaver, called the Pepin County "Independent." After publishing it for two years Mr. Shaver removed to Wabasha and the county was without a newspaper until the "Home Mirror" entered the field at Durand in 1860. The "Hesperian Monthly" was established here in 1858 by Richard Copland, but it was short-lived. Up to this time Pepin had grown rapidly. Building after building was erected in quick succession. Hotels and a number of business houses were running. Two banks were started under the free banking laws of the state. One was the Oakwood bank, with B. O'Connor, president, and A. C. Allen, cashier, and the other the Chippewa bank, with E. Lathrop, president, and J. C. Mann, cashier. The anticipations were that a flourishing city was a certainty in the future at some point near the mouth of the Chippewa, and the best efforts of the pioneers were exercised to make Pepin that city. Everything was done that judgment and foresight could suggest to encourage trade by the settlement of the surrounding country. In association with H. S. Allen & Co. a wagon road was opened to Chippewa Falls, and a stage and mail route established. At least one great obstacle was in the way that could not be overcome. It was one of nature's impediments. The Mississippi river is very shallow for a considerable distance from the shore at this point, so that it was very difficult to make a landing for steamboats, especially when the water was low. That source of business had, therefore, in a great measure to be abandoned. The financial crisis of 1857, however, put a stop to everything in the way of enterprise. Business stagnation followed, and Pepin lost the impetus of progression never to regain it. It had, too, a powerful rival in Durand, on the opposite side of the Chippewa river to battle with. The citizens of Pepin did not, however, lose their energy nor abandon their hopes until the endeavor to win the fight for precedence was hopeless. A shorter route was opened, by way of Durand, between Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and the Mississippi. Steamboats with light draft were built expressly for the navigation of the Chippewa river. So much patronage was, in this way, taken from the Chippewa Falls and Pepin stage that that means of conveyance had to be withdrawn. Then the construction of a railroad on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi river, caused travel, and trade with it, to migrate to those places where transportation was the most convenient. The greatest blow of all has yet to be related. The act of the legislature for the organization of the county, in February, 1858, fixed the county seat at this place. Durand claimed, in 1860, that it ought to be located there. The question was submitted several times to the vote of the people, and ultimately taken to the courts of law, when Durand was declared the legal county seat by judicial decision rendered at La Crosse in 1865. The first term of the circuit court for the county was held at Pepin in the spring of 1858, before Judge S. S. N. Fuller. Among the attorneys present were H. C. Williams, Frank Clark, H. D. Barron, A. D. Gray, H. E. Houghton and John Fraser. By a special act of the legislature, approved in 1859, Pepin was incorporated as a village. The first officers were: W. B. Newcomb, president; Joseph Manning, Dudly Manning, Peter B. Granger and H. D. Barron, trustees; U. B. Shaver, clerk. Its municipal existence was maintained for four years, when the charter was relinquished. Two miles away on Roaring river was an old saw-mill built in 1856. It was owned and operated by Philip Pfaff until his death in 1890. It was destroyed by fire in the fall of that year. He also erected a steam feed mill in 1871, which is now owned by his widow, Mrs. Pfaff. A church structure was erected by the German Methodists in 1860, of which the Rev. Mr. Eberhardt is the pastor. The Chicago, Burlington & Northern railway was thrown open for business on August 23, 1886, but it was of no material benefit to the village. The Pepin "Star" is a weekly independent journal owned and published by Messrs. Axtell Bros. The German Evangelical church building was erected in 1889 under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Shapnitt, and he has had charge of the organization since its formation. There is a lodge of the F. & A. M., instituted in 1855; a lodge of the United Workmen, organized in April, 1877; a Good Templars lodge, established in the spring of that year, and a Chosen Friends society, organized in March, 1881. Lakeport, originally called Johnstown, is a very pretty place of half a dozen houses, on the banks of Lake Pepin, about two miles north of the village of Pepin. It was settled by John McCain, a raft pilot on the Mississippi, in the spring of 1846. W. B. Newcomb, John's cousin, helped him build the log house erected on his claim - the first one in the county. A brick house now stands on its site, and is occupied by Mrs. William McCain and family - John's brother's family. It was John who gave the place the name of "Lakeport." At this time the nearest neighbor was fifty miles distant, at Point Prescott. Fountain City, fifty miles southeast, had two log cabins. In the fall of 1847, Robert, William, Samuel and J. Hix, came from Illinois and settled four miles east of McCain, on Roaring river. In the next year James White, from Beloit, and S. S. Newcomb, from Fort Madison, Iowa, settled two miles north of the McCain farm. In 1853 Isaac Ingalls and Melville Mills built the first grist-mill on Roaring river. The embryo village was surveyed and platted by McCain before the county was organized, as no entry of it is made in the records at Durand. An addition was made to it by him in 1857. An effort was made to make this place the principal town on the lake shore, and at one time it was a larger settlement than Pepin, but it fell through. There is not even a post- office here. The population of the township was 1,491 in 1890. STOCKHOLM TOWNSHIP is not half the size of a regulation township, and is irregular in formation. It is bounded on the north by Pierce county, on the southwest by Lake Pepin, and on the east by the town of Pepin. The middle of the north side of the lake, and what is believed to be within the limits of this township, was selected as the site for a trading post, on the invitation of the Sioux Indians, in 1727. The necessary expedition was fitted out and placed under the command of Sieur de la Perriere, as the representative of the French government. He reached the spot selected on September 17 of that year. A fort, so called, was erected forthwith, and completed on the fourth day. It consisted of three buildings, respectively, thirty, thirty-eight and thirty-five feet long, by sixteen wide. They were secured in an enclosure 100 feet square, which was surrounded by pickets twelve feet high, with two good bastions. The expedition was accompanied by Father Guignas, who established the mission of Michael the Archangel at this point. The place was abandoned at the expiration of two years by reason of the threatening attitude of the Foxes, through whose territory the traders had to pass to reach this spot. Some authorities have thought it fit to treat this post as a garrisoned fort, but there is no basis for the assumption that it was ever anything more than what it really was - an enclosed trading post. The village of Stockholm is on the shore of Lake Pepin, and has a station on the Chicago, Burlington & Northern railway, with about 200 inhabitants, nine-tenths of whom are Swedes, or of Swedish descent. The first man to settle here was Eric Peterson. This was in 1851. After remaining a brief period he went back to Sweden, the land of his birth, entered into the bonds of matrimony, and returned here with his wife in the fall of 1854. The day of their arrival Mrs. Peterson gave birth to a girl, Matilde, the first white child born in the settlement. In the spring of that year a number of other Swedes settled here, including Jacob Peterson, John Anderson, Eric Frieck, Lars Olson and Frank Nelson, with their families. The majority of them came from Sweden the previous year, and, wintering in Illinois, came to Stockholm, which they had fixed upon as a permanent home. Their first dwelling-place was a log shanty, which they erected as an abiding place until they could build residences. The first frame house was put up in the same year by John Anderson. The first marriage took place in the spring of 1856; the parties to it were Abram Josephson and Annie Peterson. George Richerd, another settler, built a hotel in 1856 and conducted it. The organization of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church was accomplished in 1856 by Rev. Mr. Norerius, a missionary from Red Wing, Minn., and a house of worship erected. It was subsequently sold and converted into a school- house, in which the first school was taught by Anna Smith, in the summer of 1859. A new church building was erected two miles north of the village. The present graded district school-house, with two departments, was built in 1877. The village was surveyed and platted in 1858 by Eric Peterson. A. W. Miller was the surveyor. A post- office was established in 1860. John Rosenberg was the first postmaster. About this time Eric Peterson erected a steam feed-mill and grain warehouse, which he operated for many years. It is now owned and conducted by Messrs. Linn Bros. A grain warehouse, built by A. D. Post in 1873, was purchased by Martin Nelson in 1876. Its capacity is 30,000 bushels. The railroad was opened for traffic in 1886. There are four or five good stores in the village, which is located in the midst of a fine agricultural country, including a wagon factory and a blacksmith shop. There is also an Independent Order of Good Templars organization - Stockholm Lodge No. 263. Lund is a farm-house post- office, six miles north of Stockholm, with a semi-weekly mail service. The population of the township, according to the census returns in 1890, is 711. WATERVILLE TOWNSHIP is a regulation township, and is bounded on the north by Dunn county, on the south by the town of Frankfort, on the east by the town of Waubeek, and on the west by Pierce county. It is well watered by the Eau Galle river, and, among other small streams, Arkansaw, Little Arkansaw and Porcupine creeks. Arkansaw is four miles west of Durand and two and a half miles from the Chippewa river, and just on the edge of a large tract of hardwood timber lying in Pepin, Pierce and St. Croix counties. The village was first settled by George and W. F. Holbrook in the spring of 1853. The latter built a log house, moved into it and began the erection of a saw-mill and furniture factory on Arkansaw creek. He operated the plant until 1870, when he entered into partnership with James Pauley, of Read's Landing, when the mill was enlarged and a new factory and store, etc., built. The mill was sold to the present owner, E. C. Bill, in 1881, and the factory discontinued in 1886. The next year (1854) H. M. Miles built a small water-power roller, flour and grist-mill. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt, to be washed away by the flood of 1880, when Mrs. Miles re- instated it and gave it an enlarged capacity. Previous to this time a few settlers had selected a location on Dead Lake prairie, a short distance from Arkansaw, in Frankfort township, but the latter place presented better facilities for the expenditure of capital and labor, with a substantial equivalent for it, and the majority of them moved into it. There are now about 200 inhabitants. A little school-house, twelve by sixteen feet, with one room, was built in 1856, and the first teacher was Miss Minnie Kelton, now Mrs. T. N. Swartz. It was destroyed by the flood of 1880. A new district graded school, with two departments, was erected in 1883. The village was surveyed and platted by W. F. Holbrook, in October, 1857, and Anson Kelton's addition to it was made in November, 1881. A post-office was established in 1858 and A. R. Humphrey was the first postmaster. The first marriage was solemnized November 30, 1857. The contracting parties were W. F. Holbrook and Mary Ames, but it was not until March, 1855, that the first child was born - that of Mr. and Mrs. Grant Stevens. The first religious services were held in a log house on Dead Lake prairie in 1855, by Rev. Mr. Kellogg. The only church in the village is owned by a Methodist Episcopal organization and was built in 1869 at a cost of $2,500. It is thirty by forty feet. The pastors of it have been as follows, in the order named: The Revs. William Massee, G. D. Browne, N. C. Bradley, G. W. Smith, William Massee, F. I. Borgia and the present incumbent, L. B. Akers. The first hotel, the Cropsy house, was built in 1870. It is now used as a private dwelling house. Stephen Cliff erected a hotel in 1872, and has operated it since that time. A small water-power flour-mill was built in 1870 by Abel Parker, who ran it until he died, in 1883. Since that time it has been operated by his son, Joseph Parker. By a vote of the people at the general election in November, 1881, Arkansaw became the county seat, and at the general election in 1886 it was voted back to Durand. A steam planing-mill for the manufacture of furniture and lumbermen's supplies was constructed by W. F. Holbrook in 1885. He operated it until his death, in 1887, when it was purchased by S. F. Plummer, who has conducted it to the present time. A creamery, owned by him, was established in 1889. It is completely fitted up, with a capacity of a ton of butter a day. The population of the township for 1890 was recorded as 1,287. WAUBEEK TOWNSHIP is another small township. It is bounded on the north by Dunn county, from northeast to southwest by the Chippewa river, and on the west by the town of Waterville. Nine Mile slough and Nine Mile island are in this township. Truman Curtis settled here in 1849. There is a farm-house post-office at Waubeek settlement, four miles from Durand. This place was surveyed and platted in January, 1857. The population of the township in 1890 was 164. By the act for the constitution of the county, the governor was authorized to appoint the necessary officers to serve until January 1, 1859. His selections were as follows: County judge, Henry D. Barron; sheriff, Edward Livingstone; county clerk, U. B. Shaver; treasurer, Ebenezer Lathrop; district attorney, Benjamin Allen; surveyor, J. C. Wolcott; registrar of deeds, Lucius Cannon; clerk of the circuit court, N. W. Grippin; coroner, W. F. Holbrook. The first election for county officers took place November 2, 1858. The following is a list of them from that date to the present time (1892). COUNTY JUDGES - M. D. Bartlett occupied this position until 1862, when he was succeeded by S. L. Plummer. No change occurred until 1881, when A. D. Gray was elected. He was followed, in 1889, by J. D. Eldridge, the present incumbent. SHERIFFS - 1859-60, Lyman Gile; 1861-62, Edwin Hill; 1863-64, A. W. Miller; 1865-66, Alphonse Vantrot; 1867-68, M. B. Axtell; 1869-70, N. O. Murry; 1871-72, S. P. Crosby; 1873-74, Walter H. Walbridge; 1875-76, Horace Richards; 1877-78, Charles Coleman; 1879-80, Louis Peterson; 1881-82, A. F. Peterson; 1883-84, M. Knight; 1885-86, Henry Buchanan; 1887-88, Ira A. Fuller; 1889-90, Charles Stille; 1891-92, Henry Buchanan. COUNTY CLERKS - 1859-60, U. B. Shaver; 1861-62, John Holverson; 1863- 64, Edwin Hill; 1865-66, H. E. Houghton; 1867-72, L. D. Baker (three terms); 1873-74, C. N. Averill; 1875-76, William Boyd; 1877-78, William Boyd, Jr.; 1879-80, M. Knight; 1881-84, J. J. Morgan (two terms); 1885- 86, W. E. Plummer; 1887-88, S. L. Edwards; 1889-92, H. D. Dyer (two terms). COUNTY TREASURERS - 1859-60, George B. Rickerd; 1861-68, J. H. Rounds (four terms); 1869-72, Thales Burke (two terms); 1873-74, Phil Scheckel; 1875-76, C. N. Averill; 1877-78, W. B. Newcomb; 1879-82, D. W. Phelps (two terms); 1883-92, Thomas P. Huleatt (five terms). DISTRICT ATTORNEYS - 1859-60, M. B. Axtell (at the election in November, 1859, Ebenezer Lathrop was chosen to fill vacancy. Seven votes only were cast, of which the successful candidate received four); 1861-62, Fayette Allen; 1863-64, D. C. Topping; 1865-66, B. Allen; 1867- 68, John Fraser; 1869-72, H. E. Houghton (two terms); 1873-74, A. D. Gray; 1875-76, H. E. Houghton; 1877-78, John Fraser; 1879-80, H. E. Houghton; 1881-86, John Fraser (three terms. In November, 1885, O. F. Bartlett was elected to fill vacancy); 1887-88, J. J. Morgan; 1889-90, William E. Plummer; 1891-92, John Fraser. COUNTY SURVEYORS - 1859-60, A. W. Miller; 1861-62, G. C. Walcott; 1863- 66, N. Plummer (two terms); 1867-70, L. G. Wood (two terms); 1871-74, N. Plummer (two terms); 1875-76, Erastus Reid; 1877-78, L. G. Wood; 1879-84, N. Plummer (three terms); 1885-88, A. W. Miller (two terms); 1889-90, N. Plummer; 1891-92, A. W. Miller. REGISTRARS OF DEEDS - 1859-60, E. B. Livingston; 1861-62, W. F. Prindle; 1863-64, L. G. Wood; 1865-66, H. Barber; 1867-68, Joseph Manning; 1869-70, James Barry; 1871-72, A. R. Humphrey; 1873-74, W. B. Newcomb; 1875-76, Louis Peterson; 1877-78, E. J. Erickson; 1879-80, Frank Goodrich; 1881-82, J. Newcomb; 1883-84, James Turner; 1885-90, H. M. Miles; 1891-92, Frank Ecklor. CLERKS OF CIRCUIT COURT - 1859-60, B. T. Hastings; 1861-62, N. S. Clapp; 1863-64, D. W. Montgomery; 1865-66, J. Scott; 1867-84, A. G. Coffin (nine terms); 1885-86, Henry Barber; 1887-88, H. D. Dyer; 1889- 90, Henry Murman; 1891-92, N. S. Belden. CORONERS - 1859-60, John Rosenberg; 1861-62, A. Swearengen. George Babcock was elected in November, 1861, to fill vacancy. 1863-64, E. G. Stevens; 1865-66, G. W. Nichols; 1867-68, Joseph Hakes; 1869-70, Orlando Skinner; 1871-72, Erastus Reid; 1873-74, H. A. Knapp; 1875-76, M. Machmeire; 1877-78, P. C. Topping; 1879-80, William Dunlap; 1881-82, W. W. Holden; 1883-84, George Hutchinson; 1885-86, William Dunlap; 1887- 92, F. J. Gobar. SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS - The first superintendent, M. B. Axtell, was elected in November 1861. He served two years, to the end of 1863. James B. Hanan was the next superintendent. He held the office until the close of 1867 (two terms). His successors were: 1868-69, George Van Waters; 1870-73, D. F. Reid (two terms); 1874-75, M. B. Axtell; 1876-81, J. H. Rounds (three terms); 1882-84, William E. Barker; 1885- 86, J. D. Eldridge; 1887-88, L. A. Sahlstrom; 1889-92, Jennie Goodrich (two terms). A vote of the citizens of the county was taken at the election in November, 1859, for the removal of the county seat from Pepin to Durand with the following result: For, 348; against it, 351. Another similar vote was taken at the election held in November 1861, when the result was the other way. For the change, 429; against it, 327. The question of the removal of the county seat from Durand to the village of Arkansaw was voted on at the general election held in November, 1881, and resulted as follows: For the removal, 697; against it, 648. In November, 1882, a vote was taken to remove the seat back to Durand, with the following result: For, 357; against it, 764. At the general election in November, 1886, the same question was again voted on with the opposite result: For, 937; against it, 618. The erection of the county building or court-house in Washington Square was begun in 1873, and completed in 1874, at a cost of $12,000. It was a fine facade and portico. Standing on rising ground it is the most conspicuous public building in the city. The offices and court were in Topping's hall previous to this time. The county is in the Eight judicial circuit, and a list of the judges since the organization of the county to the present time is given in the chapter entitled "The County Of Eau Claire." The counties of Dunn and Pepin were, under the apportionment in 1871, constituted one assembly district. Previous to and including that year Pepin was represented in union with several counties, the details of which will be found in Chapter II; as also the representatives in the senate and congress. The members of assembly since 1871 are as follows: 1872, Elias P. Bailey, Menomonie; 1873, H. E. Houghton, Durand; 1874, S. L. Plummer, Arkansaw; 1875, Rockwell J. Flint, Menomonie; 1876, Mensus R. Bump, Rock Falls. A new apportionment was made in the last named year whereby the counties of Pepin and Dunn were constituted separate assembly districts. The assembly men representing Pepin county since that date are: 1877-78, V. W. Dorwin, Durand (two terms); 1879, James Barry, Pepin; 1880, William Allison, Durand; 1881, George Tarrant, Durand; 1882, N. O. Murray, Pepin. An amendment to the constitution was approved by the vote of the citizens at the general election in November, 1881, whereby the members of the assembly are to be chosen biennially. W. H. Huntington, of Durand, received a majority of the votes at the election in November, 1882, and represented the county in 1883 and 1884. His successors since that time have been: V. W. Dorwin, Durand, 1885-86; John Newcomb, Pepin, 1887-88; V. W. Dorwin, Durand, 1889-90 and W. E. Plummer, Durand, 1891-92. By the new apportionment in 1891 the county of Pepin and the towns of Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Salem, Treton, Trimbell, Union and the villages of Ellsworth and Maiden Rock, in the county of Pierce, constitute one assembly district. The whole population of the county, by townships, according to the census returns of 1890, is as follows: Albany 459 Durand (town) 253 Durand (city) 1,154 Frankfort 648 Lima 765 Pepin 1,491 Stockholm 711 Waterville 1,287 Waubeek 164 _____ Total 6,932 Antecedent to 1860 no state or federal figures are furnished of the population of the county. For and from that date they are as follows: 1860, 2,393; 1865, 3,002; 1870, 4,659; 1875, 5,816;1880, 6,226; 1885, 6,972; 1890, 6,932. There is an apparent discrepancy in the figures for 1885, or in those for 1890. The increase in population during the five years ending in 1885 appears to have been 746; while for the five years ending in 1890 there has been a decrease of 40. The assessed valuation of all property in the county in 1890 as determined by the state board of assessment is as follows: Land, $921,557; personal property, $361,165; city and village lots, $163,600; total, $1,446,322. The state tax for the county in 1890 was $2,175.15. This county was in March, 1866, the scene of a most remarkable tragedy. If ever there was any romance connected with crime, outside the fertile imagination of the novelist, then it was so in this instance. Ira Bradley Wheeler, commonly called "Brad" Wheeler, lived on the bank of the river at a place known as "Five Mile Bluff." He was over forty years of age, married, and two children. His wife was twenty-three, a well-developed woman, and comely to look upon. Her name was Margaret E. Wheeler, generally known as "Mag" Wheeler. A young man, James E. Carter, lived at Wheeler's and was in partnership with "Brad" Wheeler. They supplied the river steamboats with fuel. Carter's immediate relatives were neighbors. On Saturday evening, March 24, 1866, Wheeler proposed that they should all go to the home of Carter's sister to play cards. Mrs. Wheeler expressed her willingness to be one of the party if he, Wheeler, would promise not to cheat. He denied that he ever did so, and a war of words ensued, in which Carter took Mrs. Wheeler's part. Finally the men quarreled, and Mrs. Wheeler told them to go outside and finish their wrangle. They did so, and the altercation grew furious. Accusations were made with reference to the integrity and otherwise of the men and the members of their respective families. His passion worked up to the highest pitch, Wheeler seized a club lying partly beneath a log. Carter, to protect himself, picked up a gun barrel standing near the door, and struck Wheeler over the head with it, and killed him. Carter entered the house and told Mrs. Wheeler, and she wanted to go immediately and tell her sister. Carter persuaded her not to do so, otherwise they would both have to suffer the consequences of the crime, which they decided must be covered up. A log partly in and partly out of the river was where Wheeler was in the habit of going to split wood for the house. This spot was selected to hide the terrible secret. There was a hole in the ice on the river. In the dead of the night the lifeless body of Wheeler was dumped into it. The next morning, early, Wheeler's horse and old cutter were backed partly into the hole. Later Mrs. Wheeler and Carter went round to the stores for provisions, and to visit neighbors. Suddenly attention was called to the horse and cutter. Wheeler could not be seen or found. He must have fallen into the river and been accidentally drowned. Mrs. Wheeler and Carter were arrested on suspicion. An investigation took place. There were no witnesses to the perpetration of a crime, so the accused were discharged. They lived together as man and wife. Later in the season, after the ice had left the river, the body of Wheeler was discovered. An examination revealed the fact that his head had been split open. Mrs. Wheeler and Carter were again arrested. An indictment for murder was found against them at Durand. As there was no jail there in which the accused could be safely incarcerated they were taken to Eau Claire to await trial. When the case was called at Durand, in March, 1867, the prosecution applied for and obtained a change of venue to Dunn county, from whence it was removed to La Crosse county on the application of the counsel for the defense. On the trial before Judge Flint, in May, 1868, both the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. District Attorney John Frazier conducted the prosecution, assisted by Allan Dawson, of Hudson. The prisoners were defended by Alex Meggett, of Eau Claire, and J. W. Losey, of La Crosse. After the case had been opened, it became evident that one, and one only, of the defendants had dealt the fatal blow. The theory of the prosecution was that Mrs. Wheeler had struck her husband with a hatchet. This it was endeavored to prove. The contention of the defense was that the injury had been inflicted with a gun barrel. Suddenly, and without any warning to the court, Carter withdrew his plea of not guilty and interposed that of guilty. A profound sensation was the result. This was heightened when he was called to the stand by Mr. Meggett, Mrs. Wheeler's counsel, as a witness on her behalf. His evidence proved, incontestably, that he alone killed Wheeler, but it did not clear the woman in the eyes of an ignorant, narrow-minded jury. They found both prisoners guilty of murder in the first degree. The sentence was imprisonment for life. Mrs. Wheeler's counsel immediately applied for a new trial for her on the ground that the changing of the venue from Pepin to Dunn county was unconstitutional and therefore illegal. The case was carried to the supreme court. Mrs. Wheeler was removed to Eau Claire and given a temporary home at the residence of the sheriff. She was on parole, in fact, having given her promise not to attempt to escape. She was engaged to a young man before her marriage, but was coerced into wedlock with Wheeler by her friends. Now that he was dead her first love appeared on the scene and again urged his suit. The next step was to get her released from custody on a writ of habeas corpus on the ground that the court had failed to order her to be committed to safe keeping. Her counsel was out of the city for a few days. She was anxious to get married and could not brook delay. Another lawyer was obtained. He made the application on Saturday. The case was adjourned to the following Monday. In the meantime the sheriff of Pepin county heard of what was going on. Mrs. Wheeler was released from custody, and was immediately re-arrested by an officer from Durand. On being advised that there was no chance of her being acquitted in Pepin county, as the prejudice was so strong against her, she escaped. Fleeing south with her lover they were married. After serving five years, Carter began to take steps to secure his pardon. He claimed that there was an arrangement between Mrs. Wheeler and himself that he should remain in prison five years, and that she should use her utmost efforts to obtain his release at the expiration of that time. This she failed to do. In his application to the governor of the state he claimed that he had been advised to plead guilty to killing Wheeler, while the truth was that the fatal blow was struck by Mrs. Wheeler. He obtained his pardon. The last heard of him was that he was married, with a family, and foreman in a lumber-mill on the Chippewa river. Mrs. Wheeler died in the latter part of April, 1891, at Venice, Ill. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY WISCONSIN, 1891-2 CHAPTER XIII (Pages 295 - 307) DURAND From Settlement to City - Its Foundation By Miles Durand Prindle - An Indian Outrage - Celebrating the Glorious Fourth - Schools, Churches and Newspaper - The Coleman Brothers' Tragedy and Lynch Law - A Christmas Day Conflagration - A Chartered City and Its Officers - The Volunteer Fire Department - Secret and Benevolent Societies Durand is in the center of an agricultural region, about twenty miles from the Mississippi river, where the crops are as fine as in any part of Wisconsin. The city is on the east side of the Chippewa river, which is more than a quarter of a mile wide at this point, and very picturesquely located. East of it is a range of sandstone bluffs, which is thickly studded with trees, whose summer foliage tends to make a charming background to the general view. North of the city is Waubeek Mound, on the west side of the river. Towering above everything else, it forms a conspicuous landmark. The climate of Durand is considered one of the finest in the country. The softness and dryness of the atmosphere is remarkable, making the city very healthy. It is said that no one dies here except from old age. Durand was not settled until 1855, and there was no stopping-place for travelers and others between Eau Claire and the Mississippi. This want of accommodation was a great hardship, as the only means of transportation was by small boats, or a wild path along the banks of the Chippewa river, with nowhere to rest for the whole distance. The need of a settlement between the two points was, therefore, seen not only to be a necessity but a probably safe investment by Perry Curtis. He and a few associates started, in 1855, to establish a hamlet, which was called Chippewa, at the mouth of Bear creek, a short distance above Durand, but they were deceived by a dry season. The bottom lands on which they built are annually overflowed. Although there were nearly thirty buildings there at one time, including a hotel, a store and a house erected by Jesse Hardy, a post-office, and two or three other stores, the attempted settlement at that spot had to be abandoned. John Holverson built the first house there. In the next year, 1856, Miles Durand Prindle came into the region from the Pine-Tree state. After looking the country over he secured a tract of land, and surveyed and platted the village of Durand in July of that year, in association with Charles Billings. The surveying was performed by L. G. Wood. A board shanty on the bank of the river, erected by Billings for use in traveling up and down the stream, was the first structure built in the village. There was a German family living in a cabin which they had erected in the immediate neighborhood several years previously named Babatz. Mrs. Babatz was the first white woman, and one of her offspring was the first white child born here. A most inhuman outrage was inflicted upon her by a party of Sioux Indian in the presence of her husband. Having bound him, ten of the savages violated her person. On Independence Day, 1856, a board was put up on which was the word "Durand," the village was named after Prindle. These pioneers evidently meant business. The first wedding took place the following month. The first boarding-house erected was that of Peter Carver, in the same year. Pridle [sic] and Babatz's addition was surveyed and platted in August, 1856; James M. Burgess' addition in 1859; Nicolai and Batbaz's [sic?] in 1860; Smith and Prindle's in 1862, and Maxwell's in 1883. The first store was that of M. D. Prindle and Charles Weatherbee, which was opened in 1856, as was also the blacksmith shop of Alonzo Allen. A keel boat called the "Dutch Lady" was built in 1856 by M. D. Prindle. It was run for several years between Read's Landing, Durand and Eau Claire. The following were among the first settlers here: W. E. Hays, W. F. Prindle, Peter Gerber, N. Plummer, George Ellsworth, R. R. Root, D. C. Topping, Capt. V. W. Dorwin, George Babcock, J. J. Stafford and P. E. Hardy. All of them were industrious, persevering, enduring and enterprising men, otherwise it would have been impossible for them to surmount the obstacles in the way to their advancement, or endure the hardships attendant upon settling in a region away from any civilization, except that which existed among themselves, and many miles distant from any place where the comforts of life could be procured, assuming that they had the means to do so. The struggle was a long and arduous one for several years, but success crowned the efforts of many of them in the end, as their positions to-day will testify. They found time occasionally, however, for social enjoyment and the celebration of public anniversaries. The "Glorious Fourth," in 1857, was commemorated in the well-known fashion. The services of Mr. Brown, of La Crosse, had been secured and the customary patriotic speech was delivered. Henry Eaton was the chairman of the meeting. The festivities concluded with a dance in the evening. Christmas of the same year was celebrated with a barbeque, a large steer being roasted whole. The first hotel, if it could be so called, was erected in 1856, by Caspar Hugg. It was known as the "Bean Sandwich." It was in this building that the first sermon was preached by a traveling minister from Winona. The first school in the village was opened in this house in the summer of 1857. The first teacher was Miss Emma Ide, now Mrs. H. R. Smith, whose husband is the proprietor of the "Little Inn," M. D. Prindle's Tontine house. Dan Rankin commenced to build a hotel on the site of the Casler house, in 1858. It passed through the hands of several parties before it was finished by A. W. Grippin, and opened in 1859. It was called Grippin's hotel, and was the first one in the village worthy of the latter name. It changed owners several times, its name being altered almost as often. It came into the possession of A. Casler in 1871. He operated it until April 1, 1874, when it was purchased by Joseph Barton. He conducted it until his death, on March 11, 1886. His widow, Mrs. Barton, managed it until 1889, and since that time it has been under the direction of Max Kemmenitz. In 1857 a small saw-mill was erected by W. F. Prindle, George Ellsworth and W. E. Hays, with a capacity of 15,000 feet a day, to supply the needs of the surrounding country, which was fast developing into an agricultural region. The plant passed into the hands of William Dorckendorff in 1865. He enlarged and added new machinery to it, and conducted it for several years to considerable advantage. He sold it, in 1870, to Francis Kinney. After he had run it for three or four years it became the property of the Eau Claire Lumber company, and they sold it to Frank Griffin in 1876. He operated it on a small scale until 1889, when it was purchased by the Davis & Starr Lumber company, whose principal office is in Eau Claire. They remodeled the plant, furnishing it with a new engine, boiler and machinery for planing lumber and sawing cull lumber for furniture and wagon stock. The company has a lumber yard in connection with the mill. The former was established in 1888. In the spring of 1858, and shortly after the flood that had drowned out the rival village of Chippewa, on Bear creek, the post-office was removed here. D. C. Topping was the first postmaster. The office was in his store, in what was afterward known as the old Barton block. He was succeeded by W. F. Prindle in 1861. After him came C. J. Smith. Myron A. Shaw was the next to hold the office. He was followed by H. D. Dyer, who continued to serve the public for twenty-one years. A. W. Hammond did the same thing for three years, when W. L. Bachelder was appointed postmaster. This was in 1889, and he has continued to handle the mail since that time. The Rev. Mr. Morse, from Gilman, came occasionally to preach in John Stafford's house, but the first religious denomination established here was the Methodist Episcopal church, which was organized from what was the Bear Creek mission, afterward the Maxwell mission, and then the Durand mission, in 1857, by Rev. S. Bolles, presiding elder of the St. Paul district. The first duly appointed minister was Rev. Sylvester H. Webster, a local preacher, who volunteered his services in 1858. He was aided in his work by two newly licensed local preachers, Edward Doughty and G. S. Havens. They had a great revival in the Valley, extending over part of four counties - Pepin, Dunn, Eau Claire and Buffalo. To indicate the hardships endured by these itinerant ministers in a new country, among an impecunious people, their allowance as $934. The receipts were $323; deficit, $611. The appointments that followed were: Rev. D. W. Downs, 1860; Rev. Thomas Harwood, 1861; Revs. C. P. Hachney and J. S. Akers, 1862; Rev. C. P. Hachney, 1863; Revs. M. Woodley and James Gurley, 1864; Rev. J. E. Springer, 1865-66. Up to this time the meetings were held in the school-house. The last named pastor commenced the erection of the church edifice, which was forty by sixty feet, and expended $1,200 upon it. It was completed during the term of Rev. A. J. Davis, 1867-68, and dedicated by Rev. J. B. Richardson, presiding elder of the La Cross district. Its cost aggregated $4,000. The successors of Mr. Davis were: Rev. H. W. Bushnell, 1869; Rev. W. T. Boughton, 1870; Rev. G. D. Brown, 1871-73. The church was left to be supplied in 1874. Rev. W. W. Wheaton ministered to the pastorate in 1875-76. He was followed by Rev. C. C. Swartz, in 1877-78. The next pastors were: Rev. W. C. Ross, 1879-80; Rev. J. Harrington, 1881; Rev. N. G. Bradley, 1882; Rev. G. D. Brown, 1883-84; Rev. P. K. Jones, 1885- 86. The last named minister improved and restored the church building, and erected a good parsonage, leaving the organization encumbered with a considerable indebtedness. Hiss successor in 1887, and the pastor to the present time is Rev. John Holt. Under his administration the church as been freed from financial embarrassment, and is now in a prosperous condition. The members and probationers number 170. Samuel L. Plummer, who settled north of Bear creek early in the spring of 1855, erected a water-power saw-mill on the creek, and sold it the next year to his cousin, Nathan Plummer, who ran it as long as there was pine in the vicinity to convert into lumber. A ferry was established across the river, in 1857, by Jacob Kuhn and John Schell. It was a pole ferry, and was so operated until 1860, when Sol. Crosby established a horse ferry. It was subsequently purchased by George Babcock. Then the Goodrich brothers became the owners of it, and they afterward sold out to Carlisle & Smith, who introduced the first steam-ferry boat. H. R. Smith purchased his partner's interest in the enterprise, and operated the ferry until the bridge was built across the river. M. D. Prindle instituted mail routes in several directions where travel of any kind was an arduous undertaking. A yard was started and several boats and barges of draught adapted to the Chippewa river trade were built. These vessels carried many tons of freight up that stream and its tributaries. Four miles up the river east of Durand is the water power grist-mill on Bear creek built by V. W. Dorwin in 1859. It was a small old- fashioned stone mill. In 1879 several additions and improvements were made to it, and it is now operated by the V. W. Dorwin Mill Company, which was organized in 1880. V. W. Dorwin is the president and manager, and W. V. Dorwin the secretary and treasurer. The capital is $25,000. The company also owns and operates a carding-mill built in 1876 and a cheese factory erected in 1871 on the farm belonging to Mr. Dorwin. A new factory was built in 1891, and production commenced in it in May of that year. The first district school-house, with one department, was built in 1860. It was known as the stone school-house, and is located opposite the Methodist church. Since 1873 it has been occupied as a dwelling. The district school-house on Burgess' addition was substituted for it when the high school was established under the free high school law of the state. It was moved about a mile out of the city, in 1876, and converted into a residence. The present commodious school building was erected in that year, and is one of the foremost among the public institutions of the city. The grounds upon which it is located constitute the block between Madison, Wells, Spring and Charles streets, and are handsomely laid out, and decorated with trees, shrubs and flowers. A large spring rises in the basement and flows in a stream through the yard. The school has five departments. C. D. Bon was the first principal, and J. W. Nezbit is the present one. The first newspaper published in Durand was the "Home Mirror," in 1860. It was owned and conducted by Myron Shaw. He sold an interest in it to George Van Waters in 1862, when its name was changed to the Durand "Times." In 1863 Mr. Van Waters secured his partner's interest in the undertaking, and continued the publication of the paper until 1868, when he sold it to Messrs. Powers & Foster. One year later Mr. Foster became sole proprietor, and, in October, 1873, disposed of the property to W. H. Huntington. He, in turn, parted with it to Messrs. Matteson & Bon. Shortly afterward the former obtained the latter's interest in it and published it along until November, 1878, when the office and plant were destroyed by fire. The Pepin county "Courier" was started by Mr. Huntington in December, 1877, and in November of the following year he secured the subscription list, etc., of the "Times" from Mr. Matteson and changed the name of his paper to the Pepin county "Times and Courier." In January, 1880, Mr. Huntington dropped the word "Times" and his paper again became the "Courier" only, under which name it is still published. In January, 1885, Messrs. Eldridge & Morsbach became the owners of it, and in 1890 Mr. Huntington bought out Mr. Eldridge. Its political principles are strongly republican. The paper is well patronized, and well conducted in every department. The "Lean Wolf" was issued here in 1869 by Mr. Van Waters. After running it about three months it was removed to Menomonie. One other paper is published here. It is the Durand "Zeitung," and is printed in the German language. Robert Morsbach is the editor. St. Mary's German Catholic church was organized in 1860, and was a mission from Eau Galle. Services were held once a month in a little frame building which stood on the site of the present St. Peter's hall, which is owned by a society of that name, an organization for mutual assistance. The first regular priest was Rev. Richard Mandell, who came in 1876, at which time a small frame church, twenty-two by fifty feet, was erected at a cost of about $2,000. The next pastor was Rev. Joseph Fleming. He was appointed in 1878, and remained until the close of 1880, when the present incumbent, Rev. Joseph M. Bauer, took charge of the organization. A new and handsome church edifice of brick was built in 1885, and the old one is now used as a school. It has ninety registered pupils, to whom instruction is imparted by three sister teachers of St. Francis, of Silver Lake. A brewery was erected by Messrs. Harstoff & Stending in 1863, and purchased by P. Lorenz in 1866. It was destroyed by fire in 1874, when a new building was put up, twenty-six by twenty-two feet, and two stories high. In the fall of 1890 the Durand Brewery company was organized and the property leased to them. The officers are: President, Frank Baur, secretary and treasurer, N. T. Mertes. Durand has grown to such an extent at the expiration of fifteen years from its inception that an organization for its management, especially in relation to needed improvements, became indispensable, and by a special act of the legislature, in March, 1871, it was incorporated as a village. The leading hotel in the city is the Tontine house, a conglomerated semi-Swiss structure. M. D. Prindle commenced building it in 1872, but it was not completely finished until 1888. He and his family resided in a portion of it for the greater part of that time. It was conducted by him as a hotel from 1880 until the end of April, 1889. Since that date it has been managed by H. R. Smith. The Congregational church owes its existence to Rev. A. Kidder, of Eau Claire, who commenced missionary work here in February, 1874. In the following September the Chippewa convention was held in the village when a church of ten members was organized. Caleb Spooner was unanimously chosen the first deacon. There was a revival in 1875, when the members increased to twenty. The services were held in the court- house until the frame house of worship, thirty-three by sixty-six feet, with a seating capacity of 280, was erected in 1879-80, at a cost of $4,500. Mr. Kidder was mainly instrumental in securing sufficient aid for this purpose. The dedication took place October 17 of the latter year. The Rev. F. B. Doe officiated at the ceremonies, and raised the balance of indebtedness, $700, whereby the organization was free from pecuniary obligation. Mr. Kidder resigned in 1883, having served the organization for nine years and a half. He was followed by Rev. J. A. Wood, who remained two years, retiring July 26, 1886. His successor is Rev. E. L. Morse, who was supplied the church since that time. During the intermissions the services were conducted by members of the congregation. There is now a membership of seventy. What is now known as the North Western Lumber Company's lumber yard was started in 1875 by M. Maxwell. He operated it for eleven years and then sold it in 1886 to the company. He has been conducting it for them ever since. A fire in September, 1888, damaged the sheds and stock to the extent of $4,000. The sheds were reinstated and the stock replenished and everything again in running order within thirty days. The principal office of the company is in Eau Claire, and the works at Porter's Mills, on the Chippewa river, in the town of Brunswick, Eau Claire county. The Pepin County Agricultural Society was organized here in March, 1878. The first officers were: President, S. L. Plummer; secretary, W. H. H. Matteson; treasurer, George Tarrant. Shortly after its formation the citizens of Durand fitted up the grounds with funds raised by subscription. There is a fine half-mile track and spacious buildings. The first fair was held in September of the same year. They take place annually early in the fall. The present officers are: President, P. J. Ryan; secretary, W. H. Huntington; treasurer, A. W. Hammond. A terrible tragedy was enacted in this city on Sunday evening, July 10, 1881. Ex-Sheriff Charles G. Coleman, a resident here, and his brother, Milton Coleman, deputy sheriff of Dunn county, two brave men and in good standing with the community, were shot and instantly killed by a couple of desperadoes named Williams, who had been prowling about this part of the state for some months. They had recently stolen two horses from Illinois, one of which was captured the previous week by Deputy Sheriff Miletus Knight, of Durand. From a conversation they had with Frank Goodrich, who met them on their way to the river, it was supposed they came over after the horse, as they made particular enquiries as to the location of the jail and if Knight was at home or absent. They came down the river and had William Goodrich put them across it about six o'clock in the evening. Goodrich did not know them, but suspected who they were and came back down town to notify the authorities. Milton Coleman had just returned from Wabasha, where he had been after another criminal, and, with Charles, started after the law-breakers, knowing who they were form descriptions given of them by parties who had seen them when they crossed the river, and afterward. The Colemans went toward the upper part of town and got ahead of the thieves. Coming back, the officers met them just in front of J. T. Dorchester's house. Milton called upon them to halt. Before he got the words fairly out of his mouth or could raise his gun Alonzo Williams shot him, and Edward Williams fired at Charles. Milton fell instantly, shot in the neck, but Charles emptied both barrels of his shotgun at the murderers and staggered a few feet toward the road and then dropped. They were both dead before any one could reach them. Charles was forty years old, had served in the army during the rebellion, and was a gallant and intrepid soldier. A reward of $1,700 was offered for the capture of the criminals. Edward and Alonzo Maxwell, alias Williams, for the latter was an assumed name, were notorious characters. They had served terms in Joliet. Their father, David R. Maxwell, resided at Oscar, Kearney county, Neb. They had a brother, living at Macomb, Ill. Not more than a day or two had passed before 250 armed men were engaged in the search for the culprits, who were believed to be in the woods around Eau Galle. Edward Maxwell was arrested November 8, 1881, at Grand Island, Neb., by Sheriff Killian. The prisoner was conveyed to Durand, and November 19 an examination took place. He was committed for trial. Without delay the officers started to conduct their prisoner back to the jail. Just as the party reached the bottom of the courthouse stairs some one cried, "Hang Him." In an instant the officers were forced on one side. A noose was placed round the murderer's neck, although he fought like a tiger. A cry from the leaders of the lynchers of, "Haul away" tightened the rope round Maxwell's neck so as to deprive him of strength. He was hurried to an old oak tree just east of the court-house and in a moment was suspended thirty feet in the air. His handcuffs were on and a heavy pair of shackles dangled from his left foot. In fifteen minutes the lifeless body of the assassin was cut down by the officers and buried in the Potter's field of the cemetery. Alonzo Maxwell is believed to be still at large somewhere in Nebraska. The Durand elevator, near the depot, was built in 1882 by Messrs. Lawrence & Krick. It passed through several hands, and was ultimately purchased by the H. J. O'Neill Grain company, of Winona, in 1890. Its capacity is 30,000 bushels. The shipments in 1890 amounted to 60,000 bushels, mostly wheat; in 1889 to 100,000 bushels, and in 1888 to 125,000 bushels. Considerable interest was given to the trade of the city when the Chippewa Valley division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway was opened for traffic in 1882, and so connected Durand, via Wabasha, with Chicago and the east, and St. Paul and the west and northwest. The planing-mill of Louis Zeisinger, was erected by him in this year. Its dimensions are twenty-four by fifty feet, and it is operated by steam power, with a capacity of 25,000 thousand feet a day. On Christmas day, 1882, the village was visited by a most disastrous conflagration. It broke out about two o'clock in the afternoon. The destruction was so rapid that in an hour and a half, four blocks in the main business section, two on each side of the street, including the Ecklor house, owned and operated by W. H. Huntington, were reduced to ashes. There was no help to be obtained. The fire started in the roof of the hotel, at the rear end, near the chimney. All the buildings destroyed were frame, and were thus an easy prey for the flames. The damage sustained, particularly to the stocks in trade, was placed at $100,000. The total insurance was $48,000. The buildings annihilated were the Ecklor house and barns, the old Barton store, meat market and ice-house, owned by Mons Anderson; the shoe store of F. A. Hoeser, the harness shop of Joseph Schue, two small store buildings, a tenement house and barn, owned by H. E. Houghton; the store building of J. D. Tiffany, occupied by Messrs. Wells & Harrison, railroad contractors; the dwelling-house and barns of Peter Gerber, one of the first residences built in the village; the store owned and operated by Messrs. Tarrant & Dorwin; S. J. Humphrey's drugs tore, Jake Van Norman's hardware and harness shop, the meat market of P. W. & H. Goodrich; E. B. Parkhurst's store building, occupied by Hudson & Son, druggists; S. M. Scott's saloon, E. Oestereicher's meat market and ice- house, the confectionery store of William Seely; the hardware and tin shops of Vantrot Bros.; Messrs. Wallace & Hammond's hardware store; A. A. Hutchinson's building, occupied by Batchelder's photograph gallery; D. C. Topping's dry goods store; R. B. Gough's dry goods store, and H. D. Dyer's building, in which the post-office was located. Each of the Freemason, United Workmen, Temple of Honor, Good Templars and Odd Fellows organizations had handsomely furnished lodge rooms - everything was lost except the charters. When the blocks were rebuilt, the business houses were substantially constructed of brick, as this product is easily obtainable. James T. Dorchester operated a brick-yard a short distance northeast of the city, with an output of several hundred thousand each season. It was established in the summer of 1880. The "Bank of Durand" was incorporated March 4, 1884, with a paid-up capital of $25,000, and the following officers: President, A. W. Hammond; cashier, A. J. Fowler. The officers named are unchanged. The directors for 1891 are A. W. Hammond, A. J. Wallace, George Tarrant, A. R. Dorwin, A. J. Fowler, George F. Benson and James G. Lawrence. What adds to the general appearance of the city is the bridge across the river, which was built and opened for traffic in the spring of 1884 by the Chippewa Bridge company. The structure is composed of wood and iron, with four spans of 200 feet each, and a draw 100 feet in the clear, spanning 225 feet. Its total length is 1,240 feet. The city gave the necessary charter for its construction to the company, and $3,000 in cash was raised by subscription and presented to it. It is a toll bridge, with five cents for foot passengers and twenty-five cents for teams, or forty cents both ways. It connects the west side of the river and the country beyond with the city. The first man to cross the bridge on horseback was Judge A. J. Coffin, who rode over it before all the planks had been laid, escorted by the whole force of workmen. Durand became a chartered city by an act of the legislature approved in the spring of 1887. The first election of officers took place in April of that year. The following are those who secured a majority of the votes of the citizens at and since that time: 1887 - Mayor, A. Vantrot; city clerk, W. H. Huntington; treasurer, P. W. Goodrich; assessor, A. G. Coffin. Aldermen - First ward, E. Oestereicher, J. H. Parkhurst and Henry Bruen; Second ward, H. A. Knapp, G. W. Dunlap and H. E. Stanton. 1888 - Mayor, George Tarrant; city clerk, W. H. Huntington; treasurer, P. W. Goodrich; assessor, A. G. Coffin. Aldermen - First ward, E. Oestereicher, Henry Bruenn and William Sommerfield; Second ward, H. A. Knapp, G. W. Dunlap and H. M. Orlady. 1889 - Mayor, E. Oestereicher; city clerk, Horace Fraser; treasurer, A. E. McKee; assessor, R. B. Gough. Aldermen - First ward, A. G. Kelton, John Boehn and William Sommerfield; Second ward, H. M. Orlady, F. H. Boehrer and H. A. Knapp. 1890 - Mayor, E. Oestereicher; city clerk, W. H. Huntington; treasurer, A. E. McKee; assessor, A. G. Coffin. Aldermen - First ward, A. G. Kelton, John Boehn and P. Vantrot; Second ward, H. M. Orlady, F. H. Boehrer and C. A. Spooner. 1891 - Mayor, George Tarrant; city clerk, J. J. Morgan; treasurer, Christian Bruenn; assessor, A. G. Coffin. Aldermen - First ward, A. G. Kelton, John Boehn and P. Vantrot; Second ward, C. A. Spooner, E. N. Sabin and G. W. Kees. The creamery of George Tarrant & Son, at the corner of Bashford and River streets, near the bridge, was erected in the spring of 1888. It is a frame building forty by thirty feet, with a capacity of 3,000 pounds of butter a day. They also own a separator factory, located about eight miles out of the city, on Bear creek. It is known as the Bear Creek creamery, and was built and commenced running in the spring of 1891. Its capacity is 4,000 pounds of butter a day. The Durand Volunteer Fire department was inaugurated in the summer of 1889. The city initiated it by furnishing the whole equipment, consisting of a Sibley engine, a horse hose cart with 1,500 feet of hose, and a hook and ladder wagon. The engine company has thirty-four active members, and the hook and ladder company twenty-eight. The officers are: Chief, W. C. Hammond; assistant chief, A. E. McKee; foreman of engine company, Eugene Bibbins; foreman of hose cart, Walter Schier; foreman of hook and ladder wagon, G. Brown. The city has now a fine, commodious building for the accommodation of its officers, and the conduct of its business. It was erected in the fall of 1890, is brick veneered, two stories high, with an engine-room in the basement. The hall on the second floor is thirty by sixty-five feet. There is a very interesting "Museum of Natural History" in this city. The collection has been made, and is owned, by E. L. Brown, taxidermist. It consists of all the known birds and small animals in this state, Minnesota and Dakota. The population of the city in 1890 was, as appears by the census returns, 1,154. The assessed valuation of its real estate for the same year was $133,152, and its personal property 91,103. The following are among the secret and benevolent societies of the city: Durand Lodge No. 149, F. & A. M., chartered June 15, 1864. Officers for 1891: W. C. Hammond, W. M.; William H. Smith, S. W.; George Tarrant, Sr., J. W.; A. W. Hammond, S. D.; H. D. Tanner, J. D.; Christian Bruenn, secy.; F. A. Haeser, treas. Durand Chapter 61, R. A. M., organized in March, 1885. Officers for 1891: A. J. Wallas, H. P.; A. W. Miller, K.; William Goodrich, S.; George Tarrant Sr., C. P.; A. W. Hammond, P. S.; W. C. Hammond, R. A. C.; A. G. Kelton, G. M. F. V.; William H. Smith, G. M. S. V.; Charles Smith, G. M. T. V; George Tarrant Jr., secy.; William B. Smith, treas. Durand Lodge No. 59, A. O. U. W., organized March 10, 1879. Officers for 1891: F. A. Roehm, N. G.; J. J. Auer, V. G.; W. L. Bachelder, R. S. and P. S.; William Seely, t.; S. M. Scott, W.; Otto Rehle, I. G. Charles G. Coleman Post No. 82, G. A. R., organized in June, 1883. The officers for 1891 were: Commander, W. C. Hammond; S. V. C., W. M. Atkins; J. V. C., B. Bradford; chaplain, R. H. Newton; adjt., M. A. Shaw; Q. M., W. E. Hill; officer of the day, C. M. Story; Q. S., William Seely; S. M., Henry Doughty. The following biographical sketches can be found in the "Biographies" section of these archives: ALKIRE, Isaac D. ALKIRE, Wm. E. ALLEN, Col. Benjamin ALLEN, Cyrus A. ANDERSON, A. Eric ANDERSON, Albert AXTELL, Milton B. BALLARD, Asiel BILES, Thomas BRIGGS, Benjamin J. BROATCH, Peter BRUNER, Gottlieb G. BUCHANAN, Gabriel BUCHANAN, Henry H. BYINGTON, Lucius E. BYINGTON, Orrin CARLISLE, Henry W. CARPENTER, Charles Carr CHASE, Rev. C. H. CLARKE, Carlton B. CLARKE, Daniel E. COFFIN, Hon. Alexander G. DORWIN, Hon. V. W. DUNN, Frank S. FITCH, Marcellus Green FITZSIMONS, Andrew H. FLEMING, James FOX, Adam L. FOX, Arthur FULLER, Capt. Ira A. FULLER, Henry C. FULLER, Hiram FULLER, Ira Sr. FULLER, John GANOE, John P. GILMORE, Albert GOODRICH, Ashbel GOODRICH, Chauncey S. GOODRICH, Frank A. GRUND, Andrew GUE, Wesley W. HAMILTON, William H. HAMMOND, Ansel W. HAWKINS, Edward HAYES, W. E. HEADSTROM, Gustavus F. HICKS, Samuel B. HOLDEN, John HOLDEN, Milton HOWARD, Caleb HOWARD, Lucius HOWARD, Oliver G. HOWARD, Thomas HUMPHREY, Abel R. HUMPHREY, David HUMPHREY, LaFayette HUNSTABLE, Samuel L. HUNTINGTON, William H. INGHAM, Jonathan A. KASSLER, Johann G. KNIGHT, Handy KNIGHT, Henry KNIGHT, Miletus LANGERS, Emil LARSON, John M. LITTLE, James LOWRY, John MARBLE, Levi McCAIN, John MILES, Charles M. MILLER, Amindon Wallace MILLIREN, Capt. Irvin Henry MILLIREN, Hewlett Jonathan MILLIREN, Milton Samuel MILLIREN, Samuel MINDER, Eli MYERS, Charles NEWCOMB, Isaac McElwain NEWCOMB, Orrin James NEWCOMB, Samuel NEWCOMB, Wm. Boyd PARKINSON, John PETERSON, Aaron F. PLUMER, Nathaniel PLUMMER, Frank S. PLUMMER, Hon. S. L. PLUMMER, Hon. W. E. PLUMMER, Samuel Forrest POTTER, Hiram RICHARDS, Hon. Linus RICHARDSON, Charles ROHRSHEIB, Andrew ROWLEY, Edwin Ruthvin SADDLER, Henry P. SADDLER, William F. SANDQUIST, Paul SCHECKEL, Captain Philip SCHNELL, John SELDON, Thomas SERENE, Samuel L. SHAW, Isaiah SHAW, James SHEARS, George Penfield SKINNER, Otis Z. STUART, James TARRANT, Hon. George THOMPSON, Samuel Jr. TUTTLE, P. N. VARNUM, George Gibson VOSBURGH, Francis S. WESTMAN, John WHEELER, Gilbert L. WHICHER, Francis A. WHITE, James B. WHITMARSH, William YORK, Miami Sylvester YORK, William Sylvenes