Titanic – 100th anniversary of the sinking – Now! Wisconsin and Minnesota connections.

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Dan Geister

Highlights of my Titanic Collection - April 2012

While my main emphasis in this blog is to spread awareness of  Pierce County’s history, I could not go by the Titanic 100th anniversary without blogging about it. I personally remember when I first even heard about the the Titanic, was in the summer of 1985. Robert Ballard was in the news because he actually had found the Titanic. I never heard of it at that point. After reading news stories and the later National Geographic and book coverage of this discovery, I was hooked. This was the first “historical” story that I became fascinated by. My dad and I then decided to make a small Titanic collection. This collection grew slowly at first, but built up into quite a collection over the years. Two highlights of this collection are a first edition the first book (as far as I know) on the Titanic from 1912 called The Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters – Thrilling Stories of Survivors and a copy of the Saint Paul Daily News dated April 16, 1912. Both of these items were found at auctions in Pierce County. That paper’s headline was 1,492 Drowned in Titanic Sea Disaster. There also is a report on Twin City People in Titanic Wreck, which I will reprint later below.

When we learned that Jim Cameron, who was already one of my favorite directors thanks to Aliens and the Terminator movies, was interested in the wreck of Titanic and even thinking of making a movie about it, we were ecstatic! Needless to say when Stan got the movie at the Falls Theater were one of the first in line to see it. We both really enjoyed the movie and how it would this fictional love story around the actual historical events of Titanic’s story.

This blogger outside the Falls Theater - 1998

My dad, Charles Geister, showing off his Titanic, outside the Falls Theater 1998

My Dad's Titanic April 2012.

Of course the movie was fantastic and won many awards and prompted my dad, Chuck to make his own small version of the Titanic. Our Titanic collection grew large by this point, but this is my most unique item in the collection. It landed my dad on the front page of the River Falls Journal March 26, 1998. This was right after Oscar Sunday where Titanic swept most categorizes. The next year Titanic: The Exhibition came to the Union Depot at Saint Paul. We both went to the exhibit, but my dad made an extra effort to attend (along with over 1,000 others) the ceremony where they blew a set of whistles recovered from the wreck for the only time. I now have a decent audio recording of that event. Unfortunately, when Titanic: the Exhibition returned to the twin cities, this time at the Science Museum of Minnesota in later 2009, my dad and I could not go for he had died that July. I did attend that exhibit as well, but felt a little more connected to the lost lives on the Titanic because of my recent loss of my dad.

My passion for Titanic and its story has not ceased. As of this writing, I have not seen Titanic 3-D, but plan to on Saturday April 14th, the anniversary of the Titanic hitting the iceberg. I am sure to be blown away with it seeing it in IMAX for the first time, let alone 3-D.

What is the local connection to the Titanic? No there were no Pierce County people on board. In a broader scope of what is local there were only 8 people from Wisconsin that were on board. The most “famous” being Captain Edward Crosby from Milwaukee, who lost his life. Of these 8 people 3 died and 5 survived. There were 19 others who had destinations in Wisconsin. As for Minnesota, there were 12 on board. Seven survived and five perished. One of those was Walter Donald Douglas who was a millionaire even at that time. 16 others listed their destinations in Minnesota, including a Norwegian immigrant Karl Johan Salander who was going to Red Wing, Minnesota. Both the Wisconsin and Minnesota passengers were from first and second classes, no third class passengers at all. Almost all of the immigrants were in the third class and did die in the disaster. If you combine those who lived and were going to Wisconsin there were 27 passengers, 11 of which survived. Each of the 2223 people on that ship had a story to tell. There are so many details that people have unearthed on the Titanic you could study it exclusively for years and not uncover everything about it. Below is a transcribed version of the St. Paul Daily News story called Twin City People in Titanic Wreck. It mistakenly says Walter D. Douglas survived. While his wife survived, he did not.

News of the several Northwestern people, who were among the passengers on the ill fated Titanic was awaited eagerly by many Twin City friends and relatives today.

Newspaper offices were besieged with inquires and every late report was sought assiduously.

At least eight people from Minneapolis and North Dakota were aboard the Titanic when the vessel sailed. Of these, H.F. Chaffee, Amenia, N.D. is believed to be among the men that stood back and allowed the women and children to secure places in the life boats first, thus sacrificing his own life when the ship took its final plunge to its two mile grave.

Anxiety is also felt in Saint Paul for the fate of F.D. Millet, American painter, who is among the missing according to the latest devices.

The first telegram from New York was received by W.G. Strickland, 657 Portland ave., at 2:30 o’clock Tuesday morning saying that his sister Mrs. R.L. Beckwith, Hartford, Conn., and her husband were among the rescued on the Carpathia.

E.W. Challee, 722 Aurora ave., son of Mr. and Mrs. Chaffee received a telegram from New York with unconfirmed information that his parents were safe on the Carpathia, but Mr. Chaffee’s name does not appear on the Carpathia’s list of rescued.

Hope McCall sent the first direct message received in Saint Paul from the White Star line offices. Mr. McCall’s telegram relieved the anxiety felt for Constance Willard, daughter of D. M. Willard, and sister of Mrs. Hope McCall, 63 S. Avon st. Miss Willard is on the Carpathia.

Mrs. G.A. Goodell has received no information as to the fate of her sister, Mrs. Walter D. Douglas, and Mr. Douglas, who were on the Titanic.

There were three families named Douglas booked on the Titanic and among the list of rescued appears the names, Mrs. Water Douglas and Mrs. Fred Douglas. The names have been so badly confused and misspelled by the wireless operators that Mrs. Goodell entertains hope that her sister may be on the Carpathia. It seem that Mr. Douglas may have been saved, but it is unclear.

Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Snyder, well known members of the younger society set in Minneapolis, were on the Titanic, but were taken aboard the Carpathia.

Mrs. F. G. Bangs, Lincoln ave., had no word today from her cousin, Clarence Moore, Washington D.C. who was a Titanic passenger. His name does not appear in the list of those rescued.

Miss Willard will come direct to St. Paul from New York after the Carpathia docks Friday morning. Miss Willard had been traveling in Europe for several months with her cousin, Mrs. F. G. Mackey, formerly of Minneapolis, now a resident of London.

Mrs. Chaffee will be met Friday morning in New York by her son H. Lawrence Chaffee student at Oberlin college, Orberlin, O. She will stop in St. Paul before going to North Dakota. Mr. Chaffee is a well-known business man, being president of the John Miller Grain Co., with offices in Minneapolis. He has large land holdings in North Dakota.

Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Snyder, who have been abroad since February, curtailed their visit in Paris so as to sail April 17 on the new Titanic. But they were unable to secure passage and were compelled to wait for the next White Star liner, the Oceanic, which sails from England April 20.

Several other Twin City people, among them Mr. and Mrs. George H. Partridge and Mrs. F.M. Prince, Minneapolis, expected to sail on the Titanic on her maiden trip, but it was not easy to secure bookings, so they and many others were disappointed over what proved to be their good fortune.

Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Stevenson, 2620 Portland ave., Minneapolis, parents of Mrs. J.P. Snyder left Monday evening for New York.

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were married January 27 in Minneapolis. Mr. Snyder is the nephew of the late John Pilsbury, one of Minnesota’s early governors.

 

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Falls Theater was featured on Twin Cities Live KSTP today! – Wed. April 11, 2012

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Dan Geister

River Falls Theater - 1964 - notice the outside Ticket Window covering

As I a special treat, I found out River Falls’s beloved Falls Theater was featured on Twin  Cities Live today. The Falls Theater has been a great asset to River Falls since it opened in 1927. It is hard to believe, but that is 85 years ago now. Audrey Alton, who I know very well used to work there as an usher. I personally never remember any theater that had an usher. Although there were five managers before him, Stan McCulloch, who bought and managed the theater starting in 1972, came to be famous for his generosity and giving to River Falls as a community. Stan was approached in 1995, to open a multiplex in Riverside Square, but he politely refused. He ended up owning the theater for 30 years, longer than anyone else. His daughter Michelle “Mickey” has been the head of the theater for last ten years already. 2002 does not seem that long ago to me, but it is! Mickey along with her children and long standing crew continue to keep this wonderful asset to River Falls open every day of the year. The commitment is enormous, but rewarding, it is home to their family. It still blows me away when they get first week movies at only $3.00 a pop, latest example being Hunger Games, and on May 4 – The Avengers! (with scheduled midnight showing)

Raiders of the Lost Ark!

My first real memory of going to the Falls Theater was in 1981 when I was 5 years old. The movie playing was Raiders of the Lost Ark. I remember Main Street was torn up at that time for renovation. Both my parents went to the movie with me, somewhat of a rarity after my parent’s divorce in 1978. Raiders is one of my favorite movies of all time, one of the very few I can say most of the lines before the actors say them. Amazingly years later, I found two things that verified that day of movie going. I found my father’s diary he kept from that year with an entry “Danny went with me and Marcia to Raiders tonight.” Not only that, but while looking through the River Falls Journal file photographs, I found one with Raiders playing at it and the street tore up. I guess my memory is not that bad after all, even for a five year old. I love the fact they have an Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom poster up in the lobby now. When Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opened there in 2008, I saw the movie there 5 times, the most times I have seen a movie in the theater since 1989′s Batman (also at the Falls Theater).  I have seen probably a few hundred movies there at least, the last one being the Hunger Games this past weekend. What is the first movie you remember seeing at the Falls Theater? Leave a comment below!

For the link to the story of the Falls Theater on the KSTP website click here:

http://twincitieslive.com/article/day/S20120411.shtml?cat=10699

For the Falls Theater Website with a lot more history of the theater and  latest movie showtimes and reviews go to:

http://www.fallstheatre.com/

I always prefer the Falls Theater before any other theater. They always seem to get the movies I am interested in during opening weekend. There is more history going to be made at the Falls Theater this year! Stay tuned! Here’s hoping for another 85 years of movie going!

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Protected: The ApRoberts family in River Falls (and elsewhere) history! The origin of 100 S. Main Street

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Dan Geister

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C. F. Winter and how I hate initials! – The “City Hall” clock guy and long-time River Falls Jeweler

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Dan Geister

As I have been researching local history for about 6 years now, one thing I notice that annoys me more than anything is when many people were referred  to in the newspaper only by their initials or as Mrs. John Smith. This is the case with C.F. Winter. The Journal this week has an article on C.F. Winter’s clock and it history up to being moved to city hall. No where in the article is C.F. Winter refereed to by his first name Charles. This was common at least in the newspapers for almost everyone and for sure all business people. Only at the time of their death are some full first names revealed. I am not sure if they were called by their intials in person or not. If any one has any insight on this common practice then let me know! I am glad it is not in favor now.

Anyway a little bit more about Charles F. Winter. Charles Frederick Winter was born November 8, 1858 in Watertown, Jefferson County, Wisconsin to immigrant parents Mathais and Caroline Winter. At the age of 10 months the family moved to Columbus, Wisconsin. His parents came to be in charge of a hotel in Columbus shortly after the Civil War. Chuck grew up in Columbus where he also attended the Lutheran Church there. He got interested in Jewelry in Columbus, but became apprentice at the August Wiggenhorn Jewelry store in Watertown. How long this was is unknown, but he moved to Saint Cloud, Minnesota and started his own jewelry store there in 1881. In 1883, he worked at a jewelry store in Columbus again.  Why he decided to come to River Falls is unknown, but in the spring of 1885, Thomas Yates’s jewelry store was for sale in the Bradshaw Brothers building (118 S. Main Street). A jewelry was first at that location in August 1878 when Henry Cook opened his shop there. The first jewelry store in River Falls was at the Day Daylight store. Egbert Wallace Reed opened a counter there on North Main in the summer of 1871.  Charles Winter opened his store late in July 1885. He did not waste any time settling down here for he married Katherine Gehring November 11, 1885. I think they lived downtown until they built their own home on 4th street in 1894 ( 203 S.). He was active in River Falls being an alderman for the 2nd ward of the city and also a member of the Masons. He was even honored during that run as alderman by having a street named after him. Winter street on the Brooklyn or West side is named after him and not the season, so I have been told. I have never found written proof of this fact though. If anyone has it let me know!

The Winter family had two children Otto L. and Coie Winter. Otto was born December 26, 1888. He became a lieutenant in the first World War. He died of pneumonia during the epidemic on January 2, 1919. Coie married Wilbur Powell Ensign. Wilbur was also in the first World War as a marine. He worked for the Tubbs Medicine Company here in River Falls. After the River Falls Opera House became a ladder factory in 1919, he was in charge of the workers there. When that place burned down, he stayed employed with the same ladder factory and moved to Minneapolis where they had another location. Coie and Wilbur Ensign stayed in Minneapolis for the rest of their lives. Their only child was named Winter Ensign after Charles Winter’s surname.

Winter had a good practice downtown as a jeweler. He mostly worked alone, but I know that George Searle and Arthur Todd both worked there at a time. William Sanderson had an insurance office in the back of the store. They had a bad fire in the store during the spring of 1898. He did reopen shortly after, luckily having insurance for that kind of thing.

In 1900, Sebastian Gehring, Charles Winter’s father in law,  bought 110 S. Main Street. At that time it was a millinery store. When that store left Charles Winter took the opportunity to move to that location, doubling the size of the store. This was in May 1906. Winter’s anniversary sales after this were well advertised as he had been in business many years up to that point. He continued the store until his death on August 5, 1928. The later years he had Herbert Helmer (b. September 13, 1894) as a worthy employee. The store became the Winter-Helmer Jewelry until 1932 when Mrs. Winter relinquished ownership. Helmer would stay in business in River Falls in 1947, even building a new building for himself at 115 S. Main Street in 1947. He sold out to George Neher that year. That address would stay as a Jewelry store in River Falls until 1992, when Richard’s Jewelers closed. Charles Winter himself was the longest proprietor, being in business from 1885 until 1928, 43 years or 36% of that Jewelry store’s lifetime. I guess it is a tribute to what kind of space a jewelry store needs, but Winter’s original location has been Gemini Jewelers at one time and now is the Goldsmith, who is also a jeweler. Anyway, that is a little bit more about C.F. Winter or Charles Frederick Winter and his life in River Falls!

Posted in Overall Pierce County History, River Falls History | 2 Comments

My old home town – Roberts, Wisconsin and Roberts remembered! by Great Aunt Gert.

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Dan Geister

I have not focused on my own history on this blog so far. While I was born in River Falls, I did not live here until 1988. From 1978 to 1988 my home town was and in some ways is Roberts, Wisconsin. My mother had got a divorce from my father at that time (we were living in Hudson), and it was decided it was best if I went to live with my mother. I was 2 years old at that time. My formative years were then spent in Roberts where we lived at 48 Frank Street. Some of my best childhood memories are from Roberts. Being a town kid I walked to school and spent many afternoons at friends or alone at home (before my mother came home from work at Northwest Airlines) around town after a usual stop at the Roberts Grocery Store. Teachers I remember fondly are Mrs. Christensen, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Helders, Mrs. Dougherty, Mr. Magee, Mrs. Huser among others. At that time I did not have any sort of interest in local history, family history or history in general at all. After spending 10 great years in Roberts, my mother met someone and was going to get remarried in October 1988, which she did. Where did that leave me? There were two options: move to White Bear Lake, where my mom was or move in with my dad and uncle in River Falls. Being from Roberts with the St. Croix Central Class of 1994 consisting of about 50 people, my parents decided I should go to River Falls. River Falls was a very large place compared to Roberts and it took some adjusting to living there, especially in school.

48 Frank Street, Roberts, Wisconsin

This blogger at home in Roberts - 1981

Skipping ahead 18 years, my father Chuck Geister, was working on his memoirs on growing up in Beldenville. This was released in the summer of 2007 as a limited edition book called Lillies of My Valley. It is a great read and available at local public libraries. This had inspired me to look in the history of Beldenville in general. I found there never was a book written on its history, just scattered articles in the newspaper and other places. This introduced me to research at the UWRF archives, the Pierce County Historical Association, and many resources to investigate Beldenville. I quickly went from knowing very little about area history to knowing a lot. The “Beldenville Book” was published by the Pierce County Historical Association in 2008.

While initially researching at archives I met Peter Close for the first time. Pete had recently decided to research Roberts and Warren Township history along with his friend Rand.  He saw me and we got to talking about both our projects. I told him about Beldenville, and he said he had family that lived in Beldenville. I did not believe him at first because I did not get to researching that part of Beldenville’s history. It ended up that profiles of some his family appeared in the Beldenville Book and this summer’s Ellsworth book family names being: Locke, Close, Mason, and Williams. Pete and Rand began trading information back and forth with me on local history. If I found something on Roberts and Warren I would share and if they found something on Pierce County, they would share, a process that happens up to this day. Their project is slightly different, because they need a story to publish every two weeks in the newspaper! They have been using a pseudo name which is quite clever. They have collaborated to explain their project Roberts Remembered, which is ongoing to share on my blog. It is a privilege to put this information out on the web to get it more exposure. They are always looking for input and more information on Warren and Roberts! So here it is: Roberts Remembered!

The Village of Roberts and Town of Warren are located within St. Croix County in Western Wisconsin.   With few resources documenting their history, knowledge of their past has disappeared with the eventual passing of key residents.  In 2006, Roberts Remembered was formed to research, compile and preserve this local history with a goal to make it available for current and future generations to enjoy.  Although a comprehensive history book is our ultimate goal, the first serious project of Roberts Remembered was a newspaper column entitled “I Was Wondering …”

 

Local history is stereotypically enjoyed by a mature age group.  The challenge was to devise a writing style which would reminisce about the historical accounts of Roberts/Warren and make it interesting for every age.  A fictional character that had personally experienced nearly every historical milestone over the past 150 years became our device to captivate readers.  A local newspaper publisher thought the idea had merit and, on February 9, 2007, Great Aunt Gert gave the first of her many oral histories of Roberts in the inaugural issue of the Western Wisconsin Weekender.

 

The Western Wisconsin Weekender was free to the public and available to a generous portion of St. Croix County residents.  Great Aunt Gert recounted a different piece of Roberts/Warren history to her readers every week for two full years.  The Weekender discontinued operations in February 2009.  Aunt Gert was immediately offered the opportunity to continue regaling the public with her memories of yesteryear to the subscribers of the Central St. Croix News.  The “I Was Wondering …” column has appeared every other week in that newspaper since 2009.

 

Hardcore history buffs may disapprove but writing local history as if it had been personally experienced has its advantages.  Warm stories spun by a family matriarch–spiced with the use of old slang phrases–can soften the cold facts of history and captivate a reader’s attention.  The phrase “Stars and garters I can remember it as if it were yesterday” is incorporated into every “I Was Wondering …” column and adds a little fun to the flavor of the story.  In the case of conflicting historical data, Great Aunt Gert may include an account which is different from hers.  The reader is not condemned to follow a one-sided version of history.

 

Nearly 200 “I Was Wondering …” columns have been featured in the first five years.  In addition to historical events, equal attention has been given to landmark buildings, organizations, people, and gossip worthy tales.   There is hope that these stories may one day be available in bound form for another generation to enjoy.

 

Roberts Remembered is not limited to the newspaper.  Tossing a special history story to the crowds along the parade route, Aunt Gert has made several personal appearances at the annual Roberts Good Neighbor Days Grande Parade.   Framed photo displays have been donated and permanently exhibited at the Village of Roberts, Town of Warren, and other buildings frequented by the public.  Written contributions have been requested and included in The Hammond/Roberts Community Guide, Hazel Mackin Community Library Cookbook and several editions of The Local Biz monthly advertiser.  Roberts Remembered spearheaded a historical exposition at the Warren Sesquicentennial celebration in 2010 which included an exhibit of historical artifacts as well as display panels featuring photos and text of the township’s rich past.  Due to our efforts, the Roberts Veterans Park now includes many lasting memorials in honor of forgotten residents who performed military service for their country and the Warren Cemetery has several new headstones that identify graves that have been unmarked for decades.

 

Although we utilize government records, plat maps, history books, internet sources and personal interviews, a majority of our early documentation of Roberts and Warren history has been obtained through archival newspapers.   It has taken a substantial investment in both time and money to pursue this hobby but it was never our intent to make this a profitable venture.  History is something that truly belongs to us all and giving everyone the chance to rediscover the Roberts of by-gone days continues to be our goal.

 

Pete Close and Rand Waughtal

Email:  greatauntgert@lycos.com

 

Roberts Remembered

P.O. Box 22

Roberts, WI  54023

 

 

 

 

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The Ellsworth History Book progress – and corrections for the publications put out for the 150th so far.

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Dan Geister

As I am now wrapping up putting together chapters of the Ellsworth history book, I thought I’d write about it and the two publications that have come out so far under Ellsworth’s 150th celebration.

The book that I am working on will be coming out this summer under the Pierce County Historical Association. The book has two main parts to it. I have researched and written about a variety of topics from Ellsworth history that are all going into 10 chapters.

1) Ellsworth Beginnings and County Building Evolution – This chapter covers Ellsworth before the county seat when for about 10 years it was known as Perry. It also covers why the county seat was moved to Ellsworth and the history of the county buildings that have been built in the village.

2) Civic Improvements – Electricity, Sewer, Water, Paving, Village Incorporation, and other improvements like a fire department are in this chapter.

3) West Ellsworth Business History – This chapter was the longest to write, but not necessarily the hardest to research. It attempts to put Ellsworth business histories in order, building by building (even if they don’t exist) from the corner where the Freedom Station is to the Midway Mall. It contains about 50 pages without any photographs yet.

4) East Ellsworth Business History – This was similar to chapter 3, except it involves East Ellsworth. I had some excellent help in this part, for Marvin Struve did similar research and writing in the 1990s. Earlier versions of Chapter 3 and 4 were given to Cal Butts, Jim Peterson, Jack Hines, the Ellsworth Care Center and Ellsworth Chamber members to make sure the information is as accurate as possible. Changes were made and these chapters are nearing final form.

5) Historic Homes – I have this chapter up as a test chapter on my blog. I did not get any feedback on anything wrong in this chapter except some spelling mistakes on current owners. This was an attempt at researching most homes built in Ellsworth before 1960. When where they built and by and for who? Historic photographs will be a highlight of this chapter along with something about renowned architect Cass Gilbert’s connection to Ellsworth.

6) Medical History – This chapter covers all doctors who practiced in Ellsworth from the first, Dr. Dempster Woodworth to Dr. Jonas and Dr. Klaas. Judea Klaas and Dr. Jonas contributed greatly to this chapter. It also will have something on Ellsworth Hospitals (yes there were two!), nursing homes and clinics.

7) Ellsworth Schools – Ellsworth School district history is recounted, not only in a new narrative about the village schools that cover previously unrevealed information, but also histories of all township schools which were: Clayfield, Freier, Maynard, Murphy, Sleepy Hollow, Iverson, Cudd, and Lantz Schools.

8 ) Ellsworth Churches – This chapter will cover histories of all churches past and present in the village and Ellsworth Township. Many of the histories were submitted by long time members and pastors of the churches themselves.

9) Ellsworth Organizations – This will have some histories of organizations in Ellsworth, both active and inactive. Everything from the Hesperian Society to Lions Club, to Masons, to G.A.R. to Girl Scouts, with many others as well.

10) Ellsworth Recreation – This chapter covers some of the fun events and places in Ellsworth over the years. The events include the harvest festivals, 4th of July, Circus, Sno Fest, and Cheese Curd Festival among others. The places include the infamous Ellsworth Pavillion a.ka. Proch’s Pavilion.  Other places include the fairgrounds, the Fireman’s Opera Hall and even the East Ellsworth Pavillion.

These are the chapters I have been working on for the past four years. It feels good to be so close to handing them over to my editor, who is Darleen Schommer. The remainder of the book will be about pioneering Ellsworth families. These are families that came to Ellsworth village or township before 1880. Why 1880? If we try to cover everyone who ever lived here it would be the never ending story. This is the format that other local books have used as well when publishing family histories. The books with family history information so far include volume 7 on the Cherma area, volume 8 on El Paso Township families, and volume 9 on early Beldenville families. These are all still in print and available through our office. Other books that also have extensive family genealogies include The History of Prescott by Beeler and Ahlgren (1996) covering Prescott and surrounding area families and Is there Any Lefse and Ludafisk Left? by Wiff covering Martell Township families (1994). Both of these are also available through our office. Pat (Winn) Mory has been working on a lot of these families for years and has been working diligently and has most of them completed at this time. This section is not only interesting to the families included, but I would think to others who want to know more about the early history of the county and some of their current neighbors families for sure.

Sesquicentennial publications so far.

So far there have been two publications put out as part of the sesquicentennial celebration in Ellsworth: The Ellsworth 150th Calendar put out by the Sesquicentennial committee and the Ellsworth Visitor’s and Residents Guide Sesquicentennial Edition put out by the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce through Helmer Printing. While both of these publications are good in their own ways, there are a few mistakes in them that I feel like I need to share here, because I feel accuracy is important. Once a history is in print, many who read it assume that it is correct and will not check a original source to see if it is really correct.

The Ellsworth 150th Calender

The Calendar has three major mistakes and a few minor ones. Mistake 1: The Pierce County Historical Association was under the impression from our agreement that we would get credit for the photographs used for the calender individually. Instead the powers that be created a list instead. Photos are important view into our past and it is too bad they were not credited individually. Here are the individual photo credits by month.

Cover: Photograph by Ken Close. This is part of the Ken Close collection at PCHA.

January: Pierce County Historical Association photo

February: From the Kathy Deiss post card collection

March: Provided by Brickner’s service station

April: Photograph from the Pierce County Historical Association Collection. This is one of two photos with the incorrect description with the photograph. The cut line talks about the Methodist Church in town, while the photograph is an early one of the Presbyterian Church with Arthur Travis in front of it delivering mail.

May: This is from the Pierce County Historical Association

June: This is provided by the Co-op creamery in East Ellsworth

July: This Main Street view is a Hakkon W. Lawrence photograph out of the new Lawrence negatives in the Pierce County Historical Association collection.

August: This photograph is a Pierce County Historical Association photo. The cut line is incorrect on the first four high school students that graduated from Ellsworth. They list teachers and a principal in the cut line. The correct 4 students are: Mark Terpenning, Lizzie Peterson, Etta Rounce, and Alice Crownhart

September: This also is a Hakkon W. Lawrence photograph from the Pierce County Historical Association.

October: This is a Pierce County Historical Association photograph. It also exists in the Kathy Deiss post card collection.

November: I am assuming this photo of the Ellsworth pavilion was provided by Dick Proch, since he is credited in the list of where they got the photographs from.

December: This a some what common post card of the community Christmas Tree of 1916. It is hard to say where their source is for this.

This was my major problem with the calender : citing sources and having bad information for the cut lines. It was lucky that they did have some of the cut lines proofed, or there could have been more mistakes. There are some minor mistakes in the information on some days as well, but only one serves mention. On August 28 it states: 1855 Anthony Huddleston, cousin of Daniel Boone, was the settler who bought the land where the creamery now stands. First of all, no research has ever linked Daniel Boone to Huddleston. The family has looked into this in great detail and found it is NOT true. Also no mention of the fact that Huddleston is the first settler is made here. The ladies did great work with it, and put together something that it would have been hard for me to do. I am just slightly disappointed in the final product, but not so much that I have not bought more than one!

The Ellsworth Sesquicentennial Edition Community and Visitor’s Guild

Now what is wrong with the Ellsworth visitors guide, you might ask? There are two major problems with it in my estimation. Mistake 1) There are numerous historical photographs including the front cover that are not of Ellsworth at all, but of River Falls! The front cover shows Thomas Tomlinson and Matt Simon’s meat market on it. The proprietors are in the white outfits and Earl Foster is the boy in the center of the photograph. This meat market partnership lasted between 1904 and 1906 and was located where Steve’s Pizza is today on North Main Street in River Falls.  On page 10 there is a photograph of Langwear plant in River Falls during 1931. This was located on Second Street where the Fire Department is today. Langwear was never in Ellsworth! On Page 22 there are a series of photographs, one clearly marked Fred Johnson. This Fred Johnson never lived near Ellsworth, but at Maiden Rock.  Finally on page 37 there is a clear half page image of the Park View Dairy truck with the Bartosh boys shown beside it. The truck is clearly marked River Falls! This was located on today’s Church Street before that area became full of residences as it is today.

The other major problem I have with the book is that it includes 42 historical photographs. None are individually credited anywhere. On Page 1 it says the Historical Photographs were supplied by the Ellsworth Historical Society. This organization does not even exist! It is very clear that the photographs are almost all from the Pierce County Historical Association. This is news to our organization. The authors of the Ellsworth book and the board can not find any documentation showing they could use these photographs or any photographs in a publication. I am sure the information is right within the pages, but these two things put a damper on this publication.

Anyway, hopefully we are on the right track in putting out the Ellsworth History Book a.k.a. Pierce County Heritage Volume 10, by June. It will be over 500 pages and if you pre-order with our office you can get a special rate. E-mail or call our office at 715-273-6611 to reserve a copy. Thank you to everyone who contributed to its creation! You are all on the list to be contacted when the book is completed! We had information, photographs, and artifacts submitted from southern California to Connecticut to Florida as  well as many local contributions. You can also e-mail me if you have any questions about the book’s contents

Posted in Ellsworth History, Overall Pierce County History, Pierce County Historical Association events, River Falls History | 2 Comments

The Early Irish Settlers of Pierce County, Wisconsin – Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Dan Geister

Since Saint Patrick’s Day is on Saturday, I thought I would do a little research on the Irish of Pierce County as a whole especially early on in the county’s history. Pierce County formed in 1853. Before that it was a part of St. Croix County.

The First Irishman in Pierce County?
The 1850 United States federal census for Pierce County would have been recorded as Mouth of the St. Croix district of St. Croix County. Out of the 24 Irish born in St. Croix County in 1850, only one is listed in Pierce County. This is William O. Mahoney, born in 1820, living next to Duncan McGregor. He has 10,000 in Real Estate Value which was very large at the time. According to the book Minnesota Beginnings (1999), Mahoney came to the U.S. as a boy and to St. Croix Falls in 1843. He learned the trade of a baker, but he became one of the proprietors of the sawmill in Osceola. He sold the interest in 1860 and moved to California where he died in 1862. It is interesting he would be listed in Pierce County, considering his ties to Osceola.

Early Foreign Born in Pierce County.

The best early complete look of the people of Pierce County would be the 1860 federal census which lists theoretically everyone who lived there at the time. There were 4672 people in Pierce County in 1860, a far cry above the only 625 people in all of Pierce, St. Croix, Polk and Burnett Counties 10 years earlier. The majority of the immigrants to this area at that time and later came from other areas of the United States. 3587 of that number were U.S. born, but even by 1860 there were quite a number of foreign born in the county. The largest minority group were the Norwegians which numbered 299 in the county at the time. Other foreign born in the county at the time were 212 Germans, 114 Canadians, 85 English, 34 Scottish, 16 Swedish, 14 Austrian, 7 French, and 2 Danes. The second most prominent group of foreign born were the Irish. There were 237 people born in Ireland in Pierce County in 1860. This made up only a little over 5% of the total county population, but 23 % of the Foreign born.

Who were these people?

The 237 Irish in Pierce County in 1860 represented 102 different surnames (last names) and were spread out throughout the county from Prescott to River Falls to Maiden Rock areas and everywhere in between. Their age range was also wide spread between Mary Kiley who was born in 1785 making here 75 to John Jennings who was 4. Jennings is the only child born in the 1850s in Ireland. Of course many Irish at that time came to the United States after the Potato famine of the late 1840s and early 1850s. This can explain at least partially why there are almost no Irish births after that time. Land was cheap in Pierce County, and if you look at the government land patents you will find some of these names on them, getting their land at $1.25 an acre. This can explain why there are Irish spread throughout the county.

What is the lasting legacy of these early Irish settlers? Well there were a number of communities that settled in certain areas of the county centered around churches and area schools, their community centers. The Irish were prominent in many of them. These would be Catholic Churches throughout the county. The churches they help establish include St. Josephs in Prescott, Big River, Clayfield Catholic, St. Martins in River Falls Township, Lost Creek in El Paso and the Plum City Catholic Churches. What later became known as Cherma, because of the large portion of Bohemian settlers in the eara was known as Donegal. This would account for the Irish in River Falls Township and Trimbelle Township in 1860. The village of River Falls at that time had only one foreign born family, the Norwegian Nelson family at that time. The Irish farmers were primarily in the southern portion of the township. Clayield Catholic Church was the center of the Irish Catholic families in Ellsworth and Hartland Township. Both St. Martin’s and Clayfield closed in recent history and many of the descendents of the families that went there now go to St. Bridget’s and St. Francis to this day.

I am sure you could go on for a full book on the history of these people alone. Some of the Canadians were born to these Irish families as well, many coming through Canada, especially during this time period. The Irish would continue to come into the county mostly before 1880. By 1880, 492 Irish born were living in the county. This was never as many as the Swedes or Norwegians or even the “Yankees”, but they were enough of the Irish to leave their mark on the county, even today. For myself, the closest Irish relative I have is my fourth great grandfather William Burch who was born in 1759 in County Wexford, Ireland. Do you have Irish relatives in your past that lived in Pierce County? We always love to get copies of their stories to enrich our county history for the future. Anyway, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Clifton Township:
Patrick Ford 1840, Stephen House 1835, Peter McNarin 1830
Total = 3

Diamond Bluff:
Patrick Cleary 1788, William Constello 1833, Richard Costello 1839, Catherine Costello 1840, Patrick Goggin 1825, Catherine Goggin 1830, George Hope 1812, Mary Hope 1828, Emeline McCue 1804, Timothy McCue 1831, John Ryan 1828.
Total = 11

Perry Township (Ellsworth Township):
Rose Dexter 1828, Mary Kiley 1785, Mary Murphy 1830, Mary Quinn 1825, Thomas Quinn 1829, Patrick Shannon 1815, Mary Shannon 1820, Peter Shannon 1824, Mary Shannon 1831,
Total = 9

El Paso Township
Richard Devereaux 1829, Rose Devereaux 1830, Thomas Hurley 1830, Catherine Hurley 1833, John Hurley 1833, Edmund Hurley 1836, Jane Hurley 1837, Thomas Murphy 1824, James Murphy 1826, Dora Murphy 1830,
Total = 10

Hartland Township:
Mary Collins 1835, Patrick Conlin 1810, Margaret Conlin 1835, James Conrey 1825, Thomas Conrey 1826, Sarah Conrey 1830, Mary Conrey 1832, William Conrey 1834, James Conrey 1837, , Michael Darrington 1830, Anna Darrington 1834, John Drake 1808, James Livington 1838, Anna Spaulding 1834, Charles Tegan 1838
Total = 16

Martell Township:
Ann Dee 1829, Patrick Farwell 1790, Catherine Jennings 1829, Miles Jennings 1830, John Jennings 1856, Hannah Martelle 1833
Total = 6

Oak Grove: Mary Beardsley 1836, James Boles 1821, James Brannan 1810, Adelia Carley 1844, Ellen Clark 1841, John Davidson 1822, Mary 1829, Henry Hope 1827, Ellen Hope 1838, James Logan 1814, Bridget Logan 1823, Eliza Logan 1843, Mariah McLean 1815, Catherine Murphy 1810, Timothy Murphy 1810, John Murphy 1839, Martin Murphy 1843, Catherine Murphy 1846
Total = 18

Pleasant Valley (now Maiden Rock, Salem, Union and Rock Elm Townships):
Norma Abbott 1825, Thomas Carmichael 1830, George Carmichael 1833, Ann Carmichael 1836, John Chauncey 1826, Ann Chauncey 1831, John Davis 1823, Mary Davis 1830, Mary Dickinson 1837, Bridget Foley 1799, Dennis Foley 1825, John Foley 1825, Sarah Foley 1832, Martin Foley 1837, William Foley 1842, Ann Foley 1844, Andrew Fitzsimmons 1826, Mary Fitzsimmons 1830, Anna Gilfilen 1800, Patrick Lahr 1830, Eliza McClary 1821, Archie McClary 1843, Samuel McClary 1845, Betsey McClary 1849, John McClary 1849, Susan OBrien 1800, Thomas OBrien 1803, James OBrien 1835, George OBrien 1837, John OBrien 1838, Susan OBrien 1840, Jane OBrien 1844, Mary O’Connell 1833, Lawrence O’Connell 1833, Susan Piner 1789, Henry Piner 1799, Ann Seely 1825, Jane Sutliff 1820, David Taylor 1832, Mary Taylor 1834, William Taylor 1849, Mary Van Schoonoven 1839, Terry Yonick 1800
Total = 43

Prescott Ward 1:
Kate Casey 1842, Thomas Cotter 1790, Biddie Cotter 1791, Mary Cotter 1828, Michael Cotter 1828, Lawrence Cotter 1831, Margaret Cotter 1833, Alice Cotter 1836, John Cotter 1839, Edward Cotter 1842, Michael Donovan 1829, Anna Donovan 1836, Rose Dorsey 1828, Allen Falls 1827, Frances Falls 1831, Mary Foley 1838, Isabella Glendenning 1830, Patrick Lahan 1838, Mary Larkin 1837, Elizabeth Neelan 1842, John OBrien 1824, Catherine OBrien 1830, Jane Taggett 1830, Michael Welch 1824, Hannah Welch 1830, Richard Welch 1835,
Total = 26

Prescott Ward 2:
James Bloomer 1830, John Connelly 1835, Bridget Connelly 1837, Kate Donahue 1820, Catherine Edwards 1805, Edward Faby 1828, Eliza Fabey 1830, Mary Fitzgerald 1827, Michael Fitzgerald 1827, James Fitzgerald 1845, Michael Goggin 1788, Johanna Goggin 1808, Mary Goggin 1830, James Kelly 1830, Christopher Kinsley 1820, Delia Kingsley 1834, John Law 1820, Mary Law 1831, Patrick Miley 1825, Mary Miley 1831, Ann Miley 1835, James Miley 1840, William Murphy 1830, Anna Murphy 1840, John Murray 1824, Sarah Newton 1834, Mary Ryan 1832, Edward Ryan 1824, Bridget Shannon 1832, John Shean 1821, Ellen Shean 1832, Elizabeth Smith 1834, John Williamson 1825
Total = 33

River Falls Township:
Michael Arley 1844, Anna Brackin 1835, Bernard Carolan 1830, Hannah Carolan 1835, Julia Cavanaugh 1832, Thomas Caw 1789, Thomas Caw 1815, Mary Caw 1820, John Clifford 1825, Margaret Clifford 1826, Daniel Collins 1825, Mary Collins 1835, Margaret Cox 1816, Julia Donahue 1832, Patrick Donahue 1825, Mary Donahue 1830, Michael Driscoll 1828, Bridget Driscoll 1843, Bridget Finn 1812, Thomas Finn 1812, Michael Finn 1847, Michael Fitzsimmons 1820, Daniel Haring 1838, Martin Hawkins 1837, Margaret Hays 1820, Martin McMahon 1820, Bridget McMahon 1825, Martin McMahon 1844, Patrick McMahon 1845, John McMillon 1824, Daniel McClary 1817, William McMaster 1838, Thomas Morrow 1832, John Moynyihan 1820, Bridget Moynihan 1825, Edward OBrien 1824, Mary OBrien 1835, Eliza Smith 1820, William Smith 1824, James Smith 1825, Elizabeth Staples 1827
Total = 41

Trenton Township:
Henry Granger 1832, Fanny Granger 1834, John Hannigan 1815, Julie Hannigan 1838, Catherine Hannigan 1815, Julie Hannigan 1838, Catherin Hannigan 1841, James Hannigan 1843, David Hutchinson 1835, Mary Hutchinson 1841, John Sullivan 1835, Catherine Taylor 1833
Total = 12

Trimbelle Township:
Edward Dailey 1830, Mary Daliey 1834, Sarah Hull 1833, Samuel Irvine 1834, Thomas McMillan 1790, Elizabeth McMillan 1792,  Robert McMillan 1835
Total = 7

Posted in Ellsworth History, Overall Pierce County History, River Falls History | 2 Comments

The Unknown Lands of Pierce County, the Hansdsomest in the state of Wisconsin – 1853!

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Dan Geister

As I continue to scour the old newspapers for Pierce County prior to it having its own newspapers I came across this one from the Madison State Journal. It goes into detail on the natural features including an early description of the geology of the county. The Author is unkown, only signed it as T.

September 6, 1853 St. Pauls
T.

Messrs Editors:
I write to you from a bar room overcrowded, ed with a vivid impression of the jarring of a steamer and the clanking of machinery. My head is, per consequence, unsteadied as my hand, which, you see, takes shapes unimaginable to any one but a type.
Since my last, I have penetrated the unknown lands of Pierce County, and to them mainly, shall this epistle be devoted. Look on the map and you will see this county is located in the northwest corner of the State. It embraces about seven townships, and has two navigable water fronts – north, Lake St. Croix; and south west on the Mississippi River. There is only one feasible landing, and that at the angle occupied by the site of Prescott. Except this, the banks rise boldly about 150 feet high, without alluvions or bottom lands. You will see why Prescott is a point, not only in fact but future promise.
The county is watered by the Kinnickinnnic, the Trim Belle (Yankeefied into the ‘Vermillion’), Rush River, Big River, and the Isabella – on the maps set down as the ‘Clear Water.’ Of the, Big River is the smallest. As we travel east from Prescott, we first enter beautiful openings, which continue about six miles farther, to the Trim Belle river. A dense forest of hard wood timber covers the country eastward, some fifteen miles through, by twenty in length north and south. This forest is of the best quality of timber – lie oak, ash sugar maple and other species being found in abundance. Still further east is an extensive prairie – and beyond still, the pine country, of which, off of water courses, but little is known. What I have said of the route, I mean to understood as the character of the townships on both sides of it.
The Geological Structure of the country is worthy of note, as giving an index to the quality of its soil. At the level of the water at Prescott we find the lower layers of the Lower Magnesian Limestone (Prairie Du Chein formation), A drift deposit covers the surface for almost half a mile back, when the upper layers of the same deposit are found in the hill side. As we proceed inland, the land rises and in the numerous fragmentary mounds, the Upper Sand Stone ( St. Peter) is found – still the back these mounds are capped with the blue fossiliferous Limestone, and the is the timbered area is the surface stream. As these strata tilt to the west, the Lower Sandstone, underlying all above named, comes to the surface some thirty miles inland, and no doubt, is the surface rock of the pine country. The surface of the country has undergone an extensive disintegration of its upper deposits. The blue limestone has been decomposed and mixed with the underlying sandstone and a thin deposit of clay, while the lower limestone, save along the water courses north ward constitutes the flooring of the country. As a consequence, the soil possesses an amazing fertility. Every rain adds to its richness, bringing from the mounds the very essential element to good land – the carbonate of lime. Vegetation is rank beyond anything in my former observation in the State. It is so matted and rangled that we had much difficulty in traveling the prairies on horseback. Springs are abundant, and in numerous streams, winding through broad and fertile valleys, fit the country for extensive agricultural enterprise. The mound scenery surpasses everything I have elsewhere seen, and after a careful examination of most of the townships, I am prepared to say I think this is the handsomest county in the State.
Our people, I approached to do generally appreciate the value of the Pienrys. Northern Wisconsin is the only pine region in the interior of America. Minnesota possesses but a small share of this species of wealth. A fine agricultural contry, she lacks both pineries and mines, two elements of wealth possessed in unlimited degree by Wisconsin. which our agricultural resources are certainly equal to her’s.
Crops of all kinds here yielded largely this year Corn, especially looks thriving. Th oldest settlers assure us that corn has never yet failed in this country. I have seen numerous fields of wheat which will average 40 bushels to the acre while oats, barley and buckwheat are proportionally heavy. Considering prices, no portion of the northwest offers greater inducements to settlers.
I have have arrived in this place (St. Paul) and have not looked about, as yet. At another time, I iwll endeavor to jot down whatever seems of interest in regard to Minnesota.

Posted in Overall Pierce County History | 1 Comment

The Year Saint Croix County Formed – 1840

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Dan Geister

In searching for news from the earliest newspapers covering Saint Croix County, I did not think I would find anything for 1840, the year there first was St. Croix County at all. I did find one article in 1840 which was printed in the Madison Enquirer and reprinted in the Northern Badger of Platteville in the August 21, 1840 issue. The county was established in January 1840

ST. CROIX COUNTY, W. T. June 19th, 1840.
From present appearances, the probability is the Sioux are likely to pay dearly for their
triumph over the Chippewas last summer. Yesterday a pnrty of four Chippewas entered
into the Sioux country and killed and scalped a man and his wife, within sight of the fort at
St. Peters, in open day. They must have come down the Mississippi, as they had their
canoe, in which, after they had taken the scalps then stayed to the east side of the river,
and made the best of their way towards their country, with their (to them) valuable trophies.

This is the first blood mat has been shed by either party, since the massacre of July last,
and it was attended with circumstances which show the Chippcwa” to be determined to offer no insults to the whites, at the same time they will strike on tlie Sioux at all hazards. A canoe preceded the one which the Sioux and his wife occupied, in which was a Sioux woman, who had been married to a trader, by whom she had several children. Two of her
children were in the canoe with her dressed in the fashion of the whites, and were recognized by the Chippewas to be the children of a white man—therefore as the canoe passed where they were concealed, they gently threw a small stick on board, as an invitation to them to gel out ofthe way as early as possible.
Small parties of Chippewa are continuously hanging about the Mississippi waiting for an opportunity to kill and scalp any straggling Sioux they’may find cast of that river—but
thus far, whenever they have met with whites or visited the settlements on the Mississipp
and St. Croix, they have scrupulously abstained from any mischievous acts. The Souix have not yet organized a war party, but the undoubtbly will soon.
They followed the four that took the scalps yesterday, but without success. They are Well supplied with ammunition, &c., and,no doubt,will visit the Chippewa country in strength. The warfare between the two nations will continue to rage until the settlements
between them become sufficiently dense andextensive, to preclude their visiting each other any interference on the part of the govern ment to the contrary notwithstanding—and in some circumstance does not interrupt the present friendly feelings of both nations towards the whites, so as to retard the settlement 01
this country, the day is not distant when the barrier will be placed on their hostile excursions.
I thinly however, if no other feeling prevents their hostility to the whites, fear will do
it. Both tribes know that they are about equal in war, and the the assistance of the whites on one tribe would be fatal to the other. They will, therefore be cautious of giving offence
which would” inevitably lead to furnishing their enemy; so valuable an accession of
power.—Madison. Enq.

 

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Saint Croix County 1841 – First major roads laid out!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Dan Geister

An act of the Wisconsin territorial legislature on February 10, 1841 enacted the following.
That James S. Norris, Orange Walker and James Clewitt and they are hereby appointed commissioners to lay out and establish a territorial road commencing at the Marine Mills on the St. Croix River thence by the most direct route passing near Dacota (near Stillwater), the county seat of St. Croix County and through and near Prospect’s Grove  to the Gray Cloud Island (South Washington County, Minnesota) of the Mississippi River and to locate a suitable point for constructing a bridge across the channel separating the said island from the main land.

Sec. 2 That William Holcomb, Ralph Tuttle, and William Dibble, he and there are appointed to lay out a road from the Falls of St. Croix to Marine Mills on the St. Croix River.

Sec. 3 That Philander Prescott, William Stitts, and Calvin Tuttle be appointed commissioners to lay a road from Prescott’s ferry across the St. Croix River to Gray Cloud Island.

Notes on those laying out the roads:
James Norris was born in Monmouth, Main in 1810 and came to St. Croix Falls in 1839, then Grey Cloud Island in 1842, then 1843 to Cottage Grove. He was part of the legislature and his log cabin served as the first school in Cottage Grove in 1851. He died March 5, 1874

Orange Walker was born  in St. Albans Vermont September 1, 1801 and came to Marine Mills in 1839, part of the Marine Lumber Company there. He was eventually the sole owner of the company. He was in the Minnesota Legislature from 1859 – 1860.

James Clewett was a clerk for the American Fur Company and worked in the fur trade on the upper Minnnesota in the 1830s. He was a partner in a whiskey store near Fort Sneling. He moved to White Bear Lake in 1851. He was a scout and guide for Henry Sibley’s expedition against the Dakota.

William Holcmbe was born in Lambertville, New Jersey July 22, 1804. He was part of the St. Croix Falls Lumber Company in the early 1840s and then opened the first livery stable in Stillwater in 1846. He platted South Stillwater (Bayport) and was the first lieutenant governor of Minnesota.

William Dibble was born in New York in 1815 and organized the Marine Lumber company in 1839. Hr ran rafts for Marine Mills and had a ferry from Point Douglas to Presott and Hastings.

Philander Prescott was born in Phelpstown, New York in 1801. He came to Fort Snelling in 1819 and was a trader. He married a daughter of a Mdewakanton indian CHief, Spirit in the Moon. He translated hyms into Dakota. He preempted 61 acres of land at Prescott which he laid out in 849. He was killed near the Lower Agency on the first day of the 1862 Dakota Uprising.

William Stitts was born in Canada. He was part of the American Fur Comapny and settled near Forth Snelling in the 1820s. He was a refugees driven from Fort Snelling in 1840 and moved to Willow River where he was one of the earliest settlers. He was frozen to death in 1851, and is buried in St. Paul’s churchyard, Hudson, Wisconsin

Calvin Tuttle was born in Conneticut and came to St. Croix Falls in 1838 building the original mill. He married and moved to St. Anthony Fals in 1846 to build Frank Steele’s sawmill. He moved to Minnetonka, Minnesota in 1858 and then Two Rivers in 1867 where he built a sawmill. He eventually moved to Los Angeles, California where he died in 1900.

Information on these biographies came from: Hudson in the Early Days (1931) by G. Day, History of Prescott by Beeler and Ahlgren (1996) and Minnesota Beginnings (1999) by the History Network of Washington County.

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