Yale University Library

Edgar E. Ladu.

^EARLiY AHD LiATE^

MOSIflEE.

Written by
Edgar E. Iiada.

P^ICE $1.50.
r

Copyrighted 1907
bg Edgar E. Iiadu.

• Paul F. Stolze, Blankbonk Mfr.. Wausau. Wis.

Introduction.
The Author of Early and Late Mosinee was born
in the Town of Verona, Oneida county, State of New
York on the 15th day of February, 1833 and is now in
his 75th year of age, he came to Mosinee on the 26th
day of September 1866, and he wishes to inform the
readers of Early and Late Mosinee that there is not an
item or incident herein related but what has a founda
tion in fact the majority of which he was conversent
withfc he balance he received from reliable sources and
can be substantiated, hoping that the reader may be in
terested in its perusal, he is
Most respectfully Yours,
Edgar E. Ladu.

I have been requested to give a talk about the
early days of Mosinee and the trials and hardships experi
enced by the pioneers in the days when this part of the
state of "Wisconsin was in a primative state, and the
vast expanse of territory now known as Northern
Wisconsin was sparsely settled except by Indians and
the white man's habitations were few and far between.
Of course the reader must not expect me to give a concise
history, item by item, incident by incident as they oc
curred, as I did not jot them down in my note-book at
the time of the happening, but will almost wholly rely
on my memory and such help as I have been able to
secure of the old residents. Some of them considerable
older residents than myself.
I cannot very well speak of the early days of Mosi
nee without speaking more or less of the surrounding
country, and tip and down the Wisconsin river; the vil
lage of Mosinee not being. incorporated until many years
later. The name of Mosinee applied at that time to quite

a strip of country known as town twenty-seven north
and ranges two, three, four, five, six seven and eight,
east, an Extent of forty two miles East and West and
six miles north and south containing two hundred and
fiftytwo square miles.
Before the year 1836 the whole of this upper valley
of the Wisconsin river was in possession of the Indians.
In the year 1836 a treaty was effected with the Menomo
nie Indians whereby a strip of territory six miles wide
and forty miles long, extending up the river from
Point Basse passed from the Indians to the whites.
At this time, 1836, and for many years after this
place that we now know as Mosinee was only known as
Little Bull and there are many people now living who
cannot locate Mosinee that are perfectly well acquain
ted with the exact locality of Little Bull. Just why
the name Little Bull was given to this particular place
I am unable to say, but I suppose it was because of the
tremendous bellowing and roaring and lashing of the
mighty volume of water as it rushes with such intense
furry through the very narrow slit in the solid granite
rock, and tumbles into the whirling, raging malstrum
just below the jaws of the gorge. It seems that who-

ever gave it this name was so well impressed with its
fitness for the place that he kept right on up the river,
giving names ; from the Bull family to the different
rapids, until he had used up all the names but three, so
he came back and started over again at Little Bull and
gave the name of Bull Calf to the first channel on the
west side of the main gorge. Having yet two names
left, he commenced on the tributaries. To the first
.stream he gave the name of Bull Junior, and then fol
lowing up Bull Junior five or six miles he found a tribu-
tarjr to the Junior and gave it the name of Bull Samp-
,son. Thus you see we have Little Bull, Big Bull, Jenny
Bull, Grandfather Bull, Grandmother Bull, Bull Calf,
Bull Junior and Bull Sampson.
The first commencement of any business industry
Tiere at Mosinee, or at Little Bull Falls as it was then
known, was in the year 1839, when a man by the name
of John L. Moore began the building of a sawmill,
which he operated for about ten years, or until 1849,
when he disposed of his mill interests to a company of
young men, Joseph Dessert, William Peneast, Henry
Gate and James Ethridge. The last three named drop
ping out of the company one by one until Mr. Joseph

Dessert became the sole owner of the mill property and
business, and has since 1859 retained a contr'oling interest
in the different firm names under which the property
has been operated until therfinal closing out of the lum
ber manufacturing business at the mill within the last
two years.
Fifty years ago, and even forty years ago — yes, I
might say thirty years ago — this whole upper Wiscon
sin was a vast, howling wilderness, with very few ex
ceptions, from Gill's Landing on the Wolf river up to
the city of Merrill of these days. It was then known
only as Jenny Bull and contained but a very few resi
dences and a hotel and sawmill. All along the poorly
constructed road it was very little else than dense forest
on both sides, inhabited by the noble red man of various
tribes, wolves, bears, lynx, elks and an occasional moose,
together with large numbers of red deer. Of all the
denizens of this, vast forest, none of them were so much
dreaded as the Indian. Yet we hear of very few depre
dations being committed by the Indians in this territory.
Thousands of them were continually-roaming from-place
to place, yet they were peaceful when left unmolested,
but warlike and bloodthirsty when interfered with.

9 —

This was the general condition of this whole country
from Mosinee to Gill's Landing on the Wolf river, up
to Merrill on the Wisconsin river and also from Berlin
on the Fox river a distance of over one hundred miles
south. This whole upper country had to draw its supply of
provisions from the lower part of the state and even as
far as Galena, 111. All the lumber camps and mills had
to have large quantities of supplies, such as pork, flour, ¦
beans, tea, coffee, sugar, molasses, etc., and all things
had to be brought into this country with horse teams
it took a great number of them to do the work. These
teams were mostly two-horse teams, weighing, I should
judge, about 2,800 pounds on the average to the team.
There were also quite a number of four-horse teams
engaged in this business of hauling freight from the dis
tant towns in the lower counties, and many farmers of
those counties done quite a profitable business with their
own teams bringing the products of their farms up into
the pineries where they found a ready sale at a high
price for everything they had to dispose of; Very often
on their return trip home they would load their wagon
or sleigh with lumber which they were able to secure
at a moderate price.

— 10 —
This teaming in those early days meant something
else besides play. It meant hardships from start to
finish for man and beast. The roads were never in good
condition as a whole, and the days were always very
long, often from three and four o'clock in the morning
until ten and eleven o'clock at night. Rain or sunshine,
snow or sleet in the slush, mud or ice, it made but little
difference with those hardy and courageous teamsters,
their business was to get their trip around as soon as
possible, which trip often took them a whole week to
make, even if the trip encountered nothing but favora
ble conditions. Sometimes it took ten days. Very of
ten the teams would be bunched together in a string of
from two and three to ten, all the wagons or sleighs
loaded to the utmost capacity of the teams to haul.
The hotels, or rather taverns as they were called in those
days, were crowded to their utmost limit to accommo
date them as they stopped for the night or their mid
day meal. They were a class of men easily satisfied and
seldom complained of the fare furnished them by the
landlords of those days, providing there was enough
of such as it was and well cooked. These teamsters
were a class of men that were not to be fooled with, yet

— 11 —
they were kind and generous as well as brave.
I think from what I have said up to this point that
you can, in some degree, comprehend what the general
•conditions of the country was like when I first came to
Mosinee, the 26th day of September, 1866. Now I will
try and tell you about how, what now is known as the
Tillage of Mosinee was like, and how I was impressed as
I beheld the wondrous beauty of its location, the lavish-
ness with which nature had surrounded it with such
;grand and awe-inspiring scenery. It took such a hold
on me that I never come in sight of these old gray
granite rocks but that I feel like getting down on my
knees and thanking my Maker that I have been permit
ted to look upon such grandeur. I have seen many pla
ces of interest in my life, yet in all my travels I have
never seen anything or place that has so captivated me
at once as did Mosinee and its surrounding beauties of
nature when I first beheld its glorious attractiveness.
The village of Mosinee of today is very far different in
•nearly all respects than it was forty years ago. Its
buildings are not the same now as then, its personals
Are not the same, with a few exceptions of which I shall
.speak later.

— 12 — '
The streets and general apperance are far different
now than at that time. Little Bull Falls are not the
same in contour as they appeared forty years ago. At
that time the falls were just about as nature finished and
left them. Since that time man has been at work de
facing with powder, drill and dynamite and very many
of the grand and beautiful points have been blasted
away. At that time there was a large rock in midstream
about three hundred — possibly four hundred feet up
stream from the main iron bridge over the jaws of the
gorge. This rock has been blasted away, and thus one
of the grand features of Little Bull Falls has been ob
literated and lost. Its location can scarcely be dscerned
except by those who are well acquainted with its locali
ty. This rock was known as Kelly Rock and had
quite a history of its own, some of which I will give
you as I have it, by and by. This Kelly Rock was
never known to be wholly submerged, even in times of
great floods, but would stand firm with its round gray
head above the surface and let the surging, angry bil
lows lash its sides with tempestuous furry, and seemed-
to laugh at their feeble efforts to wrend it from its foun
dation. Yet in spite of the war of the elements, it re-

Bridge over the Jaws of Gorge.
high water.

— 13 --
mained firm on its base, a grand, guarding sentinel over
the mighty cataract just below.
There was another rock called the Shoemaker, and
was situated on the right hand side of the channel about
16 feet from the shore line and was as near as I- can re
member, about six feet in diameter. This Shoemaker
Rock was generally submerged when the river was in a
good and supposedly safe condition for raft running
through the falls. But a most tremendous current of
swirling and foaming water ran wild riot all around it.
There is also a history in connection with this rock
which I will give you later on. This rock was about
two hundred feet below the jaws of the gorge.
The bridge that spanned the jaws of the cataract at
that time was very much different from the present iron
one, and its floor, or roadbed I should judge, was from
two feet to thirty inches lower than the present bridge.
This old bridge was made wholly of wood with the ex
ception of some iron bolts. It was built on the lattice
work style, and was boarded up on both sides and with
out roof. It was a most substantial structure and gave
the company that put up the present iron bridge con
siderable trouble to tear it out of their way.

14

At the west end of the bridge the roadbed was on the
ground until it reached Bull Calf channel, which was
spanned with a wooden bridge, then a short distance
after crossing this bridge it was on the ground until it
reached the bridge crossing what is known .as Bean
Slough. This was the longest stretch of bridge crossing
the main channels of the river, and there was quite a
sharp raise coming off the bridge up onto Little Bull
Island, then clear sailing was had with the exception
of several quite large mud holes until you reached what
is known as Mill Slough, which was also spanned with a
wooden bridge somewhat lower than the one now in use,
which we gracefully cross, and brings us right up to
Mosinee. Now we have had quite a little outing looking over
and taking note of some of the salient points about this,
one of Naturejs grandest scenic views that can be found
on the whole length of the Wisconsin river. Now let
us take a walk up the streets of Mosinee and see what
we will find. We will start from the foot of the hill
and travel towards the cemetery. We look upon the
right hand and upon the left hand of the street as we
pass a long ancl take .note of all that interests us, or in

— 15 —
other words, all that we see. As we start we have
found on our left hand a horse barn painted red, which
was some larger than the one you can see there today.
It was destroyed by fire some years ago and this one
was built on the same foundation occupied by the one
beheld. Now we look to the right and we do not see
anything, for at that time the barn that we can now see
there was not in existence, it has been built since. As
we walk on up the hill we see a white house on our left,
just up on the level ground and we inquire what is being
done there as we see quite a number of men strolling
around and smoking their pipes, while others were sit
ting. on benches. We are told "This is the mill boar
ding house." We have now reached the top of the hill
and are on level ground. Now we look to our right
and see another white house and we make the inquiry
who lives there? We are told "Mr. David Roberts
lives there." This is the same David Roberts that we
were introduced to forty years ago the 26th day of this
last September, and under whose hospitable roof my
self and family were royally entertained until we could
get our household goods set up in shape to keep our
own house That house has disappeard and the palatial

— 16 —
residence where Mr. Roberts now resides has taken its
place- There was no building where Mr. Roberts' store
stands. It was all open ground. A few steps farther
along was a one story and a half building on the right,
just where the printing office of the Mosinee Times now
stands. It has since burned down and the Times office
building took its place. Where the library building
stands was a vacant lot, and we step along a few rods
in the street, for there were no sidewalks in those days
and we behold the battlement of the store of Nathan
Blake on our right The store building has since been
enlarged at least three different times, until it has at
tained its present vast proportions and is now occupied
by the firm of LaDu & Bernier, and nearby was a small
white house occupied as a dwelling by Mr. Blake the
merchant. On our left was standing a rough boarded, not very
large building, occupied by J. R. Bruneau as a grocery
store on the lower floor, the upper story being used as
a' dwelling by William Gilbert. This building has been
enlarged until it has become one of the landn a-\ks of the
village and is owned by Joseph Homier. A few feet
west was standing a small one story building used by

— 17 —
William Gilbert as a shoe shop. It vanished many
years ago, as also has a great many others. A few steps
further brings us to the alley north of Mr. Homier's
building and we see on our left a long, weather-beaten
structure that had been used as a bowling alley some
years before. It has since that time undergone recon
struction and is now in. the possession of Frank Beste
and used as a saloon.
Now we come to a halt and take a look ahead. You
don't want to go any further in that direction. Why?
Because right in front of us is , an inland lake, reaching
from near the house now occupied by Mr. Schwalbe
clear up to the back of that splendid grove of pines just
back of Celia Keefe's residence in length, and in width
it reached from near the bowling alley to the street now
running past the drug store und up past the old school
house, and was from two to four foot in depth. This
lake was one of the prominent features of Mosinee away
back in those early days. In summer time* from ear
ly spring until late in autumn, it was occupied by the
grandest troupe of musicians that the mind of man can
possibly conceive, and a grand concert was given by
them daily and nightly during their long stay. In con-

— 18 —
nection with this band of musicians was a chorus of voi
ces of the widest range, from the lowest, strongest and
hoarsest of diapason, through the tremula, piccolo, so
prano, flute until the highest of tenors was reached.
This lake was popularly known as the "Frog Pond."
It was also used very much by the school-boys of those
days to float their rafts in summer, and in winter as a
sliding, skating and general frolicking place, as quite a
number now living in the village can testify. This
' 'Frog Pond" has since been drained and filled in with
slabs, logs and earth until it is as you see it today, al
most entirely covered with fine buildings, and right in
the center of the business part of Mosinee.
Well, as you do not want to go any farther in that
direction, and seem to be getting weary, let us find a
place to sit down .and I will tell you, as near as I can,
of the buildings and parts of buildings that are left of
what were then standing and used. Yes, this is a good
place to sit down as we take our seats on the steps of
LaDu & Bernier's mercantile establishment, and I lean
back against the building and take a long breath and
commence my story again. Yes, the mill-boarding house
has been enlarged since then. The little house that was

— 19 •—
occupied by the merchant, Nathan Blake, is now the
kitchen part of Willis F. LaDu's house. The house of
Mrs. Edstrom was then used as postoffice and grocery
store and was presided over by Alexander Erwin. It
has since been modernized as you see it today. The
house occupied by Mr. Erwin has been moved and is
now a part of Arden Paronto's horse barn. The large
white house standing just beyond Mrs. Edstrom's was
then on the other side of the street, and had a very large
wing to it reaching nearly back to the alley. This wing
part was taken off and is now located at the farther end
of the street on the left hand side as you go east.
There was a house standing on the lot opposite the
Thompson house occupied by William Cuer and his
sister, Electa. That house has been moved to the ex
treme end east on the same street, and has been added
to somewhat. There was a small building standing
about midway between the guardlock and the bridge
over Mill Slough. This building was used as a saloon,
and was the only saloon this side of Little Bull Falls,
now we have four. At that time the population of Mo
sinee of actual residents was less than one hundred, and
today its population does not very far exceed four

— 20 —
hundred, so you see that the saloon and population keep
quite an even pace with each other, the population
gaining just a nose ahead. The house now owned and
occupied by Miss Celia Keefe looks just about the same
and stands on the same ground it stood on forty years
ago, and was occupied by Geo. Drake and family. Mr.
LaDu's barn stands where it did then and looks just the
same red barn. The house where .Louis Vachreau lives
was there as it is now although it has been remodeled
quite a bit. In this house at that time lived Sebastian
Kronenwetter and family. Where A. von Berg now
lives stood a far different house in appearance, and was
owned and occupied by George La Count. It burned
down long ago. What is now used as the village hall
wTas then the school house, and was also used as a church
edifice for religious and funeral services, and on such
occasions was generally pretty well filled, sometimes
crowded. Where Frank Beste now lives was standing an old
shack, partly boarded up and left that way. The house
now owned ancl occupied by doctor Daniels has been so
remodeled that the man who first lived in it would not
be able to recognize one feature of theold house. The

21

house owned and occupied by Peter Tinetti was then
the pleasent home of Henry Ward, the tanner. It has
undergone a series of repairs since 1866. The next on
the list comes the house just west of the one now owned
by Mrs. B. Brabant, was the one where resided the legal
and judicial talent of Mosinee in those days, the Hon.
Judge, as he was often called, George Partridge, before
whom came all those having grievances to be settled, and
justice was meted out as the case deserved. I never
heard of a case that was decided by Justice Partridge
ever being carried to a higher tribunal.
We will now take quite a jump west until we reach
the corner of the street just west of where Louis Des
sert now resides and we arrive where another of the
legal lights resided in a low, rambling shack of a house.
weather stained and almost entirely covered with beau
tiful flowering vines and roses, planted and cared for by
the most excellent wife of H. A. Bean. He also was
known as Judge Bean. He was an educated man and
a graduate of West Point Military Academy, and had
served for some time as Corporal in the Regulars of the
United States army. The old Bean house was torn
down long ago to make room for the stately edifice now

22

standing very nearly on the same ground.
Having now reached the most westerly limit, we
will come back and commence over again. On the cor
ner where stands the fine, large brick department store
of J. Hanowitz, stood what was known by the name of
the Tonguay House, owned by Joseph Tonguay and
conducted by him as a tavern or hotel. It was destroyed
by fire, as well as another one built on the same site.
The barn used in connection with this house was moved
from the lot where the meat market stands to its present
location across the alley from Dr. Daniel's horse barn.
We will cross the street and go west until we reach the
house now known as the John Prain house. It has
been very much improved in appearance. This was the
first house I lived in with my family when I came to
Mosinee. There was a ramshackle of a building standing
where the splendid palace now owned and controlled by
C. A. Gardner stands, and was known as the Whitelaw
house. Yes, there was another house that we have
passed by, it stood on the spot where the house stands
that Mr. Homier owns and is occupied by old Mr.
Horan, the mail carrier. At that time it was in the

— 23 —
possession of Jno. LaBarge, a curly-haired Frenchman
and his family. I think this is about all of the resident
part of Mosinee forty years ago. I will now give you
the places of industry that were in operation at that time.
There was a saw-mill, a tannery, a grist-mill and
a blacksmith shop. They were situated near the dis
mantled mill structure that now stands at the lower end
of the Mill Slough. The tannery, old sawmill, black
smith shop, together with a large storehouse building,
a large barn and some smaller structures and sheds,
were all swept away in the great flood of 1880, some
time in June. The grist-mill was standing about where
the brick boiler house is situated, one end of which was
undermined by the raging waters and left standing at
a very acute angle. The probable cause of this whole
sale destruction of property was that the guardlock gave
way and thus precipitated a great volume of rushing
water upon it suddenly and it had to go. I think I have
given you about all of interest in that direction. At
the time of the flood in 1880, the Joseph Dessert com
pany lost a large amount of manufactured lumber, lath
and shingles which were stored and piled in the vicinity
of the saw mill, as well as a vast quantity of sawlogs

— 24 —
that were stored in the millpond and above the guard-
lock and at other supposedly safe places along the river
above Mosinee,
The sawmill structure now standing withstood the
battle of the flood. It was the old mill built by John
L. Moore in 1839 that was swept away and it stood at
the left hand of this one now standing. The tannery
stood just at the left of the mill.
I think I have given about as good a description of
Mosinee as I can, so that you may comprehend, in some
degree what it looked like forty years ago, with the ex
ception of one house that was situated on the lot right
in front of the one now occupied by Mr. A. von Berg.
An old woman owned and lived in it. Her name was
Brand, and a story is related of her that she, during a
cold snap in winter, found herself with only one match
in the house to start a fire with, and it was too late to
go out to get more, as she was old and feeble, so she
retired with the terrible uncertainty on her mind as to
whether the match was a good one and would alight
when scratched so that she could start her fire in the
morning, and it so worried her that sleep refused to
come to her weary eyes so to make sure as to whether

— 25 —
the match was a good one or not, she got up and gave
it a scratch, and behold, it was a good one and lighted
readily, and surely then she was left without a match
«
and had to lie in bed until some small boys came to
bring her some wood as they were in the habit of doing,
and rapped on the door, then she got up and told them
just how she had foolishly lost her last match.
We will now turn our attention as to how the vast
amount of lumber that was manufactured above Little
Bull was conveyed to market before the railroad came
into the country.
I will endeavor to try to explain to you so that you
may in some degree form an idea as. to how the enor
mous amount of lumber _ that was manufactured above
Mosinee was transported to the market in the lower
country. At that time there was not far from twenty saw
mills above Mosinee on the Wisconsin river and its tri
butaries, and placing a conservative estimate on their
output, it would not be very much less than 125,000,000
feet of manufactured lumber per year, and all this vast
amount had to be rafted and run over Little Bull Falls,
and to do this work it required a great number of men,

— 26 --
at least two thousand five hundred of stalwart, husky
fellows, none of your weaklings could hope to secure a,
position at that particular work, as it required men of
great courage and physical endurance, as* all sorts of
dangers were likely to be encountered and must be met
bravely, face to face and no flinching. You say you
don't just understand how this rafting was done and
what is meant by it, so I will endeavor to illustrate to
you as intelligently as I am able.
This rafting was commenced just as soon as possi
ble in the spring after the ice broke up and went out.
At some, places rafting was done on the ice where it
was considered safe to do so. In the first place a great
quantity of rafting pins, or "grubs," as they were
called, had to be secured. These "grubs," or pins, were
made from small trees, dug up with the nob of the roots
of the tree attached to them. The "grub" had to be
four feet long and large enough, after being dressed,
to fill a hole two inches in diameter, with a head left
on the root end, about three inches in diameter, so that
it would not pull up through the hole in the "grub-
plank. "
These "grub planks" were bored with a two-and-a-

•— 27 —
quarter inch auger generally and had three holes made
in them; they were generally ten inches wide. These
plank were laid down three of them for what was called
a "crib," the "grubs" were inserted in the auger-holes
with the head on the under side let into a recess made
for the purpose, and a small wedge fastened the "grub"'
in place. The plank were then placed the right distance
apart and a board placed against the grubs and a hole
bored in the board opposite each of the grubs, then the
board was put on to the grubs crosswise, at right angles
with the grub plank, or "runner," as they were called,.
then the rafting commenced by placing the lumber on
the frame thus made. Each course being laid on cross
wise of the under one, until the crib had been built up
to from sixteen to twenty courses, according to the dry
ness of the lumber, or the stage of the water flowing
in the river would warrant.
The next step was to place these cribs end to end
about five or six inches apart until six or seven of them
were thus placed, then they were ready for the binding
and coupling planks which were bored with holes oppo
site each grub and then the winch was put onto the
grub on top of the binding, or coupling plank, and the

— 28 —
grub pulled up at the same time the plank was pressed
down by the block under the long lever of the winch,
a man pressing down hard on the long end of the lever.
When all the slack had been taken up in this way, a
small sliver was started from the grub close to the plank
and a wedge driven in hard to hold everything solid.
The winch was made with two iron rings and one
or two links of heavy chain; the rings were, one of them,
two and one-half inches in diameter inside, the other
about one inch larger, the links of chain being put in
between the rings, and then a lever of strong wood
about six feet long, one end of which was put through
the largest ring, then it was ready for use. When the
proper number of cribs were put together then a stick
of timber, 6x8 inches, was put on the three grubs at
each end of the string of cribs, and thoroughly wedged
down, this was the headlock in which was inserted the
oarpin on which the oar was placed to guide the raft
with. The oar was about forty-five or fifty feet long,
the stem was about eight inches through at the end
where the oar-blade was inserted and nearly fifty feet
in length, nicely finised at the small end where the men
had to work. The oar-blade was sixteen feet long and

29

generally eighteen inches wide and three-fourths of an
inch thick at one end two and one-half inches thick at
the other end. The thick end was fixed firmly in the
large end of the oar-stem.
Two strings of cribs six or seven long, were coupled
together side by side, and constituted what was known
as a Wisconsin river raft. I will, by your permission,
digress somewhat in order to explain more fully the
position that the rafting grub held in the commercial
affairs of all this upper Wisconsin river country.
The rafting grub was considered a legal tender for
any kind of indebtedness, either public or private.
They were even a better medium of exchange than gold
coin. A settler coming into town with a load of grubs
on his ox-sled commanded the immediate attention and
respect of every business man at once, and all were very
desirous to secure his very valuable article of commerce,
and it was very fortunate for the early settler that the
grub held such an important relation in the industrial
affairs of the country at that early date, for the reason
that very little money was in circulation and it was very
hard to get hold of, especially for those who were hew
ing out homes from the dense wilderness in which the

— 30 —
most of them were located. It was well for them that
the wild forests surrounding furnished them with the
means to provide for their pressing needs. Often dur
ing the season the whole family that were large enough
were employed with their father in gathering the small
.saplings and carrying them to a place near their log
shanty where the small trees were converted into the
coin of the realm by the father.
I could point out to you a number of ladies in Mo
sinee that were a great help to their hard-working father
by their ever readiness to take hold of this enterprising
work. But it was fun for them to ramble in the woods
and gather up the grubs as their father dug them; they
were helping and they enjoyed it to the fullest extent,
and when the father took their joint product to town a
stick of candy or some other dainty for them was never
forgotten, and they were enthusiastically happy.

Rafting and Running.
We will now come back to the rafted lumber, and
follow it until it has passed over Little Bull. Just as
soon as possible after the going out of the ice in the
Spring, everyone connected with the running of the
lumber to market got busy, for it was of vital impor
tance to make as rapid progress as possible, for many
rapids had to be gotten over and at such places, much
time was required to get past them in safety, and yet
with all the forethought, and preparation very many
accidents occured.
Of all the rapids none were more dangerous and
feard than Little Bull. Spon after the opening of the
river in the spring, rafts would begin to land in the eddy
above the milldam until acres of rafts were accumma-
lated to the capacity of the eddy to hold with saf ty, and
there they would remain until such time as the water
was at the supposedly safe stage to run Little Bull.
Every hour from early morning until dark, pilots and
bowsman would make their way to the bridge over the
gorge, and comment on the outlook, and wondering
how long the water would hold too high, or whether it

— 32 —
was rising, or was it falling or what do you think,
would it be safe to try it today?
There resided here at Mosinee one William Cuer,
he was considered the safest pilot to run a raft over
Little Bull, as he never was known to lose a man or
allow his raft to be wrecked going through Little Bull,
and it was known that he never would try to run until
he considered it safe to do so. I have often heard pilots
and owners of lumber enquire, where is Cuer?
What does he say about the safty of running today?
but Mr. Cuer was not to be found many times, but he
was always keeping his eyes on the condition of the
water, he would go up to the eddy talk with the pilots
of the Lumber he was to run through Little Bull and
have them get everything in readiness, so that quick
work could be done when he started to run, he kept his
own counsel. Sometimes a pilot would say, I believe
I can run it all right and I will try it, so up he goes to
his lumber, cuts out a rapids piece and starts, and when
he starts there is no holding back, he must go through,
should he succeed in getting through safely, then the
fun commences. Others who think they can run just.
as safely, will tie loose as it was called, and the chances.

— 33 —
are that from one to three men are lost from the raf fc
and drowned and then running the Falls is stopped for
that day. No one not having seen the running of Little
Bull in high water can form any idea of just what it
is like, the awful danger to be faced, the terrible strain
of mind and muscle as you hear the roaring, tumbling,
seathing and lashing of the mighty volume of water
rushing to the vortex out of sight of those who are
borne on the raft into the very jaws „of death. It is a
fearful situation to contemplate. If it were npt fof
Kelly Rock, I have heard many pilots say we could get
through all right, even on this stage of water, but Kelly
Rock stood firm and defiant right in their way. Many
and many anathemas have been hurled at Kelly Rock,
without in the . least affecting its firmness. Just wait a
little and see what is happening. Mr. Cuer is making
his -way up to the Eddy, just as the day is drawing to
a close and gets in consultation with some pilot, just a
word, and he returns home again, looks around, sees the
boy he has engaged to handle his horses and says for-
him to be on hand bright and early in the morning, and
at daybreak you would see Cuer on one horse the
boy on the other making for the eddy, and on reaching

— 34 —
there, Cuer jumps from his horse and runs onto the
string of raft that has been prepared for him, and it is
let loose and it is started for the gorge. The boy has
started already with both horses for the potato patch
below the sawmill, where he is to wait if he has to until
C u e r is taken from the raft in a skiff and. brought to
the shore, lights his pipe, jumps onto his horse and flies
for the eddy as fast as his horse can go, hitches his
horse to a post, jumps onto another rapids piece and
away he goes again. He always runs with two crews, one
going the other coming all day long. I have known him
to make thirty trips in one day. He always had one dol
lar for each trip through Little Bull.
Now comes the time when the fun really commen
ces, for no sooner does Cuer start than every pilot and
bowsman that dare run Little Bull get a hustle on, and
raft follows raft in quick succession until darkness
comes on and then the weary, tired out raftsmen can
seek their supper and rest, only to renew the same dan
gerous business the next morning at daybreak. It
sometimes happened that as the crews sought their pla
ces of rest, that one or two of their comrades were
missing. Where are they? They have been washed over-

35

board and. drowned in Little Bull. In spite of every
precaution taken for the safety of the men with sucker
lines stretched across the rafts for the men to hold onto
while passing through the Falls and its whirling mael
strom below, their hold on the rope has been broken
loose, and they are swallowed up in the great flood.
I have seen a raft with ten men on, five at each oar,
every man of them all out of sight under the water at
the same time, not a particle of the raft or men could
be seen for a few seconds, but several hats were seen
floating on the billows around. At such times of run
ning the Falls, everybody who could, men, women and
children would hurry to the Falls, and stand around or
sit on the rocks and watch the rafts as they came on
down the slide into the gorge. It was a galla day for all
Mosinee. There were hundreds of raftsmen in and
around Mosinee at such times. Those engaged in run-.
ning the Fall were on the jump, after landing their raft
below at some safe place, to get back to the eddy for
another trip, going through and coming back all day.

Early Mosinee, Township 27.
EARLY MOSINEE.
As we look back upon the Township of Mosinee
containing as it did forty years ago, 252 square miles of
territory with its entire population numbering not to
exceed five hundred souls all told, and with less than
one thousand acres of cultivated land, its inhabitants
scattered here and there widely seperated, and what is
now the village of Mosinee, was being a merehamlit, we
can in some degree realize the wildness and privation as
well as many difficulties to which the early settlers were
subjected. There were at that time quite a number of
natural hay marshes where a very excellent quality of
wild hay could be secured in the season and for many
years was the only source from which to draw the
necessary supply of hay to feed the cattle and horses
of the settlers and lumbermen. Hundreds of tons of
this marsh hay was harvested every summer. It was •
years before tame grass were grown in sufficient quan
tity to take the place of the marsh hay, and many lum
bermen claimed that their working stock of horses and

37

oxen could stand the hard work to which they were sub
jected better on the marsh hay than they could on the
tame. The township was very slow in being settled, as it
was considered only as a fit place for Indians and wild
beasts to live in after the pine timber would be taken
out of it. It was claimed that the soil was not good for
agriculture, it being rather of a sandy nature along the
river bottoms. That impression was held by many who
really desired to locate a home in this territory, but in
time as the early settlers improved their farms so as to
begin to raise crops, it was found to be not only good
land for agriculture but that it produced crops of the
cereals and vegetables of a superior quality and brought
a higher price in the market than the same article
shipped from the lower part of the state could command.
There were many obstacles to encounter that materially
handicaped the settlers and lumbermen in securing the
abundant product of the hay marshes. Some of the
marshes were low and wet also being to soft at the bot
tom for teams to travel on in order to gather the hay
after it had been cut and cured, necessitating them to
make use of poles to carry it to a higher place where it
could be stacked, and there were no mowing machines

— 38 —
in those days nor horse rakes to help lighten the work
of gathering the hay crop. The old fashioned scythe and
snath was used in cutting the grass and the old time
hand rake did execution in gathering the cured grass
into windrows, and the two and three tined pitchfork
was the proper instrument used to pitch the hay from
place to place, not a horse working hayfork was known
or heard of in this part of the country in those good
old summertime haying time days, and then the mos
quitoes had to be reckoned with every moment of time
you were on the marshes from early morning until you
were safe at home in a well smoked out room. They were
something fearful to contend with. There were clouds
of them in evidence continually, never letting up for a
moment. The men at work were obliged to wear netting
over their heads and gloves on their hands to protect
themselves from the tormenting pests. I realize that
many readers of the description here given of the plague
of the mosquito to the early haymakers of this section
of country will say, we will take it with a few grains of
salt, but let me say that I have not overdrawn the actual
condition as it existed forty years ago, for I was right
in it myself. You will perhaps say why did people

— 39 —
continue to stay in a country so infested by such tor-;
ments, but let me tell you that people that came here in the
early days were made of stern material. They possessed
the staying qualities that was needed to battle with such
difficulties as surrounded them and no thought of givingup
the strife entered their minds- They went cheerfully for
ward with determination to conquer every obstacle that
stood in their way of success. There was but one voting
precinct in the whole township and that was at the little
hamlet near Little Bull Falls, now known as the village
of Mosinee. Here all voters had to come to cast their
votes. Some of them came twenty-five miles to cast their
ballot. In the early days the lumberman entered the
forests under the old time idea of felling the trees with
the axe, leaving a stump from two to three feet in
heighth and squaring the butt of the fallen tree also with
the axe, but at that time it was believed to be the only
proper way to proceed, and many other old time methods
were employed in their business.
Now the question confronts us and who is able to
give an unbiased answer. Which of the two factions
is the most credit due for developing the country: The
lumbering speculator who comes into the country only

— 40 —
to take what he can out of it or the settler who comes
into the country for the avowed purpose of clearing
and subduing the soil and making him and his family a
permanent home? Early Mosinee township held within
its borders wonderful possibilities for the future to un
fold. There was a diversity of soils from which the sett
ler could make his selection to suit his fancy. There were
living streams of pure water, there were light sandy
soils, heavy clay soils, loamy soils, stony soils, and all of
them naturally rich soils. There were rolling lands, flat
lands, swampy lands and rocky lands, heavily timbered
lands, light timbered lands, pine lands hardwood lands,
as well as mixed timber lands, and some patches of
prairie lands all suitable for settlement.

Dog and Bear Story.
Bear stories are something that interests nearly
everybody, especially the children, and the better faculty
a person has for relating such stories the greater amount
of enjoyment of the fun the hearers are able to get out
of its relation. I was never considered as a very fluent
story teller, but I will tell you this bear story and you
can judge for. yourself as to its value.
In the spring of 1867 the people of Mosinee town
ship elected me to the office of assessor and it became
my duty to visit every settler in the township in order
to faithfully perform my duty in accordance with the
law. Yes I'm coming to the bear story just as fast as-
I can, but I have to get where the bear is before I
can tell you, and the bear is fifteen miles away in the
wilderness all unconscious that I am coming his way,
and in order to reach him I must travel for miles
and miles on foot over the worst kind of a road
through the Irish settlement and I know at that early
date that every Irish settler kept from one to
three dogs of the most miserable breed of mongrel curs
that it was ever my distress to behold. I was always

42

very much afraid of dogs, it never took very much of
a dog to put me to flight. Why I have often traveled.
half a mile out of my way to avoid passing by a place
where there was a dog kept, but I never was afraid of
bears or wolves nor foxes and even skunks held no terror
for me, but at the dog I drew the line. So how to get
around the dog problem weighed heavily on my mind
for I knew that I would have to go into every house
and shanty in the whole Irish settlement in the discharge
of my official duties, and I also knew that just as soon
as the dogs would catch sight of me that they would
make a bee line for my legs and chew me up alive, as
they were all very ferocious and not being used to see
ing travelers they would deem it a rare opportunity to
make my acquaintance in their most impressive manner.
After careful deliberation for a number of days I
conceived the brilliant idea of engaging some man to
go with me that was not afraid of dogs and I calculated
to keep the man between myself and the dogs. I
finally found the man I was looking for. He was an
Irishman and lived in the heart of the settlement and
owned a dog himself. The plan for carrying out my idea
was agreed upon. I was to go with him out to his home,

— 43 —
stop overnight with him and the next morning we
would start in on my duties. It was about fourteen
miles from his home to the home of the fartherest
settler and we would pass several on our way, and I
could .take their assessment as we passed along.
You see I am getting along towards the place where
the bear is keeping himself. So I went with my hired man
to his home about twelve miles west from Mosinee, and
stopped overnight with him. After breakfast next morn
ing we started on our trip calculating that we would just
about reach the fartherest settler at night. We got along
very well until we reached the Big EauPleine river, which
we found to be quite a large stream without a bridge to
cross over it, and the water was too high to think of
trying to wade through it. What was to be done. Here
we were in a bad fix sure enough. We did not have an
axe nor even a nail and the stream was 150 feet wide,
and about eight feet deep, and we must get across some
how, for it was. getting along in the afternoon and it
was six miles from the opposite shore to the settler's
home where we expected to put up for the night. My
hired man looked at me and says: Now what are you go
ing to do. We can't get over the river and it is getting

— 44 —
along towards night, so we had better go back to the last
house we passed for the night, and bring an axe with
us in the morning. I says let's look around some first.
I think we will find some way out of our difficulty. So
we went up the stream until we came to a bend and
found a couple of sawlogs had lodged there. I says here
we are, can you ride a log ? No sir says he I cant, can
you? I made the reply, I guess we can ride them over.
So I cut some withs with my pocket knife, found some
cross pieces and fastened them to the logs with the withs
and with a pole I cut. We crossed the stream on the logs,
then fastened our raft for future use and started on
again. We had gone about a quarter of a mile when
my comrade says in a hurried rather low tone, what is
that, look there? I looked at him as he pointed to some
object lying about eight rods from us in a small open
ing. He says it is a bear and his eyes were fairly bulging
as he pointed to the bear. Following the direction,
I also saw the bear, and I said it is an old bear with
her cubs. Dont you see them by her side. You bet
I do says he and we better be getting out of this before
she smells us and gets after us. I thought just about
as he did. Although I wasn't afraid of bear, I was as

45

ready to get out of the way as he 'was. I tell you we
got out of that vicinity with both feet. I noticed that
my hat had a tendency to crawl up on my head, and re
quired a lot of attention to keep it where it belonged.
I noticed also that my companion had almost as much
trouble with his hat as I did with mine. Of course we
were unarmed or it would have been different. We
were not scared but were only hustling on our way. You
see we were pretty well matched. I was not afraid of
bears and he was not afraid of dogs.
We were traveling through a dense forest and it
was over five miles to the first settler, but the gait we
had assumed would soon bring us within sight of his
opening, and a welcome sight it would be for both of
us. At last we saw light ahead, and my man says that is
Mr. Hays' clearing. As we approached we could see the
house some eighty rods back on the fartherest side of
the clearing and the road turned at right angle, so that
as we came to the opening we were right in the elbow.
A set of bars was placed in the fence that on being let
down we could follow the path leading to the house. As
we came to the bars and looked towards the house, I
saw something like a streak wiggling. I asked what is

— 46 —
that, and he says that is nothing only the farmers dogs
coming to meet us. Well sure enough they were on the
rush in single file, three of them, and yelping as though
it was their last chance. As my man let down the bars
and stepped over them, I fell in line right behind him
expecting of course that the dogs would pitch at him
first, and I could by this time feel the goose pimples.
coming out all over me. My man kept right on and did
not appear to be the least bit shaky about the legs.
Well.what do you suppose those dogs did when they
met us. Did they tear the flesh off the bones of my guide ?'
No sir not a bit. They never seemed to notice him in the
least, but turned out around him and cams up behind me,,
rammed their noses against my legs, and every last dog'
inspected me and growled and sniffed, then trotted back
to the house again. Surely I thought my hour had
at last arrived and I would have to be carried home in
pieces. I wondered what made the dogs act as they
did. I finally concluded that they thought I was trying
to hide away from them behind the other man, and as
they approached they discovered that he was an Irish
man and they would not touch him, but with me it was
different. They would interview me at all events. So

47

they did so and not finding any smell of bear grease on
me and being in company with the Irishman I must
be all right and they retreated satisfied. After finishing
my business with the farmer we journeyed on to the
last settler's home, where we arrived just at sunset.
Here we tarried all night and were right royally enter
tained. At this place we related how we had seen a
bear with her cubs. There were two young men, sons
of the farmer, that were at home. They said they
would get that bear in the morning. We told them
just where we saw them. They said they knew the
place and would get a good early start so as to get the
bear and cubs before we would be along and we could
see them. When we got up next morning the boys were
gone with their guns and dog. We started on our back
track after we breakfasted and made quite a bit of talk
as we hustled along, for we were some excited over our
adventure with the bear and wanted to get there as
soon as we could. When we were within about half a
mile of the place we saw the bo.ys coming back without
the_ bear or the cubs. I said it had got away from them,
probably went away during the night. As7 we met the

48

boys we asked them where is the bear. They said there
was no bear*to be seen, nor any signs of a bear ever
having been there. There was an old black stub of a
stump that had been burned and that was all the bear
we had seen. We said it beat everything if that was
the case. They said that was the fact and that we must
have been scared to imagine that the black stump was a
bear. We could haidly believe what they said, so we
plodded along until we came to the place where we had
.seen the bear and investigated and we found it just as
the boys had told us — an old black stub of a stump in
stead of a bear. We hadn't much to say after that.

Joseph Dessert.

Joseph Dessert.
Mr. Joseph Dessert, whose biograph we now write,
is a native of Canada, having been born in Maskinonge,
Province of Quebec, January 8, 1819, being a son of
Peter and Melonie (Baulien) Dessert, both natives of
that province. Twelve children were born to his parents,
none of whom are now living excepting the subject of
this sketch. He attended the schools of the neighbor
hood of his father's home and worked at lumbering in
Canada until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1840
he entered the employ of the American Fur and Trad
ing Co. in the Lake Superior region and remained in
their employ four years, returning home July 1, 1844,
and on September 16th started for* the unknown forests
of Wisconsin, where he was to make his home which
he was destined to honor by his exemplary and potent
business career. Reaching Buffalo he proceeded by
steamer to Milwaukee, thence by lumber wagon to Fort
Winnebago and on to Whitney Rapids and other inter
mediate stopping points. The most of his journey from
Fort Winnebago was made afoot. Mr. Dessert reached

— 50 —
Mosinee October 20, 1844, and from that date until
1905 was a continuous resident of Marathon county.
For five years he worked for wages in the solitudes of
this vast wilderness, lumbering and logging on the river.
Then, in 1849, he joined fortunes with William Pen-
cast, Henry Cate and James Etheridge and started into
the lumber mauufacturing business under the firm name
of Peneast, Dessert & Co., Mr. Dessert's partners
dropping out of the firm one by one until 1859, when
he bought out the last one and became the sole owner.
He conducted the business alone for twenty-one years;
then, in 1880, he admitted to partnership his nephew,
Louis Dessert. For ten years the business was under
the firm name of Joseph Dessert & Co. , and in Decem
ber 1890 the present Joseph Dessert Lumber Co- was
incorporated. The company as incorporated continued
the lumber manufacturing business until 1905, when
they ceased the manufacture of lumber. Mr. Dessert
being the president; his nephew, Louis Dessert, vice-
president and manager; H. M. Thompson secretary and
treasurer. Mrs. H. M. Thompson is also a stockholder.
In 1862 Joseph Dessert was married in Waukesha coun
ty to Miss Mary Sanford, daughter of William E. and

— 51 —
Lavina T. Sanford, the former a native of Connecticut,
the latter of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Dessert
have had two children, Marion M. , who died in infancy,
and Stella, wife of Henry M. Thompson, secretary and
treasurer of the Joseph Dessert Lumber Co. Mrs.
Dessert died July 1st, 1881.
PERSONAL.
Mr. Dessert, as can be seen by a glance over his
biograph, came to Mosinee in 1844, four years before
Wisconsin was admitted as a state. When he arrived
at Mosinee, a young man of 25 years of age, this
place was designated by name only as Little Bull. The
whole of this northern part of the state was not yet de-
vided into counties and towns, and at that early date
the men working in the lumber camps suffered very
much for provisions, as everything had to be brought
a long distance over a very poor trail, called a road.
Mr. Dessert told me that at one time, while he was em
ployed in the logging camp, that all they had to eat for
a number of days was nothing but salt pork and black
strap molasses. He said they were not able on such
diet to do very much work, but it kept them alive, and
there was no help for this condition until supplies could

— 52 —
be got to them. All was being done that could be.
There was no other way, only to grin and bear it with
as good grace as possible, which the men did. Mr.
Dessert being of a very observing mind, and anxious
to take advantage of any opportunity to better himself
that presented a fair prospect of success, soon dis
covered an opening where he was satisfied to make a
venture. And as we are informed in his biograph, en
tered into partnership as related, and became the con-
troling spirit in the different firms, under which the
lumber manufacturing business has been operated here
at Mosinee since 1849. Mr. Dessert was never an office
seeker. He had business of his own sufficient to keep
him well employed to look after its intricate details,
and it needed all his attention, for the conditions of the
country, were such that it required the utmost vigi
lance to avert disaster. Nevertheless his townsmen
elected him to fill many offices of trust. He served as
county commissioner for a number of years with credit
to his abilities. He also served for many terms as
chairman of the town board of supervisors. He was
always anxious while serving his constituents that the
public affairs should be managed along the lines of

— 53 —
economy, as much so as his own private business. In
1889 the village of Mosinee was incorporated and Mr.
Dessert was elected its first president, which office he
greatly honored by his wise administration of the various
responsibilities entrusted to him. Physically he could
not be called of very robust build, being rather slim and
delicate in his general proportions, but of wiry, cord
like muscles, not very tall, about five feet five inches in
heighth, with dark brown hair, eyes as black as night,
and exceedingly expressive. At about the age of forty
he came very near losing his eyesight, as a cataract
formed on the eyes and necessitated an operation, which
proved to be successful, although it was a long time
before he was able to resume the active oversight of
his business interests.
Socially he was all that the word implies. Ever
ready to grasp you by the hand and express by its
hearty presure the pleasure it gave him to meet you.
In conversation he was ever very pleasent and
affable, always ready and willing to hear the opinions
of others, and just as free tq relate his own convictions.
Politically he was a staunch republican, firmly be
lieving that the best interests of the General Govern-

— 54 —
ment, and for all the people, could best be secured by
the application ofthe principles of that political party.
As a philanthropist he is the embodiment of the prin
ciple, and which he manifested by practical demonstra
tion. In 1898 he built what is known as the Joseph
Dessert Public Library, costing many thousands of
dollars, all at his own expense, and for nearly eight
years took upon himself every item of expense connec
ted with institutions of that character. The library
building is situated on a village lot by itself, and is a
very imposing structure. Its basement walls are of
red granite, capped with Bedford stone, on which the
superstructure is built, which is termed a veneered brick
building, and is very nicely finished. The reading room
is large and well furnished with tables and chairs-
It is lighted by electricity and is heated from a furnace
placed in the basement. Has large windows and is in
every particular a very pleasent room in which to
spend an hour or two in thoughtful study. The shelv
ing for the books are placed in a recess back from the
reading room, where they present an inviting picture.
There is also another quite large room, where the meet
ings of the library board can hold its sessions without

Public Library.

— 55 —
being disturbed in its deliberations, or their interfer
ing with the quietness of the reading room. There is
also a small store-room in connection with the librari
an's office. The second floor is finished as an entertain
ment hall, with opera chairs, and has a raised rostrum
with foot lights, drop curtains, and wings with painted
scenery of attractive appearance. This hall is also
lighted with electricity. A cloak room is in connection
with the box office, at the head of the stairs leading to
the hall. I have described this building particularly that
all who read may realize that it is a substantial as well
as an ornamental edifice. Its proportions are 72x36
feet. Its location is on one of the principal streets and
corners in the village.
In 1906 Mr. Dessert made a gift of the library
building to the village of Mosinee. He also donated one
thousand dollars in cash for the benefit of the library.
In erecting, maintaining and finally donating it to the
village he has placed an opportunity, within the reach of
every young man and woman, where without expense,
only by taking advantage of their leisure hours,
they may acquire knowledge, along almost any line of
education. Here they can come in contact with the

56

foremost minds and thoughts on any subject fully dis
cussed. Here they will find all the best periodicals of
the day, dealing on almost every question, and the
young man or woman may here find a store-house from
which they may gather knowledge that would prepare
them for the various duties and responsibilities of life.
Mr. Dessert on the 8th day of January, 1907, reached
his 88th year, and still retains a great degree of mental
vigor for a person of such advanced age, and his bodily
strength is very well preserved, and is able to take his
daily walk when the weather will permit. He was
a resident of Mosinee for 61 years continuously.
The longest of any person now residing within its
boundaries. He is now a resident of the city of Milwau
kee, having gone there with his son in law, Mr. H. M.
Thompson and wife, with whom he has resided for a
number of years. They moved from Mosinee in 1905.

Log = Driving.
Log driving was quite a prominent feature of the
lumbering interest along the Wisconsin River Valley
in early days of Mosinee. Very many hardships and
exposures, as well as dangers,- were expected by the
brave men who engaged in the perilous business of log
driving. The saw mill at Mosinee required many mil
lion feet of lumber in logs. In those early days the bulk
¦of the logs were cut from the forest bordering on Rib
river and its tributaries, and were floated down Rib
river to the Wisconsin, and on the Wisconsin down to
Mosinee. It was a very hustling time here at Mosinee,
When it was decided that the water was high enough
and the ice having broken up and gone, a crew was
gathered and sent to the banking ground where the
logs were stored along the streams. The booms must
>be run out and strung along and properly fastened to
piers in the river, so that all would be in readiness to
receive the logs as they came. It took quite an army of
men to man the booms, and to run them through the
guardlock and pack them closely together in the mill pond.

— 58 —
Everything being ready, a messenger was sent to
the foreman at the different p'laces where logs were
stored with orders to let them loose at a certain hour
of the night or day, as the case might be. As it was
known about how long it would take for logs to float
to Mosinee, and the foreman having charge of the booms
and storage of the logs here, would know just at what
hour to look for the logs to begin to arrive, and men
were placed on the boom at intervals, with pike poles
to keep the logs from jamming on the boom. And
once the logs began to arrive the men had to stand to
their posts rain or shine, night and day, until the logs
were all driven into the boom. At such times men had
to undergo great hardships and privations. Sometimes
it was impossible to relieve them in order to take a little
rest, or to get their meals, as no men could be found to
take their places. There is a man now doing business
in Mosinee who told me that at one time of running
logs he had worked on the boom for three days and
nights consecutively without any rest or sleep, and was
requested to keep on working for another half day, but he
refused to do so for fear of falling off the boom into the
water and being drowned. When everything was at

— 59 —
such high tension it was in order to take some pro
vision to the men on the booms, so that they might not
faint from hunger. Millions of feet of logs were run
past Mosinee for the mills lower down on the river, and
all these had to be sorted out and run through the divide
on the boom here, and it was a hustling time for the men
at the divide, especially at night. All night long a man
with a lantern would stand on the boom and examine
the water mark on each log and say in a loud voice:
outside, if it was a log for below, and inside
for the log to be stored here, and the men had to work
lively to divide the logs properly.

A Foolhardy Act.
I think it was in 1868 that two young men, each one
of them being fine specimens of physical manhood, both
of them endowed with sufficient nerve and determina
tion, enough to face a rocky mountain lion, decided to
run the Little Bull Falls with a skiff. Whether they
were going to do so for any particular object other then
bravado and adventure I cannot say, but to say the
least they met with plenty of adventure and experience
before their journey came to an end. In addition to
themselves they had a stove also in the boat. They
were advised by others not to make the attempt to run
the falls as the water was rather high and rough. But
no amount of reasoning seemed to avail, go they would
at all hazards. They started from the Fall City side
of the river above the dam, rowed across to the west
side, and then made for the slide or apron of the dam.
Away they flew like a rocket with their frail craft down
the frightful raging torrent, and plunged into the
seething whirl of the eddy below the bridge, and all
were out of sight. But up they came, the boat upside

61

down, one man clinging to it for dear life, the other
man was whirled around by the water and thrown close
enough to the shore rocks to be drawn out more dead
then alive for a few moments. The other man managed
to cling to the boat for nearly a half mile, when it was
carried by the current near an Island. Then he let go
and succeeded in reaching the land and crawled out.
A boat was quickly manned, and he was taken from the
island. The stove has never been seen since, and prob
ably remains at the bottom ofthe eddy. I never have
heard that they were not thoroughly satisfied with their
experience. Certainly they never tried it the second
time.

Indian Scare No. i.
Forty years ago there were very many Indians
roaming all over this northern section of the state of
Wisconsin. They did not confine themselves to their
reservations, but roved in small bands wherever their
inclination led. They would locate themselves just
where they pleased, put up their tepee and the squaws
were ready to commence begging from the inhabitants
of any village or community near where they were
encamped, and they were very industrious along that
line of business. They were a source of great anxiety
to the families of the early settlers at all times, and
more especially to the good wife of the household that
was visited by them on their begging expeditions, for
when the Indians were around it was not known at
what hour or minute when from one to three or four
squaws would softly open the door and file into the
house without the formality of knocking, or perhaps
the light from the window would become obscured, and
on looking in that direction she would see the face of
some squaw with her nose flattened on the light of
glass, with her black piercing eyes taking in everything

— 63 —
that is within. Should she not be satisfied with what
she has seen? She finds her way to the door of the
house and enters without farther ceremony, and pro
ceeds to business. She says heep hungany (hungry)
as she presents herself in the middle of the room, and
the now trembling, half scared to death housewife lets
her have almost anything the squaw asks for, bread,
meat ahd sugar, as quick as her trembling hands can hand
them out, and with a grunt the squaw leaves the
house, only to return daily as long as they remain in the
vicinity. Sometimes the squaws were quite ugly.
When refused they would stamp around and yip until
they secured what they wanted. This course of action
was only adopted, on special occasions, when they
could not succeed in the" usual way, and when there was
no man to be seen around.
At that early date the Indians were quite peaceable
in this part of the country, and gave the whites but
very little cause for complaint, unless they were
treacherously dealt with by the whites, but were not
easy to control when they were abused, and often they
bore a great amount of abuse before retaliating, or
showed any signs of discontent.

64

It is a well known fact that the Indian is a great
lover of whiskey, and that an Indian will sacrifice
almost anything he has to obtain schotowaboo.
(Indian name for whiskey.) Even his blanket is not too
sacred to be traded for fire water, and many a white tra
der has reaped a rich harvest of dollars by taking ad
vantage of this weakness of the Indian.
Notwithstanding that the Government has placed
a heavy penalty of fines and imprisonment upon the
crime of giving or selling intoxicating liquor to the
Indian, very many white men have been guilty of
violating the laws of the nation and state whenever
the opportunity to do so presented itself, without the
probability of their being reported to the authorities.
This was the general condition of the situation in
regard to the Indians of all this northern part of Wis
consin. Some incidents have occured in which quite
serious trouble has arisen between the whites and
Indians, which had very alarming features in connec
tion with them, and real tragedy was averted only by
the timely diplomatic influence of some person in whom
the Indians had implicit confidence.
Such an incident occured in the month of October,

— 65 —
1866 and caused quite an Indian scare which lasted for
a couple of days. I very well remember the incident
for I took particular notice of the Indians that were
connected with the trouble. I was attending to some
business at Knowlton, a small hamlet, six miles distant
from Mosinee on the southline road leading to Stevens
Point. It was an ideal fall day, the sun shone brightly
and the atmosphere was balmy and refreshing. I had
called to see a person with whom I had business and I
was seated near the outside door which was open. Occa
sionally I would look out. As I did so I could see for quite
a distance along the road which ran close by the house.
And as I was looking along the road I saw quite a num
ber of men coming in single file rather briskly and my
interest in them was at once awakened. I stepped to the
door and stood there watching them as they came to
wards me. I soon discovered that they were Indians.
There were six or eight of them , fine stalwart speci
men of the noble red men. They were swinging along
at a good lively gait. As they came closer to me I saw
that some of them had knives in their hands which
looked to me like table knives ground to a point. I
noticed them particularly because they appeared to be

— 66 —
so much different from the Chippewa Indians that were
commonly seen by me. I concluded they must belong
to the Pottawattomies. After they were well out of my
range of vision I soon forgot them, and only at intervels it
would come to my mind where are they going. They seem
to be in a hurry, something that an Indian scarcely ever
does unless he is on the war path. My business being
done I stopped overnight at Knowlton When I reached
Mosinee the next morning I found quite an Indian scare
was in progress. On an inquiry as to the cause I was
informed that a roving band of Indians had taken pos
session of the saloon at Keelerville, kept by one Aaron
Forbes, and were making lots of trouble. It proved to
be the same Indians that I had seen at Knowlton. They
had reached Keelerville just before sundown, stopped at
the saloon, called for whiskey and it was given them.
They soon wanted more, which was handed' out to them
as before. This was enough to start a desire in them for
more, but they were refused any more as they were get
ting rather noisy. When they were refused they conclu
ded to run the saloon themselves and soon commenced
to make lively times. Windows were smashed and the
furniture destroyed. They drove the saloonkeeper out

— 67 —
and took full possession, helped themselves to all the
whiskey they wanted and whooped and danced and
yelled like demons. The sister of the saloonkeeper
who was keeping house for him fled for her life. She was
nearly prostrated with fright and it was several days
before she regained her normal strength and courage.
This lady was well along in years and she ran nearly
two miles to the home of- her daughter for protection.
The saloonkeeper ran for help to the home of Mr.
William Gouldsberry, the owner of a small sawmill who
had several men in his employ in and about his sawmill
at Keelerville, which is about one and one half miles
north from Mosinee on the southline road. As soon as
he made the situation known, several men returned with
him to the seat of war and joined battle with the enemy
in vigorous manner. The battle raged fiercely for some
time until one of the Indians was killed by one of the
white men. Then the Indians declared war on the
whites and outnumbering them, the whites were forced
to retreat or be slaughtered, but they succeeded in emp
tying all the liquor flasks and bottles of their contents be
fore they retired. The Indians demanded the man
that had killed the Indian. They made a hunt for him

— 68 —
but he had made his escape and could not be found.
•They were very fierce and declared that unless he was
given up to them that they would have revenge on the
inhabitants of Keelerville. It now became very certain
that some influence must be brought to bear on the In
dians or they would soon be beyond control, as they
were crazy drunk as well as desperately mad. One of
the white men, more thoughtful then the others, said we
must get Mr. Connor here as soon as possible. This
Mr. Connor was a quarter breed French and Indian,
married to a Chippewa squaw and was a very fine man
of about sixty years of age. Both whites and Indians
esteemed him very highly and he had great influence
with the Indians. He lived with his family just across
the river on the point of land opposite the sawmill.
He was sent for at once and came promptly to the
rescue, but he had considerable difficulty in quieting the
ferocious and now bloodthirsty Indians. Their brother's
blood had been spilled and white blood must flow to
satisfy them. They didn't want to kill any one but the
man that had killed their brother, but unless he was
delivered to them they would put on their war paint and
feathers and commence hostilities, but by great perse-

— 69 —
verance in talk by Mr. Connor they finally concluded
to call the war off. And as they recovered from their
drunkenness they could understand in some degree that
it would have been foolish on their part to have
started a massacre of the whites. The man that killed
the Indian could not be identified and nothing was ever
done to bring him to an account.
It appears that the saloonkeeper was in the habit
of letting the Indians have whiskey whenever he could
with probable safety. This trouble with the Indians
broke up his saloon business in this region and he sold
out and moved to Minnesota and the people were
glad to have him leave. The Indians hung around for
days and then left, after burying their brother.

Mr. Robert Freeman.
The subject of this sketch was born August 1st
1830 in County Caven in the north of Ireland. His parents
were of the blue blood of Irish nobleman for genera
tions. On reaching manhood's estate he determined to
build his fortune by his own efforts, like many other
young men. He was ambitious to be about its building,
and not finding favorable conditions in his native coun
try, his attention was turned towards the United States
for a solution of the problem. In 1850 he crossed the
Atlantic. On arriving in the United States, he came
directly to Milwaukee, Wis., where in July of the
same year, 1850, he was married to Miss Ellen McShara,
who was from the same county as himself in the north
of Ireland. He was now in the land of promise.
He now with his young wife took up his residence
in Green County, where they resided for one year. Dur
ing their residence in Green Counnty their first child
Margart Ann was born to them.
Not being satisfied with the outlook where they
were, Mr. Freeman, anxious to be permanently located,

Robert Freeman.

Mrs. Robert Freeman.

— 71 —
finally decided after considerable investigation that Ma
rathon County held forth the most tempting solution
of the problem he had so earnestly looked forward to.
Consequently in October 1851 with his small family he
came to Mosinee, at that time known only as Little Bull.
Since coming to Mosinee three other children have been
born to them, namly: William, Mary Jane and Ellen.
He located at the little hamlet of Mosinee only tem
porarily, just to give himself a chance to explore his sur-
roundings. He found himself right in the heart of a
vast wilderness surrounded on all sides by dark dismal
forests with only an occasional sign of civilization. Here
surely was room for him ^° put in practice his long
cherished scheme to hew out for himself the modest for
tune he so much desired. He at first thought to clear
a piece of land for a farm and selected it about two
miles west of Mosinee and commenced operation on it.
In a short time he had made quite an opening and he
proceeded to cultivate his ground, but it proved not to
be very fertile, being rather stony and sandy and un
productive. After .mature deliberation he concluded to
combine with his farm making some other lucrative
occupation that would prove a source of income until

72

he could find a more fertile tract of land on which to
erect his permanent residence. Being now pretty well
acquainted with what little business was being done in
this part of the country, he secured a compass and be
came a land cruiser. This was a new venture for him,
but it promised good healthful returns and that was just
what he most desired. So he set about informing him
self regarding the details of the business. Then he be
gan to put in practice 'his newly acquired knowledge,
obtaining from the land office maps and plots of the
government survey of the lands in this section of the
country. He commenced by locating section corners,
running the lines, locating quarter stakes and otherwise
familiarizing himself with the details of land cruising,
On one of his cruising tours he came upon a section
of land bordering along the banks of a pure stream of
water. After carefully looking over the situation he de
termined to secure this land for himself and accordingly
he'soon had his family comfortably situated in a home
of their own. This was in the year 1861. The small
stream soon received the name of Freemans Creek..
Here he busied himself making shingles the old
fashioned way with afroe and drawing knife, occasional-

-73 -
ly putting a few logs into the stream and running them
down to the larger stream and selling them for the best
price he could obtain for them. This business he fol
lowed with variable success for several years in connec
tion with his land cruising, at which business he now
had become an expert as well as an estimator of standing
timber. In the year 1883 he entered into partnership
with Frank Fellows of Mosinee, under the firm name
of Fellows & Freeman, for the purpose of engaging
in the lumber manufacturing industry. They built a
sawmill on four mile creek, six miles north of Mosinee,
where they owned quite an extensive tract of fine tim
ber lands. They operated this mill with success for about four
teen years. Then they sold out the sawmill property to
the Gardner Bros. After settling up their company
business they dissolved partnership. Mr Freeman
.after a season of rest again entered the ranks of busi
ness men. He has dealt quite extensively in real estate,
owning as he did, land in every town in Marathon coun
ty. Mr. Freeman is one of the genuine hustlers. Al
though he will soon be 77 years of age he is never so
happy as when business enables him to get out and be

— 74 —
among his fellow men. Mr Freeman is one of the old
landmarks of civilization of the township of Mosinee. He
is a genial wholesouled man, ever ready to lend a help
ing hand to those who are unfortunate.
Socially Mr, Freeman is held in very high esteem
by all with whom he comes in contact and for a man of
his advanced age is wonderfully well preserved, being^
as sprightly and nimble as most men are at fifty. At
this present time he appears to be in as robust health
as 20 years ago. With his full round face and red
cheeks, almost every hair white, with full white whiskers-
he presents a picture that is good to look upon.
In his political affiliation he is loyal to the demo
cratic idea and has great influence among his fellow
townsmen and may be relied on to stand pat. He is
a firm believer in the future greatness of his adopted
country. His religious views and church connection
are Roman Catholic and is considered to be one of the-
strong pillars of that denomination, always ready
with his voice and purse to come to the relief of any
undertaking of that society that is in need of financial.
and moral support.

O. E. and O. A. Priest.
Orin Elliot Priest came to Wisconsin and settled in
the township of Mosinee in 1853. He moved from
Cattaraugus county, New York. He was located there on
the Indian reservation on the Allegheny river, two miles
up the river from the mouth of Little Valley Creek,
where it empties into the river. The mills that he owned
and operated there were known as the Hemlock Mills.
There location was on the south bank of the river, not
far from the east end of the city of Salamanca, which
city at that date was not in existance. He bought
land and erected his dwelling about four miles north of
of Mosinee, on the southline road. He followed his
trade of millwright for a term of years. In 1867 he lost
his wife and he took up his residence with his daughter
Mrs. Ellen R. Gardner. With her he. made his home un
til his death, which occurred in September 1889.
Orin Alonzo Priest the son of Orin E. Priest was
born December 13th, 1835 in Cattaraugus county, New
York. He came to Mosinee in 1854, one year after his
parents, and on April 29th, 1857 was united in marriage
to Miss Julia- A. Robbins of Mosinee. To them have

— 76 —
been born five children; Harvey A. born Feb. 6th,
1858, Oscar E. born March 11th, 1861, Ester E. born
April 26th, 1866, Anna M. born July 26th, 1871, Mary
E. born Oct. 26th, 1876.
Mr. Priest on July 16th, 1861 enlisted in the army
and was mustered out June 7th, 1865. As a veteran,
having served his country nearly four years, he was en
gaged in several hard fought battles and was in the battle
of Gettysburgh. He was one of the Iron brigade under
the command of the famous General Bragg. On his
release from the army he returned to his home in the
town of Mosinee where he still continues to reside.
His long term of service and the exposure and hard
ships of a soldier's life in the line of duty were so wear
ing upon the constitution that he has suffered more or
less from the time of his discharge and has with great
difficulty been able to manage his business successfully.
He is one of the old landmarks of Mosinee township of
old times and is known throughout its extent. He is a
thorough, rather radical, republican in politics, is a good
talker and believes what he advocates. The family re
ligiously lean towards the Methodist Episcopal persua
sion,

Mode of traveling before the railroad.
The mode of travel and the facilities for convey
ing travelers from place to place forty-five and fifty years
ago and even forty were of a very primitive character,
although at the same time the traveler had the choice
of several different ways, whichever of them suited him
best. There was the original style of travel that he
might adopt. He could foot it at his leisure, stop and
rest as often as he chose and have no one to growl at
but himself and should he not like the company he was
in he could stop for a day and investigate how things
were coming along. This was a very popular style of
traveling, as it very often was the case that there was
no other way that could be taken advantage of and very
often it was necessary to get along on your journey.
It was a very safe way to travel providing you were
careful. Then you would sometimes find that you
could hire a man with a team and lumber wagon to con
vey you for a distance for a goodly sum of money and
thus you would be rushed through the country at the
frightful speed of from twenty-five to thirty miles per

— 78 —
day, owing considerable to the condition of the trail,
for it could not be classed as much of anything else, but
it was rather expensive means of transportation unless
there were several travelers together. Then that would
lessen the expense some, but very many were glad to
get along any old way.
Yes you had another means of conveyance, which
was considered up to date at that time. There was the
mail wagon that carried passengers and charged every
cent it was worth to take you along, and it was worth
every penny you paid to ride with the mail wagon, for
it was nothing else but a mail wagon with two or three
seats fixed on top of the box, and the driver felt himself
of great importance when he had a load of travelers, for
he could make a great show by cracking his whip over
the horses ears, and now and then brushing a fly that
was getting busy with the flanks of the horses and in
various ways endeavoring to impress upon the minds of
the passengers that he would get them through on time,
as he was not only carrying the fast mail, but was also
the driver of the lightning express, and that the limit
of speed must be maintained throughout the trip or
damage would be claimed. At that time there were but

79

few settlers along the trail from Berlin to Stevens Point
and but little money could be raised in taxes for work
ing the road, and the stage as well as all that were team
ing as a business had to get along as well as they could,
but as settlers came in and started making openings and
homes, more work was laid out in bettering the condition
of the roads. Where low marshy places occured they
w;here corduroyed with logs or poles laid crosswise of
the wagon track with dirt piled on top and in various
other ways the roads was improved so that the trip that
formerly took four days to make could now be done in
three days, making quite a saving in time and vexation.
Demands were made by the traveling public, for some
thing more comfortable than the lumber wagon to ride
in, so a platform spring wagon was put. into the service
in carrying the mail and passengers and proved to be
a great improvement on the former method. These
wagons were drawn by two horses. That was the only
way that travelers had of getting into this northern
section of the state. The platform spring wagon was
in use only for a few years after the lumber wagon
went out of fashion.
Then a great revolution took place. The Frink

80

& Walker Stage Company put on the road the regular
thoroughbase concord coach.drawn by four horses and
surely then this country was as well provided for the
comfort of the traveling public as any part of the Uni
ted States not having the blessing of the railroad. It
really was a great improvement on the old way of travel.
It was a source of great curiosity for all the boys and
children of every town or hamlet through which the
coach passed, nothing like it having ever been seen before
by them and even many of the older people had never
seen the regular stage coach and it proved a source of
interest to them. It would have done you good to have
seen the boys and children of Mosinee when the time
for the coming ofthe stage coach drew near. They would
get together half a dozen in a bunch and start over the
river to meet it in order to follow it into the village and
they were just as enthusiastic as any lot of boys you
ever saw following the band wagon of any circus. They
wold run and jump and whoop and yell' all sorts of noi
ses to express their delight. They not only serenaded
it into town but followed it out also.

Cornelia Blair.
William G. Blair and his wife Cornelia with their
family of three children came to Mosinee in 1852. They
bought the hotel property on the east side of the river,
known as the Fall City Hotel. At that early date it was
•thought that the business interests at this point on the
Wisconsin river would center on the east side, and those
interested had quite a city laid out in lots and named
it Fall City. As there was no bridge across the river
at that time their hopes were not without some founda
tion, as the line of travel was all on that side, the road
passing within a few rods of the hotel. But the building
of the bridge in the winter of 1855 and spring of 1856
across the jaws of the gorge of Little Bull, prepared a
way to reach the west side of the river where the busi
ness industries were located and the prospects of Fall
City ever becoming the commercial center of business
vanished. Mr. Blair was born in Glasgow, Scotland;
and Mrs. Blair being of Scotch descent, they had in their
constitution the determination of their ancestors not
to be downed by adverse circumstances. They conL

— 82 —
tinued the hotel business the same as before. Here at
Mosinee two more children were born to them: Clitus
S. , born March 29th, 1856, and Helen M. , born May 20th,
1853. In all they had eight children. Three of them
died before they came to Mosinee and two small boys
they brought with them were drowned in the Wisconsin
river, as was also a son of D. W. C. Mitchell a near
neighbor at the same time. In 1861 a call for volun
teers was issued by the president, and Mr. Blair being
a loyal and patriotic citizen, volunteered and went to
the front and was in the battle of Pittsburg landing.
In this battle he was wounded and was taken prisoner
and was in the enemies hands for three months. Then he
was exchanged, but not being strong enough to travel
he was taken to the hospital where he died, and now
sleeps in the National Cemetery at Chattanooga, Tenn.
Mrs. Blair being now left alone with three children to
support, and all the necessities of life continually in
creasing in price, it was a question of the gravest inter
est how she alone, unaided, could meet the responsibili
ties of the situation, but being a woman of great courage
and naturally inclined to look difficult problems square
ly in the face, she rose to the responsibility without

— 83 —
flinching, as everything was depending upon her. She
now took full control of the hotel business with the
determination that she would win the horse or lose the
saddle, (as she told me herself). She so managed her
business that in a short time her hotel was never with
out its full share of the patronage of the traveling and
freighting public, and by her close attention to the com
forts of her guests, it became the most popular
hostlery on the southline road between Wausau and
Stevens Point. She put her whole personality into the
management and details of her business and she won
the admiration and good will of all with whom she came
in contact. The Fall City House was a point that all
the teamsters and travelers on the road would always
strive to reach for their noonday meals or nightly stops,
as they were sure of generous treatment and a royal
welcome, and any that were sick or ailing were sure to
be cared for.
Mrs. Blair was a woman of a wonderful personality.
She was a little above the average woman in heighth,
standing straight, and being well proportioned, with no
superfluous flesh. Her muscles were like steel cords.
She was of commanding appearance, a woman to be

— 84 —
noticed among many. She was kind and sympathetic
with those who were in need of consolation. She never
spared herself whenever her help was called for by
those in distress, night or day. She was ever ready to
go to the relief of the sick or needy, sparing neither
herself nor her purse. In all, she was one of those grand
and noble women who have made the world better by
having lived in it. In the spring of 1881 Mrs- Blair
received a paralytic stroke, from which she suffered
much. Finally relief came and her mission on earth
ended on the 1st day of May, 1881.

Sabastian Kronenwetter.

Hon. Sebastian Kronenwetter.
Sebastian Kronenwetter was born in Wittenberg,
Germany, January 20, 1833, and is a son of Michael
and Francisca (Funk) Kronenwetter. He attended the
German schools in his boyhood and in 1846, when thir
teen years of age, emigrated with his father and
mother to America. They settled at St- Marys, Elk
county, Pennsylvania, and there the parents remained
honored and respected residents through life. Of their
five children two only now survive, Nicholas and Charles,,
both of whom still reside at St. Marys. Sebastian grew
to, manhood at the home of his parents, and at St,
Marys, on October 15th, 1855, he married Miss Mary
Biri, a native of Alsace, France, now a possession of
Germany, and daughter of Benedict and Barbara Biri.
Two years later he resolved to seek a home in the
Northwest, coming to Wisconsin in 1857. He located
in Mosinee, where for two years he worked in the pine
ries.. In 1859 he engaged in the hotel business, which
he conducted for two years; then, in 1861, he removed.
to Wausau and opened a hostelry in that bustling little,

— 86 —
city. For two years he prospered, but in 1863 fire de
stroyed his hotel, consumed all his earthly possessions
and left him with his wife and babes penniless. Mr.
Kronenwetter returned to Mosinee and began anew at
the foot of the ladder. He launched into the logging
and lumbering business on his own account in a modest
way. His business grew and in 1870 he purchased the
Gouldsbury mill property at Keelerville and removed
there with his family. The children born to Mr. and
Mrs. Kronenwetter have been Michael, born at St.
Marys, Pa., February 2, 1857, who died in infancy;
Helen O. born at Mosinee June 22, 1860, wife of
Michael Lutz; Francis M., born at Mosinee June 26,
1861, who died November 18, 1863; Karl A., born at
Wausau August 2, 1862; George S., born at Mosinee
September 15, 1864, Clara F , born at Mosinee October
9, 1866, now the wife of Eugene Wirth; Henry M.,
born April 1, 1869; Frances M., born February 21,
1872, who died February 10, 1874; Mary I., bom in
Mosinee September 15, 1874, and Anna O., born in
Mosinee March 31, 1877. Sebastian Kronenwetter died
at his home on the 27th day of April, 1902, at the age
of sixty-nine years, three months and seven days.

-tt,8!7 — ,
Mr. Kronenwetter was one of the prominent men
of the town of Mosinee. He was chairman of the town
board for many years, served as supervisor a number
of terms, and was chairman of the county board of
supervisors. He was also a member of important com
mittees in connection with the county board. He was
elected to the legislature of the state and served one
term in the assembly. He was a staunch, middle of
the road democrat, yet he had great respect for those
who honestly differed from him in their political views.
He was a man of great influence among the Germans
of Marathon county and whatever movemeut for the
benefit of the county that was being agitated, if it had
his approval, was almost certain of being favorably
considered by the town or county board of which he
was a member.
As a business man Mr Kronenwetter was a success,
working his way up from a day laborer to a position
where he was an employer of many men, and by close
attention to business he laid the foundation for a snug
little fortune. On account of failing health, he was
compelled to retire from the active oversight of his busi
ness for some years previous to his death. He was a

— 88 —
man very much respected by all who knew him. He
had a sympathetic nature and any distress appealed to
him, and he was ever ready to give aid and encourage
ment to the despondant. He was a genial, jovial, com
panionable person, His religious connection was with
the Roman Catholic church, of which he was a very in
fluential member.

Tragedies of Little Bull.
We will now turn our thoughts for a short time to
the "Tragedies of Little Bull," of which there are many.
We cannot refer to all of them, as we are not in pos
session of all the records relating to the fearful loss of
life that has occurred at that place. It has been enor
mous. Little Bull Falls can claim over one hundred
victims for its share in the destruction of life in the
rapids of the Wisconsin river. As many as ten live? in
one year have been lost since I have been a resident of
Mosinee and many of the bodies of the victims were
never found, and yet there was no lack of men who
were willing to face the dangers. Just think of it for
a- moment and try to comprehend the great nerve and
determination of the class of men who would risk their
lives perhaps twenty times a day for many days during
the season of running the rafts over the falls, but that
was the kind of material of which those men were
made. We will now speak of some of the particular trag
edies and incidents that have occurred, with two excep-

— 90 —
tions, within the last forty years to my knowledge-
You will remember that I said I would give you some
of the history of Kelly Rock- The first incident hap
pened before I came into this country, and I have taken
it from the history of the incidents of the Upper Wis
consin River Valley. It appears that while rafts were
being run over Little Bull a raft got saddlebagged on
Kelly Rock and one of the men was left stranded on
the rock, in the midst of the foaming torrent, with
out any means to extricate himself. There he was and
there he must stay until some means of rescue was de
vised. It is recorded that he remained on Kelly Roek
five days and nights before deliverance came. He was
nearly exhausted from exposure and want of food, in
spite of all efforts made to relieve him. It was im
possible to communicate intelligently with him on ac
count of the tremendous roaring of the water, although
many attempts had been made. His final deliverance
came about in this way: Two raftsmen, one named Wm.
Wood and the other Hunt, whose baptismal name is not
given, were on a raft running the falls when they saw
this man on Kelly Rock. As they were going back for
another raft they met a man and Wood wanted to know

— 91 -
why they didn't get him off the rock. He was told that
it could not be done, as it had been tried, and all they
could do was to throw him bread and whiskey as the
the rafts passed the rock. It appears that Wood was
not very choice in the use of language, and the reply
he made was very emphatic, as he exclaimed, "O, Hell P
At the same time he emptied his pockets of their con
tents, handing them to bystanders, and said "What do
you think of it Hunt?" as he turned toward him, but
he had no need to ask him, as Hunt was doing the same
thing. They then made their way to the eddy and said,
"Get us the best boat you have and the strongest oars,
as tfeere must not be any mishap in this business. The
boat was gotten ready and Wood and Hunt got into it
and started on their perilous trip. They passed the
dam in good order, with their nerves and muscles
wrought up to the highest tension, and with accurate
judgment they intended to just skirt Kelly Rock and
give the now nearly dead man a chance to tumble into
the boat as it passed, but unfortunately, just before
reaching the rock, the oar broke that Wood was using
his giant strength on to hold the boat true to its course,
and on the boat went over the falls without rescuing

— 92 —
the man, but nothing daunted by this failure of their -
first attempt, the boat was gotten back to the eddy and
Wood said, "Get me an oar that I can't break." So
one was quickly made. He took it, looked it over, put
one end of it under one log and over another for a ful
crum and jumped on it with his whole weight and
turned it over and tried it that way, and remarked, "It
will answer." Then they started on their second trial,
away on the raging- flood. Hundreds of anxious eyes
watched them as they plunged along, both intent on so
steering their craft that it would reach the desired point
in just the right position to accomplish the object for
which they had undertaken. See them as they pull
this way and instantly reversing, holding on with all
their strength against the treacherous currents they
have to contend with. The man on the rock sees the
efforts being made for his deliverance and struggles to
his feet and gets as close to the edge of the water as he
dares. As the boat rushes past he tumbles into the
arms of Hunt and is brought to safety amid the shouts
of the multitude. This rescued man's name is supposed
to have been Kelly and the rock has from that time
bore the name of Kelly Rock.

93

The second incident connected with Kelly Rock oc
curred in the year 1867, when a man by the name of
Daniel Austin was stranded on the rock for three days
¦ before rescue came to him, although every craft pass
ing tried to get near enough for him to jump onto.
Bread and whiskey were thrown to him and it is said he
threw away the bread and drank the whiskey. Be this
as it may, it was a fact that he was a great lover of
whiskey and was never known to refuse a nip when
it was offered to him. At last, on the evening of the
third day, a raft was gotten close enough for- him to
leap onto, to the great relief of his distressed wife and
children.

Tragedies of the Dam.
This point of the river being so destructive to lum
ber passing through it, and so great was the loss of life,
the Wisconsin River Improvement Company concluded
to build a dam below the falls, believing that the back
water would subdue the great eddy and thus make it
safer for both life and lumber. So the dam was accord
ingly built, and it proved to be of some advantage so
far as the eddy was concerned. It did back the water
so as to improve the whirling maelstrom, but then the
dam became a menace to both life and lumber as great,
if not more so, than before it was built. I remember
well, it was on the 23d day of April, 1874, that I was
on my way to the city of Wausau, and at Cedar Creek
I met Mr. Michael Stafford. We stopped and talked
for a few minutes and he told me he was on his way to
Little Bull to help the boys run his lumber over the
falls. He went on to Mosinee and I went to Wausau.
When I returned home I heard the sad news that Mike
Stafford and four other men had been drowned at the
dam below the falls. The men had been on a raft with

— 95 —
the pilot and all were drowned. Their bodies were re
covered shortly, but life was extinct, and so it was
never certain when you started with a raft over the
falls whether any of the crew would reach the landing be
low in safety or not.
In 1874 a Norwegian, who had settled somewhere
above here with his family, became dissatisfied with
this part of the country and concluded to seek a more
congenial clime in which to spend his strength and build
himself a home and secure a fortune. He accordingly
set about making arrangements to move his family,
consisting of one son and two daughters, his wife being
dead. The boy was about fourteen years of age, one of
the girls nine and the other three years old. Not be
ing a person of very much cash capital he thought it
the best and most economical plan to build a raft suf
ficient to accommodate them all on their journey to the
new Eldorado. In due course of time he landed at
Mosinee with his outfit above the dam. People advised
him not to think of such a foolhardy thing as to en
danger their lives by running through Little Bull. But
like some other Norwegians that I have known, it wa«
of no use to talk to him. His mind was firmly fixed on

-making the attempt. Come weal or woe, through the
jaws of the falls he was going. He was not going to
portage his goods by land when plenty of water was
running right where he wanted to go. It was rather
late in the afternoon when he decided to make the run
through the falls and camp for the night farther down
the river. He succeeded in running the falls in safety,
as the water was not very high, but when the raft
reached the dam everything was engulfed as it plunged
into the boiling suds below, and but for the heroic
efforts of Mr. N. Kellogg ancl several other courageous
men who witnessed the incident, all would have been
drowned, and it was with great difficulty and danger
that any of them were rescued from a watery grave.
The father and boy were the first to be reached and
brought to land. Then the search for the girls was be
gun, and fortunately Mr. Kellogg succeeded in twisting
a pole into the dress of the three year old girl, and she
was brought to the shore apparently dead, but by using
-every effort possible, she was resuscitated, and was taken
to the Fall City House where she was taken in charge by
the landlady, Mrs. Cornelia Blair, who was just the
right person to mother and nurse her back to a beauti-

— 97 —
ful healthy childhood. And during this time the little
girl got complete control of the kind heart of Mrs. Blair,
so that she could not bear to let her be taken
from her care. She wanted the child for her own, and
the father gave it to her. She adopted the child and
brought it up with her family. The body of the older
girl could not be found, as the undertow of the water
had whirled it under the apron of the Dam, and darkness
coming on prevented further work to secure it, and had
to be abandoned for the night. Early the next morn
ing the body was found and properly buried. The
father and son then went on their way to Minnesota, in
which state the son is doing a nice business.

Shoemaker Rock.
Shoemaker Rock, as we said before, is situated below
the jaws of the gorge, and although it was a continual
menace to the raftsman, it was not considered as dan
gerous an enemy as Kelly rock, for the reason that the
general tendency of the current of the water, as it came
tumbling through the gorge, was to throw the raft into
the boiling maelstrom on the opposite side, obliquely
across the chasm. Notwithstanding this feature in its
favor, it has two fatal tragedies connected with it, and
of a remarkable coincident character. The first incident
occurred some years before 1 resided here. A raftsman
was thrown from a raft into the flood, and his body
lodged on that particular rock, and with great difficulty
his body was secured. I am not certain as to whether
his name was Shoemaker, or whether he was a shoe
maker by trade, but my informant told ms that since
that tragedy happened, the rock had borne the name of
Shoemaker. The second incident which also proved a
tragedy I can vouch for as well as can ver.y many others
who are now residents of Mosinee, and is quite a lesson

99

to all those who would tempt fate by undertaking to do
something of a hazardous nature of which they have no
practical knowledge.
Mr. William Gilbert, who resided in Mosinee,
thought he could pilot a raft through Little Bull Falls
as well as any other man. Although he had never been
a raftsman, nor had ever run the river, yet he deter
mined to give it a trial, and in order that he might be
the more successful he drew a plan of the river and
rapids from the eddy to the potato patch, locating
every rock and the position in which the raft needed to
be in at each point, and he went to the eddy and rode
through the Falls several times before venturing to take
the responsibility of a rapids pilot. He also secured a
life preserver, which he put on whenever he secured
a job of running the falls, and he was now ready for
business, and as he told me himself there was big money
in it, and he was going to have his share. He was for
tunate enough to be engaged to help run a fleet of rafts,
and he had very good success in the fall of 1871, so he
felt encouraged to take hold of the business again in
the spring of 1872. He did quite a thriving business
for a number of days, until he had only one more trip

100

to make. As he remarked to a man as he was going
back to the eddy he said, this is my last trip, and so it
proved to be, for on passing under the bridge with his
raft, he was lost overboard, and his body lodged on
Shoemaker rock. This happened about eleven o'clock
in the forenoon of the 19th day of April, 1872. His
body was taken off the rock just at night. He was by
trade a shoemaker. He had became so confident of his
ability to run safely that he failed to put on his life pre
server that day when he needed it most.

Pioneers.
It would be unfair to the pioneer settlers of the
township of Mosinee not to relate some of the hard
ships which became their lot to encounter and contend
with while wresting from this vast wilderness a place
they might call home. Many of them were very much
disappointed when they came with their families to locate
on their land, to find that they had been fraudulently
dealt with by the land agent at the land office. They
found themselves widely separated from each other,
when they supposed they were being located near by,
so as to be neighbors, and have their land clearings
unite, and thus make an opening in the forest that
would be of mutual benefit, as well as more pleasant
and cheerful. Instead of this cheering prospect being
realized, they were miles apart. There was no redress.
They had paid for their lands, and must needs settle
where their lands were located. Their money was gone,
yet their land was paid for, and they had no time to
spend in regrets or contests. They found themselves
strung out for a distance of from six to twenty five

— 102 —
miles from Mosinee all in the dense wilderness, without
any sign of a road. Nothing but a blazed trail served
to guide them from one settler to another, and the
blazed trail often led through marshes and low wet
places for quite a distance. None of them had very
much means to commence with, but all had that in
domitable will and courage,- that they went at their
home making with that determination that knows no
defeat, and soon the small log cabin is erected, and the
small family is comfortably housed.
And now commences the struggle for the realization
of their fondest hopes which they had all entertained
since they decided to become the pioneers of civiliza
tion in this northern part of our country. Their real
wants were many, but the means to meet them were
Very meagre. It would take at least two years before
much could be expected in the line of provision for the
family from the cleared ground, that might be made by
the energetic settler. In the meantime what is to be
done? That problem must be solved by them, necessaries
must be obtained from some source, and it becomes
certain that the husband must leave his little family,
and go in. search of work, in order to secure the
supplies needed. His family must be left alone

— 103 —
day and night in the wilderness, until the return
of the husband and father. And all the time he is
away the wolves make the night hideous with their
everlasting howl. Just think for a moment what quali
ty of mental courage that young wife, with one or
two little children must have been endowed to withstand
the shock of such surroundings for a week or more at
a time, and only short intervals between such absences
of husband and father.
Then the father, having secured work for a few
days or a week, bought the needed supplies. How
is it to be conveyed to his family ? No road on which to
travel, and not a team is owned by any one of the sett
lers, and such a long distance to be covered. There is
no other alternative than to shoulder whatever he has,
and trudge with his back load through the dark dismal
forest, oftimes until late at night, before he reaches
his loved ones in their humble home. And this had to
be done time after time. Every sack of flour must be
toted on the back for miles and miles- One of the
first settlers told me that he had at one time carried a
fifty pound sack of flour and some tea, coffee and sugar
on his back, from Stevens Point to his homestead, a

104

distance of forty miles. His home was located twelve
miles west from Mosinee.
It was not always the husband that was compelled
to tote the necessities to the little cabin in the woods,
but the wife and mother was often obliged to leave her
little children all alone, and trudge her way out, and
often carrying some much coveted article of her
wardrobe, in hopes that she might find a purchaser, and
with the proceeds of the sale she could purchase a
few of the many urgently needed necessities and bring
them to her family, and often such trips reached forty
miles. Sometimes in the spring of the year a little
maple sugar would be made, and the wife would make
that tedious journey, carrying all the sugar she was
able, to secure her thread, needles, pins, a skein of yarn,
or any other needed delicacy, and return to her darling
children. Now gentle reader don't for one moment think that
this is just a fancy picture of my own invention, for
these things were of actual occurance, and if it were
necessary, I could give the name of the real actors in
the drama. I have given you just one side of the con
dition of the pioneer settler, and one family case only,

— 105 -
and there were many of them in just the same situation,
yet everyone of them bears up with wonderful fortitude
under such discouraging trials.
Another situation confronts them, of a more heart
rending character. Sickness invades the household.
What shall be done at such times ? Doctors are out of
the question, for not a medical practitioner can be
reached inside of forty miles, and the sick must be at
tended to, let it be father, mother, or child, something
must be done for the relief of the suffering one. The
husband or wife, whichever can best be spared, starts
for the nearest neighbor, perhaps from three to eight
miles distant, in hopes to secure some assistance in
caring for the sick one, very often to find that the
neighbor is in just as needy circumstances as themselves.
After securing some simple home remedy, such as they
have to spare, and a hearty (God bless you) they plod
their sorrowful way homeward with aching hearts.
Many times these simple remedies brings relief, and all
is well again.
A very distressing and sorrowful case was related
to me by one of the relatives of the family, and at the
time living only one half mile from them. The family

=— 106 —
consisted of father, mother, and six children, the old
est girl being twelve years old. The mother was taken
sick. It was in the month of January, and snow very
deep, and like most of our northern winters, was very
cold. No doctor could be reached. The kind neighbor's
wife came to the relief of the distressed family, and all was
done that they could do, yet without avail. The silent
messenger came and claimed its victim. The husband
ancl neighbor's wife did of necessity prepare the dead
for burial. The husband and neighbor dug the grave
in the little clearing. A rough box was secured, and
together they laid the body in the grave. And what
made the circumstances more distressing, was that no
priest or clergyman could be obtained to say a prayer
over the remains of the beloved wife and mother. This
is but one of the many like incidents that happened to
the early settler.

Michael DeJarden.

Michael DeJardian.
The subject of this sketch was a full blood Indian,
of the Chippewa tribe. He was born not more than
two miles from where the village of Mosinee now stands.
His fathers tepee was located not far from the bank of
the Wisconsin river where he had cleared a small patch
of ground of its brush and small trees that his squaw
might have a place to plant some corn and a few vege
tables, as they were rather above the ordinary Indians
in intelligence and patterned somewhat after the fashion
of the whites in many respects. Mechell, as he was
called, in his early life was engaged with his father in
trapping, fishing and hunting, which in that early day
was a very lucrative business, as there were plenty of
beaver, otter, mink, martin and many other fur" bearing
animals in all parts of this country. Mechell was very
friendly with the whites, and often worked in the lum
ber camps and on log drives with them, and was greatly
respected by all the citizens of Mosinee.
He enlisted in the army during the war of the Re
bellion, for three years, and served the whole term of

108

his enlistment and proved to be an excellent and courag-
ious soldier. He was in several battles and suffered the
loss of the fingers of both hands, which were shot off
during action. At the expiration of his term of enlistment
he was honorably discharged and allowed a pension and
citizenship. He then returned to Mosinee, married
an Indian maiden of his tribe, and after a few years re
sidence near here he moved his family onto the Flam
beau Indian Reservation, where they made their per
manent residence. He divided his time between
where his family were and the village of Mosinee,
where he was always welcomed by its citizens. He was
inoffensive, never quarrelsome, always good natured.
He would at times get funny and at such times he amused
the children by singing and giving an exhibition on the
sidewalks of the Indian style of dancing. He always
came to Mosinee to get his pension. Three years ago
this spring, 1904 he came for that purpose and was
taken sick and died. He was buried from the Catholic
Church, of which he was a member, and was followed
to his last resting place by the old soldiers and residents
of the village.

Rail Road.
There can be no dispute about the railroad being
a great factor in developing a new country. A country
without a railroad that has not a navigable water-way
for steamboats is very much handicaped in its industries,
no matter how energetic or industrious its inhabitants
may be. Even if they have a water-way that may be
of service one way, but is not capable of being used
both ways, is a great drawback on the profits, of any
enterprise that may be engaged in, for there is so
much uncertainty connected with delivering products of
manufacture that it is discouraging for those who are
putting forth every effort in building up any business
industry and again the possibility of great loss in the
transportation of their product to suitable markets is
so uncertain that it. becomes a source of annoyance that
few can realize except those engaged in business. Such
was the condition of transportation facilities before the
advent of the railroad into this upper Wisconsin river
country here at Mosinee. The river ran close by the
lumber manufacturing plant of Joseph Dessert & Co.,

— 110 —
which was the only industry here at that time, excep
ting a small tannery of very limited capacity, and all
the lumber manufactured had to be rafted and run to
market on the river, many times at great loss in con
sequence of the breaking up and wrecking of rafts of
lumber in their transit over the many' rapids before
reaching their destination on the lower river. Very
often the cost of logging, cutting the lumber, rafting,
and running to market, would leave but a small margin
of profit with which to continue the business, and many
were obliged to suspend operation. In the latter years
of the sixties some talk about a railroad being built
into this country was heard and agitated for sometime,
but finally quieted down for a while, and people began
to think that this country was doomed to remain for all
time without a railroad. As the Wisconsin Central had
been built through Stevens Point, north to Ashland,
the nearest point' to be reached from Mosinee being
Junction City, sixteen miles distant. The outlook was
rather gloomy. Certain it was that the building of the
Central was a great relief to the people of this section of
the Wisconsin Valley, for it relieved the necessity of

— Ill —
hauling their supplies such long distances, as they were
compelled to before the road was built, and travelers
could reach these parts very much more speedily.
Railroad talk did not remain quiet very long. It
soonwas revived again, and the country was quite agi
tated in regard to it. It was proposed by a company
of men to build a railroad connecting with the Chicago
Milwaukee & St. Paul road at Tomah, from there to
Centralia on the Wisconsin river, then continue the
road north, until it reached Wausau in Marathon
county. The company sent out its agents along the
proposed line of construction to solicit subscriptions for
stock in the new enterprise, and they were successful
in securing subscriptions from several wealthy business
men, but not sufficient to satisfy the promoters of the
railroad, so the proposition was brought forward that
the county take stock in the enterprise. The idea was
commented upon and agitated for quite a long time.
Finally the county after careful deliberation decided to
take twenty thousand dollar of the stock of the proposed
road. Even this generous sum was not sufficient to
satisfy the demands of the promoters. And the county
still further assisted the project by donating five thou-

— 112 —
sand dollars towards building a bridge across the Wis
consin river, and yet demands were forthwith made for
an additional donation, which was granted by the county
in giving all the county land held by the county on
delinquent taxes. This last donation consisted of several
thousand acres of valuable land and proved a princely
gift. This gift was the last drop of blood that could
be drawn from the county's veins, for they were now
drained dry and nothing further was to be gained by
agitation. The company commenced the construction
of the road and in the fall of 1874 it reached as far
north as Knowlton, on the east bank of the Wisconsin
river, where its train service ended for the winter, al
though the road bed had been graded and ties and iron
laid toward Mosinee and Wausau. In the spring of
1875 the road was completed to Wausau and train ser
vice was put on the whole length of the line, and this
northern section of the state was let out into the civil
ized world. It really was a galla day for this whole
upper country when the iron horse came roaring and
snorting along, bringing to these half civilized com
munities the wonders of the world and opening to them
the way to prosperity.

Samuel Hinkley.
Samuel Hinkley was born in Mercer, Somerset
county, Maine, October 15, 1822, a son of Josiah and
Sabra (Works) Hinkley, who were born in Maine of
English ancestry. He was reared upon his father's
farm, and after attaining manhood followed a seafaring
life off the Atlantic coast for about six years. In 1849
he abandoned the sea and in 1850 came west and located
in Alexandria, Missouri. He worked at the butcher
business there a few months and came to Mosinee,
Marathon county, in the spring of 1851 and engaged in
lumbering, and has been a resident of Mosinee since
that date. Samuel Hinkley was united in marriage to
Miss Hattie M. Johnson at Mosinee September 25,
1882. She was born in Wisconsin and was a resident
of Mosinee. One child, Sabra Almeda, was born to
them May 27, 1888.
Samuel Hinkley was a very prominent person in
Mosinee from the time he first became one of its
residents until the time of his death, which occurred
October 9, 1904. From the time he arrived in Mosi-

— 114 —
nee until old age and infirmities came upon him and
compelled him to retire from the active labors of the
position which had been his ambition to fill with credit,
he was constantly in the employ of the Joseph Dessert
Lumber Company and had the general oversight of all
outside business as the trusted foreman of the company,
and well he merited their trust, for there never was a
man more faithful to the interests of his employer than
he. He was ever ready, night or day, to go and do
that which would advance the best interests of the
company for which he labored. Mr. Hinkley was one
of the most popular men of Mosinee from the begin
ning. While he was never known to let pleasure inter
fere with his various duties, no party or social gather
ing was considered complete unless Uncle Sam was one
of its members. He had not been long in Mosinee
until he received the appellation of Uncle Sam and it
clung to him for the remainder of his life. It seemed
to just fit him, and Uncle Sam was never appealed to
but that he responded with alacrity. Uncle Sam was
always very popular with the ladies of Mosinee for the
reason that if they • wanted anything done out of the
ordinary, such as fixing up a place for a picnic or to put

115

up a swing for the children, or anything along that
line, Uncle Sam was the man appealed to and they were
sure of assistance. He was a man who at the close of
the war of the Rebellion prepared and took the lead in
erecting the first liberty pole here in Mosinee and he
was one that participated in raising the flag of our
country on every occassion that called for the observ
ance of past patriotism. He had full control of the
pole and the flag and he saw to it that everything was
kept in fine order as long as the first pole stood. When
it became unsafe to stand any longer he took it down
and made another and raised it where it now stands
and looked after it and kept the flag flying on all occas
ions of public interest as long as his health and strength
would permit. He was a patriot of the right stripe.
While he did not go to the front as a soldier, his heart
was in the interest of those who did go. He was always
loyal and true. Mr. Hinkley was a man of very strong
character and of a determined mind, and could always
be depended upon. He was ever charitable and kind to
all mankind. Uncle Sam was always ready to go 'to
the help of the distressed and he seemed to have the
faculty of discovering those who needed help and he

116

was there to relieve and encourage. In sickness he
never was known to stand aloof and wait for others,
but went himself and rendered such assistance as was
needed, and he saw to it that those in the lower walks
of life in needy circumstances were looked after in
their sickness and troubles. Uncle Sam was a person
that will be remembered as long as there is a person
living that was acquainted with him. His personality,
his benevolence, his every action, his influence, his
cheerfulness, his kindly deeds cannot be forgotten.

David Roberts.

David Roberts.
He was born near Montreal Canada, June 6th, 1831,
a son of Constant and Flavie (Laplainte) Roberts of that
country. Of a family of nine children only David sur
vives. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, re-
reiving a limited French education. When nineteen
years old he left the parental roof and found a home
in Wisconsin. On November 27th, 1850, he came to
Mosinee, and since that .date has been a continuous re
sident of the village. For nine years he worked in the
woods and on the river. In 1859 he engaged in the
lumbering business for himself. In 1882 he added to it
a general mercantile trade. He soon relinquished the
lumber business, but still continues the mercantile trade,
in which he has been successful. Mr. Roberts was
married at Stevens Point in 1863 to Miss Jane Morey,
a native of Wisconsin. To them were born two chil
dren: Marion born February 14th, 1873, died May 3rd,
1883. Mrs. Roberts and infant son died in 1878.
On June 15th, 1881 Mr. Roberts was married to
Miss Elizabeth Lemmer, daughter of John and Eliza-

118

beth (Dahlem) Lemmer who emigrated from Germany,
and became early settlers of Marathon Co. Wis.
To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been born three
children: Nelson D. born March 3rd, 1884., Emilia E.
born November 21st, 1885 and Constant C. born July 1st,
1888. Nelson D. died May 1st, 1906, aged 22 years
one month and 27 days.
Mr. David Roberts came to Mosinee when but nine
teen years old, just as he was nearing the morning of his
majority, and about to assume the responsibilities which
are incumbant on all men upon reaching their majority.
He was ambitious and full of energy, and in the strength
of his early manhood determined to succeed in spite of
the unfavorable outlook of the conditions prevailing at
that date. He saw a future for this northern section
of the country and he also realized that it meant hard toil
and many privations for those who undertook to subdue
this wilderness and bring it into a condition of civiliza
tion suitable to make it a desirable locality in which to
erect his future home. He succeeded by his own efforts
in his various undertakings, until now in his ripe age of
76 years, he can enjoy the rest of his days in peace and
plenty.

— 119 —
Mr. Roberts has filled many public offices in the
township of Mosinee, serving several terms as chairman
of the board of supervisors, has been postmaster and
school treasurer, and many other positions of trust in
the community. Socially he is rather of a reserved!
nature, never crowding himself upon- the attention of
any company, yet is genial and pleasant and courteous
to all that approach him. He is a staunch republican,
and stands firm by his colors through thick and thin,
believing that he is right in his choice. He is a firm
straightforward man in all his dealings, a man to be de
pended upon to fulfill all his obligations. The family
attend the Catholic church.

Patriotism of Mosinee.
The patriotism of the township of Mosinee can
never be questioned, for it stands out so prominent
that it cannot be overlooked, and its influence has been
felt on the battlefield, at a time when the life of our
government was assailed by enemies within its borders.
At the time when our country was threatend with dis
ruption, the township of Mosinee was but very sparsely
settled, and scattered here and there throughout its ex
tent, and none of them in very affluent circumstances.
The majority of them having families that would be apt
to undergo great privations were its provider and
protector to be taken from them, for it was with the
greatest economy by all, and in every way possible, that
they were able to sustain themselves
The inhabitants of the township were of various
nationalities. There was Germans, French Canadians,
Irishmen, Americans and Indians. Each of these dif
ferent nations was represented by patriots in the great
struggle for the unity of our nation, and many of those
brave men who went to the front have never returned

— 121 -
to their home and families. They laid down their lives
for their country and sleep the sleep that is the patriots
glory. And many more of them left parts of their
body on the field of battle, and came home maimed for
life, and none came back that were not broken in con
stitution, and must suffer the remainder of their lives
for their devotion to the welfare of their country.
At this date 1907, there are but few of those old
veterans left, to tell the story of the great conflict in
which they participated.
We will append a list of the names of those who
went to the front, at a time when many a heart was
quaking with fear for the life of our beloved country,
and to whom we owe the blessings of security, peace
and prosperity, through which this country has arisen to
the most honored place among the nations of the
world. All honor to their memory.
John Keefe. Joseph Robbins.
Jackson- Keefe. Tunis Guyett.
O. A. Priest. Bazil Guyett.
Henry B. Gardner, Ole Oleson.
William G. Blair. William G. Gilbert.
Edward Connor. William W. Mitchell.

— 122

Stephen Pauquett.
Amy Rancour
Lewis Potter.
Battees Brabant,
Michael DeJardin.
King Young.

Peter Mitchell, Jr.
Peter Mitchell, Sr.
Joseph Pasha.
James Mitchell.
Eugene Roberts.
Jack Doud.
There was two or three Indians whose names we
cannot secure.

Indian Scare No. 2.
Forty years ago the Indians were very much in
evidence. At all times and in every place you could see
bands of them, and families constantly on the go from
one place to another, hardly ever settled for any length
of time, and they were at all times on the lookout for
something to eat. It made but little difference to them
what it was, only that it would serve to fill their
stomachs they were satisfied.
It very often happened that some of the jobbers
would have a sick horse or an ox, and just as sure as
such was the case, certain it was that Indians would be
on hand Watching very anxiously to see what the result
would be, and no . doubt hoping all the time that the
sickness would prove fatal, as then there was a prospect
ahead of a right royal good feast, It didn't worry them
in the least whatever the disease might have been. The
important question with them was, would it end in the
death of the animal, and should it die all the owner had
to do was to drag the carcass to some place away from
his camp and the Indians would do the rest. No need

— 124 —
to dig a hole in the ground and cover it, for the Indians
claimed it as their meat, and no sooner than the carcass
was left the squaws would get busy with their knives
and hatchet. Some of them setting up stakes, fastening
poles to them and laying others across them, and build
ing a slow smokey fire under them. The other squaws
by this time would have the carcass cut up in strips.
Everything of flesh about the animal would be made of
great food value to them. The strips of flesh would be
laid on the poles, and smoked and dried, and they were
happy. I have seen this done many a time during the
first five years of my residence in Mosinee, In summer
time there was always very many tepees around the
little hamlet of Mosinee. There were nice groves of
young pines growing all around, and furnished them
a pleasant camping ground. I have seen probably from
thirty to fifty tepees at one time set up around in the
young pines. It was a fine shelter for them, and from
their sheltered camp the squaws could make their daily
raid on the inhabitants, begging from them anything
they could. Such was the situation in the fall of the
year 1867. The village was well surrounded with tepees,
when one night about eleven o'clock I was awakened by

— 125 —
one of my nearest neighbors rapping at my door. I arose
and found my neighbor very much excited. He said that
the Indians were in a terrible uproar and he was fear
ful that they would commence a massacre of the whites
of the village, and every one of us had better be up and
armed, ready to meet them, should they break loose.
I asked him the cause of the trouble and he told me that
some white men had gone to their camp with whiskey
and had got into a row with them, and that one of the
Indians had been killed in the scrape, but that the white
man had got away from them before they could kill
him, and that the Indians were on the hunt for him,
but had not found him yet, and they were raving mad
and declared that unless the whites found him and de
livered him up to them they would raid the town.
He said Mr. Connor had been sent for to see what he
could do towards quieting them, as he was the only
white man that had very much influence with them, and
he was in hopes that Mr. Connor would get here before
hostilities commenced. So there we were right up
against a proposition that none of us knew just how
it would turn out, as there were so many bucks around,
probably outnumbering the whites two to one, and but
a very few of the whites having any firearms it was

126

an enigma which required careful solution. As yet the
Indians were holding themselves in check, only they
were making considerable noise just outside of the town.
It was decided after a consultation among the men of
the village who got together that a guard should be
placed on the watch, so that at a signal that was agreed
upon, to be given by the sentry on watch, that in case
the Indians showed signs of fight, then the signal was
to be given and all men were to turn out and stand by
their colors in defense of our homes and families. It
was very fortunate that Mr. Connor was at horne when
the messenger sent for him. Appealed to at his house he
responded readily to the call for assistance and came at
once to the scene of difficulty, and soon had the Indians
in council. At first they would hardly listen to him,
hut finally he brought them to terms in this way. They
were to stop all hostile demonstrations until he could go
and find the head chief and bring him onto the ground,
and then the chief was to decide what course was to be
taken. This council was held near where Beauman
Vanvalkenberg's house now stands, the Indian having
been killed close by there Mr. Connor started for the
chief at once, as he knew where to find him. In the in-

127

terval while waiting for the chief to come the vigilance
of the citizens was not relaxed. The sentinel was kept
on duty day and night. The Indians also were on the
lookout and made life for the women and children
rather uncomfortable, and some of the brave men were
rather shaky about the knees and wished that the smell
of battle was in some other quarter of the globe, but
it didn't make any differance, it was right here, and
must be decided where the cause of the trouble oc
curred, no matter how weak kneed any man felt, and
I do believe that more than one half of the men in the
village felt that way, although if it had come to a real
war with the Indians I have no doubt that to the last
man they would have acquitted themselves like men.
While Mr. Connor was gone the Indians put on their
war paint and feathers, and would travel up and down
some of the streets and lay down by the side of the
street, where they could be seen, and see for themselves
what was going on Yet they did not offer to molest
anyone, and the people did not interfere with them, and
the squaws quit begging aud kept to their wigwams,
which was some relief. The third day Mr. Connor and
the chief arrived, and the chief soon convened a coun-

128

cil and heard the evidence in the case. The council
was held near where the picnic ground is, on the west
side of it. After hearing the testimony the chief stood
up in the middle of the circle and made his talk to
them He told them that while it was very wrong for
the white man to come into their camp and abuse and
kill their brother, that they themselves were not with
out blame. He said if they would not drink firewater
that the class of men that made the trouble with them
would not be very apt to bother them. He also told
them that he was very sorry that this trouble had hap
pened, and the white men of the town were very much
distressed about it, but that they were innocent and had
done no wrong to them. He also told them that it
would not have brought their brother back if they had
slaughtered the whole of the inhabitants of the town.
It would only have set on foot a war which would have
resulted in the killing of a great many more Indians,
and he advised them to bury the hatchet and move
their wigwams to some other locality for he would not
sanction any interferance with the white brethren, and
they listened to the voice of their chief. They buried
their brother near where the council was held. By the

— 129 —
time this council was convened, there were nearly three
hundred bucks gathered here ready for the fray. The
chief was not a very old man, but was a fine looking
stalwart intelligent Indian. And thus was the second
Indian scare.

Steamboat.
I have heard the question asked years long since
passed, why is it that there is not a steamboat running
between Mosinee and Stevens Point? Or was it ever
tried? There looks to be water enough, and there is not
any fall between the places. Yes it has been tried at
three different times. Along in the early days it was
thought that a steamboat would be a great fortune win
ner on these waters, and Mr. William Fellows and a
Mr. Walton, both men living at Stevens Point, built a
boat and began the navigation of the river, expecting
to coin money in the enterprise. They established or
thought .to establish a daily line each way. They start
ed their boat and came to Mosinee with whistle tooting
and bell ringing, and ran the bow of their boat onto a
gravel bar just below the sawmill. As there was not
any other place to dock their boat, the gravel bar did
very well as a landing place. The boat brought freight
as well as passengers. It was a great sight for the peo
ple living here at that time to see a steamboat come
sailing up the Wisconsin, and to know that Mosinee

— 131 —
was situated at the head of navigation. This first ven
ture was made over forty years ago, but it proved to
be a failure as a money maker, and was abandoned
after making a number of trips, as it was likely to
bankrupt the men who operated it, and Mosinee village
is today the proud owner of the only relic of that first
steamboat, and that relic is the fire bell, proudly moun
ted in the belfry of the engine house. Its only duty now
is to sound the note of warning, and rouse the people
to action, whenever the fire demon shows its lurid
tongues of flame. About the year 1870 ' another party
thought they could put a boat in commission that
would prove their sagacity in solving the problem of
steamboat running. The boat was built and made
three or four trips, but was declared a failure, the same
as the first one, and the owners ran it ashore at Beans
Eddy, and made a floating sawmill of it, and they did
quite a business with it for a couple of years.
In 1882 Mr. W. W. Mitchell of Stevens Point, a
man of good sound business judgment, concluded to
try his system of steamboat navigation. Accordingly
he built a boat, put it in commission and commenced
operations, and he was successful in convincing the

— 132 —
people that he had any amount of business nerve, yet
he was wise enough to see and know when to abandon
the enterprise, which he did after a few money losing
trips. Thus you see that many trials have been made to
use the river for general transportation purposes, but
without favorable 'results.

Justice Partridge's Court.
There is hardly ever to be found a community so
well balanced but that instances arise that cannot or
will not become adjusted without being brought into
the civil courts of law to be decided. Such was the
condition of this section of the country forty years ago.
Every little while there would arise some difficulty
that would not be settled out of court. In the town of
Mosinee the most of such cases were brought to trial
before Justice George W. Partridge, who was well
known to be of an unbiased mind, and very fair to both
parties to the suit in all of his rulings- He was con
sidered to be well up in his interpretation of the law
and his integrity was unquestioned. He was well along;
in years and had a wide range of experience, and the
people had the utmost confidence that any case tried
before him would be justly decided on its merits,
I was never very much in the habit of attending;
law suits, as I never could get very much satisfac
tion out of them, but I did attend one trial held be'

134

fore Justice Partridge. He was sometimes called Judge
Partridge. It was this way: One of my neighbors
met me on the street and asked me if I was going to the
law suit. I' asked him what suit? He said there is going
to be a suit before Judge Partridge this afternoon and
you had better go if you want to see some fun- As
he was going himself, I went along with him- We
reached the courtroom and found it to be a room about
ten by twelve feet in size, with a round deal table and
three chairs. On the table was a copy of the revised
statutes, an inkstand and pen with a few sheets of white
writing paper. The room was pretty well filled with
spectators, I should say crowded, so that the judge had
to elbow his way to his bench as he came out from his
private office. I saw that court was about to be called
to order, so I asked about the parties to the suit, and
was informed that two brothers were the parties. I
knew both of them. One of them was a rather small
man, but chuck full of dynamite in his makeup. This
one I learned was the plaintiff. The other man was of a
different mould, being larger every way, and of a more
quiet disposition. It appeared that his cattle had got
into his brother's field and did some damage, and they

- 135 —
could not agree about the settlement, so the suit was
brought for adjustment. The judge took his seat,
rapped on the table and declared the court in session.
The constable made his returns. The court then asked
the parties if they had counsel. They said they did not
need any. He asked them if they were ready for trial.
They said they were Then the court declared a recess
for five minutes, and he retired to his private office.
When he came out he was wiping his mouth with the
back of his hand and coughing quite badly. He took his
seat, opened court, asked the defendant to stand up and
plead guilty or not guilty. He pleaded not guilty.
The plaintiff interrupted, declaring that he lied. He
was guilty. Down came the knuckles of the judge on
the table with a whack as he called for order in the court.
Then the plaintiff was asked to bring forward his wit
nesses. He said he hadn't any, only himself, and
wished to be sworn. He was sworn. Then the court
took another recess, while the judge retired to the pri
vate office again. I suppose to consult some legal
authority. I thought he found what he was after, for
he looked very pleased as he entered the courtroom
and resumed his seat. The plaintiff then gave his tes-

— 136 —
timony. The defendant said not a word while the tes
timony was being taken. I noticed that the judge never
put down a word, but seemed to be in deep thought, as
his eyes were closed most of the time. Only when the
testimony was given rather strongly did he appear to
notice very much. I thought he might be weighing the
evidence, as it was very heavy. The plaintiff finally
reached the end of his testimony and sat down, and I
wish you could have seen him look at his brother. The
court then took another recess and retired. And during
this recess it was rough house. Some even proposed
to go into the judge's private room to see what he was
doing. Some said he was praying over the case, others
said they believed he must have a bottle hidden away
that he was consulting, instead of lawbooks. And dur
ing this time the plaintiff was calling the defendant all
sorts of names- At last the court came out with his
illustrious countenance beaming. It was so illuminated
with intelligence. Again order was restored and the
defendant gave his testimony in a quiet manly way,
denying very nearly every statement of the plaintiff.
The plaintiff called him a liar at every turn. The court
rapped and called for order, threatening to fine him

— 137 —
for contempt of court. No cross questioning was done
on either side- Finally the evidence was all before the
court. Then the judge said he would take the matter
under consideration for one week before rendering a
decision. I never heard how the case was decided.
And that was a sample of Justice Partridge's court.

H. A. Bean.
H. A. Bean was a young man about thirty years of
age when he first came to Wisconsin. He was a man
of rare natural abilities and educational qualifications
rather above the ordinary. He was a graduate of the
Military Academy at West Point, a government institu
tion. He served in the regular army as corporal for a
number of years and came to Wisconsin at the close
of his service. This was in the early fifties. Soon after
coming to the state he made the aquaintance of a young
lady school teacher, Miss Triphena A. Moore, living
at Waukesha, to whom he was married. Not finding
suitable employment in that place he came with his wife
to Mosinee, where he soon found employment as book
keeper for Mr. Joseph Dessert, the lumberman and mill
owner of Mosinee, in whose employ in that capacity he
remained while he lived.
Mr. Bean was the only highly educated man in the
whole township, which soon became apparent. . He was
elected to the office of town clerk, which office he held
until his death. He was well versed in civil law, which

— 139 —
the people soon realized and elected him as one of the
justices of the peace, the duties of which office he ad
ministered so impartially and judiciously that he soon
was referred to as Judge Bean. Many difficult law cases
were brought before him for adjudication and were dis
posed of to the satisfaction of the parties concerned.
Mr. Bean had a personality decidedly his own. He
was never very communicative and appeared to like best
to live within himself, yet he was very pleasant to con
verse with. He was a man of commanding appearance,
tall, broad shouldered, full breasted and straight as an
arrow, weighing about one hundred and ninety pounds.
He was a republican in politics and a Universalist in
religious belief. His death occurred on January 2nd,
1881, being 60 years, 11 months and 12 days old. Mrs.
Triphena A. Bean, his wife, continued to live at Mosi
nee with her children for a number of years. When
her son-in-law, Oliver Paup, moved with his family to
California Mrs. Bean concluded to go with them to the
land of continual flowers, where she remained for a
few years, but the climate not being suitable for her
health, she returned to Mosinee and made her home
with another son-in-law, Mr. Bartholimew Keefe, where
she died August 5, 1895.

— 140 —
Mr. and Mrs. Bean have the distinction of being
the parents of the first white child born within the
limits of what is now the village of Mosinee. The child
died in infancy.

F. L. Demers.

Frank L. Demers.
Frank L. Demers is a native of Canada. He came
to Wisconsin in 1855 and worked through the winter in
the pinery for a lumber firm at Jenny Bull (now Mer
rill). In the spring of 1856 he came to Mosinee and
engaged to work for Mr. Joseph Dessert, in whose
employ he remained for several years, until he em
barked in business for himself in the mercantile trade.
He followed this trade for a few years and then retired
to his farm, where he worked hard in cultivating the
soil. Becoming dissatisfied with farming he returned
to the village of Mosinee and since that time has been
engaged in the fruit, confections and grocery business.
On November 14, 1871, he was married to Miss Adelia
Moyer of Stockton, Portage county, Wisconsin. They
have four children: Zelda G, Frank L. Jr., Clarence
O. and Edward N. Mr. Demers is an old man, but you
would not think him over fifty years of age, as he
is well preserved, having taken good care of himself.
He always has been strictly temperate and has never
been sick except with cold, with which he has never

— 142 —
been laid up more than a day or two since he came to
Wisconsin, a fact that speaks well for the healthfulness
of this part of the state. Mr. Demers belongs to early
as well as late Mosinee. He is a man that attends
strictly to his own business. He is a justice of the
peace and notary public. He never has put himself
forward for public office. . He makes no pretensions of
being in sympathy with democracy, but is willing that
the majority should rule, yet he would prefer that ma
jority to be republican. He was brought up a Roman
Catholic, but makes no pretensions now of adhering to
that faith.

John Keefe,
Co. G, 14th Reg.. Wis. Vol. Inft.

John Keefe.
John Keefe was born in Roscommon, Ireland, March
25, 1809. He was married to Miss Mary Higgins at
his home town in Ireland in 1833 and came to America
the same year. He was one of a small number of the
sons of Erin that came to the town of Mosinee for the
purpose of making a home when but few white settlers
were to be seen from Wausau to Stevens Point. In
1859 he went with his family to the land he had prev
iously bought, twelve miles west of Mosinee, where he
had built a log cabin, and there they established them
selves in their own home. Before settling on his land
in Mosinee township Mr. Keefe, after coming to the
United States, had been with his family in Virginia,
at Troy, New York, and at Watertown, Wisconsin.
After he had settled on his land and before much head
way had been made in clearing it, the call for volun
teers was made by President Lincoln for the sup
pression of the Rebellion. Mr. Keefe, being a true
adopted son of the United States and a lover of law
and order, joined the volunteers, for his

— 144 —
patriotism would not let him rest while his services
were needed for the protection of the government. He
enlisted on the 8th day of January, 1862, in Company
G, 14th Wis. Vol. Inft. In the battle of Shiloh on the
7th day of April, 1862, he was wounded on the left side
of the head by a shell, making quite a depression and
wholly destroying the sight of the left eye. He never
fully recovered from the effects of this wound After
being in several hospitals for about three months he
gained sufficient strength to be removed to his home in
the wilderness, being taken there on a bed placed on a
sled drawn by oxen. It took a long time before he re
covered sufficiently to do much work, and it became
necessary for him to return to the hospital at Milwau
kee before he was fully out of danger. He then set
about clearing ahd improving his land, but found after
a few years of hard work that his strength was failing
with the great strain of such labor. He concluded to
sell out and go with his family to Iowa, where the land
was already cleared and ready for the plow. Finding a
purchaser for his land he sold and moved to Fonda,
Iowa, where he remained a few years. Then he reached
the conclusion that there was no country quite like

— 145 —
Wisconsin and no place in Wisconsin so entirely capti
vating as the village of Mosinee. Consequently he sold
out in Iowa and moved back to Mosinee. Being now
well advanced in years and his strength not sufficient
for manual labor, he, with his only unmarried daughter,
kept house and lived among his old friends, between
the homes of two married daughters. Here he lived in
peace and comfort until the ripe old age of 92 years.
His last illness lasted but a few days, but loving hearts
and hands ministered unto him all that could be done.
His death came peacefully on September 25, 1901.
Mr Keefe was a familiar figure on the streets of
Mosinee for many years and was greatly esteemed by all
who knew him. He was an old Irish gentleman of the
most pronounced ideas of what individual responsibility
means and is greatly missed by all. He was a consist
ent Roman Catholic.

First Wedding.
The first wedding in the Irish settlement occurred
in the' year 1862 and the ceremony took place at the
home of the bride's father, Mr. John Keefe. The con
tracting parties were Mr. Robert Smeaton and Miss
Ann Keefe. The officiating priest at this first brilliant
beginning of wedding festivities in the Irish settlement
came all the way from Stevens Point to properly cele
brate the opening ceremonies of the momentous occa
sion. This wedding, you will observe, was held forty-
five years ago and during the time of the civil war, and
it would not be out of place to describe in some degree
the mansion in which the solemn ceremony took place.
The mansion was built of round logs about twenty-four
feet long and fourteen feet wide, ten feet high on one
side and seven feet on the other. The roof was made
of a few boards and many shakes. There was a small
fireplace built in one corner of the high side. There
was an opening called a door, cut through the logs in
the high side. The door was about five feet six inches
high by two feet six inches wide. There was a window

— 147 —
at one side of the door containing six lights of glass
7x9 inches in size. It also had a window of the same
dimension in one end to admit the proper amount of
light. The floor was made partly of boards, the balance
of split logs, and was very substantial in construction.
The spaces between the logs were chinked and moss
worked into the small cracks and mud moiter was
plastered over the moss and chinks; then it was de
clared a finished warm mansion. Now don't think I am
stretching the description beyond what it will bear, for
we visited the structure a few years later, and can
vouch for the correctness of the description. This was
not the only castle of the same style of architecture in
the settlement. Some of them were not built on the
same grand principles as this one, but they answered
all the purposes for which they were constructed.
Great preparations had to be made for this first
wedding, and time must be taken by the forelock, so
there would be nothing lacking to have it celebrated
with great eclat. As we have been informed by one of
the guests in attendance, who was also a near relative of
the bride, preparations were commenced fully a month
before the time set for the gathering together of invited

— 148 —
guests and neighbors, -that all might have aright royal
good holiday, one that would be out of the ordinary.
One that could be referred to in years to come as being
worthy of a prominent position in the history of the
Irish settlement. It was thirty-eight miles to the near
est town where a priest resided, and a messenger was
sent to ascertain if the priest could and would make the
long and tedious journey through the dismal forest for
the occasion. We are informed that the messenger
made two trips before the final arrangements were com
pleted. And it was a great relief when it was ascer
tained that the priest would be present to solemnize the
marriage ceremony. It was also decided to hold com
munion services after the wedding ceremonies were
concluded, as the people of the settlement were so iso
lated that they were deprived of this sacrament of the
church to which they belonged. Word to this effect was
circulated throughout the settlement, so that all might
have the opportunity of being present, and enjoying this
blessing. The parties most interested, after consultation,
concluded that the joyous occasion . would not be fully
celebrated without having a night of dancing. The
next step in the programme was to secure the necessary

— 149 —
musical talent. It must be superior to anything that
had ever been known in the settlement. The music
must be of that exuberant quality that would cause the
limbs of the most indifferent to tingle with delight.
Then something would be doing and time would pass
unheeded and fatigue be unknown. Under these con
ditions the festivities would be pronounced a decided
success from beginning to end. The bridegroom was a
young man of splendid appearance and considered the
handsomest man in the country. The bride was also
one of the loveliest maidens in the whole settlement,
and the bridegroom, realizing that he was securing the
choicest flower from among the real beauties, felt that it
was incumbent upon him to see that the very best and
most popular orchestra of the country was engaged to
discourse music suitable for the occasion. It so hap
pened that he was acquainted with two of the most
noted musicians of this region, both fiddlers of great
renown. One was a half-breed Indian and the other a
Canadian Frenchman, and they cduld fiddle from night
until the break of day without showing signs of weari
ness. Both were well versed in the popular airs of the
day, being in love with their art, and were strong of

— 150 —
arm. Their instruments were the very best that could
be secured. Away back in those early days a person
who played the violin was not called a violinist. That
name was not known among the ordinary people. A
violin was spoken of as a fiddle and a musician was
termed a fiddler, and the man that could get the loudest
and strongest tone out of the fiddle was considered the
greatest fiddler. The two musicians mentioned had the
reputation of being on the top round of their profes
sion. The bridegroom knew that each one had a repu
tation to sustain and would put forth their best effort to
give satisfaction at this particular function, as it would
enhance their already high standing in the country as
great fiddlers. Before this first wedding the only music
the young people had to dance by was very peculiar,
being termed lilting, but it gave the best of satisfac
tion. It caused such enthusiasm to take possession of
the dancers that it was enjoyed to the fullest extent.
There were quite a number in the settlement that could
lilt. Some of them were men, but the most musical
lilterers were found among the older women. It was
wonderful how some of those old ladies could lilt. It was
strenuous work and one could not lilt very long without

— 151 -
resting, but as soon as one gave out another would com
mence. As those who did the lilting had different
voices keyed on a higher or lower pitch, they furnished
a fine variety for dancing. It is a fact that at this date,
1907, when a fiddler cannot be secured to fiddle for the
young people, when they get together for an evening's
jolification at some farmer's house, that lilting is re
sorted to and gives satisfaction. The bridegroom was
successful in securing his choice musicians and all ar
rangements were perfected as far as forethought could
suggest, and all was ready for the appointed day. The
wedding day was a clear, cold January day near the
first of the month. The snow covered the face of the
earth and all nature was dazzlingly bright. The priest
arrived the evening before, so as to be in readiness for
the ceremony at an early hour, for all must be con
cluded before twelve o'clock noon. Quite early in the
morning the guests began to arrive all arrayed in their
holiday attire. The elite of the whole settlement were
on hand in season, and the especially invited guests
from Mosinee and the old trading post, as well as the
musicians, put in their appearance in time for the be
ginning of the ceremonies, which took place as soon as

— 152 —
the altar could be arranged. Everything being in read
iness the bride and groom with their attendants took
their places and the nuptial knot was tied. A short re
cess was taken for congratulations, after which com
munion sacrament services were administered. Tables
were arranged and the wedding dinner served. All
being in a condition to do justice to the bountiful re
past to which they were invited, they showed by their
close attention to it their appreciation of the efforts of
the hosts for their comfort and pleasure. All now hav
ing given a good account of themselves at the festive
board, took a short recess to do a little smoking and
chatting while the tables were moved back to the wall
and left there laiden with more pie, cake and meats and
other delicacies for the refreshment of the dancers
through the night. While this was being done the
musicians were rosining their bows and tuning their
fiddles preparatory for the commencement of the danc
ing. The room being rather limited, the fiddlers would
be required to stand, so they selected the most appro
priate position where they could have as much elbow
room as possible. All now being in readiness the
fiddlers took their stand, the guests arranged them-

— 153 —
selves in line and commenced dancing to the popular
air of "Old Dan Tucker." The figures mostly danced
in those days were French fours and jigs. The most
popular airs for dancing in the early settlements were
"Old Dan Tucker," "Dandy Jim," "Rory O'More,"
"The Irish Washerwoman," "Devil's Dream," "Du-
rang's Hornpipe," "Fisher's Hornpipe" and "We Wont
Go Home Till Morning," and we are informed that on
this grand festal occasion the guests did not go home
till morning. We are also informed that the fiddlers
just outfiddled themselves as never before and gained
much notoriety for their great endurance and the classic
rendering of the music. When daylight came the
guests departed for their homes, declaring they had en
joyed the best time of their lives.

Peter Sicard.
Peter Sicard came from Canada, where he was
born. There he lived with his parents and worked un
til 1855, when he decided to come to the United States.
Arriving at Mosinee he entered the employ of Joseph
Dessert and continued in his employ, with the excep
tion of one year he worked for David Roberts, until he
decided to go into the mercantile business. He remained
in that business a few years until failing eye-sight com
pelled him to dispose of his interests and retire from
the activities of a business life. His sight continued to
fail until he became totally blind and in this condition
he could feel his way about the village for a number
of years. About four years ago he suffered a stroke of
paralysis. He partially recovered, but was again
stricken, and has since been entirely helpless, forced to
lie in bed continually. At the age of seventy -two his
mind is clear and he talks readily and sometimes laughs.
He is one of two men now living in Mosinee who were
young men here over fifty years ago, so he properly
belongs to early as well as late Mosinee. In February,

— 155 —
1867, Mr. Sicard was married to Miss Charlotte Jane
Mitchell. They have had three children born to them:
Alfred N, Lester G. and Laurena M. Mr. Sicard was
always a very hard working man until his afflictions
came upon him. He was a good citizen in all respects.
He was brought up in the Catholic faith, and in politics
was a strong republican.

Old Settlers.
We will say a few words for the old settlers that
we have not spoken of in particular, believing they
should receive some credit for their courage in first
opening up this section for homes. They were all
worthy of remembrance, but we can speak of but a few,
and only of those whose influence in guiding the general
course of events were greater than the others. Mr.
Phelix McGuire was a very prominent personage in the
Irish settlement, having been in this region of country
a few years before the few families that came at nearly
the same time to locate. He had made himself proficient
in locating different descriptions of lands. He ran out
their land for most of them and assisted them to get
onto their lands with their families, and was altogether
the man to consult with. He was a very energetic man
and held many offices of trust and responsibility in the
town until his death. Mr. Thomas O'Connor was
another splended specimen of the real old Irish gen
tleman. He came early and prospered above many of
his neighbors. He held very important offices in the

— 157 —
town, and was a man of great influence in the county,
so much so that he was elected to the assembly from the
first district of Marathon county and served one term
with honor. We were in hopes to have shown his face
to the readers of these lines, but have been unable to
secure his photo. There were Mr. Edward Fitzgerald
and his brother, Mr. James Murry, Mr. Timothy
Kennedy, Mr. William Hays, Mr. Patrick Burns, Mr.
Garret Hughs, Mr. William Keefe, and Mr. John Keefe.
All these men located at nearly the same time, between
1857 and 1859. End of Early Mosinee.

LiflTE MOSINEE.
Late Mosinee Township.
Late Mosinee we will find, is very much different
from early Mosinee, but for the purpose of giving the
reader an idea of how and wherein the difference may
be observed it will be necessary to take a view of the
whole territory as it existed forty years ago, as the rea
der can do by referring to early Mosinee, as given in a
chapter on the first pages of this book. Look it over
carefully and make your own comparison. In writing
about late Mosinee we will have to follow its develop
ment up to the present time, noting such changes as ap
pear to us to be of importance in helping the reader in
forming an intelligent estimate of its present condition
as a whole. Toilay we find a population of approximate
ly three thousand five hundred souls. Settlers came into
this township slowly at first, but from one year to ano
ther you could see that a gain was being made, and
those that came and took up land for homes soon
showed that they were in earnest, and improvements
began to be noticed in all departments. Where it had
been dark forests or jungle, now began to be seen

Joseph Dessert Lumber Company's Plant.

159

small openings, drawing nearer and nearer together.
The sunlight was let in on the once dark, dismal surface
of the ground, which very soon made it possible for a
new order of vegitation to be produced, slow at first
but increasing steadily as the area of cleared land ex
panded, soon placing the settler in an independent posi
tion. At first for years there were only two settlers that
owned a horse, and many did not even have an ox team
and were obliged to change work with some neighbor
in order to get some team wcrk done. Today we find
about thirty -three thousand acres of land under cultiva
tion. I don't wish to be understood that this is all under
the plow, but that much has been cleared of its trees,
and what is not under the plow is used as pasture for
stock, and meadow land for hay. As the settlers be
came able, they secured horses with which to work their
lands and do some work for the lumberman during the
long winter season, often* cutting some of their own
timber and selling the logs to the lumberman, who was
always ready to take the logs at a profitable figure for
themselves. As time passed more settlers came and
others followed, until today we find a steadily increasing
population of the class that makes good citizens.

— 160 —
Modern farm machinery soon began to be installed as
the farmers prospered. The mower, horse rake, har
vesters,* sulky plows, horse forks, spring tooth har
rows and seeders are now in general use throughout the
whole territory, and the farmers have as fine a lot of
heavy farm horses as any farming community need
boast of, as well as fine carriages and wagons. Some
even have plated harnesses, and they can dress in ap
parel fit to meet the president of the United States.
For many years the settlers were glad to get any kind
of cattle they could get hold of. Any kind of a scrub of
a cow or steer meant very much to them. They had
some stock growing up, but as farms grew in size, and
prosperity attended them, they were not slow to discover
that it was for their best interests to secure a better
grade of cattle, so that today we find on every farm of
any pretentions a fine herd of improved stock cattle.
And one farmer, Mr. Robert Freeman, has a select herd
of shorthorns, some of which- he imported from Eng
land. One cow he informed me cost him five hundred
dollars. He sold quite a number last fall for a fancy
price. The farmers are turning off of their farms hun
dreds of cattle every year, and reaping a fine profit from

— 161 —
them. In addition to the profit acruing from the butchers
stock sold from the farms, you may connect the pro»
duct of the dairy. Immense quantities of butter and
cheese are produced annually, that bring a fancy price
in the market. Splendid crops of oats, potatoes, peas,
rye, barley, millet, cabbages, onions; in fact all kinds of
vegetables are grown in abundance. There is some of
the finest wheat grown, and excellent corn, and considera
ble fruit is harvested every year. As soon as the far
mers were on the fair road to success, they turned their
attention towards constructing better farm buildings,
and today we can see as fine farm buildings as can be
found in any section of the country; in fact better than
in many of the much older- settled parts of the state.
Splendid houses to live in, constructed along modern
lines of convenience, artistic in their appearance to the
traveler passing by. Many very large stock barns are
seen as you journey through the territory that forty
years ago was a part of the early township of Mosinee.
Scarcely a log cabin remains to remind the settlers of
the early days. The natural hay marshes still remain.
The greater part of them have been improved by work
ing in redtop grass seed, until the quality of grass now
produced is far superior to the natural -wild grass.

— 162 —
Many of the low wet marshes have been ditched and
so drained that they are greatly improved, and as the
country has became more open the plague of mosquitoes
has become very nearly wiped out, yet enough still re
main for seed. Many of the bright, pure streams of liv
ing water, which are in evidence throughout this terri
tory, have been stocked with the speckled brook trout,
of which fact the sportsmen take advantage during the
open season to visit them, returning with a well filled
basket, making it a great pleasure for those who are
piscatorially inclined. Many specimens of the beauties
have been caught weighing from one to two pounds.
Forty years ago there were only three school houses in
the whole 252 square miles of territory. Today we can
count twenty-four, and one high school; so it can be ob
served that the people are very much interested in the
proper education of their children. In the early days
there was not a church edifice in existence, whereas we
now find seven fine commodious, up-to-date buildings,
where the people may assemble for public worship.
Three Roman Catholic, two Lutheran, one Methodist
Episcopal, and one Episcopalian. So the reader can un
derstand that the spiritual and moral needs of the com-

163

munity has been taken into consideration and provided
for. The Roman Catholic persuasion are the most
numerous, the Lutheran taking second place. The
Methodist and Episcopal being about even. There has
been found to be some most excellent quarries of red
granite for building purposes, easily quarried, it being
in regular layers of from four to twelve inches in thick
ness, and there is any amount of it in different localities,
and for concrete building there is the best of sand in
abundance for all purposes. There are twenty saloons
doing business on modern up-to-date saloon principles
within its borders, so that the emigrant desiring to lo
cate here need not fear but that he can find plenty of
places where he can have his thirst quenched, and his
purse lightened, in as elegant and gentlemanly manner
as in any other country. In this territory there are
thousands of acres of splendid farming lands to be had
waiting for the home seekers to come and secure them
and cause them to blossom as the rose. The soil is just
as fertile and easily brought into a state of cultivation
as any that has been taken. The speculative lumber
man has so persistently invaded this territory that its
millions upon millions of magnificent pine have

— 164 —
disappeared. Scarcely a specimen of the grand old white
pine remains to be seen, and the hemlock is fast being
taken from sight as well as the better class of hardwood,
leaving the land to be cleared very easily by the settler.
There are but two sawmills doing business now, where
there has been in years gone by from six to nine doing
business the year around, some of them cutting as
high as thirty millions per year. The lumbering busi
ness in this territory is practically over, and farming
and dairying and stock raising must, and is fast taking
its proper place. Where the blazed trail was the only
guide from one settler to another in the pioneer days
as we have seen, often leading through low wet marshy
places, today you can drive with your fine carriage over
splendid turnpike roads at any season of the year. The
streams are bridged with substantial iron bridges,
resting on solid stone abutments. Every road district
has its own road making machinery of modern construc
tion. Of the old pioneers that first forced their en
trance into this upper Wisconsin country and settled
in the wilderness of early Mosinee township, under the
most adverse conditions, and became the vanguard of

— 165 —
the civilization that has followed them, but very few
that were heads of families are alive today to see the
grandeur of the country that they had been instrumen
tal in redeeming from its wild state of nature, but visit
the cemetery and you can find where they rest, marked
by monuments of marble and granite, erected to the
memory of those who have passed over the river of
death to the great future, just in advance of the very
few now living.
As the population increased and spread over the
township, it became necessary to divide the large ter
ritory into several separate townships, consequently in
1884 the people of the extreme western portion of early
Mosinee township petitioned to be set off, and their pe
tition was granted, and the town bearing the name of
Cleveland was organized. Again in 1886 the town of
Kronenwetter on the east extreme was set off and or
ganized, and again in 1889 the town of Emmet was set
off and organized, and at the same time the village of
Mosinee was set off and organized, leaving the present
township of Mosinee with only thirty-eight square
miles of territory, where it had at one time embraced
two hundred and fifty-two square miles, but for the

— 166 —
purpose of our description of late Mosinee we have
taken in the whole territory as it existed before being
divided into the several townships. There are today
three villages within the old territory, one in the town
of Cleveland, called (Stratford); one in the town of
Emmet called (Haider), and the village of Mosinee, sur
rounded on three sides by the town of Mosinee and
on the fourth side by the town of Kronenwetter and the
Wisconsin river.

Wm. N. Daniels, M. D.

William N. Daniels.
He was born in the village of Mellenville, Colum
bia county, New York, Dec. 3rd. 1845, his father being
of Scotch and Welsh extraction and his mother being of
English and Holland descent. He came with his parents
to northern Wisconsin in 1855. He enlisted in the 3rd
Wisconsin Cav. soon after reaching his 17th year. He
served his country nearly three years and received his
discharge October 12th, 1865, not yet quite 20 years
of age. His early education was received in the old log
schoolhouse of those days. He studied medicine in
Rush Medical College, and was graduated therefrom in
1878, and was also a student under the late Dr. Emory
Stamsbury of Appleton. On June 26th, 1866, he was uni
ted in marriage to Miss Jane S. Leach. Two children were
born to them, William C- , who died at the age of four,
and Edna J. who died at nearly twenty years of age.
He came to Mosinee late in March 1884. Mrs. Daniels
died February 26th, 1903, and followed her beloved
children to the land of pure delight, where saints immor
tal reign. Mrs. Daniels was an exemplary woman, and

— 168 —
very much esteemed by all who had the pleasure of her
acquaintance. She was a christian woman of great
influence in the village, and is greatly missed at the
social gatherings of the church workers of the little
congregation of which she was an earnest and consist
ent member. On May 19th, 1904, Mr. Daniels was married to
Miss Hattie M. Kettring at Minneapolis, Minn.
From the time that Dr. Daniels first came to Mosi
nee in 1884, he has continued in the practice of his pro
fession in this locality, and by his close attention to his
duties has built up a large practice, having been the
railroad physician at this point for a number of years,
As a physician he ranks among the best in our vicinity,
and has an extensive ride all over this part of the coun
try, and is often called in council in difficult cases need
ing the combined opinion of the profession. Dr. Daniels
is a jovial, wholesouled man, always pleasant and agree
able. He is a fluent speaker, has fine command of language
and excellent descriptive powers, and is considered quite
an orator. He is always courteous, and his cheerfulness
in the sick room has great influence with the patient in
battling with disease. His political affiliation is with

— 169 —
the republican party, not as a stalwart, but he may be con
sidered an independent republican. He is ever anxious
for the best interests of his country and is a convincing
debator on political questions. His voice may always
be heard arguing for the right, as he views the question
under consideration. He can give you a reason for his
opinion, and is willing to concede to others the same
privilege he claims for himself. He is a man not easily
discouraged. If difficulties arise, he grasps the problem
by the horns and brings success where defeat seemed
certain. He is quite popular, and would be greatly de
plored were he* to remove from Mosinee.

Bert Worthing.
He was born in October 1876, at Janesville, Rock Co. ,
Wis., and after finishing his education, which he did at
various institutions in Wisconsin and Michigan, decided
on business as a profession, ancl proceeded to educate
himself in that line. Finding an opportunity open to him,
he engaged as purser on passenger and freight steamers
on the great lakes, plying between Green Bay Wis.
and Buffalo N. Y- , and also in various kinds of business.
And for about five years prior to locating in Mosinee
acted as manager for E. E. Bolls & Co. at Coleman, Wis.
In February 1905 he came to Mosinee in search of a lo
cation in which to establish himself in business.
Finding the outlook favorable, he soon secured a suitable
building, splendidly located for his purpose, and he soon
had a stock of goods beautifully displayed, and com
menced his career as a prominent merchant in the
pleasant healthy village of Mosinee. Mr. Worthing is
a young man of thirty-one years of age, of fine business
abilities, which he makes manifest in his dealings and
in the management of the intricate problems connected

Adelbert Worthing.

— 171 —
with a general mercantile trade, as it is found to be in
most sections of the country. Mr. Worthing is none of
your grouty, unapproachable men, but you can get right
up to him and find him ever ready to give you audience
when business will permit him to do so. He is cour
teous and a thorough gentleman in all his intercourse
with whoever he may meet. His general deportment is of
a character that exerts an influence worthy of emulation.
Although not a long resident of Mosinee, yet his influence
is felt . on the general trend of the neighborhood is for
a better condition of the surroundings. He dearly loves
a game of b'aseball and likes to get into the box and
show how the trick is done by one who knows how and
when and where the crooks and curves should be brought
in. The family attend the Congregationalist church.

Charles A. Bernier.
He was born'in Grand Rapids, Wood County, Wis
consin, May 10th, 1861, and is a son of Louis A. and
Clementine (Blenchette) Bernier. Both parents were born
in Canada. Charles A. Bernier was educated in the
Grand Rapids public and high schools. On completing
his education, he engaged in several occupations until
the year 1882, when he came to Mosinee and entered as
clerk and general salesman in the mercantile establish
ment of Joseph Homier for two years. After leaving
the employ of Mr. Homier, he was employed by Mr.
David Roberts in his store as manager, clerk and book
keeper. He held that position for eight years. On
May 13th, 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss
Margaret Keefe, and to them have been born four
children, three of whom are living. Eva Marie, born
October 22nd, 1889. Charles Alexander, born February
22nd, 1892, and Willis Owen Francis, born December
2nd, 1894. In 1892 Mr. Bernier entered into partner
ship with Mr. W. F. LaDu in the general mercantile
business, in which connection he still remains. Mr.

Chas. A. Bernier.

— 173 —
Bernier, when he came to the village of Mosinee, found
his ideal of a locality in which to test his ability in batt
ling with the various forces with which all business
men meet in their pursuit of financial success. He soon
found an opening and started in on the track of fortune
which is ever ready to elude the grasp of the pursuer.
The merchants were not long in discovering the business
abilities of the young man, and his services were in
demand. Being steady, industrious, careful and
energetic in his duties, he was soon in a position where
he could look forward with some degree of encourage
ment. He was a young man of fine appearance, some
what on the good looking order, and the ladies soon
vied with each other in their endeavor to attract his
attention. He being rather modest, eluded their glan
ces for a short time only. He was then caught by the
alluring smiles of one of the young ladies of Mosinee.
He has always been the very pink of propriety in his
daily intercourse with his fellow man. He is strictly
a gentleman in every respect. He has been successful
in securing a fair amount of worldly goods, is interest
ed in considerable real estate here in Wisconsin, and
also owns a valuable timber tract in California. His

— 174 —
social standing is among the best. He is connected with
several fraternal orders, the Catholic Knights, Knights
of Columbus, and the Catholic order of Foresters. He
strictly attends to his own business interests and lets
other business men handle their affairs to suit them
selves. He is a genuine democrat in his political belief
and would like to see his party win every time. Mr.
Bernier has served a number of terms as supervisor of
the village, and has been for a number of years, and is
now one of the members of the school board of Mosi
nee. The whole family attend the Catholic church.

Late Mosinee Village.
The question has often been asked how and by whom
was this place, that in its earliest days was known only
as Little Bull, changed in name to Mosinee? We have
asked the same question many times without being
satisfied. There not being anyone that pretended to
have the facts at their disposal, but we have been suc
cessful at last by keeping at the enquiry until we found
the man who knew when and why the change, of name
was made. It was brought about in this way. In the
early days there was not a bridge to cross the river on,
and no postoffice on this side. The people were obliged
to go to Keelerville for their mail, one and a half miles
from here on the road to Wausau where the postoffice
was located. In the winter of 1855 and 1856 the first
bridge was built over the jaws of the gorge of Little
Bull Falls, and it was proposed to change the location
of the office to the west side of the river, and the man
selected for postmaster objected to having the name of
Little Bull applied to the office, as he said it was to vul
gar for refined ladies to write such an address on their

176

letters in corresponding with friends and others, so a
number of citizens met to decide on some appropriate
name for the office, Mr. Joseph Dessert being one of
the number. . Several names were mentioned. None" of
them being satisfactory, finally Mr- Dessert said he
would like some Indian name, and said he would see
Mr, Connor the trapper about a name. He saw Mr.
Connor and he suggested that it be named after the old
Indian chief Mosinee. The name met with approval
and was adopted. When the postoffice was moved to
the west side of the river, it was also applied to the
township, and when in 1889 the village was incorpora
ted it retained the name of Mosinee.
In writing up the village as it now is at this late
date, we shall endeavor to be as accurate in our descrip
tion as we were in the description of the village as it
existed forty years ago. It is far different in many
respects to what it was then, although occupying the
same position on the map. So many of its original
natural features have been changed by improvements,
that the old time resident coming into the later village
would be puzzled to find his baarings and location with
out inquiry, it being so altogether different.

— 177 —
Before we start on our survey of the village, please
accompany me to the high bank at the west end of the
guardlock on the mill slough, the largest watercourse ex
cepting the main gorge channel of Little Bull Falls, and
we will take observations of the surroundings as we
seat ourselves on the outcrop of rock at that place. You
may think it not a very soft cushion to be seated upon,
but we can let our feet hang over the edge and rest on
a shelf of rock just the right distance below, and that
will help some if we get too nervous. It is a beautiful
sight that we behold, isn't it ? Have you ever seen any
thing to compare with the grandeur which you now
look upon ? I think I hear you say what a wonderful
panorama of nature's grand scenic beauties is here spread
out with a lavish hand for mankind to appreciate and
enjoy with delight, if he will only stop ahd meditate.
Here before us is the dividing point of the water of the
Wisconsin river as it comes with its mighty volume
rushing on to the Gulf of Mexico. Four distinct
channels through the obstructing granite rocks have
been opened by nature, for its passage, creating at the
same time one of the best and safest water powers on
the whole length of the river, there being a fall of

— 178 —
twenty-one feet. Here from our observation point we
can see the four islands of Little Bull. The nearest one
to us is Little Bull Island of about sixty acres, quite a
half mile in length, and about forty rods in width at
its broadest part, showing many very interesting ele
vations of scraggy rocks on the upriver end.
The next island is Bean Island of perhaps two acres,
but long and narrow. It also has its beautiful rocky
features that call for a close inspection by the lover of
the beauties of nature.
Next on the list is Rock Island, small in extent yet
prominent with its border of gray headed rocks. We
now come to the Falls Island, composed mostly of high
jagged rocks. In the crevices, where earth and sand has
been deposited, grow small pine, birch and hemlock trees
presenting a delightful resting shady nook in which to
ensconce yourself while viewing the falls and maelstrom
which is worth a trip across the continent to view.
There is a beautiful . sight to be seen in the Bull Calf
channel. It is the outcrop of a white quartz rock.
The ledge is about two hundred feet in length, some
parts twelve feet in width, variable from that to three
feet. This vein stands on edge. It has been prospect-

— 179 -
ed and assayed and found to contain both silver and
gold, but not in sufficient quantities to make it profita
ble to mine. Looking to our left an entrancing sight
meets our vision. We behold a broad expanse of the
Wisconsin river, above and below the milldam, dotted
with nine large boom piers. We also view the rolling
of the flood of water as it tumbles over the crest of the
dam, the sunlight shining upon the billows, causing
them to sparkle like diamonds- Extending our view to
the eastern shore, we can see the Falls City Hotel, also
the C. M. & St. Paul depot, the kindling wood mill, and
the large warehouse of August Klug. Closer on our
left we see on the shore of the river the fine boathouse
where is sheltered the fast gasolene motor launch of one
of the prosperous business men of the village. We can
also see the commencement of the fine second growth
pine grove which encircles three sides of the village.
The now useless booms of the J. Dessert Lumber Co. ,
we see secured just above the guardlock as we gaze in
front of us. Over to the east we look upon the
elevation of Liberty Hill with its snug homes in full
sight. At our feet we behold the massive work of man
which was constructed to harness the immense power

180

of the water for the use of man. This guardlock is of
gigantic proportions. It is three hundred and twenty-
one feet in length, twenty feet in heighth, eighteen feet
in width, built of .square timbers, tied together and
filled with rock. It is buttressed with three long piers
on the lower side filled with rocks. It is equipped with
gates for controlling the flow of water into the millpond.
We will elevate our range of vision somewhat to admire
the long stretch of bridge crossing from the west shore of
Bean slough over the three channels. The superstruc
ture is of steel, the flooring of wood planking, nearly
level the whole length of nine hundred and eigh
teen feet. We can also, as we sit here, take a view of
the country for two miles on the southline road. A
grand country scene presents itself to our eyes. Farm
houses, cleared fields, and the evidences of industry is
manifested, which is a cause for joyousness to the be
holder. We may by turning slightly to the right
catch the glint of sunshine on the river, as it winds in
and out among the large islands below the falls on its
onward march to the gulf. The mammoth sawmill struc
ture of the J. Dessert Lumber Co. is in full view. Its
once splendid equipment of machinery has been removed

Guardlock.

— 181 —
to do duty in another locality, having finished its
business at this point. This sawmill had the capacity
of from thirty to thirty-five millions of manufactured
lumber per year, besides its millions of lath and shin
gles. It is now fast going to decay. Also we see the
steel bridge crossing the millpond resting as it does on
its piers and abutments of solid stone, three hundred
and sixty-three feet long. The capacious millpond fur
nishes the finest skating rink in winter that can be
imagined, and is greatly appreciated and utilized by the
young people, as well as the school children of the vil
lage. Their merry voices may be heard until .long into
the night during the season. The old time skating
ground having disappeard long years ago, but the citi
zens of Mosinee miss the joyous notes and soul thrilling
music of the band of musicians that occupied it forty
years ago during the summer months.
The streets of Late Mosinee are nicely graded
and kept in fine order, where in the old time they were
left to take care of themselves. There were no street
crossings in those days. Today there are excellent cros
sings on every street. There are over three miles of good
wide plank and cement sidewalks, also kept in fine order

— 182 —
by the very efficient village marshal who is ever on the
lookout to see that everything about the streets and
sidewalks are in proper condition. There are four
streets that are half a mile in length; Water street,
Third street, Fourth and Fifth street; Second street and
Sixth street being only one quarter of a mile in length.
These streets run northeast and southwest very nearly.
The cross streets from northeast end of village, running
northwest and southeast nearly are: First, Buchanan
second, Washington, third, Main street, fourth, Pine
street, fifth, High street, sixth, Jackson street, seventh,
Fremont street. The high school building is situated
in the center of a block, between Fifth and Sixth streets,
and Pine and High streets, a beautiful site for such a
structure, having a background of the magnificent pine
grove with a sprinkling of shading pines surrounding
the edifice which is an up-to-date school building, brick
veneered, and equipped with all modern appliances and
furniture required in giving instruction to the pupil
who is fortunate enough to take the advantage of the
instructions here given by an able faculty of five
teachers. The Episcopal church occupies a corner on Third

183

and Main streets, not a very large edifice, but of suffi
cient capacity for all purposes of the congregation at
this time, lt has in connection a guild hall, where the
guild meets for its deliberations, and in which to dis
play such articles as it may have for sale at stated in
tervals, and also in which to serve suppers occasionly.
It has a furnished kitchen adjoining the hall.
The Lutheran church stands on the corner of Sixth
and Main streets, a medium sized structure with a base
ment for a parochial school. The basement story is of
red granite. The superstructure will be brick veneered
when completed. The interior has been finished suitable ,
for accommodating the holding of public services of that
persuasion. The Roman Catholic church is located on the corner
of Fourth and High streets, and is by far the largest
church building in the village. It is a fine structure.
Its interior is splendidly finished with panneled ceiling.
Its altar and necessary furnishings are of the very finest
designs and workmanship. The communicants of this
church outnumber all the other churches combined.
The services are well attended. The spiritual welfare
of its members is well cared for by the Rev. Father

— 184 —
Vadder, a most earnest and forcible speaker, gentle
manly and courteous to all in his every day life. He
has the good will of protestants as sincerely as that of
his own congregation. .
The Methodist Episcopal church building is situated
on the corner of Fifth and High streets. It is a snug,
well finished structure, not overgrown in size. Capac
ity of seating, about one hundred and fifty people, and
has the distinction ot being out of debt, a condition of
which very many Methodist churches are desirous of
reaching. The congregations of the Lutheran, Episco
pal and Methodist Episcopal churches are served by
ministers from different points from time to time, there
not being enough membership of either to support a
resident minister just at present.
The village has a fine cemetery one half mile north
west from its center, surrounded on all sides by a splen
did pine grove, a most beautiful situation in which to
deposit the bodies of our loved ones to sleep the night
of death away, until the morn of the resurrection, when
all shall come forth according to the will of the creator,
to whom be glory forever. There are one hundred and
twenty-two dwelling houses in the village situated on

— 185 —
the different streets as follows: Water street has seven.
One is a very fine residence owned and occupied by
Mr. David Roberts. He has been a continuous resident
of Mosinee for fifty seven years, and is today one of the
two men now living in the village that were heads of
families forty years ago. Second street has twelve resi
dences, one of them being the most expensive residence
of which the village can boast. It is the splendid mansion
owned by Mrs. Henry M. Thompson. It is now vacant,
Mr. H M. Thompson having moved with his family
to Milwaukee On this street are situated the com
fortable and attractive residences of Mr. W. F. LaDu
and C. A. Bernier. Nice shady lawns are in connection
with these dwellings. On this street also can be seen
the beautiful grounds and flower garden adjoining the
commodious residence of Joseph Homier, a retired mer
chant and private banker, at one time the only banker
in the village, who now with his very estimable wife
are spending the evening of their days in peace and
luxury within the borders of this beautifully situated
and attractive village
The Library building occupies a corner lot on this
street fronting on Main street. Third street is one of

— 186 —
the long streets, reaching as it does from Buchanan to
Fremont street and the picnic grounds. We find on
this street twenty-eight private residences. The most
conspicuous is the large modern residence of Mr. Louis
Dessert, one of the stockholders and manager of the
Joseph Dessert Lumber Company, and also a member
of the Mosinee Log, Land, & Timber Company. This
company operates a sawmill seven miles north of the
village. Mr. Dessert is also president of the village of
Mosinee, a position that is of great responsibility and
influence. Mr. F. McReynolds, another member of the
company, has his beautiful up-to-date dwelling on this
street. Mr. A. von Berg, president of the state bank
of Mosinee, another influential citizen of the village,
resides at the corner of Third and Pine streets.
Mr. Walter A. von Berg, cashier of the bank, re
sides with his father. He is a young man of very
promising abilities and usefulness. Fourth street
has forty private residences. It is the most populous
street of the village. There is no very noticeable struc
ture with the exception ot the late deceased C. A.
Gardner, which is certainly a beautiful home. All the
dwellings on this street are neat and tidy. Fifth street

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lit L;
,
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Mtffff
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Main Street looking Northwest.
— 187 —
has thirty-two good substantial resident buildings. The
residence of the village druggist and postmaster, Mr.
C. S. Blair, being the most conspicuous. It is large and
attractive in appearance. A fine lawn with shade trees
and shrubbery makes it a delightful home. It is situa
ted on the corner of Fifth and Jackson streets. Sixth
street has but three dwelling houses of moderate dimen
sions occupied by their owners.
There are many finely kept lawns that are not par
ticularly noted as we went along, but you can see them
and admire the good taste of those who own and look
after their beauty.
We will now take a good look at the business places
of the village. On Main and Fourth streets are situated
the stores and other evidences of the life and hustle of
the business men of the town. Starting from the eastern
end of Main street, we find the" general merchantile
establishment of David Roberts. The general manager
of the business is his daughter, a most charming young
lady of fine business abilities. They do a business of
about twenty thousand dollars per year.
The next enterprise is the Mosinee Times printing
office. The Times was established in March 1896 by

— 188 —
S. L Smith, who was of a discerning mind, and took the
advantage of the opening to occupy the ground and
furnish to the citizens a long felt want. He run the
Times for a term of years, then sold his interest, and
several others have edited the Times, until the present
editor, D. W. Baker became the editor and publisher,
under who's skillful and able management it has become
a healthy and vigorous journal. Its potitical complec-
tion is republican, and has a circulation of six hundred.
It also has a fine line of advertisements-
One half block farther we come to the large store
building of W. F. LaDu. This building has the distinc
tion of having been in constant use as a merchantile'
establishment for over fifty years, the longest time of
any business house in the village. It is now under .the
management of LaDu and Bernier. They do a business
of approximately thirty-five thousand dollars a year.
This store is situated on the corner of Main and Second
streets. On the opposite side of Main street stands the large
store building of Joseph Homier. Only a part of this
fine building is occupied by Mr- Joseph Hanus, who
handles ladies' and gentlemen's fine suiting material and

— 189 —
other fancy necessities. Mr. Hanus is by trade a ladies*
tailor, having learned his trade in the old country early
in life, and engaged in the business in the city of Prague,
Bohemia, his native country, for fifteen years. On com
ing to America he settled in Chicago, where he concluded
a business in the ladies' tailoring line for nineteen years,
having for his customers some of the wealthiest ladies
of Chicago. His health failing, he closed out his busi
ness there and came north and settled near Mosinee.
He is a man of sterling worth, gentlemanly and cour
teous to all.
We now reach the state bank of Mosinee, situated
on the north side of Main street. The structure is of
concrete blocks, well constructed and presents a fine ap
pearance. Mr. A. von Berg is the president and Walter
A. von Berg is cashier. This bank is doing a fine busi
ness, and is appreciated by the people of the surround
ing country. A little farther on we see the striped
pole of L. Lamer e who has his barber shop handily lo
cated in Temple Hall building. He has been in business
here for many years. In connection with his business
as barber he is engaged in the jeweler's trade, and car
ries an assortment of clocks and watches, doing a lucra-

— 190 —
tive business. We also find in the same building a
saloon managed by Mr. Slip O'Connor. This business
is also well patronized, and flourishing.
On the south side of the street is located the saloon
of Mr. F. Beste. The building is of moderate size, has
a well lighted front. The business at this place is to
all appearance satisfactory to the proprietor. Another
ringed striped pole is displaced at the entrance of the
stairs leading to the second floor where Mr. E Rosine
has his tonsorial apartment, and is doing a paying busi
ness. He also has a bathing room which is a great con
venience. Just a few steps farther brings us to the
fruit and confection store of F. L. Demers. His place
of business is rather contracted in size, but is kept well
stocked with fruits and delicacies of the season. He
has a large apiary which is a source of income, as it
produces many hundreds of pounds of the best of honey
every year. He does a business of three thousand
dollars per year. On the same side of the street at the
corner of Main and Third streets stands the new Hawk-
eye Hotel, a two story building. It is a very comfortable
house, although not very large, and is well kept. It is
an inviting, homelike place in which to rest while in the

191

village. On the opposite side of Main street and corner
of Third is located the Douville Hotel, a more spacious
house than its rival across the street. You can here
find accommodation for man and beast. A sample room
is to be found here. Both of these hotels are doing a
paying business- The drug store and postoffice occupy
a corner on Main and Third streets. The drug store
does its normal share of business. Mr. C. S. Blair is the
druggist. The postoffice is kept in the same room as the
drug store, Mr. Blair being the postmaster. Business
of the office amounts to about fifteen thousand dollars a
year. A little farther up the street is the saloon build
ing of Charles Blake,- a nice building where many men,
young and old congregate to pass the joke and while
away the dull hours of the evening, listening to the
songs and music of the phonograph. Business at this
resort has been reported as being very lively and profit
able. We now reach the large department store of J.
Honowitz & Son, located on the corner of Main and
Fourth streets. It is the largest and most up-to-date
store structure in the village, and does the most business.
The building is brick veneered. Its front has large plate

— 192 —
glass lighting, and an excellent place in which to dis
play goods. Just across Main street on the corner of
Main and Fourth streets we behold the fine hardware
store of Arden Paronto, a brick veneered two story
building. At this store you can find anything you
need in that line from a carpet tack to a grain reaper.
His business yearly is twenty thousand dollars. The
livery and sale stables of John Keefe are just across
Fourth street on the corner on Main and Fourth. He
keeps thirteen horses for livery purposes. He also has
a fine hearse for funerals. He does a large and profita
ble business. On Main street a little distance we see
the repair shop of Milo Crawford, where bicycles, sew
ing machines, and almost anything can be repaired.
The meat market is located on the corner of Main and
Fourth streets. The proprietors are Jones & Web-
with a yearly business of ten thousand dollars.
The next in order is the establishment of J. P.
Kanter, where he does a large business in the black
smithing and horse shoeing line, ironing wagons and
sleighs. He keeps one good man constantly, and two
during the busy season, besides himself. His shop is
well equipped with modern appliances for the turning

— 193 —
off work quickly. His yearly business approximates six
thousand dollars. Adjoining this shop is the wagon
shop of John Wagner, where he is doing business the
year around. His shop is equipped for turning out
work in up-to-date style, has a gasoline engine to fur
nish power to run his machinery, and is doing a living
business of several thousand dollars each year, with
business increasing steadily. This ends the business
places on Main street.
On Fourth street, as we go westward from Main
street, we come to the cigar factory of the ZastrowBros. ,
where two hands are employed in the manufacture of
cigars. The business yearly amounts to over four
thousand dollars. The next on this street is the shoe
shop of Mr. Spangenberg, who will make or mend your
shoes. There is another shoeshop on Sixth street.
Passing along on Fourth street half a block, we reach
the home bakery and fruit and candy store of Mrs.
Katherine Blake, who is a very pleasant, agreeable
woman and ever ready to serve you with ice cream,
candy, cake or fruit in such quantities as you may de
sire. I have never heard her complain of business
being dull. Although her profits were small she at

— 194 —
least was making a living. Moving along to the cor
ner of Fourth and Pine streets we find located here the
general dry goods and grocery store of Mr. Bert Worth
ing. He is situated where most of the farmers coming
to town from the west must pass. It is a desirable
location for such a business and his yearly trade is near
the ten thousand dollar mark. We will now go back
to Main street and take a look at the C. O. D store of
David Doherty, successor to the late deceased C. A.
Gardner. We find Mr. Doherty busy looking after his
customers interests as well as his own. He came to
Mosinee when a boy of twelve years of age, an orphan,
and worked his way up to his present position by close
attention to the business interests of those with whom
he has been employed. He now has a business that
comes near the. twenty, thousand dollar line yearly. We
once more stroll on Fourth street to look at the harness
shop of Adolph Knoedler and we see the fine signals of
his trade nicely displayed on the outside to attract the
attention of those seeking such goods as he manufac
tures. He has. some fine machines for doing the most
fancy work in his line of business, among them being
one operated by gasoline that is a novelty to the novice.

— 195 —
His business is in good flourishing condition. There is
a cold storage building on Second street large enough
for all purposes needed here.
The village has two resident physicians, Dr. W. N.
Daniels and Dr. E. C. Fish, both of whom are well up
in their profession. There are also two notaries that
attend to legal documents when needed. There are two
undertaking firms and two embalming professionals lo
cated here. The village has ample fire protection. It
has as finely equipped steam fire engine as can be found
and has a splendid band- of firemen, well officered, and
ready at the sound of the bell to rush to a fire. It has
several large cisterns for water supply, as well as the
Wisconsin river to draw from in case of fire. Mosinee
is a good market for everything the farmer has to sell,
from a dozen of eggs up to his best span of horses. We
have paper hangers here who delight in ornamenting
the dwellings of the citizens. You can find here in
Mosinee carpenters, millwrights, painters, masons, well
diggers, saw fitters, and in fact experienced men in
almost every trade. Clubs! Yes, Mosinee has its clubs
and can boast of its loyalty to them, especially when
the club is vigorously swung over the heads of the

196

faltering. The club brings us all to time and to our
knees. There is the Two-hour Club, composed entirely
of ladies, old and young, and all of them very interest
ing. They belong to a state organization. Then there
is the Gun Club, composed of men only, young and old.
When the members of this club - go into the field for
work you may be sure that something is about to be
done, if nothing more than to make a noise. It is a
success. In the summer time we have the Base Ball
Club, which wields its clubs to good advantage to bring
the opposing club to terms, and often there are sore
heads in a ball club. The fraternal societies are well
represented. We have the Odd Fellows, the E. F. U. ,
the Modern Woodmen, the Catholic Knights and the
Rebeccas. Then the churches have their societies. The
St. Monica of the Catholic church, the Guild of the
Episcopal church, the Aid of the Methodist church, the
Aid of the Lutheran church, etc. There are three halls
for dancing and for shows, the Library, Temple and
Paronto's. This summer there will be four gasoline
motor boats, owned by Mosinee residents, in use on the
river; so you see we are in for pleasure as well as busi
ness. Mosinee is entirely a white man's village, scarce-

— 197 —
ly an Indian being seen on our streets today, where
forty years ago they were in evidence at all hours of
the day and night. The elevation of Mosinee above sea
level is 1159 feet, according to U. S. geological survey.

F. McReynolds.
Francis McReynolds, son of James and Marianne
McReynolds, was born in Batavia, New York, Septem
ber 24, 1859. His parents moved to Milwaukee, Wis.,
March 4, 1861. He was educated in the Milwaukee
public schools and the Spencerian Business College. He
came to Mosinee July 31, 1878, and entered the em
ploy of the Joseph Dessert Lumber Co. as bookkeeper,
in which situation he remained until the company went
out of business in 1905. On April 13, 1887, he was
married to Miss Marie Florence Martin of Mosinee and
to them, on October 17, 1888, one daughter, Helen, was
born. In September, 1904, the Mosinee Land & Tim
ber Company was incorporated with F. McReynolds as
secretary. Mr. McReynolds came to Mosinee when a young
man of nineteen years of age, just after completing his
education, and from that time to the present day he has
been a continual resident here. He was a bright, pleas
ant young man, as the whole village can testify, and
considering the great number of years he was in the

Frank McRetnolds,

— 199 —
employ of the Joseph Dessert Lumber Company as
bookkeeper, he has been a most indefatigable worker,
scarcely ever taking a vacation. It is wonderful that
he has retained his health and vigorous possibilities as
are apparent at this date. If it could be determined
just where the secret lies that has enabled him to bear
up under the great strain of his difficult responsibilities,
it would be of vast importance to those who are filling
like positions. He has always been cheerful and has
never been known to let himself become ruffled in tem
per, always appearing in a good natured frame of mind.
Perhaps this may have been one of the factors in main
taining his good health.
Mr. McReynolds is very prominent in the Episco
pal church, having on several occasions read the service
to the congregation. He is one of the trustees of the
village and is a man whose opinion is of importance.
He is also a member of the school board. In politics
he is an earnest republican.

Dr. E. C. Fish.
Edward C. Fish, son of Isaac F. and Eliza (Liver-
more) Fish, was born in Orangeville, Barry county,
Michigan, August 16, 1858, lived with his parents on a
farm and attended the village school until eighteen
years of age. Then he taught school for three years.
After attending the Normal school at Valparaiso, Indi
ana one year, he resolved to take up the study of
medicine. He shortly entered the medical department
of the university of Michigan, and graduated therefrom
in 1883. In May 1884 he came to Mosinee, and with
the exception of one year and a half spent in the flourish
ing mining city of Hurley, Wisconsin, has been a con
tinuous resident of the beautiful village of Mosinee.
On October 20th, 1886, he was united in marriage to
Miss Jennie Clark of Mosinee, Wisconsin, and to them
has been born one son, John; born November 5th, 1891.
Dr. Edward C- Fish, whose likeness is given in
connection with this biographical sketch, came to Mo
sinee a young man of twenty-six years of age, just at
the time of life when most young men are planning for

Edward C. Fish, M. D.

— 201 —
their future life, business and location. Dr. Fish was
already prepared with a life business, and on coming
here he found the location that suited him, and here
he has remained and built up a lucrative practice in his
profession. He has valuable properties near the
village, besides a fine brick home and office he had
built on Main street, between Third and Fourth, which
is an ornament to the place. It is nicely finished inside
and handy in all its appointments.
Dr. Fish is a man of influence in the village, has
held many offices of responsibility, has been coroner
and justice of the peace several terms, and is considered
a man of sound and unbiased judgment. His opinion
on any subject is highly valued, and he is often called
in consultation with other doctors in difficult cases. He
has a large practice and can be depended upon night or
day to come to the relief of the sick and suffering, and
for their quick recovery his utmost skill will at all
times be manifested. He is thoroughly temperate in all
his habits, a trait of character which speaks volumes in
his favor. Personally Mr. Fish is a gentleman whom
you would always be pleased to meet. He is of a fine
figure, not very tall, having a nicely proportioned frame,

— 202 —
and weighs about one hundred and forty pounds. He
is as sprightly as a boy of ten, always in good humor,
and very pleasant in conversation, his affability being
predominant in his every day life among mankind. He
is also a great lover of horses and dearly loves to handle
the reins behind a pair of spirited roadsters, and in this
position we find him enjoying life at its best. Should
the team prove a little fractious, he is right at home
with them and knows just what to do. He doesn't lose
his head. He is their master. His political faith is
pure Jeffersonian democracy. The family attend the
t.
Episcopal church.

Joseph P. Kanter.

J. P. Kanter.
Joseph P. Kanter, son of Peter and Mary Ann
(Baer) Kanter, was born February 29th 1868, at Hilbert
Junction, Calumet county, Wisconsin, and lived with his
parents, who moved from Hilbert in 1879 to Colby,
Marathon county, until he was sixteen years of age, when
he was apprenticed for two years to learn the blacksmith
trade, after which he went to Michigan and worked at his
trade for one year. He then returned to Marathon Co. ,
and worked at his trade at different places, finally locating
at Mosinee in 1888. On April 26th, 1892, he was mar
ried to Miss Emma L. Rondeau of Rudolph, Wisconsin,
and to them have been born five children; Mable, born
March 3rd, 1893, Pearl E., born August 9th, 1894,
Laura M., born August 9th, 1895, Lina, born April 29th,
1897, and Gertrude, born June 19th, 1898. In 1890 Mr.
Kanter commenced doing business for himself in a good
roomy shop he had erected and into which he had placed
two forges. He soon had a prosperous trade and began to
feel his way up towards an increasing income, which ena
bled him to secure landed property near the village, and
by his industrious and painstaking habits in his line of

— 204 —
work, he soon won his way to influence. Being a tem
perate man has caused the people of the village to elect
him for several terms as one of the trustees of the vil
lage. He has also held the office of treasurer for eight
consecutive years and is now the treasurer of the
school board. Mr. Kanter is of a quiet, peaceable dispo
sition on general principles, yet not disposed to allow
others to trample on his rights, which is very proper
for any man who cares for his standing among his fel
lows. He is interested in his business and always
intends to show by the quality of his work that he is
advancing to the top round of the ladder in his particu
lar trade. He has fine ideas about improvement along
the lines of forms and underlying principles of the
horseshoeing branch of the business, and is not sparing
in his efforts to bring about better methods and more
beneficial results in the handling of horses feet in regard
to their shoes. Mr. Kanter is an honored member of
several of the Catholic fraternal societies, such as the
C. R. & B. A. society, the order of Foresters and the
Knights of Columbus. His political connection is with
the republicans. Mr. Kanter and family are members of
the Roman Catholic church. He has been treasurer of
the congregation for ten years.

The Jubilee.
In 1894 Mr. Dessert decided to give the people of
the town and village of Mosinee a grand jubilee ban
quet on the 20th of October, it being the fiftieth anni
versary of the day he first came to Mosinee, where he
had been a continuous resident and had been prosperous
to the extent of building up a lumbering business suf
ficient to enable him to possess a comfortable fortune.
Mr- Dessert becoming indisposed a few days before the
time appointed for the celebration, the event was post
poned for a week, notice of which was circulated
throughout the community. The citizens of the village
of Mosinee wishing to show the respect in which they
held Mr. Dessert by something tangible, the committee
in charge secured by contribution sufficient funds to
purchase a gold mounted cane, which they had in
scribed as coming from his friends in Mosinee. The
evening before the jubilee the committee went to the
home of Mr. Dessert and presented the cane to him, the
presentation speech being made by Dr. Daniels. Mr.
Dessert was so overcome by this token of esteem from

— 206 —
his fellow townsmen that he was unable to reply in
words, but he showed by the flow of tears how dearly
he prized this expression of their good will.
The morning of the jubilee opened bright and sun
shiny, and all nature seemed to be in harmony with the
coming event. Everybody donned their gala attire in
anticipation of a truly red letter day. All the dwellings
and places of business were decorated with flags and
bunting and banners were stretched across the streets
bidding welcome to all. Every suggestion that had a
tendency to make the village appear more cheerful was
taken advantage of by the people. The Warner
Mosinee band was engaged to discourse music through
out the day and to furnish the strains for dancing at
Temple Hall at night, for it was intended to be made a
day that would mark an event long to be remembered
by those in attendance. In accordance with the pro^
gram, as the dinner hour approached the president of
the village and council, accompanied by the band, school
children and citizens, marched to the home of Mr.
Dessert, where the president, locking arms with Mr,
Dessert, escoited him to the mill boarding house, where
an elaborate repast had been prepared by the caterers

— 207 —
engaged for the occasion. Hampers filled with delica
cies of the season came from Milwaukee and Wausau.
Mrs. Geo. Bellis of Wausau was present to assist Mrs.
Dohl in the arrangement and decoration of the tables, in
the spacious dining hall, and it is not too much to say
that everything about the tables was complete in every
detail. The brightest of silverware and flowers in
abundance were everywhere in evidence to attract the
attention of the guests while partaking of the bount
eous feast which was sumptuously served by an able
squad of waiters. The tables were fairly groaning with
the load of luxuries so lavishly spread upon them-
Upon the arrival of Mr. Dessert and company at the
dining hall, the guests were seated at the various tables.
Mr. Dessert and a few of his old time friends who had
been invited by him to be present, were given seats at the
head of the tables. When all were seated, Hon- G.
W. Cate of Stevens Point arose, and in a few well
chosen sentences expressed the sentiment of the guests
present, which was rapturously applauded, after which
the school children sang a song written for the occasion
by a resident of Mosinee in honor of Mr. Dessert.
While the guests "were enjoying themselves at the tables

— 208 —
Warner's band was discoursing music upon the side
walks on the opposite side of the street. Mr. Dessert
had made ample arrangements for the children on this
gala day. The band room was prepared for their re
ception, and Mrs. Franklin was in charge to see that
the children were well served and cared for. He him
self headed the line of march to the bandroom, so anx
ious was he that the children should enjoy themselves
as well as their fathers and mothers. Soon after the
repast was ended at the dining hall, the young people
and some older ones who cared to make their way there,
went toTempleHall, where dancing was indulged in to the
music of Warner's band until the wee small hours of
the next morning. Taken altogether, it was declared
to have been the most brilliant and enjoyable festal day
ever experienced by the citizens of the village of Mosi
nee, and everybody expressed themselves as realizing
the spirit in which Mr. Dessert gave them the oppor
tunity to celebrate the day at his expense, as nothing
had been left undone that would enhance their pleasure.

Willis F. LaDu.

W. F. LaDu.
Willis Fremont LaDu, son of Edgar E. and Sarah
J. (Ayres) LaDu, was born in the town of Richmond,
Tioga county, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1856. In the fall
of 1865 his parents moved to Wisconsin and settled in
Waushara county, where they remained one year. They
moved to Marathon county September 26, 1866, loca
ting at Mosinee. He remained with ' his parents and
attended the public schools in the neighborhood until
he reached his majority. Then he left his father's home
and started out for himself. He secured a position with
the Joseph Dessert Lumber Company and remained in
their employ for some time, but finally concluded that
working by the month or day did not suit his taste, and
decided to take up some other line of business, ln 1880
he entered into partnership with F. L. Demers in the
grocery and notion business and continued in that for
about two or three years. Then he built what is known
as Temple Hall and went into business for himself. On
May 28, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss Helen
Keefe of Mosinee. ^One child, Sarah Jane, was born

— 210 —
to them March 30, 1885. In 1888 he moved to Dancy,
where he was engaged in the grocery business for near
ly five years. He was chairman of the town board of
supervisors of the town of Bergen for three years, was
chairman of the committee on printing and a member
of the executive board of public works of the county
board at the time the court house and insane asylum
were built, and his name is enrolled on a paper placed
in the corner stone of the court house of Marathon
county. In 1893 he returned to Mosinee, bought the
store property of James O. Paup and formed a partner
ship with C. A. Bernier to operate a mercantile busi
ness. He soon after took an interest in the saw mill at
Haider, in the town of Emmet, and remained in the
lumber manufacturing business there five years. When
he retired from the business at Haider he entered into
a contract with the Joseph Dessert Lumber Company
to build a mill and manufacture lumber for them. He
built the mill and operated it two winters, and then sold
out to the company. He was supervisor of the village
for one year and was elected president of the village
four terms. In 1894 he was appointed postmaster for
a term of four years. In 1902 he was elected to the

— 211 —
Assembly from the First Assembly district of Mara
thon county. He has been a member of the county
democratic committee since 1880 and was chairman of
of the democratic committee of the First Assembly dis
trict, and was also a delegate to the Democratic state
convention in 1896.
Mr. LaDu has been a man of considerable influence
in the village and surrounding country. He is strictly
moral and possessed of manly principles. He Can at all
times be relied upon to stand by his word and for the.
best interests of society. He is considerably interested
in real estate exchanges and has fine village property
in addition to valuable timber tracts in California. He
has a jovial disposition and is an interesting talker,
somewhat of a political turn, whose judgment is sound.
He is six feet three inches in height, well built, and
doesn't like to have his corns trodden on. Above all
other pastimes he takes the liveliest interest in getting
out his gasoline motor boat Skidoo and loading it with
small boys and giving them an outing on the Wiscon
sin river.

Golden Wedding.
A golden wedding is of such rare occurrence that
when one does occur it should receive special notice by
the people of the community blessed with such an
event, more especially so when there are many unusual
circumstances and conditions surrounding it. Very few
people aside from the principals of such an occasion
realize how limited is the number among married
couples who are permitted to enjoy each others society
for such a length of time, even when to all appear
ances they start on their mutual journey under the most
favorable conditions, with perfect health and of robust
build, with the cares of the world resting lightly on
their shoulders. Seemingly all things bespeak for them
a long, prosperous and happy future, but a few short
years are passed and the once joyous couple are filled
with dismay as they behold the clouds of adverse con
ditions begin to make their appearance on the horizon
and the once robust and healthy, sprightly, light-hearted
and joyous wife or husband is stricken with disease.
The clouds grow heavier and darker. A'll is done for

O. A. Priest.

Mrs. Julia A. Priest.

— 213 —
the relief of the suffering one that love and grief can
suggest, yet darker and more ominous are the indica-
cations as the silent, dark-winged messenger enters
amid the sorrowing, weeping, loving ones at the bed
side and all is over. Another condition may be en
countered. Years come and go, children are given
them, and their whole souls are centered in the welfare
of their offspring. They do their best to bring them
up carefully, giving them every attention and advan- .
tage that love can possibly devise that their future may
be joyous and useful. But this is not to be. Their
hearts are wrung with intense sorrow as they are called
upon to part with an idol of the home, but eternity has
claimed it beyond recall. We have written the fore
going just to show some of the real conditions that
exist in life's journey which come to the great major
ity of married people before they reach the fiftieth an
niversary of their wedding day.
The principals of the golden wedding which we are
about to describe had been uncommonly blessed and
free from the conditions referred to, as you will observe
as we relate the unusual circumstances brought out at
the time of holding this anniversary. Invitations were

214

sent to many old time friends and neighbors of Mr. and
Mrs. 0. A. Priest of the town of Kronenwetter request
ing them to attend the celebration of the fiftieth anni
versary of their marriage, to be held at their home on
the 29th day of April, 1907. Accordingly, on the day
appointed, the guests began to arrive early, determined
to have the full benefit _ of the occasion. They were
bound that no feature of this rare event should escape
their observation. They were out for a good time.
The day opened rather bleak and cold, making it too
unpleasant to loiter out of doors. At about twelve
o'clock noon the guests were all assembled, and the
house, not being very roomy, was filled to overflowing
with merry, good spirited people, upstairs and down,
the younger portion taking possession of the upper
floor. Greetings and good wishes were bestowed upon
the aged couple, who appeared at their best, and, as
always, pleased to see and renew the acquaintance of
their friends and neighbors. After the preliminary
greetings and handshaking were over, the guests dis
tributed themselves conveniently and soon were busy
handling the gossip of the times and raking up old time
events ancl refreshing their memories in regard to those

215

good old days when they were young and care free.
The marriage of fifty years ago was well discussed by
those who were present on that occasion. Thus the
guests enjoyed themselves until it was announced that
the wedding dinner was ready for the guests to partake.
They were soon seated at the table, which was spread
with a most bountiful repast, and to which the guests,
after grace, applied themselves diligently, doing ample
justice to the substantials and delicacies that were pre
pared for their special benefit. The feast being con
cluded, the host and hostess were seated and had their
picture taken with their five children, the artist being
Mr. Louis Bernier of Mosinee. We will now speak of
some of the unusual circumstances which have been the
lot of but few people married fifty years. This couple
celebrated their golden wedding within less than three-
quarters of a mile of the place where they were married
and there were two guests present who attended that
ceremony. Another strange fact is that, with the ex
ception of two seasons, they have lived in the same
town, and again the most beautiful tribute that canNbe
paid to them is the fact that this couple were never
known to have hatl any family jars. Among the guests

— 216 —
assembled there was not one that could say they ever
knew of the least discord between them, a most envi
able record for married people to emulate. Another
peculiar fact, and a very comforting one to Mr. aad
Mrs. Priest, is that all their children, three girls and
two boys, are still living. They are all married except
ing the oldest son, and were all present with their hus
bands and wives and their seven children. Mr. and
Mrs. Priest have never been called to mourn the death
of a grandchild. Taking all the circumstances into con
sideration, this golden wedding is a wonderful exception
to the general rule of such events. There were forty-
eight relatives and guests present. Quite a number
attended from Wausau, among them being Mrs. An
drews, a sister of Mrs. Priest, Mrs. S. Durkee, Mr.
and Mrs. D. Finney, Mrs. Orr-and daughter and Mrs.
Bolin. Those from Waupaca were Mrs. Stafford and
Mrs. Clough. There were many very fine presents in
evidence, testifying to the great esteem in which this
aged couple were held by their friends. It would be
useless to enumerate and describe the presents; suffice
it to say they were very appropriate and helped to cheer
the hearts of this dear old couple. Preparations had

217

been made by the younger members of the family for
the young people who could not attend the celebration
in the day time. A large hall at Flanner was engaged
and music secured for dancing. A large party assem
bled in the evening and a right royal good time was
enjoyed by the young folks. Like unto all things, the
end came, and all wended their way homeward, happier
for having enjoyed the opportunity of being present at
a golden wedding. Bidding good night, we leave this
worthy couple in the complete enjoyment of each other's
company in the seclusion of their home.

Arden Paronto.
Arden Paronto, son. of Alfred and Mary (Treu)
Paronto, was born at Stevens Point, Portage county,
Wisconsin, August 6, 1875. When he was eight years
of age his parents moved to Kelly, in Marathon county,
where he attended the common school and received his
education. At seventeen years of age he commenced
teaching school, and taught in the schools of Marathon
county for six years. In 1900 he came to Mosinee and
accepted a position as salesman for Mr. C. A. Gardner
in his mercantile establishment. He remained with Mr.
Gardner two years, and then concluded to start in busi
ness for himself. He rented a store building of John
Prain in March 1902 and started out as a business man.
On September 4, 1902, he was united in marriage to
Miss Kittie Bell Coye of Mosinee.
In Mr. Arden Paronto we behold the man, not just
the physical flesh and blood, size and form, but the
real manly man in every sense of the word. His physi
cal build and general outline is attractive, being a man
of beauty and symmetrical proportions, He is a man

Arden Paronto.

- 319 —
whose every day life promises well for a future life of
usefulness in any community where he may reside.
When he came to Mosinee and looked over the situa
tion his naturally -active mind saw that it was the place
for him to make a start and gain the confidence of the
business world. It has been wholly through his own
effort and untiring diligence in attending to his own
business that has enabled him to reach the position he
has attained in the business life of this section of the
country. He was not very long in Mosinee before he
found that the place held many beautiful and attractive
young ladies, but being rather inclined to weigh matters
carefully where the opposite sex was concerned, he
bided his time. Before making much of a demonstra
tion in regard to his choice of the fair damsels, in this,
as in all his business ventures, he showed his wisdom
and fine judgment. At last one of the choicest prizes
in the lottery was fixed upon and secured. Mr. Paronto
is a very pleasant person to chat with and enjoys a joke
at. all times. His political affiliations is with the repub
lican party. As a family they attend the Episcopal
church.

Adolph Knoedler.
Adolph Knoedler, son of Jacob and Rosa (Egnder)
Knoedler, was born in Gmund, Wirttenberg, Germany,
June 15th, 1861. He learned the harness and saddle
maker's trade in his native country. Being ambitious to
make use of his skill and knowledge in securing at
least a moderate degree of wealth, he decided to leave
Germany and come to the United States, and he accord
ingly ic 1880 left the home of his parents and embarked
for the western continent. On his arrival in America,
his first location was at Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he
secured a position as a journeyman at his trade, in which
situation he remained for two years. In 1882 he left
. Fort Dodge, and journied to Madison, Wisconsin, where
he found employment .at his trade, and remained there
about one year. He then returned to Iowa, and at
Fonda engaged in his business for nearly three years,
and while at that place he became acquainted with Miss
Mary Alice Keefe of Haider, Wisconsin. The ac
quaintance soon ripened into the sentimental stage,
which developed into the more tender feeling of love,

Adolph Knoedler.

— 221 —
and on May 10th, 1886, they were married at Fonda,
Iowa, where they remained until September 1887, when
he moved with his family to Dubuque. He remained
there until 1888, then came with his family to Mosinee,
Wisconsin, stopped for about six months, and then
moved to Wausau, where he engaged in business for
four years, returning to Mosinee the first of October
1892, where he located himself, opened a shop of his
own, and commenced the general business of his
particular trade. Three children have been born to
them; Daisy Mary, was born June 10th, 1887,
Jacob, born August 9th, 1888, and William H., born
September 17th, 1890. Mr. Knoedler's mother is still
alive, and is eighty-five years of age, and continues to
live in her native country, Germany.
Mr. Knoedler is a fine specimen of physical man
hood as you would wish to behold. He is rather above
the average in height, well built, not overburdened
with flesh', dark complexioned, very dark hair and eyes,
with just the merest suggestion of a twinkle, and the
heaviest mustache of any man in the village. If it were
on an unmarried man, the unmarried ladies would pro
nounce it just the loveliest and most killing mustache

222

in the country, but as he is a married man, they refrain
from bestowing upon him any of the delight they would
express under other circumstances. He is very indust-
rious and always busily employed at his business, can
always be found right where he is expected to be, and
is always cheerful and pleasent to converse with. He
is a substantial citizen, an honest, straightforward man.
He strictly attends to his own business, of which he
always has plenty to look after. Mr. Knoedler has by
his untiring industry, built for himself a lucrative
business. Many times he has conquered adverse cir
cumstances, in which he has found himself surrounded,
and came out victorious. He faces adverse conditions
with the courage of a lion. In politics he is a republi
can. The family attend the Catholic church.

Harris B. Hanowitz.

H. Hanowitz.
Harris Hanowitz was born in New Jersey in 1884,
where he finished his education at the Spencerian col
lege After leaving college he took a situation with
the Wisconsin Telephone Company, ¦ in ' whose employ
he remained for some time. Leaving that position he
became the junior partner in the firm of J. Hanowitz &
Son. He came to Mosinee with the firm in 1903, when
it transferred its business to this place. Mr. Hanowitz
is a young man, very energetic and fully alive to the
interests of the firm of which he is a member. He is
affable and a pleasant man to do business with, and is
always at his desk or looking after the interests of their
customers. He likes a little recreation, as most young
men do, only he is always dignified in whatever company
he may be in. He is thoroughly temperate and his char
acter is without a blemish, and'is a favorite among the
ladies. He is an influential member of the fraternal
order of Free Masons. His political sympathies are
with the Republican party, yet he allows that there are
some good men on the other ticket.

W. A. Von Berg.
Walter A. Von Berg, son of A. Von Berg, was born
March 24th, 1880, near Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wis
consin, and lived with his father on a farm, where
he worked and attended the common school of the
neighborhood until of sufficient age, when he finished
his education in the high school at Fox Lake. He then
obtained the situation as assistant cashier of the bank in
Fox Lake, which position he retained until coming to
Mosinee, December 1904, to take the position of cashier
of the state bank of Mosinee, and become one of the
citizens of this beautiful village. He is a young man
free from any entanglements, as well as the joys and
blessings of those who have the responsibilities of mar
ried life. Mr. Von Berg is of good height and of com
manding presence, dignified in all his movements. His
blue eyes have just that peculiar shade and twinkle which
the unmarried ladies go nearly distracted over, but as yet
they have not been able with all their charms and sweet
ness to capture. Mr. Von Berg is very much in earnest
with his work, of which he has his full share to ac-

Walter A. von Berg.

225

complish. He is v*ery companionable, and is of that
jovial disposition that it is a pleasure to be in his society.
Mr. Von Berg is an honored member of the Mosinee
gun club, which fact indicates the high esteem in which
he is held by the elite of which this special club is com
posed. As a workman he stands on the upper round
of the ladder. He sometimes goes out with dog and
gun and returns heavily laden, ofttimes with grief.
Just now he is associated with the grand chorus of
Mosinee. He is a republican, and attends the Methodist
church.

Harvey Friday.
A very thrilling incident occurred on the^th day of
October, 190iR which is now fresh in the minds of all
the people of Mosinee. The water in the Wisconsin river
rose to a fearful flood in consequence of the heavy rains
that prevailed for many days. It was feared that great
damage would result from its frightful ravages. The
bridge across the river was condemned as unsafe for
travel, and the booms of the Dessert Lumber Company
were in great danger of being swept away, and an army
of men was sent to take them into a place of safety.
Having dropped all the pieces of booms where they
could be stored out of harm's way, excepting one piece
at the lower end of the string, which occupied a posi
tion parallel to the current of the water. The men that
were on this last string must be brought from it in a
boat. I think there were six men. There was a cable
stretched from this piece of boom across to the boom
fastened to the shore. The space from boom to boom
was fifty or sixty feet of very swiftly rushing water,
probably twelve feet deep. The boat was sent across
to take the men off. The men all were taken into the
boat, which loaded it very nearly to the water's surface.
It started for the shore, but proved to , be so heavily
laden as to make it impossible to control in the swift
current. Consequently it drifted down stream, until it

227

came in contact broadside against the cable, when like
a flash it was overturned, and all the men were in the
grip of the flood. As the boat came up two men were
clinging to it, but soon one of them lost his hold and
went down. His name was Joseph Monica. His body
was recovered eleven days afterwards, floating one mile
below the falls. The other man that clung to the boat
held his grip until it floated near the last pier above the
dam. It was close enough for the man to catch onto
the pier and draw himself up onto it. The rest of the
men were saved by the men on the shore boom- with
their pike poles, yet some of them came very near being
lost. And how is it with the man on the pier? The
water now is raising very fast, and is within two feet
of the top, and raising six inches an hour, and fully
three hundred feet from the end of the boom and across
the current. At that the all important question was, how
are they to reach him and bring him to safety. The
boat was gone and not another one to be found. A
telephone message was sent to Mr. A. Gunther at
Knowlton, stating the situation and requesting him to
send up his boat with as much dispatch as possible.
Meanwhile every effort was put forth to save the man
on the pier. Upward climbs the water inch by inch,
until only about ten inches of the pier shows above
water. The whole of the inhabitants of Mosinee are out,

— 228 —
and standing awe struck at the awful situation of Harvey
Friday. Will the pier give way or do you think he can
be released before it is coveied with the raising flood,
are remarks heard almost in a whisper, so tense were
the feelings of the multitude assembled. What are they
doing now? Just look the.y are letting a string of booms
slowly drop down with three strong men with pike
poles on the lower end. As soon as it is dropped as
low down as they dare, the men with the poles try
to swing the boom, so as to get as near as possible, but
the current is too strong for them. Effort after effort is
made, but nothing is accomplished. Still up creeps the
water until only a few inches of the pier is in sight.
At this point Friday says throw me a pike hole. This
is done, he catches it as it floats close to the pier. Throw
me a line says he, and a line is thrown several times be
fore he is successful in reaching it. He gets the end
and puts it around the top timber, draws it as snug as
he can, then plunges into the dreadful flood, grasps the
line, and hand over hand crawls to the boom amid the
thunderous applause of all Mosinee assembled. Just at
this time Mr. Gunther makes his appearance on the
scene with his boat, having made the drive from
Knowlton to Mosinee in half an hour, a distance of six
miles. I think this is about .all the incidents worthy of
record in connection with Little Bull Falls.

YALE UNIVERSITY

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