iii.
Table of Contents.
Chapter I. Settlement and Early Growth. l84l-1854 - Pages 1-9.
l. Location and naming.
2. Settlement.
3. Early growth.
4.Growrth after 1850.
5. Post Office.
6.Population.
7. Schools, churches, and fraternal organizations.
8. Establishment of library.
Chapter II. Industria1 Expansion. Pages 10-18.
l. Expansion of Factories and Stores.
2. Growth of banks and banking.
3. Steam boat traffic.
4. Railways and stages.
5. Hotels.
6. Other Industrial ventures.
7. Industrial statistics.
8. Building statistics.
Chapter III. Social and Political Expansion. Pages 19-30.
1. Education.
2. Churches.
3. Societies and Associations.
4. Population
iv
5. Police Records.
6. Social functions, celebrations and amusements.
7Athletics and Sports.
8. Elections and politics.
Chapter IV. City Improvements. Pages 31—38.
1. Public Buildings.
2. Streets and sidewalks.
3. Fire department and fires.
4. Gas and Coke Company.
5. Police.
6. Cemetery.
7. Newspapers.
Chapter V. La Crosse in the State and Nation. Paces 39—44.
l. Politics.
2. Before the Civi1 War.
3. At the front.
4. At home during the war.
Chapter I Settlement and Early Growth 1841-1854.
La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a city in the western part of
that state, at the juncture of the Black and La Crosse rivers with
the .Father of Waters, the Mississippi. The latitude is 43 degrees
49 minutes and the longitude west from Greenwich 91 degrees 15
minutes. It is situated upon part of a small prairie containing
all about thirteen square miles, being nearly seven miles long
and about two and one-half miles wide at its extreme. Therefore,
because of this large area, the little village of the pioneer days
had ample room In case the expected expansion came, for all the
early settlers saw a great future for their wilderness home, not
only as a large city, but also as the focus of a large and important
trade. Expansion could be well expected in those days of
river navigation and commerce, for with the great highway, the
Mississippi, at their feet, the Black River penetrating far into
the lumbering regions of northern Wisconsin, and the La Crosse
River forming a passage way up the fertile La Crosse Valley and
Into West Central Wisconsin, joining with the Black and Mississippi
at the site of the first dwellings, formed an ideal location for
growth and development.
The land on the site of the city is of an extremely sandy
type out as the high bluffs on the east are approached the fertility
increases, till at their feet the soil is very productive; the
chief products being wheat, corn, and oats. 2 The bluffs are
1-independent Republican, Oct. 16, 1854.
2-La Crosse Democrat, Jan. 31, 1854.
Almost perpendicular here, being covered with all varieties of
trees and undergrowths of hazel-brush with now and then out-
croppings of fine building stone, that was utilized early by the
Little village for homes, stores, and streets.
Although the country adjacent to La Crosse was not
suitable for lumbering, the city soon became known throughout
the west for its great lumber mills which sprang up here because
of the convenient logging highways, the B1ack and Mississippi
Rivers. The first interests of the settlers was trading with the
indians, but soon they realized the great fortunes that awaited
them in lumbering, and quite naturally the entire aspect of the
whole community changed from a dormant trading village to a
thriving manufacturing city.
There are a variety of beliefs as to the origin of the
name of the city but the one that seems to have the chief claim
to historical accuracy is that the prairie on which La Crosse is
situated was, in the days of Indian occupation, a meeting place
during the winter months for the Winnebagos and other tribes for
the purpose of playing the Indian game La Crosse. Consequently
the place was called Prairie de la Crosse or Prairie a la Crosse
by the French fur traders and explorers in that region. The
name remained Prairie la Crosse till in 1843 the “Prairie” was
dropped off by Nathan Myrick the postmaster at that time.
Another belief as to the naming, although not as popular, is that
the meetings of the three rivers at this point form a cross, the
lower Mississippi and the Black rivers forming the perpendicular
and the upper Mississippi and the La Crosse forming the horizontal.
1-Manuscript letter of Myrick, Feb. 10, 1892-La Crosse Public
Library.
3
The claim is made by some people that, Nathan Myrick, on his
first trip to La Crosse formed a great pewter cross fastened to
a tree on the river hank and because of it named the place
Prairie a la Crosse. The fault with the last two explanations
is that the French word for cross is not la crosse but la croix,
therefore If the name was derived from cross it would have been
La Croix, while the word “la crosse” originated from the Indian
game In which the racquet used is similar In shape to the bishop’s
crosse or crosier.
The first attempt at a settlement was made early in the
Nineteenth Century by the American Fur Company, but as this was
unsuccessful it fell to Nathan Myrick who came in November 1841,
to have the honor of being the first settler.
Nathan Myrick was born at Westport, Essex County, New
York, July 22, 1822, of a family of New York pioneers. This
same pioneer spirit seems to have been instilled into him for
early in 1841, at the age of 19, he started west with $115.00 as
his entire capital. He arrived at Prairie du Chien on June the
5th staying there all summer, but in the fall decided to go up
the river and start out for himself by establishing a trading
post. Borrowing a keel boat from General Crawford and buying
his goods from the merchants of Prairie du Chien on credit, he
started out November 4th and reached La Crosse on the 9th landing
at the foot of the present state Street. Not being able to locate
enough timber on the almost treeless prairie to build a house for
the winter, the river was crossed and a cabin built on Barron’s
Island That winter logs were taken across the Ice and in the
following spring he built the first house on the corner of what
4
is now Front and State Streets. That same year H. J. B. Miller,
a gentleman who had done some exploring and trading in conjunction
with Myrick the previous winter in the vicinity of La Crosse,
was taken into partnership by him. 1
In 1843 Myrick went east and was married to Rebecca E.
Ismen, returning the following year accompanied by Miss Louisa
Pearson, who afterwards, In 1844, became the bride of Miller.
These two ladies were the first white women in La Crosse and
Martha, the daughter of Miller, born in 1847, was the first white
child born there. Myrick remained in La Crosse continuing his
trading operations till ho removed to St. Paul, in June, 1848. 2
The growth of the now settlement in the beginning
was not rapid but now and then some enterprising trader would come
up the river, and having the confidence of the pioneer in his
chosen land would see the possibilities of La Crosse, and settle
there, taking out a claim which had to be filed at Mineral Point,
the nearest land office at that time. In 1848, when tho land of
La Crosse and vicinity was placed on the market, Nathan Myrick,
John M. Levy, Peter Cameron, Asa White, and Samue1 Snow journeyed
to Mineral Point and had their claims entered This action marked
the beginning of permanent settlement of the little village and
also displayed the confidence those men placed in the new country.
Perhaps the most unique figure in early La Crosse history
was John M. Levy. Arriving In 1846, he set himself up as
an Indian trader, but finding the business did not take all his
time and energy, he established the first tavern or hotel the
following year. At the time that Levy first came the entire
1-Man. letter of Myrick, Feb. 10, 1892.
2-Man. letter of Myrick, Feb. l0, 1892.
5
population consisted of only thirteen white inhabitants, nine
male and four female, but as the village became larger the possibilities
of the mercantile business appealed to him, for in
1848 he had a small general retail store that later became wholesale.
The commerce on the river also caused him to have a huge
dock constructed that was 136 ft. front, 160 ft. wide, and 12 ft.
high. 1
When Lieutenant Governor Burns passed through the town
in 1847, he realized its advantages and allowed himself to be
persuaded to settle there and in 1850 he brought his family and
took up his residence. He purchased a half interest in the village
from Myrick and Miller and began using his influence to make it
grow. Through his efforts William Hood was secured to survey
the city in May, 1850, the lots of which were then disposed of
at easy prices. 2
F. M. Rublee, too, was an important factor in the early
expansion and growth of the community. Arriving in 1851, he
waited till the next year before starting his general merchandise
business. At the time that he first came to La Crosse the entire
population consisted of five families with a total of thirty
people, and the retai1 business was carried on by two very small
stores. The surrounding country was still very unsettled, Indians
frequently frightening the people by their hostile actions.
However, the Indians soon left as the population gradually increased,
the settlements following the valleys and coulees into
the Interior.3
After 1850 new settlers for the growing village began
1-La Crosse Democrat, Jan. 31, 1854.
2-Ibid, Feb. 7, 1854.
3-Ibid, Feb. 7, l854.
6
to come in rapid succession. George Gale, afterwards a circuit
judge and Thomas B. Stoddard, the city’s first mayor, were among
the first. Others influential in the expansion of the community
who settle here about this time were, Samuel .D Hastings, Alex.
Mc Millan, Chase A. Smith, Harvey .E. Hubbard, David Taylor,
Albert La Due, E.A.C. Hatch, Theo. Rodolf, Mons Anderson, Samue1
L. Smith, Edwin Flint, Robert Looney, C. W. Marshall, James I.
Lyndes, and Dugald D Cameron. Through the exertions of these
men the social and political conditions of the village were raised
at home and the town was given a good name abroad 1
Nathan Myrick, besides having the distinction of being
the first settler, was also the first postmaster, and it was
through his recommendation that the name Prairie la Crosse was
changed to La Crosse. The mails during his term were of course
very light because of the few inhabitants but through the years
up to l854 the mails under the following postmasters, E.A.C.Hatch,
H.J.B. Miller, and Simon Kellog, were growing with the village.
When Kellog first took charge of the office his mails consisted
of fifteen letters in one day, but this was Increased till in
1854 the daily mail was 700 letters. The uncertainties of the
mails seem to have given the early settlers very much trouble
for there was no established mail route on the river and the
postmasters in the different river towns had to trust to the kindness
of the steam boat clerks to bring their local mail. Stage
routes, too, were very uncertain mail carriers owing to the
unsettled state of the country and the poor condition of the
roads. 2
1-La Crosse Democrat – Feb. 7, 1854.
2-Ibid, Feb. 14, l854.
7
In 1851 La Crosse County and township were formed and
by 1853 the village had attracted the attention of so many prospective
settlers that a land office was established there in
that year under Cyrus K. Lord and Theo. Rodolf, who later took
up their residence in La Crosse, becoming two of the most prominent
citizens.
The population had Increased from thirteen in 1846 to
548 In 1853 1, growing to 745 by the next year.2 The inhabitants
were divided in the following way by Rev. Spencer Carr in his
pamphlet history of La Crosse written in 1854; Heads of families
301, Single gentlemen 78, Single Ladies 38, Male Children under
twenty-one 159, Female Chi1dren under twenty-one 169. With the
increase of population the industrial conditions were well advanced
for in the fall of 1853 there were 77 buildings, an increase
of 27 during the summer, 3 and this was still further increased
by the spring of the next year. At this time there were
in the village; 104 dwelling houses, 8 fancy and dry goods stores,
4 groceries, 2 drug stores, 2 shoe stores, 2 hardware stores, 2
tin shops, 2 tailor shops, 3 cobblers, 1 harness maker, 4 blacksmith
shops, 1 gun shop, 2 bakeries, 1 cabinet maker, 3 doctor’s
offices, 4 law offices, 1 justice’s office, 5 hotels, I barber
shop, 1 printing office, 4 joiners shops, 1 steam saw mill, 1
wagon shop, 1 jewelry and lock smith’s shop, 1 land office, 2
meeting houses, 1 I.O.O.F. hall, a Court house and jail. 4
Most frontier communities general1y establish groups
and associations for social, political, and religious purposes
early in their career and in this La Crosse was no exception.
1-La Crosse Democrat, Apr. 26, 1853.
2-Ibid, Feb. 7, l854.
3-Ibid, Oct. 30, 1853.
4-Ibid, Feb. 14, 1554.
8
The first school was held In the County Court House the winter
of 185l and 1852 with Abner Goddard as teacher, and in the summer
term held in the same place Miss Clementine Bowe was the
instructress. Lorenzo, the town superintendent of schools,
called a meeting at the home of Simon Kellog, August 2, 1851
where the place of holding the school, length of term, and teachers
were decided upon. The number of scholars in attendance at
the first session was 109, a goodly number for the size and condition
of the community. The site for the first public school
building was chosen in 1853 but a building was not constructed
for several years. Three select schools were advertised in one
newspaper in 1853. In these schools all the modern and higher
branches were taught at prices ranging from three to five dollars
for a term of thirteen weeks and the higher arts as painting,
drawing, Greek, Latin, and French at higher rates. 1
The early church history of the village was confined
to four churches, the Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, and
Catholic. The Baptist and Congregational churches were organized
the same day, Jan. 22, 1852. S.T. Smith and wife being in the
main responsible for the Baptist and F.M. Rublee and wife for
the Congregational. Each of these churches had a library and
a Sabbath School in 1854, the Baptists having a meeting house
costing $1000.00 and a membership of 60 compared to 41 of the
Congregationalists. The Rev. Benj. W. Reynolds was at the time
of the organization of the Congregational and Baptist Congregations,
a missionary for the iothodist Church at La Crosse, and
it was chiefly through his efforts that the Methodists organized
under Rev. E. Tasker Sept. 25, 1853 with a membership of eleven
1-La Crosse Democrat, April l8, l853.
9
which was increased to twenty—eight in a year. 1 The Roman
Catholic Church was formed May 17, 1853, beginning services on
the 29th and had made arrangements to build on the public square
near the Baptist as early as the next year.
The Masons organized in October 1852, with eight members
the lodge being called Frontier Lodge No. 45 F. and A.M. Morrison
McMillan was the first Worshipful Master and under him the membership
was increased to thirty-seven the first year. The first
lodge to be located In the village was the La Crosse Division
No. 130 of the Sons of Temperance, who were instituted in Docembor
1851 with 10 members, with an increase of 39 by the next
year. On August l3, 1853, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
boated in La Crosse with but seven members but by 1854 the roll
had grown to 43. Under Theodore Rodolf P.G. this society had
become a factor in the social life of the village because of its
dances and parties.
Besides those national organizations there were several
local associations, one of which had a marked influence on the
social life of the community. This was the La Crosse Library
Company founded in ipri1 1853, and soon incorporated The stock
this company sold for 5.0O a share and entitled the holder
to free library privileges. Books of the company were under the
charge of Samuel D Hastings, who lent them out, at a small fee. 3
1—La Crosse Democrat, -4e. 14, 13b4.
2— Ibid, Feb. l4, 1854.
3—Ibid, Feb. 14, 1854.
Chapter II
Industrial Expansion.
Industry in the little village of La Crosse expanded
very slowly during the first decade of its history, but from
about 1853 on rapid strides were taken, not only In manufacturing
and wholesaling, but also in commerce The rivers provided
the only means of transportation up to the completion of the
first railroad from Milwaukee to La Crosse in 1858, for the stage
routes that took care of all the inland traffic were so irregular
they could not be depended upon.
Because of its advantageous position on the rivers,
the early business was mostly lumbering, the first raft leaving
La Crosse for Ct. Louis in l44. The first saw-mill was not
built until 1852 by Timothy Burns, 1 M. iub1ee, C. T. Smith,
and J. Symington at a cost or nearly $10,000.00, and this
marked the real beginning of the lumber Industry. Other mills
followed In rapid succession and an enthusiastic editor made
the assertion that there would be twenty—six saw mills in the
city by 1857. 1
Before the incorporation of La Crosse as a city in
April 1856, the lumber industry had not been full developed, but
after this time the advancement was very noticeable, several
more mills eng Estab1ished the next year, but a fall in the
price of lumber in 1858 caused Shepard and Valentine, North
Side concern, and several others, to shut down for a time The
Black River Lumber Driving and Boom Company was formed soon
1-National Democrat, June 27, 1856
2. Independent Republican, Aug. 18, 1858.
11
after milling became recognized s a money making enterprise, its
chief work was to get the logs and rafts down the Black River and
placo the lumber on the market. 1 The real growth of lumbering
in the city is noticed between the years 1850 and 1870, when the
following mills were either established or enlarged Shepard and
alentine, Hixon and Crosby, Charles 1. Coleman, John Paul, P.S.
Davidson, C.M. Nichol, Polley and Goddard, and William R. Sill.
Besides these mills there wore In operation in 1857 two shingle
mills2 and the Sack and Segalke Sash and Door Company, afterward
the Segalke and Kohlhaus Company.
Although lumbering was the chief occupation of the
young city, other manufacturing plants were at work and growing
into prominence, founderies, machine shops, boat yards, breweries,
and flour mills being among the many. Milwaukee had already
acquired fame as a brewing city and the Michel Brothers established
their brewery in 185 in La Croso to make genuine Milwau 5
keg lager 5 Gund’s Brewery was begun before Michels, and having
outgrown its old quarters by 1858, was rebuilt on Third and Winnebago
Streets. 6
The Pioneer foundry of 1854, was one of the first
establishments of its kind in the west, and was followed by the
Eagle Foundry and Agricultural Machinery Manufactory, whose chief
output was confined, to threshing machines for the surrounding
region. 7
The first bank was established by John M. Levy, the
1-Ind Republican, Aug. 18, 1856.
2-Ibid, Jan. 7, 1857.
3-Ibid, June 3, 1857.
4-La Crosse Leader, Aug. 14, 1869.
5-Ibid Republican, Sept. 7, 1857.
6-Ibid Aug. 18, 1058.
7-Ibid Aug. 5, 1857.
12
father of many other La Crosse business enterprises, being called
he Bank of the City of La Crosse, which after a brief life
of but a single year, failed in the Panic of 1857. Soon
afterwards, S. W. Hastings founded a private Bank, which later
came into the possession of Griggs, Newland and Company. By
the fall of 1857 there were two banks in the city, the Katanyan
tank, with a capital of $50,000.00, and the reorganized Bank of
the City of La Crosse, with a capital of 25,000.00. Clinton,
Cramer and Company began a bank that met the same fate as the
first bank, and until 1861, at the time of the establishment of
the Batavian Bank by Gysbert Van Steenwyck, the banking was of
the “wild-oat” type. In 1861 the Bank of La Crosse was reorganized
with Benjamin Allen, president, and L.C. McKenney, cashier. 2
Cole, Sumner, and Compnay’s old bank was renamed the
Green Bay Bank in 1863, and again changed the next year to the
First Nationa1 Bank of La Crosse. 3
Steam-boats played a most Important part in the expansion
of the village of La Crosse. As early as 1852,
was aid steam boats by the merchants for handling freight, and
in the month of April 1853, there were twenty—one steam boat
arrivals from down the river. 5 These steamers carried all the
freight for the community as well as bringing emigrants.6 As
the years advanced the river traffic also increased, 5b3 boats
being registered during 1854. In the latter part of the decade
the fifties the La Crosse and Saint Paul Packet Company
1-Independent Republican, Dec. 26, 1856
2-La Crosse weekly Democrat, Oct. 18, 1861.
3-Ibid, June 14, 1861.
4-La Crosse Democrat, May 3, 1853.
5-Ibid, April 26, 1853.
6-Ibid, July 19, 1853; Ind Rep. April 4, l855
7-Ibid, Dec. 20, 1854.
13
a “fine line of steamers for han1Ing grain, etc.” was established
The river commerce of the city led John M. Levy
to build his clock on the river front, at which such important
an.1 well mown boats on the Upper Mississippi, as the Dr. Franklin,
Asia, Hindoo, and War Eag1e would dispose of their cargoes.2
La Crosse was the natural point for all Minnesota
settlers to fit out, and, in 1854, there was a steam ferry, the
“Wi1d Kate” in operation owned by Wi1liam Mc Connell, also proprietor
of the La Crosse hotel, for the convenience of these
emigrants 3 . The citizens wanted a cheaper ferry, In order to
gain control and reap the benefits of the Minnesota trade, and
during; ng the following years the ferry was a point of discussion
on the streets and in the newspapers, with the result that the
ferryboat Mc Roberts by 1862 was making two trips to La Crescent
daily at the cost of twenty-five cents per team. 4
Overland travel up to 1858, when the La Crosse and
Milwaukee Railroad was opened, was confined to stages, which
wore very unreliable because of the poor condition of the roads.
In 1853 a set go route that would make one trip a week between
La Crosse and Portage was announced, and seine time later in the
same year a Black River stage began operations.6 La Crosse also
was in stage communication with Madison by 1856.
The La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad was well begun by
1854 and it was expected that the next year would see the completion
of the enterprise. Financial troubles and other delays,
however, hampered the consummation till 1858, when in September
trains began running twice daily to Milwaukee. 8 The advantages
1- La Crosse Wkly. Dem., Apr. 14, 1863. 5-LaC. Dem., Apr. 26, 1853.
2-Ind Rep., Apr. 4, 1855. 6- Ibid, July 19, 1853.
3-La C. Dem., Aug. 16, 1854. 7-Ind Rep., Feb.27, 1856.
4- La C. Wkly. Dem. May 1, 1862. 8.Ibid, Sept. 15, 1858.
of railroad connection with Milwaukee was at once apparent for
now the city had a direct means of Intercourse with the east,
fifteen loaded cars of freight being shipped in the first train
and nine the second1 The formal opening Of the road was held,
October 14, 1858, by an excursion from Milwaukee to La Crosse,
where the visitors were entertained by the military, fire, and
civic organizations of the happy city.2 The ticket office of the
new railroad was located on Front Street, while the passenger and
freight depots wore situated on the north side of the La Crosse
River, fronting on the Black. 2 plank road connected the city
with the station, which remained In this Out of the way place,
till destroyed by fire, May 21, 1870, when it was removed near
its present location on Second Street. 4
Another important feature connected with the railway,
as that It placed La Crosse in telegraphic communication with
Milwaukee, this act helping materially to change it from a frontier
town, depending upon the uncertain mail service for its
foreign news, to an up-to-the-minute community.5
The Root River Road, afterwards the Southern Minnesota,
as begun as early as l8bb, but suffering bankruptcy, the usual
malady of the early railroad enterprises, nothing was really done
on the construction till 1865, from which time the word progressed
but slowly, reaching ie11s, Minnesota, a distance of some 140 miles
by 1870. 6
La Crosse seems to have been rail-road mad, several
new companies were formed in the city but soon gave up in despair.
1-Ind Rep., Oct. 16, 1858.
2-Ibid, Oct. 13, 1858.
3- Ibid, Aug. 4, 1858.
4- La Crosse Leader, May 21, 1870.
5- Ind Rep., Dec. 22, 1858.
6- La Crosse Leader, Oct. 16, 1870.
La Crosse and prairie du Chien Rail Road was organized in
and although the newspapers raised a great hubub about
of this road, the enterprise seems to have fallen
The La Crosse, Vernon, and 1ichland Rail Road organized
in October 1855, as well as the La Crosse and Black River
Falls Rail Road, begin as early as 1862, seems to have met the
to as the prairie du Chien Railroad The La Crosse and
Black River Falls Rail Road might have become a part of the road
constructed by the Chicago and North Western Rail Road in 1865 from
Winona Junction, a station a few miles northeast of La Crosse,
and Winona called the Winona cut-off. However, this was a part
of the La Crosse, Trempealeau and Prescott Railroad later absorbed
by the North Western system.
The history of the hotels of La Crosse began in 1854
with the a ab1isnront of John H. Levy’ s tavern, but Simon
proprietor of the western enterprise was the first important
innkeeper of the village. During the summer of 1854
there wore 3485 guests at his hotel. 7i1liam Mc Connell was
also one of the early hotel men, having charge of the La Crosse
Hotel, located on the levee. His hostelry was run in connection
with the ferry boat “Wild Kate”, both netting him a substantial
profit. 6 As the town expanded and became an Important center
for the outfitting of emigrants to Minnesota, numerous hotels
The Tallmadge, Black River and new England Houses
established in 1853. After these the western Hotel in
1855 the new hotel of Bickne11 and Rice and the Mississippi
1-La C. Wkly. Dem., Nov. 6, 1865. id, Oct. 5, 1864
2- Ibid, Oct. 5, 1864
3- La Crosse Triweekly Democrat, April 25, 1862
4- Ibid, Nov. 10, 1865.
5- La C. Dem., Dec. 20, 1854.
6- La C. Wkly Dem., May 1, 1862
House in 1856, and the Pearl Street and Dacotah house in 1857,
illustrates vividly the hotel expansion of the early years. The
Augusta House, the United States Hotel, the Harrington House
and Gardner House, formerly the Pearly Street House, were the
chief hotels in 1859. In 1862 there were the following hostelrys
in the city, a total of fourteen: Augusta House, City
House, Colombian Mouse, Farmers House, Farmer’s Hotel, Gardner
House, Kellog House, La Crosse House, Seelberg’s Hotel, State
Street House, St. Louis Hotel, Union House and the Washington
house. These hotels had a guest capacity of 900 showing that
there was a great trancient population in La Crosse in the early
years.
La Crosse capital was not solely confined to home industry,
for in 1857, the La Crosse Hydraulic Company was formed
with Thomas 3. Stoddard as Its president, and In 1365, at the
time of the great oil discoveries in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the
La Crosse Petroleum Company was established with a capital of
l0,0OO.C)0. Seth Dean was elected president and land was purchased
In Ohio in the oil bearing region, but little if any results
were obtained. 4
The La Crosse County Agricultural Society gave an
annual fair in La Crosse for several years until West Salem was
granted the privilege. The first fair was hold In the fall of
1858, on the Turner’ a grounds and adjacent lots near Fifth and
Market Streets, 5 and while it was not very pretentious in character,
it served the purpose of gathering the farmers from the
1-Ind. Rep., July 20, 1859. Ibid., June 29, 1859.
2-La Crosse Triweekly Democrat? Dec. 6, 1862.
3-Ind. Rep. July 1, 1857.
4-La C. Wkly Dem., April 3, 1865.
5-Ind. Rep. Oct. 5, 1859.
surrounding country into the city and induced them to trade
there.
Few if any statistics can be found before 1861 as to
the amount of business that was transacted by La Crosse merchants,
although In 185, one firm claimed to be doing 125,000.00 worth
of business annually, and half a dozen others as much 50,000.00
each. In the second year of the exportation of pork and bread
stuffs a total of 250,000 bushels of wheat, 26, 650 bushels of
oats, 4,750 barrels of flour and 1,235,560 barrels of pork were
shipped from the city, the sum total being 410,810.00, 1 and
this business had quadrupled by 1865. 2
I. H. Moulton, the agent for the La Crosse and Milwaukee
Rai1 Road in 1869, reported that there had been 30, 329
tons of produce sent east by the railroad during that year,3 and
as this was in the very heart of steamboat commerce, there is
no way of estimating the amount of goods shipped from the busy
metropolis in those early days.
An alphabetical listing of all the business houses is
given in the a Crosse eok1y Democrat December 6, 1862, and
a comparison of this list with that of 1854, a mere eight years
previous, points out clearly the vast changes that had taken
place in the city. There were at the latter ate 1 auctioneer,
banks, 3 book stores, 3 breweries, 13 boot shoe shops, 6
black smithys, 1 book bindery, 3 bakeries, 4 barber shops, 6
clothing stoes, 5 carpenters, 1 cooperage, 6 carriage and wagon
shops, 3 cooper shops, 2 confectionerys, 1 clothes cleaning shop,
8 dry goods stores, 4 dress makers, 1 detective agency, 2
1-La Crosse Weekly Appea1, Lierch 13, 1861
2-La Crosse Wkly Dem., Oct. 12, 1865.
3-La Crosse Leader, Nov. 13, 1869.
18
distilleries, 3 dentists, 4 druggists, 6 draymen, 1 engraving
plant, 3 fur stores, 3 mining mill factories, 3 flour and
feed stores, 4 furniture stores, 2 fancy goods stores, 2 fruit
stores, 3 foundries, 2 forwarding and commission establishments, I
1 as fitter, 3 gun smiths, 26 groceries, 5 hardware stores, 2
hat and cap stores, 1 house mover, 14 hotels, 4 Insurance offices,
1 intelligence office, 6 jewelers, 12 lawyers offices,
I gas works, lumber shingle or lath companies, 3 livery stables,
2 leather and harness shops, 4 millinery stores, 2 masons and
bricklayers, 8 meat markets, 3 newspapers, 4 news rooms, 3 pork
buyers, l2,physicians, 5 painters, glaziers and paper hanging establishments,
1 portrait painter, 2 photograph galleries, 2 plow
factories, 3 real estate offices, 4 soap and candle factories,
1 sash and blind company, 1 sewing machine agent, 2 surveyors
and civil engineers, 21 saloons, 1 telegraph office, 3 tobacco
stores, 1 United States land office, 1 umbrella repairer, 6 wheat
buyers, 1 wool factory, 4 wine and liquor stores, 1 zinc perfora1
ting establishment.
The La Crosse Free Trade League with C. S. Benton president,
was begun in 1869, end through the efforts of the men connected
with this organization the city was materially aided in
her expansion, the year 1870 adding three quarters of a million
dollars to its wealth in buildings alone.
1-La Crosse Triweekly Democrat, Dec. 6, 1862.
2-La C. Leader, Dec. 17, 1870.
19
Chapter III
Social and Political Expansion.
By 1859 there were two public school buildings in La
Crosse, with a total enrollment of 600. 1 The first ward building
was on the corner of Sixth and Vine Streets and the third
ward on Eighth and Division Streets. Besides these public schools
there were several private or church institutions founded before
1870. One of these, the La Crosse Academy, opened in April
1855 under Prof. S.J. Fowler. This school was incorporated in
1870 and was the place where the younger generation of La Crosse
gained their knowledge for many years.3 hi school was opened
in the building on Fourth and King in 1870 with a full high or
preparatory school course, the curriculum before that time being
limited, because of the small number of scholars.
A parochial school was begun in 1856 under the auspices
of St. Mary’s church, named St. Mary’ s Academy. St. Joseph’s
Academy was another Catholic Institution begun in 1864 by Father
Marco, in a building in the rear of St. Joseph’s church on Sixth a
and Main Streets.
Few statistics as to the number of pupils could be
found in the early newspapers, although in 1858 there was a total
enrollment of 552, 6 increased to 600 by the next year,7 with the
still greater attendance of 1237 by 1863. 8 The citizens were
1-Ind. Rep., Dec. 30, 1859.
2-La Crosse Democrat, March 30, 1855
3-a Crosse Leader, June 4, 1870.
4-Ibid., Dec. 24, 1870.
5-La C. Tri Wkly Dem., Aug. 31, 1864.
6-Ind. Rep., Jan 6, 1858.
7-Ibid., Dec. 30, 1859.
8-LaC Tri Wkly Dem., Sept. 23, 1863.
anxious to secure the very best education possible for their
children, an in 1857 even before a recognized high school was
located In La Crosse, agitation was begun to secure the establishment
of a state normal school in the city. 1 In the early
part of the next decade D.D. Cameron, P.S. McArthur and several
other physicians wore appointed trustees by the Legislature of
State to found the La Crosse Medical College.2 A Commercial
college was opened in 1869 by Prof. Atwell called the Model
Business College.
The early history of the Baptist, Congregtiona1,
Methodist and Catholic Churches have been taken up in a previous
chapter and it will be unnecessary to repeat it here. No new
churches were begun until 1857 when the first foreign language
the German Methodist, was started by the 1ev. Charles
Lippraud. The first church of this sect was built in 1859 on
Jay Street, under their now pastor Rev. William Schreiner. John
A. Salzer, the next preacher, came in 1866, and through his
once the church was changed to the present location at
Seventh and Ferry. 4 The German Lutherans organized a congregation
in 1859, and built a church on the corner of Fifth and Cass
years later. The first Norwegian Lutheran congregation was
zed in 1362 by Rev. M. Brandt, followed in 1868 by the St.
Paul’s Norwegian Lutheran Church under Rev. P. Asboyorsen.
Other churches that were making beginnings were, the
Anshe Chesed Congregation of Hebrews, formed in 1858 at the home
of I. Cantrovitz; Christ’s Episcopal Church begun in 1863 5 , but
not holding services till the next year; St. Paul’ s Universalist
1-Ind. Rep., Sept. 1857. 4.La C. TriWklyDemOct.12,1862
2-La C. Tri Wkly Dem-Apri1 26, 1864 5.Ibid., April 14, 1863.
3-La C. Leader, Aug. 16, 1869. 6.Ibid. March 29,1864.
Church organized Juno 20, 1365, and built on Seventh and Cass
in 1866; 1 and the Presbyterians who were founded in 1866 beginning
the construction of their church on Sixth and Zing the same
year. 2 A map, now in the possession of the La Crosse Public
Library dated 1867 gives the following churches and their locations;
Baptst, Sixth, between Main and King; Catholic, Sixth
and Main, and Seventh and Cameron; Congregational, Seventh and
Main; Episcopal, Ninth and Main; German Lutheran, Fifth and
Cass; German Reformed, Fourth and Market; Methodist, Fourth and
Cass Presbyterian, King, between Fifth and 3ixth; and the Univeralist,
Seventh and Cass.
Spiritualism was noticed in the city as early as 1858
when Miss Force, a medium, was holding a series of lectures and
spiritualistic circles, but nothing can be found of the permanent
establishment of this sect at that time. 3
St. Mary’s Catholic Church was dedicated Sept. 1, 1856,
Rev. Henry Lappert, being the pastor. The building of t. Joseph
church, on Sixth and soon followed, and by 1870 St.
Rosa’s convent on Market between Tenth and Eleventh, and the St.
Francis Convent wore well on their way to completion. 4
A church society in which all the churches of the city
were interested was established in 1870 under the name of the
La Crosse Bethel Mission of The Western Seamen’s Friend for the
purpose of supplying religious reading matter to river and railroad men.
Since 1853 the Masonic organization in the city had
1-La C. Wkly Dem. Oct. 16, 35
2-Ibid., Aug. 23, 1866.
3-Nationa1 Democrat? April 27, 1858.
4-La C. Tri Wkly Dem. Aug. 27, 1870.
5-Ibid., Dec. 17, 1370.
that can intoxicate and degrade men”. 1 A new branch of this
society was begun in 1862 sailed the Evergreen Lodge of which
A.P. Blakeslee was the first president.2 The St. Patrick’s
Society, also a temperance body, was established in 1864, 3 helping
in the work started in 1852 by the Cons of Temperance. Deeds
of Charity was the purpose of the Sons of Malta, begun in 1859. 4
The Turners, a German Athletic Society, was organized
in 1856, and in the summer of 1859 bought the lots on which they
erected the first Turner’s Hall two years later. 5 This society
was important in the social life of the whole community because
of Its dances, parties, and other activities. The year of the
founding of the Turners also saw the beginnings of another
German society, the Mannerchor, later the Liederkranz Society.
The Normanna Sangerkor, similar to the .erman Liodrkrans was
a Norwegian singing club started in 1869. 6
The city fire departments wore volunteer organizations
composed mostly of young men. The first of these departments
was the Pioneer fire Company No. 1 organized Nov. 1, 1854, 7 followed
in 1857 by the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. 8
The first company soon changed their name to the Pioneer Engine
Company No. 1, the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company becoming the
Washington Fire Company No. 2. Military organizations, too,
ranked with the fire departments in that they were composed of
1-Ind. Rep. Jan 12, 1859.
2-La C. Tri Wkly Dem., April 4, 1862.
3-Ibid., June 11, 1864.
4- Ind. Rep. March 20, 1859.
5-Ibid., June 11, 1856.
6-La C. Leader, June 1, 1869
7-La C. Dem. Nov. 1, 1869
8- Ind. Rep. Aug. 21, 1857
9-La C. Tri Wkly Dem.? Nov. 22, 1861.
the best stock of the village. Before the beginning of the
civil war there were several military companies in La Crosse
whose history will be taken up in a later chapter.
The La Crosse County agricultural Society was organized
Oct. 16, 1858, and held, the first fair sore two weeks later. This
society helped the city very much by its fair, which was an annual
even in La Crosse for several years.1 The Board of Trade
formed In 1858 was also a great aid at that time as it is now.
The first effort to establish a library was made by
the La Crosse Library Company whose history up to 1855 has already
been told. After several more years of activity this
society died out, so it fell to the La Crosse Athanaeum, a group
of young men, known also as the Young Men’s Library Association,
to establish the nucleus of what is now the 2ublie Library of
the city. This company had a reading room and library managed
by a board of directors, and were still In operation at the time
of the founding of the La Crosse Public Library when they disbanded
their object having been accomplished.
The village of 1854 had a population of 745 3 which was
an Increase of 200 over that of 1853. The newspapers greatly
exaggerated the population claiming 1500, Nov. 7, 1854; 5 2000
June 27, 1855; 6 and Oct. 17th the same year 2500; 7 increasing
it to 5500 Apri1 7, 1858; 8 7000 by Dec. 17, 1858; 9 and to
1- Ind. Rep., Oct. 16, 1858.
2-Ibid., Jan. 26, 1858.
3-La C. Dem., Feb. 7, 1854.
4-Ibid., April 26, 1853.
5-Ibid., Nov. 7, 1854.
6-Ibid, June 22, 1855.
7-Ibid., Oct. 17, 1855
8-Ibid. Ind. Rep. April 7, 1858.
9-Ibid., Nov. 17, 1858.
6040 by Sept. 6, 1861. 1 The United States Census reports for
1860 shatters those newspapers dreams by making the population
only 3600, but raising it to 7,525 in the report of 1870.
In its early years La Crosse was a typical river town
with its tough and troublesome citizens filling the police records
with tales of crime. Robberies were a common occurrence
and became so prevalent that La Crosse seemed to be a rendezvous
for the country’s criminal classes, “thieves, pick-pockets,
robbers and gamblers stopping at the best hotels”.” In July
1857 great excitement was caused by the destruction of several
houses of 111-fame by a Vigilance Committee of which Benj. W.
Reynolds was chairman and consisting of several hundred of the
best citizens. This committee met on the night of the 22nd of
and proceeded to burn up the vice district. They had already
demo1ished five resorts before the mayor could persuade them to
their operations. Because of the action of he committee
special meeting of the Common Council was held and in a speech
before this body the mayor said, “the town is bordering on a
state of anarchy and confusion and in order to quell another
such action a night force of ten patrolmen was appointed The
Committee however claimed they were snot at war with the city
officials but stood for a clean city and would stand by the
Mayor and Common Council to he1p, get one”.
The newspapers had notices of fights, brawls, and
drunkenness in every issue, but a competent police force managed
to keep the city free from worse crime although there were
1-LaCrosse Tri-wkly. Dem., Sept. 6, 1861.
2- Ind. Rep., Aug. 6, 1856.
3-Ibid., July 3, 1857; Ibid., July 15, 1857.
4-Ibid., May 12, 1858; Ibid., July 2, 1857.
two “horrid” murders, one in 1859,1 the other In 1865, 2 the murderers
being apprehended in each case and given the limit of
the law.
In 1870 La Crosse was granted a chief of police and
police force by the State Legislature, this act doing away with
the old time city marshal and constab1es. 3
Dances are recorded as early as 1854, when a ball was
given on Washington’s Birthday.4 Christmas Celebrations, band
concerts, and Fourth of July Celebrations provided the chief
sources of amusement in the early years. The Augusta and Mississippi
House had ball rooms where dances, masquerades, and plays
were held, during the winter months. In 1857 Barron’s Hall
became the scone of most of the winter festivities, show troupes
playing thee at varied intervals.
Each Fourth of July the city held a grand celebration,
that of 1858 being a good example of this event. In the morning
of the celebration there was a parade in which Captain RodoIf’s
Rifle Co., the Engine Co. No. 1, the Liederkranz Society, the
Pioneer Hook an Ladder Co. No. 1, the Masons, the Society of
Turners, the I.O.O.F., and the Cavalry Company took part and
the line of march was up Main Street to Fifth, up Fifth to State,
down State to Front, down Front to Pearl, and thence to the
grounds where games and other amusements were indulged in the
rest of the day. The whole celebration closed with a grand
ball at Barron’s Hall in the evening. 6
Each of the societies in the city gave at least one
1-Ind. Rep. Aug. 10, 1859. 4-La C. Dem. ,Feb. 10, 1854.
2-La C. Wkly. Dem., July 19, 1865. 5- Ind. Rep.,Dec.13,1856.
3-La C. Leader, March 5, 1870. 6-Ibid.,June 23, 1858.
Grand Ball in the year and the ball of the Hook an adder Co.
No. 1 in 1863 is a fitting example. Many of the prominent citizens
were on the corr.ittees, the arrangement committee being
composed of A. Glassman, Louis Sive, Carl P. Lutz, John Voigle,
M. Strandt, D. Cantrovitz. The floor managers were John M. levy,
David Law, Geo. Stanley, Geo. Scharpf, M.M. Pomeroy, and
A.W. Pettibone.
Horse racing was a popular sport in the city. A
race track was in operation on the Morth Side in 1857, 2 and in
1865, at the Exihition or the ilorthwestern Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, “the best horses in the west, outside of
St. Louis” were run on the Driving Park track, located south of
the city near the present Twelfth and Green Bay streets. 3
Harris Livismann won the billiard championship of the state in
1870 by defeating Adam Kessler by a score of 1202-776. 4
In 1870 La Crosse was represented In baseball by the
Academy and the Gateway City Base Ball Clubs. The Academy Club
was organized Thursday, March 17, 1870, with C. F. Goodwin, pres.,
C. H. Cooper, vice president, E. B. Usher, sec’y., G.A. Prentiss
treas., and H.A. Remick, captain of the first nine. 5 No record
of the games that were played by this club could be found in the
newspapers. The results of two games the Gateway City team
played are found, both being defeats of the La Crosse Club by
Lanesboro, with the scores 25 to 63 6 for the first and 36 to 40 7
for the second game. L.C. Coleman, captain of the Gateway City
1-LaC. triwkly. Dem., June 16, l863. 5-LaC.Leader,March 26,1870.
2-Natl. Dem., Nov. 3, l857. 6-Ibid., June 25, 1870.
3-LaC. Wkly Dem., Oct. 2, 1865. 7-Ibid, July 9, 1870.
4-LaC. Leader, Dec. 10, 1870.
club, issued a challenge for a ball game to Frank Hatch, captain
of the Long Stockings Club. The Long Stockings team, composed
of the following players, W.W. Webb, Mart Watson, Sam
Mears, Ed. Ellis, Frank Cook, Fred Copeland, Robert Burns, Theodoe
Rodolf, Ed. Rodolf, and E.E. Bently, proved themselves victors
over their rivals. Some timo later the Long Stockings
again victorious over the Loose and Careless Club by a
score of 48-8. 1
Before the incorporation of La Crosse as a city the
elections usually resulted in a democratic victory and, with but
few exceptions, there has always been a goodly democratic major
A keen interest was taken in the first city election, hold
after the grunting of the charter, March 5, 1856. John M. Levy
and Tom B. Stoddard were the two contestants for mayor, the
final vote resulting In a victory for Stoddard by a margin of
one, the total being 216 for the mayor elect and 215 for Levy.
The charge was made by the Republicans that there had been an
importation of Democratic voters for the election but as nothing
was proved, this must have boon newspaper talk. The newly
elected city officials were, Thomas B. Stoddard, mayor, F. A.
Moore, city clerk, W.W. Ustick, treasurer, J.G.B. Baxter, supt.,
H.E. Hubbard, police justice, .Peter Burns, marshal, and C.F. Rogers,
city attorney. The aldermen for the first ward were, Jonas
Mohr, W.W. Crosby, and Moses Clark, for the second, Geo. Scharpf,
W.H. Tucker, and E.W. Cambel1, and for the third ward, James
Whalen, Robert Looney, and Chase A. Stevens.2
In this first Common Council there was some grafting
1-La C. Leader, July 16, 1870; Ibid., Aug. 13, 1870
2-Ind. Rep., April 7, 1856
taking place, Whalen being accused of taking the corn raised on
the poor house farm and putting it to his own use. Robert Looney
and Farnam were also implicated In the procedings although nothing
was proved against any of the three. 1 In 1858, Whalen,
the “Korn” alderman any C. 7. Marshall wore running for the Assembly
from the La Crosse district, each of the two newspapers
having its own candidate. Marshall was elected by the overwhelming
majority of 800, and shortly after the election an article
appeared In the Republican, his newspaper supporter in answer to
one of the Democrat’s editorials. “The Republican never ‘led’
the ‘surrituous mode of attack’. The Democrat commenced the personal
warfare, and its lying, drunken editor is too mean
and contemptible conduct an honorable warfare. We confess our
shame at being in a Position to politically fight such a low
blackguard, hut a long as he is sustained by a respectable portion
of the Democracy we will have just such disgraceful circulars
and slang that have filled his sheet the past week. We
recommend to the decent part of the Democracy that they get a
decent editor if they want a respectable paper.”
The first Democratic Club of the city was formed Aug.
9, 1856, and uphold the Democracy during the following years,
the Republicans founding their club in 1859 with the same purpose
in view for their party.
Although none of the elections for the city’s chief
executive was as close as the first, each year the election was
keenly fought and exciting. Following is a list of the mayors
1- Ind. Rep., Feb. 3, 1858.
2-Ibid., Nov. 10, 1858.
3-Ibid, Aug. 9, 1856.
4-Ibid., Oct. 26, 1859.
of the city from 1856-1871 in the order of their office. Thomas
B. Stoddard 1856, E.D. Campbell 1857, David Taylor l853, James
I. Lyndes 1859, John L. Levy 1860, Wilson Colwell 1861, A.W.
Pettibone 1862-3-4, W.J. Floyd 1865, John M. Levy 1866-7, Theo.
Rodo1f 1868, Charles L. Coleman 1869, and Tho. Rodolf 1870.
Chapter IV
City Improvements.
La Crosse took a great Interest in the construction
and maintenance of her public buildings from the very beginning.
The jail in the first few years was a poor structure, but
a now one that put an end to the jail breaking of the past1 was
built In 1869 In the rear of the court house. The first Post
Office was erected In 1861, 2 which had become by 1870 one of the
poorest of the city’s buildings, but in the latter year Messrs.
Alex. McMillan, W.R. Sill, and H.I. Bliss made a proposition to
construct a bi brick block on the corner of Third and Main if
the Postal authorities would agree to rent the entire first floor
for ten years. This was agreed upon and the building was constructed.
The first court house was built in 1851 by popular subscription
in return for locating the county seat there. This
building was removed in 1867 and a new one constructed on the
same site at a cost of $40,000.00.
In 1853 there were seventy-seven buildings in La Crosse,
out this number had been greatly increased by 1870 in which year
375,000.00 was put into building improvements, thereby adding
to the Wealth of the city. The list of new buildings in that
year contains the following, Convent of St. Francis, Eleventh,
between Ferry and Market, First Congregational Church Seventh
1-Ind. Rep., June 6, 1859.
2-La C. triwkly. Dem., April 9, 1861.
3-La C. Leader Apri1 2, 1870; Ibid., May 14, 1870.
and Main, Second Ward School douse, fourth and King, 136 dwelling
houses, and 5 business houses. 1
Each of the fires in the city resulted in the construction
of more and better buildings, especially in the business
center. After these fires the streets would be crowded with
building materials, brick blocks three and four stories high
taking the places of the old frame buildings after the disastrous
configuration of 1866.
Among some of the larger buildings of the early years
are found, Singer’s Hall, Barrons Hall,3 Michel Brother’s block
of five stories on second between Main and Pearl, and Pomeroy’s
Opera House, a magnificent structure of five stories, 110 ft.
square, on fourth and Main, erected at a cost of 50,000.00.
The first and second floors of this block were used for offices
and stores, and the remaining three comprised the theatre. 5
Each of the factories, mills, breweries, other manufacturing
plants and business houses had establishments in proportion
to their wealth but so few statistics could be found on
their expansion that It woul1 be impossible to give a clear and
detailed description of their growth.
When La Crosse was first settled the land consisted of
a more or less rolling sandy prairie that made the paving and
macadamizing of the streets an early necessity. In 1857 the
newly made city spent $10,000.00 for grading purposes, and in
increasing the amount with the expansion of the population.
1-La C. Leader, Dec. 17, 1870.
2-LaC. Wkly Dem., Jan 15, 1866.
3-Natl. Dem., July 23, 1862.
4-LaC. Tri-wkly Dem., July 23, 1862.
5-La C. Leader, April 2, 1870.
In the above years the side walks, too, were in very poor shape,
$6,150.00 being spent for repairs, etc., the first year and a
smaller amount the latter. 1
In 1859 Cass Street was graded from the river back
to Ninth Street,2 the whole street system, however, being regarded
in 1870 to a certain loyal, $l0,000.00 being spent on
improvements during that year.3 The first macadamizing
done in 1863, when front and Main Streets as far as Third were
paved. By 1870 all the streets were well taken care of, the
general condition of the city was good and agitation was begun
for gas lit streets as the paving advanced. 6
The "Causeway" built in 1857 by the La Crosse and
Onalaska plank road Company was a great benefit to La Crosse because
it brought all the produce from Onalaska and vicinity to
the city by a direct route across the swamps instead of by the
roundabout Bluff road other plank road was constructed in
1858, the year of the completion of the railroad, connecting the
city with the station across the La Crosse River.3
In 1863 the La Crosse Board of trade was organized
with W. J. Lloyd, pres., M.M. Pomeroy, vice Pres., G. Van Steenwyck,
treas., and L.C. McKenney, sec’y. The annual dues of this
association were 2.50, the membership was limited to business
men whose object was “greater unity in action to keep in repair
the roads and bridges leading to La Crosse and to work as becomes
1- Ind. Rep., May 26, 1858.
2-Ibid., Nov. 9, 1859.
3-La C. Leader, July 30, 1870.
4-LaC. Triwkly. Dem., June 16,1863.
5-La C. Leader, April 2, 1870.
6-La 0. Wkly Dem., Sept. 11, 1865.
7- Ind. Rep., June 18, 1857.
8-Ibid., Aug. 18, 1858.
34
business men for the advancement of La Crosse interests, population
and wealth.” 1
The first fire department was organized in 1854 and
the engine ordered,2 but this must have been an unsuccessful
attempt or in 1856 the Pioneer Fire Company, No. 1 was formed. 3
In the next year the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company hold their
first meeting4, continuing under that name for a few years until
it was changed to the Washington Fire Company No. 2.
The facilities of these early companies for fighting
fires were very limited for an engine was not available until
late in 1858 6 , a bucket brigade taking the place of modern methods.
In the large fires of 1362, 1866, and 1870 the fire departments
proved themselves unequal to any large conflagration for
50 stores and their contents were destroyed in 1862 with a loss
of 75,000.00, the burned section covering an area of five acres
of the business district.7 On the night of Dec. 29, 1866 there
were three very bad fires, Hirscheiner Plow Company and a stove
works being burned at seven-thirty. At eleven-thirty, the
buildings on Fourth between Main and State and down Main to
Third were all burned, and at one o’clock the Harrington and
Colombian Hoe1s were demolished, the total loss amounting to
$56,000.00. 7 In 1870 there was a terrible fire at the depot
which resulted in a loss of $250,000.00 before It could be curbed
The fire started on the steamer, Tar Eagle, moored at the railroad
1-LaC. Triwkly Dem., June 16, 1863.
2-La C. Dem., Nov. 1, 1854.
3-Ind. Rep., Sept. 24, 1856.
4-Ibid., Aug. 21, 1857.
5-La C. Tri Wkly Dem., Nov. 22, 1861.
6-Ibid., March 3, 1862.
7-La C. Wkly. Dem., Nov. 16, 1859.
dock, spreading to the depot where the ware houses and freight
oars were burned. 1
Those fires were in some ways a direct result of the
inefficient fire service of the city and caused a great loss of
money, but in some ways were a benefit to the city. The burnt
buildings, mostly of the framed one and two story type, were
replaced by modern brick and stone blocks that added to the
real estate wealth as well as the beauty of the city. The depot
fire resulted in the establishment of a down town station near
its present location on second and State. 2
An event of much interest to the citizens of La Crosse
in 1859 was the formation of La Crosse Gas Company. The first
officers of this company were F.M. Rublee, pres., D.D. Cameron vice
pres., A.F. Clinton, sec’y., William C. Rogers, treas., and A.
W. Shepard, supt. 3 By 1861 the machinery for the company had
arrived 4 and the mains were nearly all laid. 5 Just before the
gas was let into the mains in the summer of 1862, a bad explosion
at the works sot the opening back a year. M few years
later agitation was begun for gas lighted streets.7
Up to 1870 La Crosse had to content itself with a city
marshal and constables for its police protection, but an act
passed by the State Legislature In that year granted the city
a chief of police and a force, John S. Simenton being the first
chief with five patrolmen as his assistants.8
1- La C. Leader, May 21, 1870.
2-Ibid., May 21, 1870.
3-La C. Tri-wkly. Dem., July 16, 1859.
4-Ibid , Sept. 2, 1861
5-Ibid, Nov. 8, 1361.
6-Ibid., June 4, 1862.
7-LaC. Wkly Dem., Sept. 11, 1865.
8- La C. Leader, March 5, 1870.
The condition of the cemetery up to 1870 was disgraceful.
The grass was uncared for and hogs and other animals were
permitted to run through It at will. The Modern Oak Grove
Cemetery was first called Wautonga Cemetery, and in 1861 was in
the possession of S.T. Smith who sold it seine eight years later
to C.S. Strasberger who in turn disposed, of it in 1872 to the Oak
Grove Cemetery Association founded in 1869.2 The La Crosse cemetery
Association, which later became the Oak Grove Cemetery Association,
helped materially to change the external aspects and
conditions of the cemetery, the society being founded for that
purpose s well as for the desire of gaining possession of it. 3
After the Oak Grove Company had secured the control of the burying
ground from Strasberger, the name was changed from Wautonga to
the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Newspaper history could well go into the previous chapters
on social and politica1 expansion or Industrial Improvements,
but it also occupies a place in the City Improvements so accordingly
It is put in this place.
The first newspaper of the city was the Spirit of the
Times, a Democratic sheet edited by Albert La Due, the initial
issue of which was on April 10, 1851. It continued publication
but a short time, and was succeeded in April 1853 by the La Crosse
Democrat under Stevens arid Rogers, who sold out the next year to
Lord and odo1f. The paper was styled the La Crosse National
Democrat after the following June. In Oct. 1854, Rodo1f sold
his interest in the publication to F.A. Moore, the paper
l-LaC. Tri-wkly Dem., May 24, 1864.
2- La C. Leader, Jan 1, 1870 .
3-LaC. Tri-Wkly Dem., June 21, l864.
continuing under Lord and Moore till Nov. 1855 when it was
stopped, but was soon revived and edited by Moore and Blakeslee
until Nov. 1859 when it was merged into the Daily Union which
lived only for two weeks. The Daily Union was begun by C.P.
Sykes and A.P. Livineford in Oct. 1859 and joined with the Democrat
the next month, under the name of Union and Democrat, which
was sold to M.M. Pomeroy and Moore May 1860, continuing tri-
weekly until December of the same year, at which time it became
known as the La Crosse Tri-Weekly Democrat. This paper was
published by Pomeroy until 1861 when it was sold to John Lymes and
Alfred Haven who edited it until 1871.
The La Crosse Weekly Appeal w s established as a daily
and weekly by Theodore Rodo1f, March 13, 1561, with A.P. Blakeslee
as its editor. This was a 0emooratio sheet having a life
of only twenty-five numbers for its daily and hut few more for
its weekly. The successor for the Appeal was began in January
of 1863 by Blakeslee and Walrath under the name of the La Crosse
Democratic Journal, which was established, as an organ of the
War Democrats and lasted until Dec. 1863 when it was absorbed
by the Democrat.
The La Crosse Republican was founded in 1854 by William
C. Rogers, under the name of the Independent Republican and continued
until Feb. 1860 when Charles Seymour and Leonard Lottridge
were taken into partnership the trio soiling their Interests to
J.S. Elwe1l in May 1862, who in turn disposed of the publication
to E.A. Andrews in Oct. 1867, the paper being later transferred
to W.R. Finch who edited it after Oct. 1870.
There were two foreign language papers in the city before
1870. The Nord Stern, a German paper was founded In Nov. 1856
by Theodore Rodolf and C. Holbroecks, and disposed of in March
of the next year to John Ulrich who continued its publication
for many years. The politics of this sheet was Democratic till
1860, when it became Republican till the close of the war, reverting
back to Democracy at that time, but soon changing to an
Independent Republican attitude.
Norwegian paper, the Faedrelandet og Emigranten was
established in January 1864 by Schroeder and Fleischer, and
edited by them though the years covered by this history. It
was of Republican tendencies.
Chapter V
La Crosse in the State and Nation.
During the history of La Crosse but few men have
gained wide prominence in national and state politics. Lieutenant
Governor Burns, one of the early settlers of the city, held
his state position during the years 1852 to 1854, 1 Samuel D.
Hastings filling the office of State Treasurer. E.D. Campbell
was Lieutenant Governor from January 1, 1857 to January 1, 1858
defeating the Hon. Carl Schurz later a prominent figure both
in state and national politics. In 1869 David Taylor an early
mayor of the city was in the state senate, Edwin Flint having
that honor in 1858 and 1862, being followed the latter year by
William J. Gibson.
The chief figure in politics from La Crosse was
Cadawaller Colden Washburn who was elected to the United States
Congress in 1856, and served for five consecutive terms, ending
his political career in 1872, when ho was elected Governor of
the state. The family of four brothers, Elihu B. of Illinois,
William D. of Minnesota, and C.C. of Wisconsin all occupied seats
in the House of Representatives, the last two, Israel and C.C.
being governors of their respective states. 2
Thomas B. Stoddard, the city’s first mayor,
was an unsuccessful candidate or Congress against
Hatchett in 1862, who was elected to succeed himself. 3
1-La Crosse Dem., Oct. 12, 1853.
2-Ibid., Aug. 9, 1856.
3-LaCrosse Leader, Oct. 7, 1862.
La Crosse has always been represented in the assembly
of the State, those coving In that capacity and the dates of
their terms given below. Albert La Due 1853, Chase A. Stevens
1855, Dugald D. Cameron 1856 and 1857, C.W. Marshall 1859, Isaac
E. Messmore 1861, Thos. B. Stoddard 1862, Samuel S. Burton 1864,
Angus Cameron 1866 and 1867, and Theo. Rodolf 1868 and 1870.
The list of county judges from the city contains the
following names. Lieut. Gov. Burns 1851, Geo. Gale 1851-53, James
I. Lyndes 1858, Samuel S. Burton 1859-1865, and Hugh Cameron
1865-1870. William Knowlton 1851, Geo. Gale 1857, Isaac E. Messmore
1861, and Edwin Flint 1862, are the Circuit Judges from
La Crosse. The District Attorneys contain a greater number of
names, Chase A. Stevens, Edwin Flint, J.K. French, C.R. Rogers,
M.G. Hanscome, Alex. Cameron, J.W. Lacey, A.H. McMillan, and
G.M. Woodward comprising the list.
La Crosse had other claims to national importance
besides politics, an editorial convention being held there in
1863 1, and, a Turnfest In 1869 at which gymnasts from Minnesota,
Illinois and Wisconsin were in attendance. John l. Levy was
elected Grand Treasurer of the State for the Royal Arch Masons
at their convention hold in Milwaukee in 1862. Capt. J.R.
Hatcher was another who held, high honors in Masonry, being
elected the 33rd degree to fill the place left by the exile
of Vice-President Brockenridge.4 “Brick” Pomeroy, the eccentric
editor of La Crosse spend the winter of 1865 and 1866 lecturing
in the east. 5 Later he removed from La Crosse to edit the Daily
1-LaC. TriWkly Dem., June 23, l863.
2-LaC. Leader, Aug. 28, 1869.
3-LaC. Tri-Wkly ,Dem., Feb. 14, 1862.
4-LaC. Wkly. Dem. Jan. 22, 1866.
5-Ibid., Feb. 22, 1865.
Democrat in New York City 1 which time he was an unsuccessful
candidate for Congress from that state.2
Before the Civil War began there were several military
companies in La Crosse that were more or less prominent in the
social life of the city. Among them were, the Gorman Rifle
Company of sixty members under Capt. Rodolf,3 The Rough and Ready
Artillery Company under Capt. “Brower,4 and the La Crosse Light
Guards under Capt. Crosby, all being organized, In 1858.
In 1859 W.W. Crosby was appointed Major General of
the Eleventh Division of the Wisconsin State Militia, Stephen
Martindale and, Frank Hatch receiving appointments as aide-do6
camps with the rank of colonel at the same limo.
At the outbreak of the Civil War La Crosse was very
busy enlisting men for service. The La Crosse Light Guards
was the first La Crosse Company to leave for the front going
to Camp Randall in Madison April 30, 1861. Wilson Colwell was
Captain, Frank Hatch First Lieutenant, and Robert Hughes Second
Lieutenant of this company which was listed as Co. B. 2nd Wis.
Regt., and comprised, a part of the Iron Brigade In the Army of
the Potomac under General M’Clellan. As early as 1862 it received
promotion as an entire company being placed on the right
of the regiment instead of remaining on the left because of
their correctness in drill and bravery in battle.7 3ardner
of this company was the first man to be killed at the Battle
of Bull Run in 1862. 8 In this same battle Geo. Lymes distinguished
1-LaC. Leader, Aug. 6. 1870. 7-LaC.TriWklyDem-Sept.9,l862
2-Ibid., June 18, 1870. 8-Ibid, Sept. 30, 1862.
3-Ind. Rep. June 9, 1858.
4-Ibid., June 30, 1858.
5-Ibid, Aug. 11, 1858.
6-La C.Tri-Wkly Dem., Sep. 9, 1862
himself, later receiving the promotion to orderly sergeant for
his bravery. The Light Guards had captured one of the enemy’s
guns and when the order came to retreat, Lymes said that it was
“all nonsense to come way from La Crosse to hear such an order.”1
After the battle of Bull Run In 1862, the La Crosse
Company was part of the famous regiment in which but 59 men
answered to roll call. In 1863 that company had the distinction
of being the oldest In the United States service and of having
been in more battles than any other enlisted company.3 During
the war they wore In nineteen large battles fighting with the
my of the Potomac from Bull Run to Appomattox.
The La Crosse Artillery Company before leaving for the
camp at Racine, act. 4, 1861, were presented with a flag by the
ladles of the city.4 The officers of this company were J.J.
Foster, Capt., Alex. Cameron, 1st Lieut., A.W. Bishop, 2nd Lieut.,
and Daniel Webster, 3rd Lieut. 5 Foster was later promoted to
the rank of Lieut. Colonel of the first Wisconsin Heavy Artillery
the other officers also advancing during their service.
The La Crosse Rifles, Co. I., 8th Wis. Regt., 7 left
for the front by steamer, Copt. 13, 1861, with the following
officers, M.M. Baker, Capt., A.D Hickox, 1st Lieut, and H.D
Lathrop 2nd Lieut., and fought in the south around Vicksburg and
the Red River. 8
1-LaC. Tri Wkly Dem. Sept. 2, 1861.
2-Ibid, Sept 30, 1662.
3-Ibid., April 1, 1863.
4-Ibid., Sept. 20, 1861.
5-Ibid., Oct. 4, 1851.
6-Ibid., Nov. 12, 1863.
7-Ibid., Sept. 27, 1861.
8-Ibid., Sept. 13, 1861.
The 10th Regt. Band was raised in La Crosse by H.B.
Loomis in 1861. In that year, C.C. Washburn was appointed
Colonel of the 2nd Wis. Cavalry, the camp at Milwaukee being
named in his honor. Later he was promoted to Brigadier General
and finally in 1862 to Major General.2
Other companies and parts of companies enlisted in the
city are, A of the 9th Wis., D of the 14th Wis. and G of the 40th.
Company B of the 2nd Wis. Cavalry was a La Crosse Company raised
in 1862 by Lieut. La Flesh under A.W. Bishop, capt., John Whylock
1st Lieut., and Thos. La Flesh, 2nd Lieut.
Drafting also served to raise the number of La Crosse
men in the war, 70 being drafted in 1863, 3 and 100 the year
following. 4 As early as 1861 there had been more men enlisted
from La Crosse than from any other city in the state, the ew5
papers claiming a full regiment.
Two home societies for the help of La Crosse soldiers
at the front were begun in 1861. They were the Soldiers Relief
Soiciety formed by the ladies of the Baptist Church, Mrs. C.K.
Lord, Pres., and the Ladies Aid Society, Mrs. Mary Meeker, pres.
These societies had managers and soliciting committees who gathered
clothes and other necessities for the men in the army.
These ladies many times sent useless articles to the front, causing
the humorous editorial of “Brick” Pomeroy on what to send to
soldiers. He advises the following, “Ambrotypes in five pound
cases; Life of Josephus In ten volumes; patent Dutch ovens, full
size; feather bed pillows; ripe water melons; firkins of
1-LaC. TniWkly Dem., Sept. 27, 1861.
2-Ibid., Oct. 27, 1861
4-La Crosse Weekly Republican, Jan. 6, 1864.
5-La L. Tri Wkly Dem., Sept. 20, 1861.
fresh butter; sample from the last litter of pups; baby wagons
for the use of the infantry; castor oil in bladders; frosted
cakes In band boxes; cat-nip tea, well stirred; fluid lamps,
without wicks; hair brushes; fiddle strings in the original
package; vases for flowers; Ice cream freezers; flesh brushes,
with directions for use; fresh eggs; sand to scour knives with;
pickles In glass jars; honey in little baskets; tea in caddies;
hot water for soaking feet; nutmeg graters with handles; maps
of the country on rollers; fanning mills for fevers; parlour
skates; Suffolk pigs or pets; empty dry goods boxes; load pipe
for bullets; prepared kindling wood in bundles; flower seeds,
labeled; old, horse collars; mush and milk in pans; mouse traps;
cinnamon essence for the hair; clothes lines and pins; chicken
gravy in bowls..
All such articles the soldiers can carry as well as
not, and ii captured the enemy will wonder at the inexhaustible
resources of the north.” 1
1-LaC. Tri Wkly Dem. Nov. 1, 1861
Bibliography.
Bird’s eye view map. La Crosse Public Library. l867.
La Crosse Democrat. Stevens and Rogers. April 26, 1853 to
May 2, 1854.
La Crosse Democratic Journal. A.P. Blakesee and G.W. Walrath. Sept. 16, 1863.
La Crosse Independent Republican. Wm. C. Rogers. Aug. 16, 1854
to Dec. 21, 1859.
La Crosse Leader. Taylor, Elwell and Co. Aug. 14, 1869 to
Dec. 17, 1870.
La Crosse Tri-weekly Democrat. M.M. Pomeroy. Aug. 14, 1861 to
June 21, 1864.
La Crosse Weekly Appeal. A.P. Blakeslee. March 13, 1861.
La Crosse Weekly Democrat. M.M. Pomeroy. July 5, 1864 to
March 5, 1865.
La Crosse Weekly Mirror. Harry R. Hayden. Nov. 3, 1860.
Crosse Weekly Republican. Lottrige and Seymour. Jan. 6, 1864.
National Democrat. Moore and Blakeslee. June 6, 1856 to
Oct. 12, 1868.
Myrick, Nathan. Manuscript letter of Feb. 10, 1892
La Crosse Public Library.
Approved
Winfred T. Root
Asst. Prof. History
January 5, 1915
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