Fifty Years In The Northwest by William H. C. Folsom

River to Hudson. The name Hudson was adopted by a two-thirds majority. The legislature of 1853 created from the territory of St. Croix county the counties of Polk, St. Croix and Pierce, Polk being located on the north, Pierce on the south, and St. Croix occupying the central portion of the original St. Croix county, and retaining the county seat. St. Croix county, as at present constituted, lies on the east bank of the river and Lake St. Croix, forming, but for slight irregularities on the western line, a parallelogram. It includes townships 28 to 31, and ranges 15 to 19, with fractions of range 20 on the west. The surface varies from gently undulating to hilly. The bluffs along the lake are not precipitous, as on the Upper St. Croix, but are even and continuous, with gently rounded slopes. From the river, eastward, the country is broken and somewhat hilly; the central portions are rolling prairies on which are fine farms, and the eastern portions are level and originally heavily timbered. The eastern tier of townships is covered by a heavy growth of timber known as the Big Woods. The timber is composed of basswood, maple, butternut, several species of oak, and a sprinkling of white pine. The soil is a rich clayey loam and well adapted for grass, grain and root crops. Good building and limestone crop out in places. The county is well drained by the St. Croix and its tributaries, Apple, Willow and Kinnikinic on the west and Rush river on the east. Of these tributaries Apple river is the largest. It rises in Polk county, where it is supplied by numerous lakes, enters St. Croix county and passes diagonally across the northwest corner and empties into the St. Croix river a few miles above Stillwater. Willow river rises in Cylon township and empties into St. Croix lake, just above Hudson. This river passes through a deep gorge in the limestone rock, a few miles above its mouth, falling in its passage over several ledges of rock, producing falls famed far and near for their wildness and grandeur. Kinnikinic river in the south part of the county is famed also for the beauty of its scenery and for its waterfalls. It passes into Pierce county and then, uniting with its southern branch, flows into Lake St. Croix. Rush river rises in Eau Galle, and turns and flows thence to Lake Pepin. These streams have unfailing supplies from springs and small lakes. There is a remarkable formation in the Kinnikinic valley about seven miles above River Falls, called the Monument. It is a ledge of pure white sandstone rock, nearly circular, and rising to a height of sixty feet. It stands on a natural elevation far above the level of the valley and so forms a very conspicuous and curious object. The base is forty or fifty feet wide, and the summit is a turret-shaped mass of rock about fifteen feet wide and as many high. The part upon which the turret rests is dome-shaped, its sides worn by the rains into deep furrows. Years ago a tree grew upon the summit. The soft sandstone is being gradually worn away by the winds and rains. HOW THE SCHOOL LANDS WERE SELECTED. Philip Aldrich was appointed commissioner in 1848 to locate the state school lands in St. Croix county, at that time including Polk and Pierce counties. It is said that Dr. Aldrich would climb to the summits of the highest mounds, and, casting his eyes east, west, north or south, would proclaim such and such numbers or sections as school lands. Where all were so arable and fertile there was no use in discriminating. At the division of the county in 1853 the part designated as St. Croix county was subdivided into three towns, Buena Vista or Hudson, Willow River and Kinnikinic or Troy. As the population increased these towns were divided and subdivided until they numbered twenty-three. We append their names and dates of organization. Where more than one name is given the last is the present name: Buena Vista, Willow River, Hudson 1849 Malone, Troy 1851 Rush River 1851 Pleasant Valley 1851 Somerset 1856 Hammond 1856 Star Prairie 1856 Dayton, Malone, Kinnikinic 1857 Cold Spring, Richmond 1857 Erin Prairie 1858 Brookville, Eau Galle 1858 St. Joseph 1858 Cylon 1859 Warren 1860 Springfield 1860 Emerald 1861 Stanton 1870 Cady 1870 Baldwin 1872 Forest 1881 Glenwood 1885 Some changes were also made in the boundaries of the towns. No progress was made in the erection of county buildings until 1856, when a contract was made by the commissioners with Ammah Andrews to build a court house for $14,300 on the ground originally purchased of Moses Perin. The final cost was $20,045. ST. CROIX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. An important event to the county was the organization of the St. Croix Agricultural Society, in 1857. Beautiful grounds were chosen on the bluffs one-half mile south of the city of Hudson. The annual fairs of this association, formerly held in rotation at various points in the county, now limited to the grounds south of the city, have always been well patronized and successful. POMONA GRANGE. The Pomona Grange of St. Croix county holds quarterly meetings at various points, alternately. There are subordinate granges at Hudson, Richmond, Hammond, and Warren. There is a co-operative store in the city of Hudson which is well sustained. These granges are in a flourishing condition. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. At the taking of the last census there were 2,289 farms in St. Croix county, containing 202,588 acres of improved land, valued at $7,015,198. The farm implements were then placed at a valuation of $346,374; live stock, at $810,525; and all soil products at $1,815,266. The stock numbered 6,272 horses, 319 mules, 442 oxen, 5,624 cows, and 6,149 other cattle. The average yield of products throughout the county can be fairly placed at these figures: Wheat, 1,375,000 bushels; oats, 800,000 bushels; rye and barley, 35,000 bushels; corn, 200,000 bushels; potatoes, 150,000 bushels; hay, 20,000 tons; cheese, 180,000 pounds; butter, 350,000 pounds. During the past few years agriculture has steadily increased while rapid strides have been made in manufactures, so that the totals would be quite materially enlarged now over those of 1885. MANUFACTURES. In manufactures the statisticians have the county down for 112 establishments with a capital of $740,197, utilizing materials to the amount of $1,105,203, evolving products to the sum of $1,488,192, and paying $107,469 in wages per annum. As to manufactures, in round numbers there is produced in the county: Lumber, 50,000,000 feet; shingles, 18,000,000: laths, 7,000,000; furniture, $120,000; barrels, 125,000; flour, 160,000 barrels. ST. CROIX POOR FARM Is located in the northwest part of Kinnikinic, section 11, on each side of the Kinnikinic river. It was purchased in 1870 for $1,000, and the probable present value is $10,000. FIRST TAX ROLL OF ST. CROIX COUNTY, 1848. ST. CROIX FALLS. =========================================================== NAMES. | AMT. PROPERTY. | TOTAL TAX. ----------------------------+----------------+------------- John McKusick | $1,500.00 | $10.50 Leach & McKean | 5,400.00 | 37.80 Edward Johnson | 1,115.00 | .81 Falls of St. Croix Company | 59,700.00 | 417.90 Dexter & Harrington | 2,585.00 | 18.09 A. W. Russell | 405.00 | 2.83 Edward Worth | 199.00 | 1.39 Peter Lombair | 40.00 | .28 Serno Jonava | 75.00 | .52 J. McLanglin | 2,204.00 | 15.43 Wm. Town | 144.00 | 1.01 J. Cornelison | 75.00 | .52 George De Attley | 50.00 | .35 S. Partridge | 418.00 | 3.37 Dan Foster | 30.00 | .21 A. Livingston & Kelly | 185.00 | 1.29 John Powers | 21.00 | .14 Thos. Foster | 10.00 | .08 George Field | 45.00 | .31 Adam Sebert | 240.00 | 1.68 Weymouth & Brother | 130.00 | .91 S. S. Crowell | 150.00 | 1.05 Lewis Barlow | 103.00 | .72 I. S. Kimball | 30.00 | .21 Philip B. Jewell | 7,235.00 | 50.64 Kent & Mahoney | 3,631.00 | 25.42 H. Crandall | 219.00 | 1.53 Daniel Coite | 85.00 | .57 M. M. Samuels | 375.00 | 2.62 W. H. C. Folsom | 800.00 | 5.60 W. W. Folsom | 210.00 | 1.47 J. Sanders | 207.00 | 1.45 G. W. Brownell | 1,755.00 | 12.28 Richard Arnold | 205.00 | 1.45 Wm. R. Marshall | 15.00 | .10 Dr. Palmer | 10.00 | .07 Joseph Lagroo | 25.00 | .17 J. Bascan | 25.00 | .17 B. Cheever | 1,100.00 | 7.70 H. H. Perkins | 2,000.00 | 14.00 Levi Lagoo | 50.00 | .35 M. Shults | 2,000.00 | 14.00 +----------------+------------ Total | $94,801.00 | $1,642.72 ------------------------------------------------------------ WILLOW RIVER. =========================================================== NAMES. AMT. PROPERTY. TOTAL TAX. ----------------------------+----------------+------------- James Purinton | $800.00 | $5.60 Wm. R. Anderson | 75.00 | .52 Samuel Clift | 15.00 | .10 Joseph Kelner | 15.00 | .10 P. D. Aldrich | 195.00 | 1.36 Moses Perin | 240.00 | 1.68 Ammah Andrews | 409.00 | 2.86 John B. Page | 1,128.00 | 7.89 Lewis Massey | 185.00 | 1.29 Joseph Lagrew | 190.00 | 1.33 Wm. H. Nobles | 299.00 | 2.10 Lemuel Nobles | 40.00 | .28 Milton E. Nobles | 339.00 | 2.37 John Collier | 125.00 | .87 Philip Aldrich | 361.00 | 2.52 Peter F. Bouchea | 136.00 | .96 A. Smith | 105.00 | .73 McKnight | 149.00 | 1.03 Wm. Steets | 143.00 | .79 Joseph Abear | 38.00 | .24 +----------------+------------ Total | $4,949.00 | $38.71 ------------------------------------------------------------ MOUTH OF LAKE ST. CROIX. ================================================================== NAMES. |AMT. PROPERTY. | TOTAL TAX. ----------------------------+---------------+---------------------- Thomas M. Finch | $176.00 | $1.23 Mrs. Lockwood | 1,181.00 | 8.27 Freeman, Larpenteur & Co | 300.00 | 2.10 Frank Trudell | 50.00 | .35 Louis Barlow | 600.00 | 4.20 Fog & Crownenbald | 2,625.00 | 18.39 I. L. Minox | 183.00 | 1.26 J. R. Rice | 545.00 | 2.81 G. W. McMurphy | 425.00 | 2.97 H. Doe | 340.00 | 2.38 Wm. Kimbrough | 60.00 | .42 W. H. Morse | 135.00 | .61 Wilson Thing | 385.00 | 2.69 W. C. Copley | 50.00 | .35 Willard Thing | 164.00 | 1.15 George Shagor | 1,000.00 | 7.00 George Barron | 180.00 | 1.26 Joseph Monjon | 235.00 | 1.64 Joseph Monjon, Jr. | 60.00 | 42.00 Henry Thaxter | 75.00 | .52 Aaron Cornelison | 325.00 | 2.27 James Cornelison | 265.00 | 1.85 Lewis Harnsberger | 75.00 | .52 ----------------------------+---------------+------------------ Totals | $9,434.00 | $68.91 ============================================================== The above roll was published in pamphlet form, certified to by Wm. R. Anderson, clerk of board of county commissioners, and an order issued to Moses Perin to collect such taxes, and pay over to the treasurer of St. Croix county. The amounts were duly collected. HUDSON CITY. The first settlement in St. Croix county was made on the present site of Hudson city in 1838 by Peter Bouchea, Louis Massey, Wm. Steets and Joseph Lagroo, Frenchmen, who subsisted chiefly by hunting and fishing, but who also raised garden crops of corn, beans and other vegetables. These people were contented and jovial, fond of dancing and social enjoyment. Beyond the mere pleasure of living they seemed to have but little care and were without enterprise or ambition. More enterprising and industrious people followed them to the new settlement, and as the public lands were not open for entry until 1848, settled upon the lands and made some improvements, awaiting patiently the time when they could acquire a legal title. The original claimants of the town of Buena Vista in 1848 were Peter Bouchea, Louis Massey, Wm. Steets, Joseph Lagroo, Joseph Lenavil, ---- Revere, Ammah Andrews, W. H. and M. V. Nobles, John B. Page, Philip Aldrich, and W. R. Anderson. These parties, after the survey and prior to the entry of the land, made an equitable division of their claims. Peter Bouchea and Louis Massey were then delegated to purchase the lands, which they did, Bouchea purchasing the southwest quarter of southeast quarter of section 24, township 29, range 20, and Massey, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 29, range 20. Deeds were then made to the various claimants according to the original agreement. The first individual survey of lots was made on Massey's entry, Harvey Wilson, of Stillwater, being the surveyor. The village thus platted was at first called Buena Vista, but some confusion arising as to the title of lots in 1851, the legislature changed the name of the town and village to Willow River, which, by vote of the people in 1852, was changed to Hudson. The original proprietors of the village of Buena Vista were Paschal Aldrich, James Sanders, Moses Perin, James R. Patten and Joseph Abear. Additions were surveyed in 1849 and 1850 by Gibson, Henning and others. To avoid confusion we shall discard the earlier names applied to what has since become the city of Hudson and speak of it solely by its later and better known name. In 1840 the locality, as seen from a passing steamer, seemed a wilderness of orchard oaks and maples, filling the valley of Willow river, and clothing the slopes of the hills. A closer view might have revealed an occasional shanty, a cabin of the first French settlers, with small gardens, the whole inclosed by high picket fences as a protection against strolling Indians. Seven years later loggers were at work on Willow river under Capt. J. B. Page. The same year a couple of frame houses appeared in the oak openings. The first was built by W. H. Nobles, which is still standing and is occupied by Mrs. Col. James Hughes. The second was built by Ammah Andrews and is now occupied by Horace Champlin. In 1848 James Purinton commenced a saw mill and dam at the mouth of Willow river, which were not, completed until 1850. In 1848 Wm. H. Nobles started a ferry over the lake. James Purinton opened a store and Moses Perin built a hotel and boarding house, which stood opposite Champlin's present livery stable. In 1849 Miss Richards, from Prairie du Chien, taught the first school. Mrs. A. M. Richardson, the wife of the Methodist minister, the second. A school house was not built until 1855. John G. Putman built the Buckeye House, corner of First and Buckeye streets. Horace Barlow built a residence. Mr. Stone also put up a store building. The first attorneys, Daniel Noble Johnson and Col. James Hughes, commenced practice in Hudson in 1849. The first public building stood on the lot now occupied by the Methodist church. It burned down in the spring of 1851, and an account of the fire, as published at that time, stated that the "court house, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational and Episcopal churches, together with the high school buildings, were all consumed." It is but fair to say that there were no regular church organizations at this time, but occasional services by local and transient ministers. Rev. Lemuel Nobles, a Methodist minister, preached the first sermon in 1847. The first society organization was that of the Baptists, Rev. S. T. Catlin, pastor, in 1852. In the same year Rev. A. M. Richardson was regularly appointed as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1855 the First Presbyterian church was organized under the pastorate of Rev. Chas. Thayer, and Rev. Wilcoxson became the first rector of the Episcopal church. In 1856 Rev. Father McGee took charge of the Catholic church. In 1857 Rev. C. H. Marshall was called to the pastorate of the Congregational church. A Norwegian Lutheran church was organized in 1876. All of these church organizations have good church buildings, and the Catholic church has a flourishing school connected with it. School interests were not neglected by the early settlers. A good school house was built in 1855 and graded. The first deed recorded covering Hudson property was by Louis Massey and Frances, his wife, to Wm. H. Nobles; warranty; consideration, $67.18; situate in east half of southwest quarter of section 24, township 29, range 20. CITY GOVERNMENT. Hudson was incorporated as a city in 1857, and the first municipal election was held in April of that year. The city was divided into three wards. A. D. Gay was the first mayor. The following were the first aldermen: First ward, James B. Gray, Milton V. Nobles, J. M. Fulton; Second ward, Alfred Day, R. A. Gridley, Chas. E. Dexter; Third ward, Chas. Thayer, N. P. Lester, N. Perry. The remaining city officers were: City clerk, O. Bell; city attorney, Cyrus L. Hall; surveyor, Michael Lynch. At the first meeting of the city council, after the appointment of committees on by-laws, bond sales, salaries, etc., license for selling intoxicating liquors was fixed at fifty dollars per annum for hotel keepers, two hundred dollars for wholesale dealers, with various grades for retail saloons. The first license issued was to John Cyphers, for keeping saloon and billiard hall. MAYORS OF HUDSON CITY.