River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-06-08
INCIDENTS OF RIVER FALLS.

the first financial year, ending March
81, 1855, were $34.04. It's estimated
expenses for the then coming year
were 800, the same which was voted
at the next annual meeting, April,
1855, together with $500 to build a
bridge across the South Fork. At
this meeting VIM. II. Moore came up
on the platform. He had previously
located on section one, where I. Lau-
der now resides) built house, made
some other improvements, and, with
al, opened for sale small stock of
goods, embracing dry goods, grocer.
les, &c. Mr.. Moore was an active, en-.
ergetic man, with quite as much cour.
age as discretion, and quite ambitious,
especially for political distinction
To be chairman of the Board of SUI.
peryisors was all he asked-all he de.
sired-and he succeeded in reaching
the goal of his ambition. Dr. Davis
was elected clerk, and n. n. Powell
treasurer. At this meeting G. w.
Cairns put in an appearance, with
some others, and was elected justice of
the peace. The population of the
town had so increased that there were
twenty-six votes cast at this, the sec.
ond town meeting.
Prof. G. W. Pratt succeeded John
Olive as Superintendent of Schools;
and of Mr.. Pratt, Mr.. n. n. Powell,
and VIM. II. Moore, with some others,
we design to speak more at length in
some other chapter of this history.
During the summer of 1855, the
town made rapid strides forward, and
at the General Election in November.
fifty-six votes were polled. At this
election VIM. j. Copp ran against A.
d. Gray for the Assembly. land this
reminds us of the fact that Mr.. Gray,
though then resident of Hudson,
now lives at North Pepin, Pspin coun-
ty.l A. Cornelison was again on the
county ticket for coroner, with John
Mclaughlin. of Trimbelle. for his OPP
ponent. (Mr. c. tells us it was not
John that beat him then, but some
thing stronger than the pure, limpid
waters of the Trimbelle River. Be
that as it may, "Uncle Aaron" is still
ION earth, with a fair prospect Of
becoming centenarian.l
Mr.. Moore was elected chairman
again in 1855, and in 1857. Doctor
Davis was elected clerk for the same
years; but he resigned shortly after
his last election. and A. Morse was ap.
pointed. Mr.. Morse acted in that ca
pacity for three years. J. A. Short
succeeded Mr.. Moore as chairman, but
Mr.. Moore was elected assessor for
three years in succession-a long time
for man to hold Office in the town of
River Falls, at that early day.
G. W. Cairns succeeded J. A. Short
as chairman, and Lutte Taylor sue
ceeded Prof. Pratt as school superin.
tendent. A. Morse was Mr.. Taylor's
successor, and he retained the office
till the "town system, so-called, was
abolished.
Uncle Hosea Bates, as he was then,
and is now Familiarity known, was one
of the supervisors for two years,
while the names of Calvin Randall,
C. B. Cox, J. F. Mic Aols, Samuel Pratt,
j. II. Lord, VIM. VI. Rowley, II. S.
Proctor, and many others, are sand
wiclled in at various times and places
on the board Of supervisors. Among
the clerks not mentioned, are the
names Of NJ. W. Packard. s. W. Dick.
inson, w. A. Tozer, r. J. Wilcox, A.
Gibson, w. P. Knowles, and John
Green. Among the assessors. d. d.
Proctor has been elected more times
than any other man ION record" lin
this town but he kicked against the
rail the last time 1870 and refused
longer to perform that duty.
In the early history of the town
there was always a good deal of ex.
element at the town elections, and
among those most active was one
Comfort j. Riker, who was thrice
elected treasurer, TO say nothing of
being constable for ten years. In
these contests both old and young
men participated, and for the yictori.
GUS party there were always laurels
in store which were showered in great
profusion upon the heads Of the vic.
tors. Nor were these "tacticians, " as
they were styled, confined to the town
in their operations. The stroke Of
policy invented and adopted by Messrs.
Taylor, Andrews, Riker, and others,
by which the nomination Of G. B. Cox,
for State Senator, was secured, has
scarcely parallel IN the political his.
tory of the ST. Croix Valley. II was a
master stroke for those days--a sud.
den and successful enterprise which
broke at the same time, the spell Of
the so.called waukegans, at Prescott,
and the power Of the no less tyran.
nous aristocrats Of the city of Hudson.
But as time wears on. and voters be.
come better acquainted with each 9th.
err, there is less Of STITCHES OF per.