River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-07-06
HISTORICAL INCIDENTS OF TRENTON.

Shaver, @. d. Bachelor; town clerk
D. B. Hyatt; justices, w. L. Arm
strong, c. Ryan, for two years, D.
Taylor, E. II. Boustead, one year;
supt., James Akers.
A seven mill tax was voted.
In 1850, James Akers remained as
Ch., Z. II. Boustead and II. J. Sutton
were elected sup's., H. J. Sutton,
clerk.
This year the town was divided into
road districts.
Town in debt $l1.55.
In 1861, James Akers continued as
Ch., John Gilmore and E. j. Batche.
Ter, supervisors; clerk, D. McPhilson.
Up to this time, but little party
spirit was manifested. But between
the years of 1882 and 1868, the repub.
licans and democrats commenced a
bitter fight. At first the democrats
gained the day, but the republicans
never wavered, and with determined
vigor they for once succeeded in beat.
ing their opponents at the polls.
In 1858, E. F. Palmer was elected CHI.
by large majority. Leonard John.
sou and Perry Walton were elected
supervisors; c. Ryan, clerk; John
Curry, treasurer. This was a demo.
cratic victory.
In 1854, E. T. Palmer was reelected
chairman, and Perry Walton and
BethueI Hadsell, sup's. The demo.
Gratis still held the reins.
In 1865, hard struggles between
both parties, but E. F. Palmer was re.
elected CHI. Benjamin Way, and L.
johnson, sup's.; II. L. Curry, town
clerk; B. Owens, town treasurer; the
republicans gaining one or two of the
offices.
In 1865, the republicans came out
ahead, and elected for CHI, S. A. Por.
ter; sup,s., w. II. Adams, W. III. Snow
A twenty-five cent bounty for kill
ing rattlesnakes was passed this year
H. L. Curry was elected treasurer,
and he has held the Office up to the
present time.
This party spirit ragged for many
years, and election days were the
most exciting of the year; and this
spirit may not, even now, be consid.
cred extinct.
Trenton at first belonged to the
town of Prescott, and was set off with
Diamond Bluff and remained in D. B.
till 1858. Trenton was at first called
Things Landing, and afterwards
Mount Pleasant. But as some wished
it called Trenton. and the P. o. wa;
called Trenton, the town was finally
organized by that name. As location
for a city there is meme can equal
Trenton, having 10th woodland and
prairie to suit all. We left our town
in her darkest days, from 81 to '62, or
from the crisis till nearly the close of
the war. Experience teaches us that
after town is once started and goes
down, it takes tenfold the energy u
start it again, and we believe our wor.
thy citizens that struggled through all
the trials that Trenton underwent will
verify it. Mr.. Akers was the main
man. He had organized a company of
men known as the Cincinnati Com.
pany who had laid foundations to
start an enterprising place, but with
the failures of banks and the burning
out, all went down. Mr.. Akers had
spent decade with us and in '62 he
babe us adieu. If we had had a few
men like him we most assuredly would
have been great deal farther adj
vanced than we are now.
In the year 90, what is known as
the Waukesha Clique immigrated here,
most of whom were farmers. These
at once opened farms on the Points,
and to-day they have as handsome and
as productive farms as can be found
in Pierce Co., or elsewhere.
z. +. Palmer and L. Johnson (me.
chanies of this party, after spending
some time in quest of a mill site, final.
ly procured one on the Trimbelle. and
at once put in operation a saw-mill,
lumber being in good demand then.
They fourished finely. Mr.. Johnson
was a cabinet.maker, and manufact.
ured furniture also.
But little improvements were made.
As there was no store nor post.office,
the Trentonites were obliged to trade
in the adjoining towns. Red Wing
was the best market but the crossing
being 50 difficult, higher prices were
paid elsewhere.
About this time Ed. speck, an in.
genious citizen Of Red Wing, foresee.
ing the great trade that was carried
on between this vicinity and Red
Wing, started to run a ferry by horse.
power; but as the expenses were great
he obtained a road across the island,
put ferry on each side, and pulled
them across by ropes. lie made well
with these, but the city Of Red Wing
seeing what a chance 1t was to draw
custom, purchased them and made
some Improvements. II was a great
advantage 10 Red Wing, but 10 Tren.
ton a1aai II yvaa the greatest blow ~