River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-06-29
HISTORICAL INCIDENTS OF TRENTON.

/ EAAAt VIVA 00uNRbNA
He built the first frame house in this
town, and at first took in boarders.
Indeed, he showed hospitality to every
one. Mr.. Pumpkin was an active ri.
oneer. and from his first appearance
till the breaking out of the war, he, as
well as others, had high hopes Of see.
ing Trenton soon become noted city.
He, like all true Germans, was bound
to see right and justice triumph, and
at the first sound of the bugle he join.
ed the Union army. But the southern
climate did not agree with him and
he died in hospital near Vicksburg,
leaving widow and four children,
besides a large circle of friends 60
mourn his untimely loss.
We have the names Of many pioneers
to mention, but for lack of time and
space we shall be unable to give but
few with their peculiar characters.
tics. Among those who took prom.
inent part as early pioneers, were d.
B. Hyatt, James Akers, John Curry,
E. II. Boustead, Cordan Ryan, II. L.
Curry, d. McPhilson, Alden Adams,
James Adams, II. j. Sutton, VIM.
Armstrong, B. F. Way, Bethuel Had
sell, Perry Walton, VIM. Shaver, Geo.
Harpster, e. Bachelor and II. Batch.
eler. We shall take it for granted
that the ''better halves" Of all these
gentlemen are entitled to. and will re-
ceive, as much Qf not more) of the
honor to which they are properly en-.
titled, as their male companions who
suffered even less-toiled less, and re.
ally did less to make life pleasant, ev.
en- in cabin, amid constant danger,
and ofter-yea, too often-sad priva.
TONS
In the year of 1855, Trenton became
Furnishing place. Mr.. Akers was
keeping store; E. II. Boustead and
John Curry were running a steam
mill; E. J. Batcheler & Co. had shin.
gle machine under headTay; a large
tavern was in operation; Mr.. Akers
also kept the P. o. in his store; wood
merchants had huge franks" Of wood
on the river banks; steamboats, were
constantly running, and person could
scarcely look towards the river with
out seeing one or more, and each one
was loaded with passengers or freight;
every thing. betokened prosperity.
But the brightest sunshine is always
just before or after storm. The
storm had not yet come; no one
thought of hard times; men were
making from 81 TO $40 day; harvest
wages were $500 per day, and wheat
brought $500 per bushel. Mr.. Akers.
who owned considerable of the village
property, had it plated and CON-
menced selling lots for $50, and up.
wards. No one doubted at this time
that Trenton would soon become a
noted city. But little attention was
paid as yet to agriculture; very few
had farms opened; most every one
thought farming too slow a way to
make money. But we believe in the
old proverb, 1.-The surest is always the
best, and if many of the spectators
had thought 50 then, it would have
been well for them. The crisis of
1857 came like thunder-clap, and
swept thousands of dollars away, and
business was Frustrated. Those who
specialized heavily lost their all.
Trenton never revived from this
shock. The mill companies bursted,
the machinery was sold and went to
Red Wing. And, to make matters
worse, the store and tavern were
burned down. f. II. Boustead who
got out large amount of wood had a
thousand cords swept away by the
overlooking Of the Mississippi, and in
a short time he found himselfa ruined |
man. But he was not alone-nearly |
every one was falling Mr.. Akers was
so disheartened at the failure of every |
thing that he sold out entirely, and |
went TO ST. Paul where he lived for |
time, retired from business. Build.
ings were sold and moved away, and |
TO cap the climax, the war broke out,
and every able bodied man joined the
Union ranks. Thus there was no one
left to build up the place, and every
thing was lost.
POLITICAL.
A town meeting was held in Akers'
store, Tuesday, April 8, 1858, for the
purpose Of electing officers Of said
town (Trenton) for the ensuing year,
in accordance with the provisions
made by the County Board Of Super.
yisors of Pierce Co., for the purpose
of organizing the town Of Trenton.
James Akers, Ch., supervisors, Jere-
miah Adams, Daniel Taylor; town
clerk, Cordan Ryan; treasurer, II. L. |
Curry; supt. of schools, Z. II. Bous.
tead; justices Of the peace, jeremiah
Adams, VIM. Armstrong, Lyman stat.
ford, John Curry; assessors, James
Akers, y. II. Boustead, John Curry;
constables. VIM. Pumpkin, James
Adams, Albert Stafford; sealer Of /
weights and measures. David Mcphil- |