River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-06-01
HISTORY OF EISsICKINsIC.

an OK team, loaded with lumber and
a very few personal effects, might
have been seen moving eastward from
Willow River, NOW Hudson across
the prairie. Two young men accom-.
panied it. One was tall and slim, and
had not previously been very rugged.
The other was larger, more solidly
built, and had something of military
step. He had served his country
through the Mexican war, and saw
service in the California campaign.
He was discharged while the gold ex-
element was at its hight, and worked
one season in the mines. But the So
ciety was not to his taste, and he
sought the quiet of a farmers life.
The former was James Mapes; the lat
ter was his brother, Walter B. They
were the first white settlers in the
present town of Kinnickinnic.
Both enlisted while at their home
in n. Y, but James was discharged
without seeing active service.
AS they journeyed eastward, and
probably turned south to avoid the
broken country, the beautiful valley
of the Kinnickinnic, caught their eyes,
and very wisely, they stopped near the
late residence of j. I. Pratt, and
erected a temporary shelter of the
boards which they had brought with
them. In short time, they erected a
humble but permanent dwelling at
the present residence of Charles
Davies. Here they lived together
three years, in bachelor solitude.
Then James moved on to his present
farm, and was married to a Miss Eu-
nice Walden from Ohio Walter
Mapes lived on the present Davies
farm. James was the first resident Of
the town who married.
With the exception of Joel Foster,
who came in 1913 and settled at River
Falls, the two Mapes were the first
settlers in the valley. There was no
breaking west of the woods but theirs
and Judge Fosters, in 1850. After
cutting some hay, one of the brothers
went to Galena after some supplies
He brought back plow, breaking
team, and provisions. Breaking the
plow afterwards, they were obliged t
send it to Galena for repairs. The
other, James, after he had secured
his own hay, worked for his nearest
neighbor, Judge Foster.
At first, their nearest p. o. wa
saltwater. The nearest mill was
Bolles's, at Alton. There was another
at Prairie du CHEN. The Alton mill
within a radius of 50 miles, was I
monopoly. It was small. portable
affair.
When the brothers wished to build
a house, several years later, they went
TO their nearest market, Osceola, to
! buy lumber. Walter B. RATED the
purchase down the river to Hudson,
from which place, it was conveyed by
teams to its destination.
When Walter returned from Galena,
Judge Foster asked him what pro.
visions he had purchased. He bought
no pork. The brothers were not fond
of it. James was not rugged, and
heavy food, like pork, was too severe
task for his digestive organs. Al
least, it had been thus in the past.
The Judge said that they would find,
after splitting rails and laboring
awhile in the winter, a place for pork
and beans. Fairly settled at work,
they were attacked by what is known
as the wisconsin appetite. The
attack was severe. A barrel of pork
was purchased, but we dare not tell
how soon it was disposed of by the
hungry pair, lest our word should be
doubted by those who never came to
Wisconsin. Delicate ladies', upon
coming to the st. Croix Valley, and
even children, find that with three
heavy meals and as many lunches,
hunger is ever gnawing at their vitals.
James Mapes lived more than a dozen
years in Wis. without needing a doc,
tor. Pork and beans no longer gave
him pain, but rather exquisite pleas
ure