River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-01-20
GiftOn...ltS Early History.
River Falls, Wis.
BIZ AN OLD SETTLER.

In 1853, 0. Strahl, S. w. Wright and
SylvesterMoore, were elected Super
visors of the town. About that time
Pierce county was set off by an act of
the Legislature, and by virtue of the
law the three Town Supervisors be-
came the County Board, with o. Strahl,
Chairman.
Prescott was now building up, and
must needs have roads. So the Super
visors were called out again this year
in the Fall, to lay road from Prescott
by way of Diamond Bluff, to Rush Riv-
er, near the mouth, above Maiden
Rock.
This was longer, and more difficult
road to locate than the one viewed out
the previous Fall, to Seeley's Oh Rush
River, being parallel to the Mississippi
River, where SO many impossible
bluffs, chasms, low bottoms, and high
hills intervene.
There wero now several settlers
scattered along the margin of the river
in this direction, to wit: Old Mr..
Quimby (uncle to the present Enoch
Quimby,) Charles F. Heyt, and Jack
Paine, at Diamond Bluff. Mr.. Paine
was the pioneer settler and proprietor,
having lived here nominally five or six
years, though his business as boatman
forbade his giving it more than pass
ing salutation in summer time; Mr..
Hawley three miles below on the Trim
belle Bottom near its mouth, Squire
Thing where Trenton now stands, the
two Browns, Abner and Adam, on the
Isabelle, near the head of Lake Pepin;
and jeremiah Fuller on Rush River
near the terminus of our route. From
the Isabelle to Rush River, a distance
of eight or ten miles, it was thick tim
Der and unsettled, consequently a de-
vious way for strangers.
Our Supervisors arrived at Diamond
Bluff late the first evening, having
been driven in by the darkness, and a
little shower of snow, without finish
ing the work to this point. The next
day the work progressed as far as
Hawley's. On the third day, the
ground being good, Browns was reach
ed by noon, and after dinner, the party
started out intending to reach Fuller's
that night, but the fates willed it 9TH
erwise, for they became lost i'm the
woods, and after wandering about for
some time, took southwesterly de-
scent, and came suddenly upon the
over-hanging bluffs of Lake Pepin, Just
in the dusk of the evening. Then at
our feet lay in grand repose, the
great calm waters Of the Lake, still
and tenantless, as if at rest after the
fretful day. Away beyond was still
discernible in the twilight, the shores
Of Minnesota, clad in the sombre huos
Of late autumn, and still further, and
more beautiful, the departing sun
threw back its great bright streams Of
gold. 80, sun, stand thou still on
Gideon. and thou Moon in Aialon."
Sadly disappointed ut their mishap,
our woodsmen descended to the beach.
expecting to pass the night without
supper or shelter. But here again the
fates kindly interposed, for near by
all desirable comforts awaited them.
just as they became comfortably To-
Gated for meditation upon a stray pine
log, a voice sounded but little way
off, and but a few rods down the beach
a shanty was reached, tenanted by
man and wife, who babe us welcome to
their roof and board. This house was
scarcely roomy enough for modern
hotel, being about twelve feet square:
and our dodgers having 70 lie on tho