Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-20
VALUED H|STORY-P|ECES.
CONTINUED from First Page. |


paper mill plant now stand at Biron.
There was no road along the river as
present-Only an Indian trail. The
way to Biron was nearly the same as
the railroad switch now runs through.
l am sorry to say that / cannot
recall to my memory at the present
time but few living, I will here call
their names:
Mrs. A. B. Sampson and her sop
Henry, five years old at that time,
Mrs. r. c. Lyon, Mrs. Worden, Mrs.
G.. Warren, Mrs. A. Eaton, Lemuel
Kroner, Joseph Hasbrouck, Messrs.
Orlando and G. w. Baker, four and
five years old respectively, Ira Purdy,
Moses Verboncoeur, Frank Contara,
Joseph L. Cotey, Eusebe LaVigne,
Mrs. Thorn, Mrs. Mary Laramie, Miss
Esther Baker, and Charles Kline Of
DAILY, Wood county, Wis.
Now we have to cross to the west
side of the river with our narrative.
There was no Centralia at that time.
Here stood one double up-and-down
SaWmill, which also contained a lath
and picket saw, and one turning lathe
This was run at that time by George
Kline. There were also three frame
houses, used for the accommodation Of
the parties running the mill and men:
also two shingle shanties. This mill
was built in 1886 by Mr.. Harris from
st. Louis, Missouri, and after sold to
Daniel Whitney of Green Bay.
This is all there was at that time on
this side of the river, with the eXcep-
ton of one block house which stood
where Mrs. VIM. Jackson's residence
now stands, little south of the Gen.
tralia Hardware store. This block
house was built by David Baker,
which he occupied with his family.
Next, about one and one-half miles
down the river, stood Eusebe La
Vigne's logging shanty. From this
place nothing of any improvement
could b. seen until you reached the
Merrill mill, four miles. This is now
called Port Edwards. This mill was
built in 1888 by Mr.. Grignon and after
sold to Sam Merrill, who was running
the same at the time referred to.
Next, down the river about three
quarters of mile at the mouth of
the slough on which the Merrill mill
was built, stood a log house which was
Francis Browns home, who died in
1915. He was the father of the late
Frank Brown, who died at the Sol
dierS' Home one year ago, and whom
j. III. Compton had raised.
Next, half a mile down the river
stood four board shanties occupied by
as many families, which were: George,
j. B. and Abraham Haule, three
brothers, and Peter Senee, who were
engaged in making shave shingles.
This last description was called
''French Town.
Following down the river on the
east side stood the Whitney MILL hav-
ing been built in 1882 by Daniel Whit
ney of Green Bay, and at the time
was being managed and run by A. B.
Sampson.
Next, two miles down the river,
stood Robert Wakely's station, which
| Have already mentioned. Opposite
this place on the west side was to be
seen an Indian village of about 100 all
told, including papooses, and seven
miles below, on the same side of the
river, another Indian village-young
Oshkosh band of MenomineeS. Still
further down was a farm of about
forty acres. 1t was A. Grignon's,
which has now disappeared by the
washing of the river.
Now. l have given you a flying view
on both sides Of the Wisconsin river
from BirOn down to this place, dis
lance of 20 miles.
l have some other points which
should be brought forward: for in
stance, how did we obtain our sup
plies for our oxen and horses, such as
oats. corn. etc.
Well, we would load our wagons
with shingles and cranberries and 90
down to Sun and Columbus Prairies,
and around Madison, and exchange
our pinery product for corn, oats and
feed in general. 1t would take five
or six days for trip.
Now, about our currency: it con-
sisted mostly of gold. 1t was in the
time of the genuine gold democrats
it consisted of One-half, One-fourth
and full eagle United States gold coins.
There were also many sOvercigns-a
British gold piece worth $3.50 United
States money; also some few doub-
looms, a Spanish gold piece WORTH SIC
United States gold. There was, also,
great circulation Of five franc, a
French silver piece worth 90 cents
United States money. There were no
United States dollars. Occasionally
one would come across a Mexican
| dollar, which was worth S1.1O United
States coin. Copper cents were not
admitted in Grand Rapids at that
time, if any one offered a cent it was
cast in the river.
AS regards the paper currency, there
were at that time many wild cats, but
| ninerN men and miners accnntod nn1ne