Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-08-18
MARAT HONS PIONEER DEvEL-
0PMENT.


lege of Agriculture of the University of
Wisconsin,, and contains much infor-
nation as 10 the early development of
the countys agricultural resources.
We have not the space to publish in
full this week, but will continue It in
our next issue.
Marathon county is located in the
north central part of Wisconsin and is
trayersed from north IT, south by the
Wisconsin river. 1t is supplied with
water by the tributaries of this river:
the Big Rib and Little Rib, aud the Big
Eau Pleine, and the Little Eau Pleine,
flow into it from the west side of the
county, while the Eau Claire, Little
Eau Claire, Trapp, and Big Plover
rivers How in from the east side Of the
county.
The character of the surface in the
vicinity OF the rivers is somewhat
broken, but after leaving the river val
leys the surface changes and becomes
quite even and uniform The soil along
the river courses is in some cases sandy,
but the higher ground is a clay loan.
Glacial deposit occurs in many localities
on the west side of the river This
extends westward out of the western
boundary of the county. The greater
part of all these lands has been covered
in the past with heavy timber and
thick leaf mould now exists as sur
face soil
In those areas over which no glacial
drift now remains the soil is composed /
of the disintegrated granite or syenite
native to this region. Much of the soil
found in the river valley is filled in
soll' or river wash through which the
river is now cutting ont new channel.
Many falls and rapids occur in the Wis
consin river in and above Wausau,
whose power will, no doubt, some time
be utilized in manufacturing enter
prises In far greater degree than it is
at present. The county contains few
very high hills on the west side of the
Wisconsin river valley-Mosinee hill is
little west of Mosinee and Rib hill is
southwest OF Wausau. Rib hill is 2 COS
feet above sea level and approaches
mountain In appearance. 1t is COM
posed of vast lodges of quartz rock
which is used by a company in Mausau
for the manufacture of sandpaper. The
soils of Marathon county have been so
permeated with the roots of forest trees
that it is difficult to find even small
area where decaying vegetable matter
is not present. The decaying roots of
trees have left many avenues by which
air and water enter the soil. The strik-
ing characteristics of the soil of the
county which impress visitor from the
southern portion of the state are its fine
texture and its great amount of moist
ure.
In most localities building stone is
plentiful, outcrops of granite, syenite,
or quartz sandstone coming to the sur
face. Many fine granite quarries have
been opened in the towns of Texas and
Maine in which the owners employ
their time prOtitably when not engaged
in the regular work of the farm
Before the advent of the white man
the county was an immense, unbrokeu
forest, rich in the variety and luxur-
lance of its vegetable growth. 1t was a
veritable forest primeval," where 1.-THE
murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
bearded with moss, and in garments
green" awaited the axe of the pioneer
lumberman.
Not only were pines and hemlocks
present in abundance, but balsam and
cedar trees were numerous. The hard
wood timber also flourished. Large
tracts where maple, elm, birch, oak and
ash grew vigorously were common.
So de2se was this early forest that it
was no uncommon thing for the pioneer
to spend several days in travelling only
few miles. No roads were yet built
and the early lumberman was obliged
to make his way slowly and laboriously
through wet swanlps, thick underbrush
and over windfalls, which often times
were nearly impossible. The travelling
in those early days was largely done by
boat upon the river. All inland trips
were of necessity made on foot, the
traveller carrying his provisions upon
his back along the pathways and trails
of the Indians. These were few in
number, the main trail leading from
Green Bay to the west, and crossing
the Wisconsin river at the Bic, Bull
Falls-the present site of Wausau. This
falls appeared to be landmark for the
Indian and the pioneer white man.
The first white men who entered the
boundaries of what is now known as
Marathon county came up the river
with the Indians. These were hunters
ard trappers and did no more for the
development of the country than to tell
of the immense forests they had seen.
In this way a knowledge of the seem
ingly exhaustible timber resources of
the country became known to a certain
lumbermen of the lower Mississippi
river and the Ohio river. Among these
early lumbermen was one, George
Stevens, after whom Stevens Point was
named, who established the first lum-
Der camp and saw mill on the Wiscon
sin river at Stevens Point. Stevens
was engaged in the lumber business in
the Allegheny region of Pennsylvania,
and had for many years RATED logs and
lumber down the Ohio river to the Mis-
sissippi and then "poled" them up to
ST. Louis. This was tedious and
arduous task, and while at st. Louis on
one of his trips he met Benz. Single
who told him of the pine timber of
Marathon county, Wisconsin. Stevens
made visit to Wisconsin and decided
to locate at Stevens Point, where the
government land office was soon built.
Between 1885 and 1888 Robt. Whitney
Sc; tied at Whitney Rapids and built a
saw mill at Pine Boss ana about the
same time Robt Whatley established
himself at Fit. Winnebago now known
as Grand Rapids Abraham Brawley
settled at Cemetery Hill and cleared a
farm in 1S47. Before this tine George
Stevens who mad located at Stevens
Point sought to extend his numbering
operations and established numbering
camp on the present site of Wausau.
This was the first numbering done in
Marathon county. Others soon fol-
lowed and soon saw mills were built
and great industry was started.
Joseph Dessert, young French Can
adian came from Milwaukee to Mosinee
in 1914. Here be began work in the
saw mill of j L. More which was built
in 1872 He soon acquired an interest
in the mill and then became sole owner.
He became Interested in agriculture
and in 1850 bought farm near Mara
thon City.
Naturally the lumber industry was
the first developed in Marathon county
and as years passed many lumber
manufacturing concerns were estab-
lished Among these are the Rietbroek
Co, at Athens, the Quaw Mill, at Edgar,
b. Mcmillan, at Mcmillan, Corners
Lumber Co, at Stratford. Among
those manufacturing l.;ssber at Wausau
are c. s Curtis. Alex. Stewart Co,
Rarear N Stewart + Stone Co