Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-08-08

roqua a. Springyille 81, John u's
plan Ito locate by commissioner Ie
| center of the county Al, Black \
battlefield No place having a M =
ity the second proclamation for elac 2
was made and named June %. 1852 Z
the day of election The vote then v j.
between Viroqua and Springvile Ta
hundred and ninety-two votes were pol.
ed. Viroqua receiving 1873. Springyille
l39, when the canvassing board declared
Viroqua the county seat The vote in
Badax determined me result Novem.
Der following post Office was establish.
ed in Viroqua, a bee" was called and
the log court house was rolled sup and
opened with a school Luther Nichols
was appointed postmaster, but declined.
s. C. Lincoln was named and held Il g
office many years.
Springville did not sulk at the loss of
the county seat. PulVer opened a wagon
and smith shop Savage brought stock
of goods. The mill made -four that
would rise, " Officer and Dwyer made
fan mills, h0tel was furnished Phil.
lip Bouffleur arrived from the father.
land greeted by a lucky star and started
shoe shop. Berry stocked a building
with goods, then VIM Smith started a
smithery, assisted by his brother James,
the Lowrie brothers merchandised for a
time, then Phillip Bouffieur became the
village merchant, made money and mov-
ed to Viroqua. The Pulverssmoved to
Victory, then TO Viroqua. VIM. Smith
migrated to Nebraska James Smith
came to Viroqua. The fannicgmiu shop
closed, the mill burnt Glasburn put
the Price of good farm in new mill,
few yards below the old one Water
insufficient, -four would not rise.
Graham tried to make a success and
failed Dixon tried his hand and no re.
suit. Then the mill came TO john Ed
wards by foreclosure and now the mill
is dismantled, fire gone ont in the
forges, sparks no longer fly from anvil
no wagons bearing the name made in
Springvills. One by one the people
went away and finally the post Office es.
tablished by James K Polk was discon-
tinued and rural free delivery establish
ed, and John Side is the shopkeeper
and mayor
We go on past the homes of the early
settlers Hamilton, Maxwell Reed, Fa-
vor, Morse, Spencer and Groves. Groves
still holds the fort and brings cream to
the factory, Morse and Favor live in vi
roqua and Reed on the farm, Down the
north Badax we see evidences of an ex.
tinct civilization and inquire who peo
pied the valleys years ago We find
Mcconnell built a sawmill The power
was not sufficient; freshet took the dam
down and deposited 1t in sediment on
the meadows below the mill fell into
the stream and ended the Mcdonnell
proposition Not far below Cox bpilt
saw mill which went the way of the
Mcconnell mill Still below Reese Quilt
dam, cut 4 race 10 his mill away from
damage by floods, but the highwaters
came down and the dam went with the
foods toward the Mississippi,
J Still below, at Newton, II. M Allen
built a grist and sawmill. Highwaters
washed the dam and foundation. Mr.
Allen sold and moved to farm on the
ridge and died few years ago; gran.
ite marks the place in Viroqua ceme-
terry. Aiken owned the mill for few
years; the floods still washing out, when
It fell into tie hands Of the late W. F.
Lindemann, who tired of the expense
caused by highwater, sold to man who
in looking over the proposition" before
him, committed suicide. The mill again
came to Mr.. Lindemann who again sold
| it, A gentleman we'll acquainted with
! the cost aud repairs of the Sprlngville
mill and north BRdax mills says that one
hundred Thousand dollars were lost in
| trying to promote the industries with
too little capital and bad locations, lack
of power and cheap dams Lem Gra-
ham still lives, although way down
! from lS41.
We journey back mp the 'holler' past
the home of Waters who has lived near
| Springville fifty-three years We pass
the Marker, Rumsey, Miller and Isaac
Smith place-all gone-and pull through
Chase Heights where is hourishing a
new settlement in location Of unsur-
passable beauty of landscape E. NJ. R.