Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-03-10
REMINISCENCEOF
CAPT. ], |. CO1EY
ASTOF. \. BIRON
Dated September 2, 1912.

came to Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, in
1S45. He arrived from Galena, Him
oise, with three wagon loads of pro-
visions and general sur lies, same in
tending to supply loggers and shingle
weavers located in this vicinity. These
wagons were hauled by five yoke of
oxen.
Upon arrival Mr.. Biron built a
storehouse and soon started in supply
ing the loggers. He was also engaged
in doing some logging himself for the
Clinton mill, which was the only mill
at that time running at Grand Rapids
He received his pay in lumber and
shingles, this being the only mediua
cf currency at that time, and did not
receive any money for his product,
only when he marketed his lumber
down to Alton or St. Louis, Mo. Llm-
her was not selling at very high prices
then as now, the usual prices ranging
from $1,000 to $500 per Thousand.
and $3.50 per thousand for shingles.
The wages of laborers were quite low,
ranging from $1,000 to $500 per
month in the winter time. In the
spring and summer the men received
S1.50 per day to run lumber down the
river, and an allowance of $1,000 was
made for back pay.
Mr. Biron was of persevering,
careful and saving disposition and
accumulated, in a few years, a sum
sufficient to rebuild his mill in 1854.
He also erected a new boom, being l
u miles long. This mill was first pur
chased by him in 1916 from John T.
Kingston, Thomas Weston and Jess
Heddon, and located three miles above
Grand Rapids, at what is known as
Biron, on the Wisconsin River.
In 1916 Mr.. Biron came to the con-
there must be cheaper way of
bringing supplies to Grand Rapids
than the ox-team method, as it was
225 miles from Galena, H., over bad
roads. He then made arrangements
at Galena and procured a large barge,
or keel boat, and loaded provisions
and general merchandise, and hired
twelve men to push the pul1-craft with
poles, oars and cordelI method. (The
cordell method mentioned is using a
long one-inch rope 200 feet in length,
one end of which is attached to the
boat on shore, and the other end car
ried on the backs of the men on shore
hauling up along the banks where per-
Oftentimes the men were
prevented by trees along the side OF
the banks from walking, when the pole
method had to be resorted to. The
course taken was down the Fever Rlv-
ar from Galena to the Mississippi Riv-
er and up the Mississippi River to the
mouth of the Wisconsin River, follow
inc UP Wisconsin River to Point Basse
now Nekoosa. After eighteen days of
hard labor the party arrived at their
destination, Point Bassel. From here
the goods had to be hauled in wagons
with oxen to Grand Rapids, a distance
of 10 miles.
The enterprise proved to be great
success. In 1856 and 1857 Mr.. Blron
invested largely in pine lands along
the Wisconsin River and it's tributaries.
These holdings were so large that had
Mr.. Biron lived only five years longer
he would have been a millionaire, by
the rise of timber which took place
about that time.
Mr.. Biron was born in the Parish Of
St. Francis, Quebec, August II, 1913.
and worked on his fathers farm until
1888. when, like a good many young
enterprising Canadians he turned his
face toward the West, landing at Green
Bav. Wisconsin, on October 20, 1888.
On arriving at Fort Howard, Mr.. Bir-
on took contract from the Commander
If the fort to get out square tlmbers
for the United States Government,
which contract was fulfilled satlsfac-
torily. The following year Mr.. Biron
walked from ort Howard on the mill
tary road to Fort Winnebago. Here
again he made a contract with Cap
tain Lew, who had charge of the Fort,
to cut 80 tons of hay for the Govern
ment, also to get out square timber
which later he cut on an island on
he Wisconsin River miles above Port
age City. After the completion OF this
contract, the following year Mr.. Biron
again walked over the military road
to the lead mines located near Dubu-
que, where he started small supply
store for the cordwood shoppers or
the islands of the Mississippi River.
Mr.. Biron' next venture was to en-
gage in hauling mineral lead to the
furnaces to be smelted and later on 10
be hauled to the Mississippi River
points and to be loaded on steamboats,
where the lead was shipped to st.
Louis, Mo-. and New Orleans, La. This
Mr. Biron followed until
1843, VIXEN he came to Grand RAPIDS
as above mentioned.
Mr.. Biron was married to Marie
Bovin. The issue of this marriage
was Francis and Miss Laura Biron,
now living, and Severe Biron, deceased.