Reedsburg High School - Gleaner Yearbook (Reedsburg, WI)

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, edg lx BB 'ik 01' at s Sl f B W f ,. lv an in doors, which during damp weather, would grow too large for the aperture. Mrs. Seeley, on one occasion, when her door was on a swell, placed a large stick against it on retiring. During the night, under the influence of a warm fire and drier weather, contraction set in and the door closed with a bang. The noise brought the sleeping occupants of Shanty Row to a sitting posture, but on hearing a second volley, their fears of an Indian attack were dissipated. Number I, which stood at the west end of the row, next to the river, was known as Bachelors Hall. It was here that the boys came together and dis- cussed the day's topics, after which they joined in devotional exercises and retired to their respective apartments. Number II was occupied by Mr. Powell and family. THE FIRST WEDDING Mr. Powell and his family occupied the second residence in A'Shanty Row. With them lived a young man, by name of Brace, who afterwards mar- ried the elder daughter, a buxom girl of twenty years, and 210 pounds avoir- dupois. It is said that a gunny sack, somewhat altered and revamped, played an important part of the bridal trousseau. Number III, the third house, was' the cabin of William McClung, wife and daughter. Mr. McClung was a millwright employed by Reed and Powell. Number IV, in this home lived Elder Locke, his wife and six children, John, Susan, James. Rebecca. Levi and Phoebe. Elder Locke is said to have preached the first Gospel in Reedsburg. His pulpit was a chair and his temple was the open air. Number V, the last to be put up, was occupied by J. H. Rock of Racine. Unlike the rest of the settlers, they came well equipped with supplies of provif sions and money. BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN REEDSBURG The houses of 'AShanty Row were numbered after the manner of more palatial residences in the larger cities. The year I848 marked an important era in the history of Reedsburg by the completion of a sawmill owned by David C. Reed and Mr. Powell. They later sold out to Caleb Crosswell, who in turn sold out to William Can Berger, in l849. In the meantime a gristmill was also built, under the man- agement of Messrs. Carver, Rork and West. Joseph and Salford Mackey took possession of the two mills in 1854. They put the mills into complete order, and began paying cash for labor and supplies. This was an added impetus to the business and growth of the town. The mills burned down in the winter of 1861, but were immediately replaced. In February, 1880, they were sold to John Kellogg, and were called Kellogg's Mills. They are now owned by the Appleton Woolen Mills of this city. . Page Eight

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U: 0 0, fdgllxn if Ed FEI , i Q I ll E 3 I History of Reedsburg LEGEND AR back in the misty past we faintly recall the legend handed down to us from mothers of two braves. The story goes on to say that these two braves were hunting and pursued a deer which they killed. Both wished to claim it and the quarrel led to a fight. Each died from the effect of his wounds. Near their lifeless bodies lay the carcass of the deer, punctured with arrows. Had they been wise they would have divided the meat and skin. The two Indian braves were buried side by side on -the crest of a large mound on which the Reedsburg Sanitarium stands. In the center of the mound it is told, stood a tamarack pole, fifteen feet high and five inches in diameter nearest the ground. On the 'top of the mound was a trail worn several inches deep by the feet of the Indian mourners, who came in large numbers' and walked in a circle, singing and crying piteously. EARLY SETTLEMENT The Indian was the earliest settler known, but of him we see no more. He left many traces along the Baraboo River. In the fall of 1844 the Indians saw the first white man, that is, the first one who came with the intention of remaining. Don C. Barry, with Henry Perry as his companion, came to look for a lum- bering location and discovered traces of copper in what is now the City of Reedsburg. Perry and Barry took the claim and Perry stayed in charge. Barry returned the next year, bringing with him two experienced miners from Mineral Point. In the meantime James W. Babb with son John came to Baraboo Valley to a place which H is known as Babb's Prairie. He built a house and went back to Ohio to get his wife and children. At the point where the city of Reedsburg now is, Mr. Babb said that great water power could be obtained. In the year of 1847 the construction on the dam and shanty began. SHANTY Row In the fall of 1848 the famous Shanty Row was built. It was com- posed of live little log shanties made from tamarack poles taken from the river. These poles were cut by George and Edward Willard of Baraboo along the upper banks of the river and floated down. The shanties were hastily erected. The cracks in the shanties were chinked and daubed with pieces of wood and swamp mud. The most annoying feature of the rude homes was the basswood Page Se uen

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1 Ag lx Ed is 0' 6 S 1 'a F X : j F' E r ' 4 , 9 ' The largest cooperage factory Cmanufacturing staves and headings for barrelsj in the state of Wisconsin was built in 1871 by J. P. Stafford. It was destroyed by fire on March 7, 1880, and a new one was completed by May of the same year. lt seemed as though every improvement of the town should be halted by a Ere, and this was the case after the first brewery was built. A new one was built again. however, and in June, 1880, the Reedsburg Brewery Company was formed. composed of William Dierks, Henry Geffert and John and Peter Hagenah. A summer beer vault was installed northeast of the brewery. In those days many a keg of beer came from Reedsburg. SCHOOLS The first school was taught by Miss Amanda Saxby, 1849-50. Second school was taught by Mrs. S. H. Chase, in the Mill House and in the Saiby House, later Green Tavern. The first schoolhouse on the present school site was thirty by forty feet in size. lt had three teachers. Various teachers were in charge until 1868, when the schoolhouse burned down. The second schoolhouse was forty by fifty feet. It contained three depart- ments and four teachers. The departments were: Grammar, intermediate and primary. J. H. Gould was the first principal in 1874. ln 1879 the fourth department was added, second primary. The complete school history is given elsewhere in this book. THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY The Hrst Fourth of July was celebrated in Reedsburg in 1849. Because they had no flag, the women of the town got together to make One. Blue mate- rial for a background was scarce, so the flag was made with blue stars and a white groundwork. Red stripes were made of men's shirts. The first dance in Reedsburg was held that evening in the mill. In later celebrations, fireworks, speeches, and music were on the program. They were held in the public square, or in various picnic grounds in and about the town. Fourth of July has always been one of the biggest events in Reeds- burg. CRIMINAL TRIAL One Sunday, October 5, 1851, two men by the names of Judson Baxter and William Reynolds, paid counterfeit coin for their services in the hotel and blacksmith shop. They had also stolen a hammer from the latter place. Papers were made out for their arrest, and they were followed by the Constable and several others. They were found west of Ironton the second night, sleeping by a fire. Pouncing upon them, the ollicers bound them with ropes and brought them to Reedsburg. A search in the vicinity had resulted in finding counterfeit money. They were arraigned for theft and were convicted, but they appealed Page Nine