Fifty Years In The Northwest

The first government land office in Wisconsin north of Mineral Point was located at St. Croix Falls in 1848. Township plats were received, lands advertised and offered for sale in September, covering the ground where the cities of Stillwater and St. Paul are now located, and adjacent country. The office was removed to Stillwater in 1849, and the land district divided by the St. Croix river. The land office for the east side was located at Willow River in 1849, and there remained till 1860, when it was removed to St. Croix Falls. The following are the receivers and registers: 1848. Samuel Leach, receiver; Charles S. Whiting, register. 1849. Moses S. Gibson, receiver; T. D. Catlin, register. 1853. Otis Hoyt, receiver; John O. Henning, register. 1857. J. D. Reymert, receiver; J.B. Spencer, register: 1859. Orpheus Evarts, receiver; J. B. Spencer, register. 1861. Benj. W. Reynolds, receiver; Michael Field, register. 1864. Hiram Calkins, receiver; Michael Field, register. 1869. Fayette Allen, receiver; Michael Field, register. 1871. Joel F. Nason, receiver; Michael Field, register. 1884. Alvah A. Heald, receiver; Michael Field, register. 1887. Alvah H. Heald, receiver; Wm. M. Blanding, register. The first entry in the new district, Aug. 17, 1849, was by W. S. Hungerford. Lot 4, Sec. 19, and Lots 1, 2, 3, Sec. 30, T. 34, R. 18, where the village of St. Croix now stands. The second entry was by George Brownell, Lot 3, Sec. 20, T. 24, R. 18. The oldest record to be found in the office is the proving up by James Purinton of his pre-emption, July 24, 1848. The first recorded correspondence is a letter from S. Leach, receiver, to Geo. W. Jones, surveyor general, Dubuque, Iowa. In June, 1863, under the receivership of Mr. Reynolds, the safe in the office was blown open with powder and the contents stolen. Some time afterward, in 1865, fifty land warrants and a bunch of keys from the articles missing were thrown in at the office window. They had the appearance of having been buried in the ground. FIRST ENTRIES. July 24, 1848. James Purinton, residence, St. Croix Falls. Lot 1, in east fractional part Sec. 23, T. 29 north, R. 20 west, and W. 1/2 of N. W. 1/4 and S. E. 1/4 of N. W. 1/4, Sec. 24, T. 29, R. 20, 137 70-100 acres; price, $1.25; cost, $172 12-100, silver; pre-emption act, 1841. This pre-emption is where the dam and mills have since been erected at North Hudson. Aug. 12, 1848. Samuel Burkelo, Orange Walker and Hiram Berkey. Lots 7 and 8, west of river, Sec. 6, T. 31, R. 19, 108 25-100 acres; cost $135 43-100, 1/4 gold; pre-emption act, 1840 (Marine Mills). Aug. 16, 1848. Richard Freeborn. West 1/2 of N. W. 1/4 and N. E. 1/4 of N. W. 1/4, and Lot 3, Sec. 12, T. 28, R. 23, St. Paul; pre-emption act, 1841. The first land offered at public auction sale was Aug. 27, 1848. 4. Albert Henry Judd, Orange Walker, Samuel Burkelo, Hiram Berkey, George Baldwin Judd, Asa Parker were the purchasers of Lots 5 and 6, Sec. 7, T. 31, R. 19, west of river; cost, $106 46-100, gold. 5. Martin Mower, David B. Loomis; Lots 7 and 8, Sec. 29, T. 31, R. 19, west of river; cost, $54 81-100, 1/4 gold (now Arcola). 6. John Allen; Lots 4 and 5, Sec. 2, T. 29, R. 20, west of river; gold (Allen's Point, now South Stillwater). 7. Eleazer R. Steves; Lots 1 and 2, Sec. 14, T. 29, R. 20, east of river; gold, $9.66; silver, $54.85; $64 51-100 (now Hudson). 8 and 9. Stephen Harris; N. 1/2 of S. E. 1/4 and E. 1/2 of S. W. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20. 10. Himan W. Greely; E. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold. 11 and 12. Albert N. Judd; W. 1/2 of S. E. 1/4 and E. 1/2 of S. W. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold. 13 and 14. Louis Massey; E. 1/2 of S. W. and Lots 1 and 2, Sec. 24, T. 29, R. 20, silver; east of Lake St. Croix (now Hudson). 15 and 16. Peter F. Bouchea, Lot 1, east of river, Sec. 25, T. 29, R. 20 and Lot 2, Sec. 25, T. 29, R. 20; gold, $63 22-100; silver, $10--$73 22-100. 17 and 18. John O'Brien; Lot 3, Sec. 26, T. 29, R. 20 and W. 1/2 of S. W. 1/4, Sec. 26, T. 29, R. 20, silver and gold (now Lakeland). 19 and 20. Albert H. Judd; E. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, and W. 1/2 of N. W. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold. 21. Himan W. Greely; W. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold. The above are all the purchasers at the first sale of land in the valley at St. Croix Falls. Sale was continued from day to day until townships 25 to 31 of ranges 19 and 20 were offered, covering the settlement of St. Anthony Falls, St. Paul, Cottage Grove, and Point Douglas. The United States land office was moved from St. Croix Falls to Stillwater in September, 1849. The first public sale of lands at Stillwater was Oct. 9, 1849. The office was held in Stillwater nine years. In October, 1858, it was moved to Cambridge, Isanti county; November 3d the first sale of lands was held at Cambridge. April 7, 1860, the office was burned, many valuable papers were destroyed, and many records were replaced from the archives at Washington. July 5, 1860, the office was moved to Sunrise, and Oct. 8, 1868, it was moved to Taylor's Falls, where it is at the present time (1888). LIST OF OFFICERS. RECEIVERS. APPOINTED. Samuel Leech 1848 N. Green Wilcox 1849 Jonathan E. McKusick 1852 William Holcomb 1853 Milton H. Abbott 1857 William H. Mower 1860 Lucas K. Stannard 1861 Oscar Roos 1871 George B. Folsom 1875 Peter H. Stolberg 1884 E. A. Umland 1887 REGISTERS. APPOINTED. Charles S. Whitney 1848 Abraham Van Voorhes 1849 A. Pierce 1852 Thomas E. Fullerton 1853 Charles G. Wagner 1857 Henry N. Setzer 1860 Granville M. Stickney 1861 Charles B. Whiting 1864 William Comer 1666 John P. Owens 1869 Lucas K. Stannard 1884 The records do not show the date of commission of any officer; we gather the dates as near as possible from recorded correspondence. TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OF WISCONSIN. Governors: Henry Dodge, 1836-41; James Duane Doty, 1841-44; N. P. Talmadge, 1844-45; Henry Dodge, 1845-48. Delegates to Congress: George W. Jones, 1836-37; James D. Doty, 1837-41; Henry Dodge, 1841-45; Morgan L. Martin, 1845-47; John H. Tweedy, 1847-48. Chief Justice: Charles Dunn, 1836-48. FIRST LEGISLATURE--REPRESENTATIVES OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. First Session, 1836--Council: Thomas P. Burnett.[G] (Rejected by a ruling of Gov. Dodge, and district left without representation.) House: James H. Lockwood, James B. Dallam. Second Session, 1837--House: Ira B. Brunson, Jean Brunet.[H] Third Session, 1838--House: Ira B. Brunson, Jean Brunet. SECOND LEGISLATURE. First Session, 1838--Council: George Wilson. House: Alex. McGregor.[I] Second Session, 1839--Council: George Wilson. House: Alex. McGregor, Ira B. Brunson. Third Session, 1839-40--Council: Joseph Brisbois. House: Alex. McGregor, Ira B. Brunson. Fourth Session, 1840--Council: Charles J. Learned. House: Alex. McGregor, Ira B. Brunson. THIRD LEGISLATURE--REPRESENTATIVES OF CRAWFORD AND ST. CROIX COUNTIES. First Session, 1840-41--Council: Charles J. Learned. House: Alfred Brunsou, Joseph R. Brown. Second Session, 1841-42--Council: Charles J. Learned. House: Joseph R. Brown, Theophilus J. LaChapelle. FOURTH LEGISLATURE. First Session, 1842-43--Council: Theophilus La Chapelle. House: John H. Manahan. Second Session, 1843-44--Council: Theophilus La Chapelle. House: John H. Manahan. Third Session, 1845--Council: Wiram Knowlton. House: James Fisher. Fourth Session, 1846--Council: Wiram Knowlton. House: James Fisher. FIFTH LEGISLATURE. First Session, 1847--Council: Benj. F. Manahan. House: Joseph W. Furber. CRAWFORD, ST. CROIX, CHIPPEWA AND LA POINTE COUNTIES. Special Session, 1847--Council: Benj. F. Manahan. House: Henry Jackson. Second Session, 1848--Council: Benj. F. Manahan. House: Henry Jackson. First Constitutional Convention, Oct. 5, 1846--Delegate from St. Croix county, Wm. Holcombe. Second Constitutional Convention, Dec. 15, 1847--Delegate from St. Croix county, George W. Brownell. STATE GOVERNMENT OF WISCONSIN. Governors: Nelson Dewey, 1848-52; L. J. Farwell, 1852-54; W. A. Barstow, 1854-56; Coles Bashford, 1856-58; Alex. W. Randall, 1858-62; Louis P. Harvey, 1862; Edward Salomen, 1862-64; James Q. Lewis, 1864-66; Lucius Fairchild, 1866-72; C. C. Washburn, 1872-74; Wm. R. Taylor, 1874-76; Harrison Luddington, 1876-78; Wm. E. Smith, 1878-82; Jeremiah Rusk, 1882-58. UNITED STATES SENATORS. Isaac P. Walker, June 8, 1848; Henry Dodge, June 8, 1848; Charles Durkee, Feb. 1, 1855; James R. Doolittle, Jan. 23, 1857; Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 23, 1861; Matt H. Carpenter, Jan. 26, 1869; Angus Cameron, Feb. 3, 1875; Philetus Sawyer, Jan. 26, 1881; John C. Spooner, Jan. 26, 1885. UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVES. From districts bordering on the St. Croix: Mason C. Darling, 1848-50; Orasmus Cole, 1850-52; Ben. C. Eastman, 1852-56; C. C. Washburn, 1856-62; Luther Hanchett, 1862-63; Walter D. McIndoe, 1863-68; C. C. Washburn, 1868-72; Jeremiah M. Rusk, 1874-78; Hiram L. Humphrey, 1878-84; Wm. T. Price, 1884-88; Nels P. Haugan, 1888. District judges presiding in territory originally included in St. Croix county: Wiram Knowlton, of Prairie du Chien, 1848-50; district--Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and La Pointe counties. S. S. Fuller, of Hudson, 1850-60; district--Pierce, St. Croix, Polk, Douglas, and La Pointe counties. Henry D. Barron, of North Pepin, 1860-61; district--Pierce, St. Croix, Polk, Douglas, Ashland, and Bayfield counties. L. P. Weatherby, of Hudson, 1861-67; district--Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, Polk, Burnett, Douglas, Bayfield, and Ashland counties. Herman L. Humphrey, of Hudson, 1867-77; district--St. Croix, Pierce, Pepin, Dunn, and Barron counties. Solon S. Clough, of Hudson, 1864-76; district--Polk, Burnett, Douglas, Ashland, and Bayfield counties. R. P. Bundy, of Menomonie, 1876-85, re-elected until 1891; district--Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce; and St. Croix counties. Henry D. Barron, of St. Croix Falls, 1876-82; district--Chippewa, Barron, Polk, Burnett, Douglas, Ashland, and Bayfield counties. Solon S. Clough, of Superior, 1882-88; district--Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Polk, and Washburn counties. R. D. Marshall, of Chippewa Falls, 1888. WISCONSIN STATE LEGISLATURE. Representatives of territory originally included in St. Croix county: First Session, 1848--Senate: Daniel S. Fenton. Assembly: W. R. Marshall. (Seat successfully contested by Joseph Bowron.) Second Session, 1849--Senate: James Fisher. Assembly: Joseph Bowron.