Part one of a short series.
An 1882 history of Houston County included a collection of occurrences that would reflect life in the county during its first three decades. One typographical error has been corrected for clarity, but the rest of the following text is quoted with the original spelling, capitalization and punctuation from that large hardbound volume. These entries are most, but not all, of those from 1854 on into 1863. The first entry is a curious combination of voting and dance partners.
The year 1854
“At the first election in the county, in the spring of 1854, at Brownsville, 126 votes were cast, and at a dance in the evening, hardly a single set of “dancable” couples could be got together.”
“The land office was located in Brownsville this year… It was moved to Chatfield in 1866.”
The year 1855
“There were seven town sites platted and recorded in the county this year, as follows: Brownsville, Hokah, Houston City, Caledonia, Spring Grove, Watertown, and Manton in La Crescent. Lots in Brownsville brought from $100 to $800.”
The Root River Steamboat Company was organized: Ole Knudson President…
“Near the close of the year, 1855, the Brown brothers, at Brownsville, got their saw-mill in operation.”
Photo submitted
The year 1856
The Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company was incorporated by an act approved March 1. It was to run from the Mississippi via Wild Cat Valley.
“On the 5th of April, Capt. J. H. McKinney’s house at Brownsville was burned, at a loss of $1,500, and no insurance.”
“The first circus in the county was at Brownsville, on the 17th of June. H. M. Smith was the proprietor.”
“Houston county had a total population of 3,000.”
The year 1857
“The first steamer was built on the Root River.”
The year 1858
“The first sorghum cane mill was put up in the county by Mr. Andrews in Wild Cat Valley.”
“The Knobloch Brothers started a brewery 1857 or ’58, in Brownsville.”
The Root River Valley Railroad was commenced.
“The first Fair of the County Agricultural Society was held.”
The year 1860
“Hokah advertised its great advantages for manufacturing, laying particular stress on its twenty-six feet water fall.”
“On Tuesday, the 14th of March, a Miss Bennett living in the house of D. L. Buell, of Caledonia, was burned to death in consequence of her clothes taking fire.”
“In December, Mr. Belden of Caledonia, began a tri-weekly mail route between that place and La Crosse.”
The year 1861
“In February, Col. McPhail, snuffing the battle afar off, issued a call from Caledonia to organize a regiment.”
“In March, the ferry charter was rescinded by the legislature, and there was great rejoicing.”
The year 1862
“The Hokah Chief, on the 16th of September, had a graphic account of the Indian War. Hon. Ignatius Donnelly reported the whole number of inhabitants killed and missing to be 382.”
“Early in the sixties, Daniel Watson, of Houston, made sorghum syrup.”
“In December, Mr. Lynn and his wife had a runaway accident in Caledonia, and he was killed.”
The year 1863
“Early in this year there were imported from Wisconsin into Portland Prairie 450 fine Merino sheep.”
“In March, there was a great freshet on the South Fork of the Root River, which, particularly in Sheldon, carried off the bridges. It was also destructive on the Root River itself.”
“On the 8th of June, Capt. Cady, of the Eighth regiment, was killed while pursuing the Sioux.”
“In 1863, the trout fishing in Union was so fine as to provoke newspaper remark.”
“In June, there was an election in La Crosse to vote aid in building railroads and bridges in Minnesota. The proposition was carried to the extent of $15,000.”
“The contract for carrying the mail from Caledonia to La Crosse, via Hokah, was awarded to Beckett & Wightman, and the service was to be tri-weekly.”
“The expedition against the Indians, under the command of Gen. Sibley, was most remorselessly criticised by the correspondents of the “Hokah Chief.” The battles that were reported from headquarters were characterized as “Battle of Big Thing,” “Battle of Couldn’t see it,” “Battle of No you don’t,” and was said to be Don Quixotic expedition of the pic-nic order.”
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