Early days in Bayfield & Douglas Counties, WI, are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this 40-page 8 1/2" x 11" spiral-bound booklet, printed single-sided on 60 # opaque paper. The front cover is a parchtex card stock, protected with a vinyl sheet. The information comes from a rare 1881 book, entitled History of Northern Wisconsin and from the 1941 WPA book, entitled Wisconsin, a Guide to the Badger State .
Communities currently listed for this area by the National Association of Counties include: Bayfield County Barksdale, Barnes, Bayfield, Bayview, Bell, Benoit, Cable, Clover, Cornucopia, Delta, Drummond, Eileen, Grand View, Herbster, Hughes, Iron River, Kelly, Keystone, Lincoln, Mason, Namakagon, Orienta, Oulu, Pilsen, Port Wing, Russell, Tripp, Washburn (County Seat); Douglas County Amnicon, Barnes, Bennett, Brule, Cloverland, Dairyland, Foxboro, Gordon, Hawthorne, Highland, Lake Nebagamon, Lakeside, Maple, Oakland, Oliver, Parkland, Poplar, Solon, Springs, South Range, Summit, Superior (County Seat), Wascott, Wentworth. (Some towns are not mentioned in the booklet.)
Among the many subjects included are: Location and Natural Resources; Father Alloiiez' visit in 1665; Chippewa Indians; Elisha Pike and other early settlers; County organization, 1859 and 1881 officials; a 1765 description of Bayfield (the original county seat); Improvements in transportation; fires; schools; churches; Saw-mills; Fishery; Newspapers; the land office; the site of Superior City; businesses; an account of a journey to Douglas county in 1854 and other early memories; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.
Attention Genealogists: In addition to the many names mentioned in the booklet, there are a few biographies of Bayfield County residents of the late 1800s. Some of these are brief, but others include family members, affiliations, war records, and business activities, in the course of which they often shed light on area businesses, churches, professions and institutions, and on news events. Those listed are: Chauncey T. Andreas, John Banfill, Louis J. Bachand, N. Boutin, Frank Boutin, Duffey Boutin, J.B. Bono, James Chapman (pix), Col. J.D. Cruttenden, Fred. Fischer, J. Patrick Howley, A.C. Hayward, Col. John H. Knight (pix), Alonzo Knight, Ervin Leihy, Mrs. Anna Ley, Samuel E. Mahan, J.H. Nourse (pix), Capt. R.D. Pike, Russell Roberts, Capt. P.W. Smith, Andrew Tate, B.B. Wade, Mrs. L. M. Whittlesey.
The excerpt from the WPA book has a large section on the city of Superior, including a map with Points of Interest designated. Although out of date as a tour book, these WPA guides are rich in history and trivia. The tours visit Drummond in the Chequamegon National Forest, Cable, Solon Springs, Dairyland, Iron River, Brule, James Bardon Park, Washburn, Bayfield, the Apostle Islands, etc.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift?
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