Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Northern Wisconsin pub: The Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1881 [page 168] BUFFALO CITY This city is situated in the southeastern part of the county, on the Mississippi River; was first settled by MATHIAS HAMMER and JOHN C. WECKER, in 1853, who erected a log shanty, and were engaged in cutting cord-wood and trading, on a small scale, with the Indians. They remained here only a short time. In 1856, a Cincinnati colony, com- posed of FREDERICK PHEIFFER, GEORGE MESSINGER, ROBERT STROMANN, and others, imagining that this place offered facilities and guarantees for a thriving and permanent business, purchased the land where Buffalo City now stands, from RUDOLF KOCKWELP, JOHN BAUMANN, WILLIAM SNOOK, JACOB MUELLER, and ______ YAGER, and laid out and platted a village site, ROBERT STROMANN doing the surveying. In April, 1856, LEOPOLD ARNDT, now a resident of Buffalo City, came to Buffalo City, and assisted in laying out the village and making the contracts for the land. MR. ARNDT subsequently purchased a lot and built the first frame house in the place, procuring his lumber from Foun- tain City. Later in this year came FREDERICK KIRCHNER, JOACHIM GOETTINGER, and a MR. BECKER, who were engaged in chopping down the trees and clearing out the streets for the Cincinnati Colony. When MR. YAGER first came, and the village plat was laid out, he built a log house, and these men all lived in that while doing this work. In 1857 came HERMAN SCHRAEDER, HENRY BUSDECKER, GEORGE REIDER, FERDINAND HORSt, and FRANZ HUEBSCH. These men mostly worked at the carpenter's trade, in the construction of new houses. In 1858, one MICHAEL, an agent for EDWARD GUNKLE, a baker in Cincinnati, arrived in the embryo city, and at once commencedthe erection of a saw-mill, which was completed and put into operation in the Fall of the same year. The next year, in 1859, EDWARD GUNKLE came himself, and erected a flouring-mill in connection with his saw-mill, the same engine furnishing the motive power for both. From this date the population increased very rapidly, and on every hand were evidences of civil- ization, and from appearances then, this was soon to be- come the metropolis of the county. The first death occurred in the Winter of 1857-8, and was MR. BECKER. He was buried on an island in the Missi- ssippi River. The first marriage ceremony was performed in 1859 by John P. Stein, the contracting parties being MICHAEL DAMM and ANNIE KATHTHALER. The first store was opened by CHARLES SCHAETTLE, in 1859. The post-office was also established during this year, with MR. SCHAETTLE as postmaster, who kept it in his store. The first blacksmithing was done by JOSEPH MATTAUSCH, who built a shop and commenced business in 1859. The first school was taught in the Spring of 1859, in the dwelling house of MR. SCHAETTLE. LAWRENCE KESSINGER was the first teacher. In the Fall of 1859, the first school-house was built. Their present school- house was built in 1876, at a cost of $1,400. The first religious services were held at different places in the village in 1860, by preachers who came from elsewhere. The place is at present supplied with two neat little churches - the German Lutheran, built in 1866, at a cost of $400. The dedicatory sermon was preached by REV. MR. STRUVE. It has at present no resi- dent priest, the pulpit being supplied by a minister from Fountain City. The German Catholic was built in 1868, at a cost of $1,200, the dedicatory sermon being preached by REV. SPITZELBERGER. By an act of the State Legislature, approved March 18, 1859, Buffalo City was incorporated as a city, and has since maintained a separate municipal existence. FRED- ERICK PFEIFFER was the first Mayor, CHARLES SCHAETTLE, CHARLES KESSINGER, GEORGE SCHRAEDER, HERMAN SCHRAEDER, EDWARD GUNKLE and GEORGE GAAT were the Aldermen. At this time the city was divided into two wards, but now there is only one. The present officers are FRANZ HUEBSCH, mayor; CHARLES OTT, JOHN HOEVEL, JACOB HILLMANN and LEONARD KACHENDOERFER, aldermen; LEOPOLD ARNDT, chief of police. A city hall was built in 1862, at a cost of $2,000. The population of the city is 248. ===========================================================================