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 164-166] FOUNTAIN CITY This village is situated in the southern part of the county, nestled among the cliffs on the bank of the Missi- ssippi River. The place has the honor of being the seat of civilazation for Buffalo County. For a time after the first settlement here, the Indians remained in undisturbed possession of the territory, within the present limits of the county, The place now occupied by Fountain City, was neutral ground to the surrounding tribes, - the Winnebagos, Chippewas and Sioux. Dangerous ground it consequently proved to either tribe, for peace and friendship were un- natural among them, and this was the scene of many fear- ful contests - a fact demonstrated by the number of skele- tons found within the village, buried in every conceivable position. We may well credit the description given by the first settlers of the last fight between the Chippewas and the Winnebagos. The Winnebagos had brought their furs to the log cabin (torn down by CHARLES NEIMAN in 1875) and were engaged in trading, when suddenly the Chippewas burst from the thicket, and with furious yells and random shots, drove their enemies down the river. The informant says: "The balls whizzed through my windows; the devils howled like madmen. It was getting dark, and things looked uncomfortable, so I retired to a safe corner in the cellar. In the morning the Chippewas had disappeared, but we buried a dozen or more scalpless corpses. The very springs looked bloody to me for a week afterwards." The early settlers at Fountain City had but little trouble with the Indians; they did beg and steal, and did occasionally frighten women and children away from their homes and clear the pantry of all eatables; yet they were never dangerous to them even in the bloody time of the New Ulm massacre. The first white man who occupied the site of the village of Fountain City was HOLME, a true western pioneer, to whom a life in the wilderness was a necessity, and the restraints of law and civilization a burden. ADAM WEBER found him here in 1841, trading with the Indians. Comfortable and indepen- dent he claims to have been here fifteen years previous to WEBER'S arrival. But his happiness vanished when white faces became familiar in his domain, and a few years later he sold his squatter right, to HENRY GEORKE, and moved with his squaw and children toward the setting sun, where neither ax nor plow might disturbe his solitude. CAPTAIN HARRIS, of Galena, during those days made monthly trips in the season of navi- gation to Fort Snelling, and he employed ADAM WEBER in the Winter of 1841, to cut cord wood for the use of his boats. The lonely life pleased MR. WEBER and the next Winter found him in his shanty in the woods. Soon some of his friends from Galena followed him, viz.: HENRY GEORKE, JOHN MANZENER, CHRISTIAN WENGER, RUDOLPH BEIMER, VICTOR PROBST, ANDREAS BAERTSCH, and CLAUS LIESCH, then all young men of enterprise and courage, to whom a life in the wilderness had a natural charm; they built a row of log cabins along the shore and "Holme's Landing" became a stopping place for boats in the Summer, and travelers in the Winter, as well as the trading point for supplies of all kinds. In 1845, MR. GEORKE brought his bride from Galena, and MRS. GEORKE, now Mrs. BODENSTAB, has the honor of being the first white woman in Buffalo County. The place where HENRY TECKENBURG now lives was her first home, and for a time, hers was the only hospitable roof between Wabasha and La Crosse. Business at Holme's Landing was simply the sale of cord wood and furs. Trading with the Indians, hunting and fishing, provided for the wants of the early settlers. To follow thegrowth and struggles of this young community would lengthen this sketch to tedious- ness, but it would be incomplete without mentioning a few incidents which at the time excited universal interest, and also the names of those who were the first to aid in the ad- vancement of the social and material welfare. In 1854, the village ground was laid out, and the vener- able name "Holme's Landing" thrown aside, and "Waumandee" adopted, after the Indian name for the "beautiful stream" above the village; but the strange name never became pop- ular, and was soon abandoned for the present appropriate name, suggested by the numerous springs found in the bluff, in the rear of the village. Slowly and gradually the Indian trails gave way to public roads; the slippery log across the creek was thrown aside; bridges were built and travel- ing made comparatively easy. The streets of the village assumed a civilized appearance; the logs, and stumps, and rocks disappeared; patient and persevering industry were beginning to tell. Previous to 1854, HENRY GEORKE, bought and opened a store. HENRY TECKENBURG purchased the store and busi- ness of MR. GEORKE in 1854, paying for his stock, the sum of $28. MR. TECKENBURG brought the first stock of general merchandise to Fountain City. The first school was taught in the Winter of 1854-5, in a log house owned by JOHN BEUHLER; the teacher being MRS. J. R. PENNEY. The first school-house was built of brick by HENRY TECKENBURG in 1859, and is now standing. THERISSA GEORKE, a daughter of HENRY GEORKE (now MRS. FUGINA), was the first white child born in the place. The first brewery was built and run by ALOIS KATLER, in 1855. The post-office was opened at this point, in 1854, with JAMES M. PIERCE, as Postmaster. He has been suc- ceeded in the Postmastership by HENRY TECKENBURG, from 1855 to 1857: R. W. FEIGL, 1857 to 1858; HENRY TECKEN BURG, 1858 to 1861; AUGUSTUS FINKELNBURG, 1861 to 1862; M. W. HAMMAN, 1862 to 1863; SELMAR CARTHAUSER, 1863 to 1870; FRED MORCKEL, 1870 to 1873; JOHN MAUER, 1873 to 1874; TOBIAS VOEGLI, 1874 to the present time. The business of the county was first attended to at Fountain City. The county seat was subsequently moved to Upper Fountain City, which was situated on the prairie point, about three miles above the village. It did not remain long there, but returned to Fountain City, and in 1859, a court-house was built at a cost of $8oo. This old court-house is now the Eagle Hotel. In 1860, the county seat was removed to Alma. The present commodious school-house, the largest in the county, was erected in 1867, at a cost of $7,oco. This they may well be proud of, as well as the number of children assembled there in the four departments, and the management of the school and the wise liber- ality of the citizens, who all seem to appreciate the value of a good school education. In 1875 another school- house was built by the Catholic residents, and placed under the care of Nuns belonging to the order of Saint Franciscus. June 1, 1861, is the memorable day that the red, white and blue flag was presented to the brave men who stepped forward at the first call of our hero President, to pro- tect the stars and stripes from southern insult. These we will never forget to thank, as well as the noble boys who followed their example whenever our country called for help. The town of Buffalo formerly included the village of Alma but in 1870, the Legislature granted them a charter for a separate municipal organization, and since then they may proudly point to the management of their village affairs as a model of honesty and prudence, under the rule of their worthy Presidents, J. B. OENNING, for four years; J. J. SENN, for two years; G. G. OPPLIGER, for two years; FERDINAND HUEFNER, one year; HENRY TECKENBURG, two years; AUGUSTUS FINKELNBURG, two years, and their present President, HENRY ROETLIGER. In 1871 they organized a fire department, consisting of a hook and ladder company, hose company and an engine com- pany. They now have, one hook and ladder truck and equip- ments, one fire engine and about 1.500 feet of hose. The water supply consists of two large cisterns The Turnverein was organized in April, 1858, and in 1859 the built a commodious hall, at a cost of about $700. In 1877 this hall was torn down and rebuilt on its present site. A singing society was also organized during this same year. A German dramatic club was organized in 1859, and the shooting society was instituted in 1863 and incorporated in 1869. The Turner Hall is now occupied by both the turn- ers and shooting societies. These societies are all in a prosperous condition. A.O.U.W., Fountain City Lodge, No. 13, was organized by MATTHIAS SIMON, September 28, 1877, with ten charter mem- bers. It is now a thriving institution, and numbers fifty members. Its present officers are: JOHN SCHNITZ, P. M. W.; TOBIAS VOEGLI, M. W.; MARTIN NICK, foreman; JACOB BAER, Jr., O.; CHRISTIAN FLORIN, recorder; MARTIN FEURHACK, financier; HENRY BEHLMER, receiver; JACOB HENNEY, G.; JOSEPH MATTAUSCH, I. W.; GEORGE FUCHS, O. W. I.O.O.F., Steuben Lodge, No. 280, was instituted March 8, 1878, by THEODORE RODOLF, P. G. M., with the assist- ance of the German lodge at Winona, Minn. It was insti- tuted with five charter members, and now has sixty-one. Eagle Brewery. - In 1873, JOHN KOSCHUETZ established a brewery, since which time he has added new buildings and increased its capacity. He now manufactures, on an aver- age, 1,000 barrels per year. This institution represents an outlay of about $8,000. A Soda Water Manufactory was established by FRED. HEPP, in 1873, and is now doing a thriving and prosperous busi- ness. Saw-Mill. - In 1854, EDMUND BISHOP built a saw-mill, with a capacity of 12,000 feet per day. He ran it until 1856, when he disposed of it to SLINGLUFF, CARPENTER & Co., BOHN, GRANT & Co. came into possession of it in 1864. After operating it for a few years, it was shut down, and in 1877 purchased by its present owner, HENRY TECKENBURG. In 1879 he put it into running order, and now employs, in the manufacture of lumber, about sixteen men. The lumber is all retailed at the mill. Fountain City may well feel proud of her three handsome churches, the Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist. The Catho- lic Church was built in 1860, at a cost of $4,000, and now has a membership of about 100 families, the Lutheran was built in 1863, and has a membership of about 180; it cost about $2,500. The Methodist Society was formed in 1865, and their church built in 1874, at a cost of $2,000. The village of Fountain City is compactly built under picturesque bluffs close to the Mississippi, and its substantial brick houses, clean streets and green gardens, present a picture of quiet comfort, and show what strides the place has made from an unbroken wilderness to an abode of civilized life. ===========================================================================