Educators’ Guide

Section 3

Ferryville, Wisconsin

THE STORY OF FERRYVILLE

Mrs. Armin Bergelin, Historian

Ferryville, Wisconsin

1969

The village of Ferryville is the only one plotted within the town limits of Freeman except a part of DeSoto. Ferryville is located on Section 16 in Town 10 of Range 6W on the Mississippi River. It was platted about 1858 by T.W. Tower and William McAuley and an addition in 1867 by Watts and Dayton.

It was called Ferryville as the proprietor intended to establish a ferry between that point and Lansing, Iowa at which place transfers were made from river packets from St. Louis and St. Paul.

Lewis Helgerson kept the first store in the place. Other merchants who located there were W.R. Hopkins, William J. Langford, Henry Henderson, King Haggerty, John A. Haggerty, Mike Dolan, Bill Hagerty, Churness and Runice, G.C. Lucey and Company, Peter Jensen, C. Knutson and Robert M. Johnston.

Fred Copsey who was employed by the Haggerty store from 1890 for many years then took over the Haggerty lumber business, which now continues as the Knutson Lumber Company.

Alfred Kendall commenced an auto sales, general repair and farm machinery business. At this time it is continued by LaVerne Emerson as Ferryville garage.

The Ferryville Creamery Company was organized by local farmers in 1909, which is continued since 1942 by Armin A. Bergelin as the Ferryville Cheese Company Inc. with customers for dairy products over the entire country.

Charles Huffschmidt, Prairie du Chien and a Norwegian firm bought grain for a time here. The place existed for about six years and then went into decay.

Thomas Laurence, a resident of Freeman, Crawford County, Wisconsin was, with his father, an early resident of Vernon County, owning a farm near Liberty Pole which was first occupied by John McCulloch the first settler of Vernon County. His father, James Laurence, located at Liberty Pole, July 5, 1851.

James Laurence was born in Monmouthshire, England in 1809. He moved with his family to the town of Freeman, Crawford County, being the first settler in the neighborhood and where he resided until his death, August 23, 1883. Father Laurence, as he was called, was a member of the Bible Christian Church in England. His name remains a prominent one in pioneer history of Crawford and Vernon Counties.

Dorsey P. Ames came from Ohio in the fall of 1854 with John Rutter, Samuel and Amon E. Davis. He was born in Guerney County, Ohio in 1820. Mr. Ames’ parents, Absolm and Margaret Ames, were natives of Washington County, Pennsylvania. They came to Crawford County in 1859 and lived there until their deaths.

John Rutter settled in 1855. He came with his family however in the fall of 1854 in company with Dorsey Elmer and Samuel and Amon Davis. He was born in Green County, Pennsylvania March 14,1812.

Joseph E. McCrillis is one of the early settlers of Crawford County. He settled in 1874. Mr. McCrillis was born in the town of Topshem, Orange County, Vermont in 1808.

Alexander Young resided on Section36, Town 11, and Range 7 town of Freeman in 1856. Mr. Young was born in County Derry in the northern part of Ireland in 1818

Elind T. Bishop bought a piece of land in the fall of 1855. His maternal grandfather was a brother of the grandfather of eminent showman P.T. Barnum.

Henry Helgerson resided on Section 2, Town 10, Range 5W, a native of Norway, and came to the U.S. in 1856. Henry Helgersen was born in Norway on February 17, 1832. He came to the U.S. in 1857, the year following his father’s immigration to this country.

Henry T. James had been a resident of Freeman town since 1856. Mr. James was born at Bristol, Rhode Island in 1812.

Henry Eitsert resided on Section 9, Town 10, Range 5W where he settled in 1860 purchasing the farm of Herman Hulce, who bought the land June 25,1855. Henry Eitsert was born in Prussia in 1835. He came to this country with his father. In 1857 he purchased a farm on Sugar Creek.

Tosten T. Sime, son of Andrew Sime, settled on the farm Section 10, Town 10, Range 5W in 1861. Andrew Sime was a native of Norway. He was born in 1830. He came to the U.S. at the age of 27 and died in the fall of 1864. He came to Crawford County from Dane County, Wisconsin.

Veranus E. Akin resided on Section23, Town 11, and North of Range6W where he settled in 1861. He was born in Dartsmouth, Massachusetts in 1821. In 1859 he entered a tract of land in the town of Freeman. Mr. Akin has been thrice married. His first wife was Marenda Bourne whom he married in 1849. She died in 1856. His second wife was Juliette Defued whom he married in 1861. She died in 1881. His third wife was Maggie Seymour whom he married in 1882.

Peter Bartholomew, proprietor of a livery stable at DeSoto, was a native of Ohio. He was born in 1837. In 1848 he moved with his parents to Highland, Iowa County, Wisconsin. In 1861 he came to DeSoto, Vernon County. In 1862 he enlisted in the 25^th Wisconsin Infantry and served 3 years after which he returned to DeSoto.

Ralph Copper had been a resident of Crawford County since 1854 when he located in Utica town and a citizen of the town of Freeman since 1862. His farm is located on Section 31, Town 11, north of Range5W and was first entered by a man named Sweeny, father-in-law of Henry Sifrit both of whom were early settlers of Freeman town. Mr. Copper’s brother, Charles, came several years later and resided here for a time, then moved to DesMoines, Iowa where he died. A cousin George Copper came and settled in Ferryville where he lived until he died. Ralph Copper was born in 1814 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

John H. Tower Sr. was born in the town of Hingham, Massachusetts in 1793. John H. Tower Sr. entered land in 1854 and with the assistance of his two sons, John H. and Thomas, laid out and platted the village of Towerville. This was in the spring of 1855. Previous to this, they had erected a gristmill on what was then the most modern plan and it was started December 15, 1854. John H. Sr. died in April 1856.

John H. Tower Jr. was born at Underhill, Vermont in March 1819. After coming to Crawford County, he was associated with his father in the erection of the gristmill, but about the time of its completion disposed of its interests and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1866 he came to the town of Freeman and purchased the grist mill on Section 27, Town 11, North of Range 6W.

William Davis was born in Knox County, Indiana in 1826. In 1854 he went to Vernon County, Wisconsin and resided on a farm there until 1872. He then came to Crawford County settling on land, which he purchased from Mrs. T. Wightman on Section 16, Town 10 Range 6W, Freeman town. Mr. Davis was justice of the peace of Freeman town for several years.

The early settlers of Ferryville called it “Humble Bush”. Its later name came about when a group decided to establish a ferryboat line between the tiny hamlet and the important settlement of Lansing, a short distance upstream on the opposite banks of the river in Iowa

The earliest known white settlers were two men named Sanburn and Stillwell who were horse traders and trainers and built a racetrack to train their animals. They also built the first house on the site of the future village.

Thomas D. Tower and William McAuley laid out and platted the village in 1858. The Waukon, Iowa law firm of Watts and Dayton added to the original plan in 1866 and 1867.

Among the earliest settlers were William Protsman and a Babcock family. Then there was George L. Hutson who came from Galena, Illinois with several other early settlers in the employ of a lumberman and land speculator named John Ross. Ross owned large tracts of land in the county around 1858.

Those who either came with or followed Hutson included Martin and Casper Lough, Tim and Bart Keneich, William Mepton, Jake Bates and Sanford Whitman.

Louis Helgerson is said to have opened the first store in 1865 0r 1866. Sherman Van Winters, Knute Burgess and William Landford were other pioneer merchants and Martin Finley was probably the town’s first blacksmith.

William Hutson was the first postmaster in 1866 followed by W.J. Landford, William Kelton, William Davis, John Campbell and W.T. Robertson.

The village’s early importance dates from the beginning of wheat growing and trading in the area and soon a large warehouse was built and operated by Charles Huffschmidt on the bank of the Winneshiek.

T.C. Ankeny and Jesse Hayden built a second warehouse, which was later succeeded by George L. Hutson.

The village suffered a severe blow in September 1873, when it was hit by a tornado that wrecked both warehouses and damaged most residences.

The town began recovering in the early 1880’s and about this time Henry Henderson started a general store. T.T. Thompson operated a hotel above this basement store. Henderson built a large store building across from the hotel in 1883.

Then the railroad came through and King and Haggerty Company bought out the John Grace Grain Business. W.T. Robertson was a grain buyer about the same time N. Dolan and Company arrived and established a store and grain warehouse.

A two-room school was built around the turn of the century to replace the one-room building used during the early years. Later a third room was added.

The Ferryville Cooperative Creamery was established in 1911, as was the Ferryville State bank. The creamery was later sold and is now a cheese factory. The bank erected a new building in 1956.

In 1912 the citizens received a charter from the state incorporating the community as a village.

Everybody meets on Main Street. Main Street is Highway 35 “Great River Road” and except for one or two short off roads, is the only thoroughfare in the entire village. It’s a long one, more than a mile built on a narrow bench between the high bluffs and the broad river below.

A second narrow bench directly below Main Street fronts upon the Mississippi River and carries the Burlington Railroad tracks. A few houses are perched on the hillside, but most share the long Main Street frontage with business places.

This 110-year-old village has only 197 inhabitants today, but it has a community spirit and outlook unique for a village this size.

Ferryville in Crawford County was incorporated as a village in 1912 and is governed by a village board which currently is composed of LaVerne Hutson, President; Harvey Klinger, Clerk; Mrs. Harvey Klinger, Treasurer; and Albert Knutson and Clarence Hiam Trustees. Frank R. Garvey represents the village on the Crawford County Board.

The village has no central water supply or sanitary sewer system, but it does have a volunteer fire department and a new pump truck. Stuart Johnson is fire chief.

The elementary school is located on a high bank on Main Street and is part of the De Soto Area School District. It also employs three teachers.

Robert Dyer is the postmaster here and Douglas Egge is the rural mail carrier.

Frank R. Garvey is president of the bank and a long-time businessman. He has been with the bank since 1914. Harvey L. Klinger is cashier.

The Ferryville Cheese Factory was purchased by Mr. And Mrs. Bergelin from William Becker in 1946. A new store addition was added in 1964.

The original fish market is closed. John Diehl built and is operating a new market about one mile north of town.

There are two motels; one is operated by Norma Hill and the other by Mr. And Mrs. Klinger.

There are three taverns and restaurants. They are Mary’s Bar operated by Mr. And Mrs. Sam Goplin, Sportsman’s Bar operated by Mr. And Mrs. Fred Hillman and the Swing Inn operated by Mr. And Mrs. Dale Beatty.

There is one store operated by Mr. And Mrs. Robert Johnston, which they purchased in 1946.

Jim Finley is operating the Ferryville Implement Company.

There are three service stations operated by LaVern Emerson, Bernard Neary and Martin Anderson.

The Ferryville Feed Store is operated by Orvin Knutson and Kenneth Knutson operates the portable feed grinder.

There is a river guide service provided by John Diehl, LaVerne Hutson and Tom Hill.

Ferryville Stockyards The railroad built the yard about 1900 with shipments going entirely to Chicago. Early shipments were possibly made by members of the Equity Society managed by John C. Olson and later for his own account. When the Chicago Livestock Market was quarantined in 1914, George Wild and Adolph Rundnick came from Iowa and bought large numbers of cattle for the Kansas City market. They later made their headquarters at Ferryville with Mr. Wild taking over the business alone. It was one of the most active markets in this part of Wisconsin branching to De Soto, Genoa and Red Mound. When Stanley Wild was discharged from the Navy after WWI, he became a partner with his father. After Mr. Wild’s death, Stanley continued the business until the present time but only at Ferryville. Stanley Wild built a yard south of town for trucks; the railroad discontinued its yards.

Ferryville Auto Sales Peter Lach came from Downers Grove, Illinois in 1963 and bought a farm on Highway C. In February of 1966 he opened a used car lot in Ferryville. It was located in the south end of town.

Lach Realty - Mrs. Anita Lach received her broker’s license to sell real estate in 1969 and operates out of an office at Ferryville Auto Sales.

Ferryville Booster Club The club started in June of 1961. The Booster Club’s main objective is to promote the town. The biggest project that they had was the park in which they cleared land, built picnic tables, fireplaces, etc. The present officers are Harvey Klinger, President; James Johnston, Vice President; Robert Johnson, Treasurer; and Douglas Egge, Secretary. There are also four directors. They have a meeting once a month. There are about 40 members.

Copied by Theresa Yaeger 2003