In the late 1600's to the mid 1700's the Chippewa and Sioux (Santa Fe Dakota) Indians were the major inhabitants of Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota and influenced greatly the exploration and development activity of this vast and bountiful woodland region. These Indian nations often contested the white man's intrusions into their hunting and fishing grounds. The Chippewa and the Sioux were also bitter enemies and often fought against one another for territorial dominance. To prevent hostilities these warring Indian tribes agreed to a neutral territory upon which neither side was to hunt, trap, fish, or fight. Buffalo County and the Beef River Valley were included in this zone. Early French explorers and traders learned of this neutral ground designation and used it for their own ends. This neutral zone designation served therefore in a sense as a modern day enterprise zone in that French hunters and trappers and traders may have targeted this area for economic purposes because of the abundance of game and lesser chance of altercation with the Indians. These explorations by the French and their subsequent knowledge of the area in all likelihood quickened the pace for settlement of the area once the Indian threat began to subside during the late 1700s and early 1800s. FROM PANCAKE VALLEY TO FARRINGTONS In the early and mid 1800's the Mondovi area was known as "Pancake Valley". Harvey R. Farrington, first visited this area in search of new farmland on May 29th, 1855, and was so impressed with the richness and beauty of this valley that he decided to make it his home and convinced his three brothers and a friend to do so as well. It is reported that here in Pancake Valley he found just what he was looking for; a large expanse of good soil; availability of water power; streams teaming with speckled trout; and large numbers of elk, deer, and bear roaming the surrounding countryside. Mr. Farrington's party then convinced another group of men who came into the area in search of lost horses to stake land claims here as well. The first land claims to be staked out comprised of all that land now lying west of Eau Claire Street and north of Main Street and a mile each way. Some of the land was preempted, (the practice of settling on public land to obtain the right to buy before others) and some was bought at a cost of $1.25 per acre. Harvey Farrington registered the land claims for him and others at the U.S. land office in La Crosse. After this land claim registration, this area became known as "Farringtons". EARLY LAND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY In 1858 the Farrington area was platted by Harvey P. Farrington, Lorenzo D. Farrington, and Jay Bump. Lots were offered for sale at $25.00. In 1858 this new platted village became known as Mondovi. This new name was selected from a site where a Napoleonic battle took place in Italy against the Sardinians in 1796. At the time of the start of the Civil War in 1861 there were only three houses east of the creek: Farringtons, Trowbridges, and Gordons. The first commercial building was a hotel located on the northeast corner of Main and Eau Claire Streets. The first building put up as a store was the Hawkins building on the southwest corner of Main and Eau Claire Streets. MILLS, CHEESE, AND SYRUP Mondovi's water resources became more extensively used for economic purposes in 1858 with the establishment of a grist mill to grind grain. In 1873 a second "lower" flour and feed mill was established which was also used as a machine shop and planing mill. In 1875 a cheese factory was constructed. "Leggy" Olson's sorghum mill was also in operation at this time. Many acres of sorghum were raised in Mondovi and residents "raised cane" so they could have an ample supply of Leggy Olson's syrup on hand. Stalks from the cane were used to cover the sand roads in the area. CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, MEDICINE, AND MAIL In 1867 construction of Mondovi's first church was completed by the Methodist Society with partial funding assistance of $150.00 provided by two other congregations. This church was erected on the southwest corner of Eau Claire and Hudson Streets. In 1870 the Congregational church was erected. In 1872 a Baptist Church was completed. In 1857 the first school in the Mondovi area was constructed. This school was located one and one-half miles southwest of Mondovi. The first school within the present corporate city limits was constructed on the sight of the Lincoln School. This school was a "board shanty" with a slanting roof. In 1871 this school was vacated and a new frame building was erected in its place. The first doctor to practice medicine in Mondovi was Dr. Hebard who arrived in 1877. Prior to establishing his practice in Mondovi he served as a military doctor during the Civil War. Before Dr. Hebard's coming, medical needs were largely handled by women. The medicines used were generally concoctions of liquids usually called teas brewed from roots, leaves, and in some cases blossoms of wild plants. Some of the hardy males of the community made up a "Spring Tonic" which involved soaking bark trees or shrubbery in whiskey or grain alcohol for a week or more. "Makes a Saw Horse Walk" was a boastful statement made at the time by one extolling the virtues of this particular pet tonic. In 1882 a dentist by the name of Dr. G. F. Knowles established the first dental office in Mondovi then after several years moved on to Illinois. It has been recorded that upon the departure of Dr. Knowles community residents depended upon a traveling dentist "who used mostly a pair of pliers". How far the community has come in this area is significant if you compare the pliers of the traveling dentist of the late 1800's to the Midwest Dental Care of today with their elaborate offices and laboratories located in Mondovi along with their numerous dental offices throughout the Midwest with employment of over 300. Robert Nelson settled in Mondovi in 1856 and later became the first postmaster. It is reported that his route of 1858 was to Durand and back. From Durand the mail continued on to Whitehall and then on to Sparta. Years later a stage coach mail service was available. An advertisement in the Mondovi Herald in 1879 reported that the Eau Claire and Mondovi mail line stage leaves Eau Claire at 2:00 p.m. and arrives at Mondovi the same day at 6:00 p.m. The mail stage would leave Mondovi Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings and connect with the trains at Eau Claire. CASH CROPS AND COMMERCE The period of mid to late 1800's saw much of the surrounding countryside as open pasture for deer and elk or being used by pioneer farmers of the day as oat and wheat fields. Much of the unforested area of the time was created by fire started by either the Indians to provide more natural pasture for wild game or by settlers who were interested in clearing the land for crop production. A Mondovi paper published in 1879 reported that the best wheat sold at 80 cents but many received only 40 cents to 50 cents a bushel and that nearly all the wheat raised in this community was hauled to the Alma market. The lumber industry began to take hold in the area economy in the late 1800's. Much of the farmers produce was being sold to lumber camps and mills on the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers. Local blacksmith shops, wagon shops, and livery stables also received benefits in the form of increased sales as a result of the burgeoning lumber industry. Factories began to make their presence known in Mondovi with the establishment of a cheese factory in 1875. A brick factory was also established about this time due to a rich deposit of clay near Whelandale. Mondovi's population stood at 300 people in 1876 as a result of this growth in business activity. BOOMTOWN 1884-1914 Mondovi experienced booming growth and development between 1884 and 1914. Highlights of the events and activities of this period are summarized below. 1884 - The Buffalo County Fair moved to Mondovi from Alma. 1886- Schooling arrangements consisted of four graded schools in Buffalo County. The school in Mondovi had been built in 1871 at a cost of $3,000. In 1890-91 this building burned. On March 29, 1890, the State Superintendent of Schools, J. B. Thayer issued to Jas. T. Brownlee, Clerk, a certificate to the Free High School at Mondovi. In the fall of 1891, a new high school was built on the same site of the burned building at a cost of $14,000 with a heating plant costing $2,000. 1888 - The first bank in Mondovi was established by Frank H. Dillon. Then in February 1891 F. H. Dillon and J. W. Whelan incorporated the Bank of Mondovi with a capital of $15,000. In February 1901 the bank received a charter as First National Bank of Mondovi with a capital of $25,000 and a surplus of $5,000. 1889 - Mondovi became officially incorporated. J. W. Whelan, assemblyman introduced the incorporation bill and it was approved and signed by Governor William D. Hoard. The city boundaries included the south three quarters of sections 11 and 12 and the north three quarters of sections 13 and 14 and all of Township Number 24 North, Range 11 West. The city's first mayor was B. S. Lockwood, who was elected in April 1889. 1890 - The Sault Ste. Marie and Southwestern Railroad came to Mondovi in June from Osseo. The railroad was built by N. C. Foster Fairchild. As a condition for construction of the railroad to Mondovi he required a bonus payment to be paid for from the city and Town of Mondovi. 1892 - The Mondovi Creamery Association was formed. 1894 - The Mondovi Fire Department was organized with a volunteer membership of 42. 1895 - The population of Mondovi stood at 928, an 85% increase since 1890 when the population stood at 503. 1895 - The extension of electricity and lighting to residences in the city was completed by N. K. Fisher and Son. By 1898 power was furnished by the Lockwood Electric Light Company which reportedly had assets valuing $8,000. Generating equipment consisted of two dynamos operated by a 40 horsepower corliss engine. 1896 - A stage coach line was being operated between Mondovi and Alma. The stage coach would leave Mondovi at 6:00 a.m. and arrive in Alma at noon. 1898 - The population of Mondovi increased to 1,100. Nationalities represented included English, Irish, Scotch, French, German, Norwegian, and Polish. 1900 - The city's population grew to 1,208. 1902 - The city's first public water supply system was installed consisting of a 180,000 gallon capacity reservoir, a power house, 415 foot deep well, and 17,000 feet of main was completed at a cost of $19,051. A public sewer system was also installed at this time at a cost of $4,152. 1904 - Mondovi was gaining national recognition as a draft horse center through the purchase of several businessmen of a Percheon stallion named Greely. This stallion provided foundation stock for this business. The area was also known at this time as a dairy center as well as for production of wool and pork. Mondovi, for a considerable length of time, was the heaviest livestock shipping point on the Wisconsin Division of the Omaha Railway Company. Total shipments ran as high as 600 cars per year. 1904 - The Mondovi Telephone Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $24,000. 1906 - The first passenger automobile made its way down the sandy streets of the city. 1913 - The city's first hospital was established. The hospital was formerly a popular boarding house located where the Gillette Hospital was located. 1914 - Installation of electrical lighting on the city's streets occurred. The Mondovi Light and Power Company installed a 400 candle power lamp at each of the four principal intersections in the city. This was followed in 1915 with the first piece of permanent street pavement nine feet wide and extending from the east city limits to the west on U.S. Highway 10 for 2000 feet. Acknowledgments for most of the above information is owed to the various authors whose writings on Mondovi's history were published in the Mondovi's Centennial 1855-1955 - Mondovi's Turn of Century. Acknowledgements are also owed to the late Houser Rockwell - principal author of West Central Wisconsin and Mondovi Area History published in 1988 by the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with assistance provided by the Mondovi Area Historical Society. |
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