The City of Mosinee was first called
Little Bull Falls. The surrounding area was a dense forest inhabited by an
abundance of wild animals. The untamed Wisconsin River, with its large rocks and
boulders, went roaring and swirling past. The banks were barely able to hold
back the raging water.
Little Bull Falls became Mosinee on July 22, 1857, when the post office
was officially designated. Soon more people came bringing new ideas. Openings
appeared in the dense forest. Farms were started, buildings grew, and churches
were built.
Mosinee's first business was a sawmill started in 1836. Soon after, businesses such as a boarding house grocery store, a shoe shop, a saloon, a tannery, a grist mill, and a blacksmith shop opened. Lumber was an important business at that time. Large rafts called cribs were floated down the wild Wisconsin River. Sometimes as many as ten men a year lost their lives working the rafts.
After coming to Marathon County, Henry B. GARDNER (1832-1864) worked in the pineries and at lumbering and logging, was for some years engaged in shingle manufacturing, and for several years conducted a hotel called the "Prairie House," about four miles north of Mosinee on the Wausau and Stevens Point Road.
Mosinee's first constable was
elected in 1889. The first high school began in 1902. A bank was built in 1905.
A volunteer fire department was formed, also. Walking was the most
common mode of travel. Alternatives would be to hire a man, a team of horses,
and a lumber wagon at the speed of 5 to 10 miles per hour or you could catch a
ride on the mail wagon. Finally a platform spring wagon was put into service
until the Concord (stage) Coach, drawn by four horses came into the scene.
In 1875, the railroad was put past Mosinee to Wausau and train service
called the " The Iron Horse" began.Three steamboat enterprises were
started between Mosinee and Stevens Point but all failed to make a profit and
shut down operations.
Charles A. GARDNER was educated in the public schools of Mosinee, Marathon Co., WI. He was a prominent merchant of Mosinee, Marathon Co., and senior member of the firm of C. GARDNER & Co. Charles A. GARDNER engaged in lumbering and agricultural pursuits until July 1887. In May 1887, Mr. GARDNER, in conjunction with his brothers George F. (or Fernando George) and Henry A. (or Alonzo Henry) embarked in mercantile pursuits. In 1890 George F. and Henry A. retired from the business and Charles A. GARDNER formed a co-partnership with Louis DESSERT and Frank McREYNOLDS, under the present firm name of C. GARDNER & Co.
"Early and Late Mosinee" by Edgar E. Ladu, published ___ page 22 mentioned "the splendid palace now owned and controlled by C. A. Gardner stands, and was known as the Whitelaw house."
Page 73: "In the year 1883 Robert
Freeman entered into partnership with Frank Fellows of Mosinee, under the firm
name of Fellows & Freeman, for the purpose of engaging in the lumber
manufacturing industry. They built a sawmill on four mile creek, six miles north
of Mosinee, where they owned quite an extensive tract of fine timber lands. They
operated this mill with success for about fourteen years. Then they sold out the
sawmill property to the Gardner Brothers." "....the lumber mill
of Charles A. GARDNER and his two brothers was situated about six
miles from Mosinee."
Early and Late Mosinee" by Edgar E. LaDu continued. Page 185: Third street
is one of the long streets, reaching as it does from Buchanan to Fremont street
and the picnic grounds. We find on this street twenty-eight private residences.
The most conspicuous is the large modern residence of Mr. Louis Dessert, one of
the stockholders and manager of the Joseph Dessert Lumber Company, and also a
member of the Mosinee, Land, Log & Timber Company. This company operates a
sawmill seven miles north of the village. Mr. Dessert is also president of the
village of Mosinee, a position that is of great responsibility and influence.
Mr. Frank McReynolds, another member of the company, has his beautiful up-to-date
dwelling on this street."
". . .Fourth street has forty private residences. It is the most populous
street of the village. There is no very noticeable structure with the exception
of the late deceased C. A. Gardner, which is certainly a beautiful home.
All the dwellings on this street are neat and tidy."
Page 194: "We will now go back to Main street and take a look at the C.O.D.
store of David Doherty, successor to the late deceased C. A. Gardner."
Page 218: The biography of Arden Paronto includes: "In 1900 he came to
Mosinee and accepted a position as salesman for Mr.
C. A. Gardner in his
mercantile establishment. He remained with Mr. Gardner for two years, and then
concluded to start in business for himself."
Politically Mr. GARDNER is a stanch Republican and he served as President of
the village of Mosinee one term; socially he is a member of the Modern
Woodmen of America. He is a live, progressive business man, enjoys the esteem
not only of the residents of Mosinee, but of all who are acquainted with him,
and his high character and genial qualities have made him generally popular.
"Early and Late Mosinee" by
Edgar E. LaDu, pages 75-76.
"O. E. and O. A. Priest
"Orin Elliot Priest came to
Wisconsin and settled in the township of Mosinee in 1853. He moved from
Cattaraugus county, New York. He was located there on the Indian reservation on
the Allegheny river, two miles up the river from the mouth of Little Valley
Creek, where it empties into the river. The mills that he owned and operated
there were known as the Hemlock Mills. Their location was on the south bank of
the river, not far from the east end of the city of Salamanca, which city at
that date was not in existence.
He bought land and erected his dwelling about four miles north of Mosinee, on
the southline road. He followed his trade of millwright for a term of years. In
1867 he lost his wife and he took up his residence with his daughter Mrs. Ellen
R. Gardner, wife of Henry B. GARDNER.
With her he made his home until his death, which occurred in September, 1889.
"Orin Alonzo Priest the son of Orin
E. Priest was born December 13th, 1835 in Cattaraugus county, New York. He
came to Mosinee in 1854, one year after his parents, and on April 29, 1857 was
united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Robbins of Mosinee. To them have been born
five children; Harvey A. born Feb. 6th, 1858, Oscar E. born March 11, 1861,
Ester E. born April 26, 1866, Anna M. born July 26th, 1871, Mary E. born Oct.
26th, 1876.
"Mr. Priest on July 16th, 1861 enlisted in the army and was mustered out
June 7th, 1865. As a veteran, having served his country nearly four years, he
was engaged in several hard fought battles and was in the battle of Gettysburg.
He was one of the Iron brigade under the command of the famous General Bragg. On
his release from the army he returned to his home in the town of Mosinee where
he still continues to reside. His long term of service and the exposure and
hardships of a soldier's life in the line of duty were so wearing upon the
constitution that he has suffered more or less from the time of his discharge
and has with great difficulty been able to manage his business successfully. He
is one of the old landmarks of Mosinee township of old times and is known
throughout its extent. He is a thorough, rather radical, republican in politics,
is a good talker and believes what he advocates. The family religiously lean
towards the Methodist Episcopal persuasion."
Pages 121-122: Listed among the other Civil War soldiers from Mosinee
are:
O. A. Priest
Henry B. Gardner
Joseph Robbins - (Father of Julie Robbins Priest)
King Young - (Brother-in-law of Julie Robbins Priest)