Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin,
1917":
Chapter 10:
Wessel Lowe's Experiences
-As
transcribed from page 207
Wessel Lowe and his wife, accompanied by their three sons, William, Ira
and Rufus, left the State of New York in April, 1853, and migrated to
Belvidere, Ill. The following summer was spent in that locality, the
two younger sons dying before winter. Before the next spring they
moved north to Brooklyn, Green Lake County, Wis., where they lived
until the spring of 1856. In company with a friend, Herman
Snyder, Wessel Lowe set out afoot for Trempealeau County and reached
the town of Preston in April, 1856, his wife and son William following
in October with an ox-team, a cow and calf, some meat and flour. The
first year the family lived in Preston. They broke ten acres and
sowed to wheat, buckwheat, corn and potatoes. This was cut with a
cradle, hauled together with an ox-team, and threshed with a
flail. A fanning mill from near the east county line was hired to
separate the grain from the chaff. William Van Sickle and Cyrus
Hine settled in the town of Preston about the same time. The
first town meeting was held in Reynold's log house, less than 20 votes
being cast. The following is a list of voters: Henry Lake,
Chester Beswick, Simon Rice, John Hopkins, Robert Thompson, Henry
Sheppard, Jacob and Peter Tenneson, Nels Halvorsen, Burch Olson,
Gullick Olson, Knudt Storley, Ed Weeks, _____ Stearns, Wessel Lowe,
Cyrus Hine, Ebenezer Thurston and Herman Snyder. Money hired in
those days cost 50 per cent interest. A later reduction to 20 per
cent was hailed with great rejoicing, though the debtor was obliged to
work it out at the rate of 75 cents per day. After the War of the
Rebellion broke out the son William enlisted and from the meager salary
of $13 a month paid the debt of $150 and saved the homestead.
Galesville, Black River Falls, Squaw Creek and Sechlerville were the
nearest milling places. Mail was gotten at Black River
Falls. Later a postoffice known as South Bend was located on what
is now Paul Thompson's farm. All mail during the Civil War to
these parts was directed to South Bend, Trempealeau County, Wis.
This postoffice remained here until the building of the Green Bay
Railroad in 1873. After the war, in the winter of 1865-66,
William Lowe hauled lumber from the sawmill at Merrilan and the East
Fork of Black River, called Mead's Mill, with an ox-team, and began
preparations for the building of the new home in 1866. This house
is still standing on the old farm now owned by Hans C. Johnson of
Preston. Game was plentiful in those days and deer were often
shot from the windows of the home without the exertion or pleasure of
"going hunting." Grandfather died in October, 1905. Father
Lowe is still living and makes his home with his son Ward near
Blair. Grandmother Lowe died in October, 1891.
(By Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Lowe.)