Welcome!

Welcome to the Washburn County WIGenWeb Project! Within these pages you will find many of the old items that have been shared here since the beginning of this website way back in August 1997. There are plans to add new items as well. All pages have been revamped to our new look...one that we hope will be pleasing to the eye, yet provide the easy reading that is necessary after long hours of internet research. So come back often and peruse the pages within this site. It is hoped you will find many useful items to aid in your personal family research.

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Please consider contributing your pieces of Washburn county family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. Our combined efforts can make this a great site for all who visit!

County Coordinator: YOU? Washburn WIGenWeb is Available for Adoption.

Temporary County Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney

State Coordinator: Marcia Kuehl

Assistant State Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney

COUNTY FORMATION

Washburn County was named for former Wisconsin Governor Cadwallader Colden Washburn, who was born 22 April 1818 in Livermore, ME and died 14 May 1882 in Eureka Springs, AR. He was a pre-war professional lawyer, a U.S. Congressman and a member of the Washington Peace Conference. Cadwallader Washburn began his war service in January 1862 and was a Civil War colonel of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. In July 1862 he was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers, and in November 1862 promoted to Major General of Volunteers. He commanded the Department of West Tennessee and the Yazoo Pass expedition. He also directed a detachment of three divisions of XVI Corps during the siege and capture of Vicksburg and commanded in the Department of the Gulf. After the Civil War, he again was a U. S. Congressman and served as Governor of Wisconsin from 1872 through 1874. He was also a newspaperman, and organized Washburn, Crosby, and Company (now General Mills) flour mill in Minneapolis, MN. He had been involved with the railroads and was president of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin at the time of his death. He also gave the university its observatory. C. C. Washburn is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery at La Crosse, WI.