Here is more on the early settlers of Eau Claire Co. from the book, Sawdust City by Lois Barland. In 1856 there was nothing in Eau Claire except the lumber business. Population was estimated at 100. Two houses were owned (McCanns and Henry Huntingtons) and the whole capital invested did not exceed $20,000. E. E. Shaw and Henry Huntington started a store on a small scale, afterward the American House and in 1890 the Hart House. (corner Eau Claire, Farwell and Gibson) The house Henry Huntington built stood on the bank of the Chippewa near the end of Gray Street. It was in turn a general store, saloon, boarding house, a daguerro type room, butcher shop, etc. After undergoing many mutilations, it was moved to the rear of 331 Gray Street in 1863 and used as a barn. It was torn down in 1898 to make room for a more pretentious building. The lumber used in its construction was sawed at the first mill ever built in the city. The old house had seven thicknesses of floor each made of one inch lumber. It was built in the fall of 1854. Henry Huntington came to Eau Claire from Vermont where he had married in 1850 Jane Shaw, the daughter of Josiah Shaw. He was Postmaster from April 1856 to June 15, 1857, operated a steamboat between Eau Claire and Reed's Landing for a short time, and in 1857 bought a farm on what is now Rudolph Road and Benton Avenue where his descendants still live. Mr. Huntington performed a marriage ceremony in May 1857, marrying Charles R. Jones and Mary Bowles, both of Eau Claire. He had four children. Gage and Reed disposed of their entire interest in the mills, pine lands and village plot to Chapman and Thorp, who, during their first year entrusted the whole business to G. E. Porter who had come here from Michigan. James Reed conducted an Indian trading post at Trempealeau in 1845 before coming to Eau Claire, or Clear Water, as it was known then. At the time he came to Eau Claire, the Chippewa Indians still occupied the head waters of the Eau Claire and all the region above the Falls of the Chippewa. The Winnebago "wickiup" or wigwams were in sight a few miles south. Wild game was plentiful. Hundreds of deer would frequently be seen in a day's travel. Elk were plentiful also. A dozen would often be seen feeding in Half Moon Lake. Bear and grey wolves were close neighbors. Jim Reed told of having a blanket pulled from him one night by a bear and the ham which he had been using as a pillow seized from under his head. William Reed, brother of James, died in June 1855, his being the first death and burial in Eau Claire. His grave is about a hundred yards from the main gate at Forest Hill Cemetery, but he was probably buried near the Reed house and moved to Forest Hill later. James Reed married a Norwegian girl, Barbara Ann before February 2, 1856 as her name appears on a deed of that date as his wife. A daughter, Jennie, was born in Eau Claire, their eldest child. They also had another girl and a son George. James Reed build a "block" 45 feet wide by 48 feet deep and made with two rooms below each 20 feet by 48 feet and a second story containing two rooms in front for offices and a large hall in the rear. This hall became famous because of the meetings held in it. It was built in August, 1857 and opened to the public on September 15. One of the store rooms on the ground floor was occupied by Hall and Brothers Bank and the other by Stephen Marston as a furniture store. There was also the Gage and Reed boarding house to accommodate the mill hands. These buildings were on the north side of Eau Claire Street about in the middle of the block between Barstow and Farwell. In October 1858, Mr. Reed built a three story building on the east side of Barstow Street in the center of the block between Gibson and Grand. It was 24 feet by 60 feet. During the Civil War period he went west in search of gold, going as far as Los Angeles. He returned to Eau Claire and in '67 had a billiard hall in partnership with Mr. Clemmons. After three years Mr. Reed sold out his interest and built a billiard hall for himself on Gibson Street which held six tables. His son George was in the grain and merchandising business in Fall Creek and James moved to Fall Creek in 1878 where he died in 1895. Jessie J. Gage, Mr. Reed's partner in his first venture in Eau Claire, seems not to have stayed in the village long. In 1862 the Free Press called him "an infamous old scoundrel". This could have been for as innocent a cause as being a Democrat as the Free Press was strongly Republican and did not hesitate to denounce the opposition. +++++++++++ We'll read more about those very early settlers in Eau Claire tomorrow. -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net