Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 7:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 7:
Routes of Travel
-As transcribed from page 68
The
routes they selected depended on the section from whence they hailed.
Many came by way of La Crosse and thence over the rough road to
Gordon's or McGilvray's Ferry and crossed these ferries into the
county. Others arrived by steamboat and outfitted in La Crosse
for their journey into the new country. Some came to Trempealeau by
steamboat and then went by stage into the interior. Still others went
to Fountain City and took the trail across the bluffs, over the Glencoe
Ridge, and through the Glencoe Valley to the Trempealeau River. Some
came down the Trempealeau valley from Jackson County. The northern part
of the county was settled largely by people who drifted into the county
from Black River Fails and vicinity. A few of the pioneers poled up
Black River in flat boats to the falls and then took the overland trail
back to Trempealeau County. Other settlers came across the Mississippi
River from Minnesota, where they had settled in Pickwick or some other
of the valleys that reach back from the river. The later settlers came
into the Trempealeau County by the railroad, but it was not until 1870
that a railroad was built into the county.
Aside from those who followed the main routes of travel, there were many settlers who sifted into the county from adjoining territory following whatever route was most convenient and striking out across the prairies or up the ravines to find, removed from the settled haunts of man,a plot of land where they might establish themselves arid build their future homes.
Aside from those who followed the main routes of travel, there were many settlers who sifted into the county from adjoining territory following whatever route was most convenient and striking out across the prairies or up the ravines to find, removed from the settled haunts of man,a plot of land where they might establish themselves arid build their future homes.