Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 8:
Burnside was first settled in 1856. Located as it was at the mouth of Elk Creek (Pleasant) Valley, it was a natural center, and its bottom lands near the junction of Elk Creek and Trempealeau River presented an attractive site. The first settlers were members of the Markham family. The story is told in full elsewhere.
Hale. The first settler in Pleasant valley above Burnside was George Hale, the pioneer of the township that now bears his name. He came in 1858 and settled nine miles up Elk Creek. Other early families in Hale were: Allen, Barry, Bruce, Christianson, Donley, Ellis, Heath, Mallery, Maloney, Lockman, Michaels, McFarlin, Olson, Scott, Spaulding, Lally, Smith, Stewart, Tull, Teller, Tallman, Van Tassel and Weeks.
Chimney Rock Township, owing to the nature of its surface was not settled until after the other townships in the county. The first permanent settler was Daniel Borst, who brought his family here in 1865. About the same time Hans Herbjornson settled in Bennett Valley. He was followed by Austin Gunderson, Halvor Austinson, Aslak Torgerson and Gudmund Knudson, all of whom settled in the same valley. A few years later there came an influx of Scandinavian settlers, until the township is now almost entirely peopled by that nationality.
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 8:
Burnside, Hale, Chimney Rock
-As transcribed from page 92
-As transcribed from page 92
Burnside was first settled in 1856. Located as it was at the mouth of Elk Creek (Pleasant) Valley, it was a natural center, and its bottom lands near the junction of Elk Creek and Trempealeau River presented an attractive site. The first settlers were members of the Markham family. The story is told in full elsewhere.
Hale. The first settler in Pleasant valley above Burnside was George Hale, the pioneer of the township that now bears his name. He came in 1858 and settled nine miles up Elk Creek. Other early families in Hale were: Allen, Barry, Bruce, Christianson, Donley, Ellis, Heath, Mallery, Maloney, Lockman, Michaels, McFarlin, Olson, Scott, Spaulding, Lally, Smith, Stewart, Tull, Teller, Tallman, Van Tassel and Weeks.
Chimney Rock Township, owing to the nature of its surface was not settled until after the other townships in the county. The first permanent settler was Daniel Borst, who brought his family here in 1865. About the same time Hans Herbjornson settled in Bennett Valley. He was followed by Austin Gunderson, Halvor Austinson, Aslak Torgerson and Gudmund Knudson, all of whom settled in the same valley. A few years later there came an influx of Scandinavian settlers, until the township is now almost entirely peopled by that nationality.