Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"Trempealeau County" by Clarence J. Gamroth:
Volume 1A:
Communities: Dodge
Information given by Robert Hoesley, 1948
Turning back to 93 years ago, 1854, we find a mixture of Indians and white men located at what is now Dodge. Perhaps because of the abundance of wildlife in the forest of friendly hillsides, game birds in the marshes above the Trempealeau River, and fish in the river and nearby streams, the Indians had found a haven of good habitat. The Indians were the Winnebagos and some of the best known were Jim Blackhawks, Longmarsh, Biglouse, and Jim Malerys. The white settlers secured homesteads and lived among the Indians and became friends.
The first white settlers were the Kinsleys, a Pennsyvlania Dutchman and his family. Their homestead was just north of the village of Dodge. One of the Kinsleys married an Indian girl and raised a family. Later they took residence elsewhere and gave their children a good education. This family had a son George who became an Indian interpreter in Washington D. C.
Another early settler was Jake Hoesley, a mixture of French and Swiss, who came from Glarus, Switzerland. Son Fred joined the union forces at age 16 and was wounded 3 times. Other settlers were Jake Shafner, August Bambenek, Nick Larband, Charles Keet, John Baumgartner, M. J. Kilac, Fred Hoesley, Joe Jerzak, Herman Schultz, Andrew Hoesley, Frank Rohn.
School classes were held in private homes for 2 years and then a school was erected.
"Trempealeau County" by Clarence J. Gamroth:
Volume 1A:
Communities: Dodge
Information given by Robert Hoesley, 1948
Turning back to 93 years ago, 1854, we find a mixture of Indians and white men located at what is now Dodge. Perhaps because of the abundance of wildlife in the forest of friendly hillsides, game birds in the marshes above the Trempealeau River, and fish in the river and nearby streams, the Indians had found a haven of good habitat. The Indians were the Winnebagos and some of the best known were Jim Blackhawks, Longmarsh, Biglouse, and Jim Malerys. The white settlers secured homesteads and lived among the Indians and became friends.
The first white settlers were the Kinsleys, a Pennsyvlania Dutchman and his family. Their homestead was just north of the village of Dodge. One of the Kinsleys married an Indian girl and raised a family. Later they took residence elsewhere and gave their children a good education. This family had a son George who became an Indian interpreter in Washington D. C.
Another early settler was Jake Hoesley, a mixture of French and Swiss, who came from Glarus, Switzerland. Son Fred joined the union forces at age 16 and was wounded 3 times. Other settlers were Jake Shafner, August Bambenek, Nick Larband, Charles Keet, John Baumgartner, M. J. Kilac, Fred Hoesley, Joe Jerzak, Herman Schultz, Andrew Hoesley, Frank Rohn.
School classes were held in private homes for 2 years and then a school was erected.