LA CROSSE HISTORY
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THE LA CROSSE AREA'S HISTORY, DIGITIZED

Autobiographies & First Hand Accounts


Resources

—Autobiographies and First-Hand Accounts—


Author:
Emma Salzer Hallauer?
Subject:
United States
Wisconsin
La Crosse
Salzer, John Adam, 1823-1892--Diaries
German Americans--Religious life--Middle West
Methodists in La Crosse (Wis.)
Creator:
John Adam Salzer 1823-1892
Emma Salzer Hallauer
Subject:
United States. -- Army. -- Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, 30th (1862-1865)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1881-1865 -- Personal narratives
Arnold, Alexander Ahab -- 1833-1915
Creator:
Doser, John
Description:
During the Civil War years Wisconsin mustered into the service of the Union various organizations such as the Thirtieth Volunteer Infantry. Although it did not take an active part in the war against the Confederacy, it carried out its duties well. These duties included protecting civilians from Indians, enforcing the draft, building forts, and guarding prisoners of war. Of the ten companies in the Thirtieth, Company C was under the command of Captain Alexander Arnold of Galesville, Wisconsin. During much of his life Arnold kept a diary which included his years in military service. This paper centers around his diary which has not been previously transcribed. Because the Thirtieth was not engaged in combat, not much is known of its day to day operations. Arnold's diary does reveal some of these operations particularly as they relate to Company C.
UW-L Seminar Paper
Creator:
Tripp, Addie
Description:
Addie Tripp was a single woman, perhaps a domestic servant, who lived with the William Johnson family of Onalaska, Wisconsin, during the Civil War. Her diary describes her daily household tasks for the family and community life during the war. Although the war continued unabated, Tripp's diary is notable for the absence of references to it, revealing its relatively minor impact on a working class woman's daily life. Tripp wrote nearly every day, and her entries slowly chronicle her romance and ultimately her marriage to a local man. The diary volume itself - - a leather-bound book roughly the size of a deck of cards - - included 24 pages of statistical information in the front as well as pages to record one's expenses and other data at the back. We have enhanced the images slightly to make Tripp's penciled entries easier to read. To see a typed version, click "Page & Text" at the upper right while viewing any page.
Addie Tripp Papers. Wisconsin Historical Society. La Crosse Area Research Center (La Crosse SC 106)
Part of the Wisconsin Historical Society's Turning Points in Wisconsin History online project
Author:
Wisconsin Historical Society
Creator:
McMillan, Morrison
Description:
"Early Settlement of La Crosse and Monroe Counties" by Morrison McMillan, describes the advantages of the location that first attracted Indians and then white settlers to the area. The organization of the town, the construction of buildings and organization of churches, and the leading citizens in La Crosse are discussed. McMillan then moves to describe the history of Monroe County, the first white settler Franklin Pettit, relations with Indians, and the establishment of other towns in the county.
Part of Wisconsin Historical Collections, Volume IV (1859), pp.387-
Author:
State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Subject:
Frontier and pioneer liffe -- Wisconsin
Wisconsin -- Description and travel
Fort Howard (Wis.)
Creator:
State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Description:
Includes chapters three and four only: III. Recollections of a pioneer woman of La Crosse / by [Fredericka] Augusta Levy (ed. by Albert H. Sanford) -- IV. Another La Crosse pioneer's statement / by John S. Harris.
"From the proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1911, ..."; Includes bibliographical references.
Author:
C. F. Gillette, Printer
Subject:
Free thought
Creator:
Pettey, J., 1815-
Description:
J. Pettey was originally from England and made his way to the United States, eventually settling in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He plied his trade as a gunsmith and then a market gardener. He is listed as Joseph Petty in the History of La Crosse, Wis. (1881) as being a gunsmith as early as 1861 (p.497). Pettey died in 1893 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse, Wis.
Pettey wrote this book primarily expressing his views on free-thought and challenging the existence of God.
Subject:
Brice, George F
Brice family
Creator:
Brice, George F.
Description:
Memoirs, marriage announcement, and obituary of George F. Brice, Sr.
Subject:
Allen, Mildred
Pfaff family; Mindoro (Wis.) -- History
La Crosse County (Wis.) -- History
Creator:
Allen, Mildred
Description:
Places mentioned include Mindoro, Wisconsin, written by Mildred (Pfaff) Allen, and include information and photographs of the Pauline and Edward Pfaff family.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Subject:
Olson, Palmer -- Interviews
Oral history
Oral history -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
Interviews -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
La Crosse (Wis.) -- History
Fly fishing -- Wisconsin -- Coon Valley
Fish habitat improvement -- Wisconsin -- Coon Valley
Timber Coulee Creek (Vernon County, Wis.)
Rullands Coulee Creek (Vernon County, Wis.)
Coon Creek Watershed (Monroe County-Vernon County, Wis.)
Description:
Palmer Olson's interview largely focuses on fish and fishing in the Coulee Region. Topics include but are not limited to: fly fishing, fish species, Coon Creek Watershed, Rullands Coulee Creek, Timber Coulee Creek, Coon Valley, fishing regulations, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, farming, fish habitat trends, fly and lure shops, fishing during WWII, fish population in 1990s, logging, pollution, and floods.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Subject:
Rynning, Rolf -- Interviews
Oral history
Oral history -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
Interviews -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
La Crosse (Wis.) -- History
Families -- Wisconsin
Work -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
Recreation -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
La Crosse (Wis.) -- Social life and customs
Description:
Mr. Rynning discusses the following topics: Personal history, 1900s -- Family Norwegian ancestry, Direct decent of Bishop Bech crowning Norwegian King 1818 -- Immigration from Norway, 1870s -- Surname spelling and pronunciation change -- paternal immigration, 1876, civil engineering degree from Sweden -- Fathers career at Holway Lumber, La Crosse, Wisconsin; Rynning and Pedrson Clothing store, 727 Rose Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin; Exchange State Bank, La Crosse, Wisconsin 1892 -- Fathers death, Dr. Adolf Gundersen performed surgery, 1895 -- Statement to La Crosse paper, Allegations against Gundersen for malpractice 1895 -- Brothers civil engineer degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, accident in St. Louis, death in 1909 -- Attempt to deferral from draft, World War One (1915-1918) -- Drafted into World War One (1915-1918): July 8, 1918, Promotion to Sargent: September 15, 1918 -- Left position at Exchange State Bank, 1920, reasoning due to hiring cheap labor after WWI -- W.A. Roosevelt Company, employment, 1920-1953 -- Fathers memories of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1880s to 1890s -- Ballard Drug Store, 3rd and Pearl Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin -- Maternal immigration, Norway, 1870s -- Fathers education, language; German, French, English, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish -- Holway Lumber Mill, St. Cloud Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin -- Union National Bank, Main and 4th Streets, La Crosse, Wisconsin -- Making currency exchange, transporting $10,000 through town, carried gun for insurance -- Union National Bank, staff picture, 1911 -- North side neighborhood living, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1922 -- Black River, swimming with neighborhood kids, 1910s.
Tape 2
Tape 3
Tape 4
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Subject:
Rasmusen, Viggo B -- Interviews
Oral history
Oral history -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
Interviews -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
La Crosse (Wis.) -- History
Graff, Maurice Otto, 1907- -- Interviews
Mitchell, Rexford Samuel -- Interviews
Gates, Samuel G -- Interviews
Wittich, Walter A. (Walter Arno), 1910- -- Interviews
Steinhoff, G. Lester -- Interviews
Wisconsin State Teachers College (La Crosse)
Wisconsin State College (La Crosse)
Wisconsin State University (La Crosse)
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Universities and colleges -- Administration -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
Instructional materials centers -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
Student publications -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
Audio-visual education -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
Racquet (La Crosse, Wis.)
Description:
Rasmusen talks of his early years in Withee, Wisconsin, college days at River Falls, and a distinguished career in education. He describes his experiences in setting up and developing the audio visual department, including the film library. He discusses university administrators and faculty including Gates, Mitchell, Lindner, Wittich, Graff and Steinhoff. Topics also discussed include: Rasmussen family, ancestry -- Family, immigration, Denmark to America, early 1900s -- Parents, first impressions of America -- Language barriers --Father, farming, Withee, Wisconsin--Occupations, siblings--Family dynamics--Earliest memories--Appendix injury -- Surgeries, infections--Father, memories of--Viggo name meaning--Religion, church attendance--Education, favorite teachers--Education, math and science--Athletics, basketball and baseball--College jobs, pharmacy work, UW-River Falls, 1936--Employment, teaching, Minong, Wisconsin--Teaching contracts, Athens, Wisconsin--Trip to Milwaukee, draft physical, late 1930s--Milwaukee, impressions of--Returning to college--Great Depression (1929-1939), effects of-Family income--Social activities--Barn dances--Baseball team--Pharmacy, impressions of--Brothers, education--Memories, drug store--River Falls, favorite professors/coworkers, 1936--Chemistry classes, stories--Social Studies minor--Attending River Falls, 1936--Teaching, changing majors--Recreation, college.
Tape 2
Tape 3
Tape 4
Tape 5
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Subject:
Cain, W. R. -- Interviews
Shoe industry -- Wisconsin
Traveling sales personnel -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse
La Crosse (Wis.) -- Social life and customs
United States -- History -- 1945-1953
United States -- History -- 1953-1961
Description:
Cain discusses his life as a traveling salesman for the shoe industry, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He details his travels to La Crosse, Wisconsin, describing the city, living conditions, and his business accounts, including Menards, Sears, and Montgomery Ward. He also describes staying at the Stoddard Hotel.
Author:
Western Wisconsin Technical Institute
Subject:
Coleman, John B., 1889-
Vocational education -- Wisconsin -- History
Creator:
John B. Coleman, 1889-
Description:
Based on an original oral history project recording by Howard R. Fredricks; edited by Donald J. Meinert.
John B. Colman relates his life story but focuses on his tenure at the Western Wisconsin Technical College or Western Technical College and changes in vocational education.
Author:
Tucker & Company
Subject:
Nichols, George C., 1824-
Mississippi River -- Navigation -- History
Mississippi River Valley -- History -- 1803-1865
Mississippi River Valley -- History -- 1865-
Creator:
Nichols, George C., 1824-
Description:
This memoir discusses early river travel in the Upper Mississippi Valley. One chapter is titled "Moving the Winnebago Indians" and recounts the details behind the 1848 removal of the Ho-Chunk from the La Crosse area. Nichols was one of the steamboat pilots hired by the U.S. Federal Government to conduct this formal and violent removal of Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands.
Subject:
La Crosse (Wis.) -- History
Description:
A history of La Crosse, Wisconsin, as told in reminiscences of Fredericka Augusta (Mrs. John M.) Levy, from the time of her arrival there in 1845 until about 1904. The first few pages are written in the German language and in old script. The stories are then handwritten in English.
Collection stored, all or in-part, at ARC: Collection can be requested for transfer through the Area Research Center (ARC) Network, consult Reading Room Staff.; Presented by Ellis B. Usher, 1910.
Author:
Liesenfeld Press
Subject:
La Crosse (Wis.) -- History
La Crosse (Wis.) -- Biography
Creator:
Pammel, L.H.
Description:
This book written in 1928 is a comprehensive, first person account of people and events in La Crosse in the 19th century by Louis H. Pammel. At the time of publication of this 102 page book in 1928, Pammel was a professor of botany at Iowa State College. His book begins with a general history of La Crosse, a description of the flora and fauna of the area, and his father’s emigration from Germany and arrival in La Crosse in 1855. The focus of the book, though, is on the people that Pammel knew or had acquaintance of and events that occurred La Crosse primarily in the 1870s and 1880s. There is a name index at the back that was added at a later date. There are no illustrations.
Description:
The Wisconsin Pioneer Experience is a digital collection of diaries, letters, reminiscences, speeches and other writings of people who settled and built Wisconsin during the 19th century. The project has been made available through the partnership of the Council of University of Wisconsin Libraries (CUWL) and the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS). The historic papers included in the Wisconsin Pioneer Experience were drawn from the collections of the Area Research Centers (ARC) including the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, as well as the headquarters of the Wisconsin Historical Society. For the Wisconsin Pioneer Experience, the archivists of the ARCs selected numerous collections representative of the various corners of Wisconsin and Wisconsin’s pioneer history. Through these documents, students and non-students alike can learn about life in the early days of the Badger State from the words of those who lived it.
Specific entries from La Crosse include: Nathan Myrick letter, Friedrich Tillman diary.
Author:
publisher not identified
Subject:
United States
Wisconsin
La Crosse
Bice, Raymond C., 1896-
La Crosse (Wis.)--Social life and customs--20th century
Creator:
Raymond C. Bice 1896-
Description:
An autobiographical recollection of long-time North Side businessman Raymond C. Bice. Born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Bice was a building contractor, lumber dealer and a termite exterminator. He was a veteran of World War I and later he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1947-1951 and the Wisconsin State Senate in 1953-1969.