History of Northern Wisconsin (Ashland County,
1881) page 74
July 8, 1878, the following townships were set off: Township 41,
Range 1 east, and Township 41, Ranges 1,2,3, and the east half of
Township 41, Range 4 west, from towns of La Pointe and Ashland, and
a new town organized called Butternut. In 1879 it received
additional territory by the vacation of town of Juniper, and some
more detached from towns of La Pointe and Ashland; and June 17,
1879, the town received additional territory by the vacation of the
town of La Pointe. The first election was held at the house of M. J.
Hart, August 13, 1878, and the following town officers were elected:
M. J. Hart, Chairman; Henry Spille and Robert Rom, Supervisors; S.
P. Hogan, Clerk; H. Besse, Treasurer. In 1875 the village of
Butternut was made the terminus of the Wisconsin Central Railroad.
At this time there was a boarding house kept by Hart & Barridge and
a store by Parker & Stubblefield. In the Fall of 1877 the spot was
visited by Henry Spille and H. Besse from Cedarburg, Wis., looking
for a place to locate. They were so pleased with the country that
they induced by their representations quite a number of Germans from
the vicinity of Milwaukee to settle in this neighborhood. These
people formed what is known as the “Butternut Colony,” which now
comprises about 120 families.
It was platted in 1878. The first school was taught in 1878 by Miss
Hannah Tomkins in a log cabin, formerly used as an ice-house. She
had fourteen scholars. A school-house was built the following year.
A Lutheran minister visits Butternut occasionally, which is all the
religious services they have. A saw-mill was built in 1879 by Karpe,
Russell & Aldrich, of Plymouth, Wis. Butternut is now a thriving
place of 300 people, and is the center of the best agricultural
district in the Superior region. The lumber interest is large, being
at the head waters of the Chippewa, and near the Bad River.
Butternut Lake, about a mile from the village, abounds with
large-sized muskallonge and black bass.
An Ideal Resort at
Source: Ashland Daily Press (1895) from the Wisconsin Historical Society
website; transcribed by Sandra Wright
The New Summer Hotel Opened At Butternut Lake
The steamer on the Lake—Plenty of Fishing—Mr. Besse and manager Giles busy
There is no finer place in the world for an outing and good fishing than
“Mash-Ka-No-She,” the fine little resort hotel on Butternut lake. It is easy to
access and an ideal place for a fish. The hotel and property is owned by Hon.
Henry L. Besse, and under the management of Mr. J.D. Giles formerly of Ashland
and Philips and one of the best hotel men in the state. The service and cuisine
in perfect, and every appointment is first class.
Leaving Ashland on the 1:15 p.m. train on the Wis. Cen. arriving at Butternut
about 3 o’clock. Mr. Giles is there with his carriages and the drive of a mile
and a half to the hotel is one of the most beautiful in the state. In fact all
of the roads in this vicinity are turnpiked and the pride of all bicyclists. The
hotel nestles at the head of Butternut lake by which is undoubtedly one of the
most beautiful inland lakes in the state. A few minutes later the whistle of the
gallant steamer Ida arouses you from the reveries of the romantic scene. The
steamer is large and roomy and goes the eleven miles around the lake in forty
minutes. Stops are made at the fishing grounds and think of catching twenty pike
sitting in a steam boat in a few hours, and that is what the Daily Press party
did this week. It is rare sport, and the lake fringed by heavy forests of
hemlock are very much like famous Loch Katrine, in the Highlands of Scotland,
which inspired some of Sir Walter Scott’s famous poems and is visited by
thousands of tourists every year.
On an island in toe late George Washington Stubblefield reigns in all his glory
and raises water melons. Dotted along the banks are beautiful farm homes.
The lake is always cool—and yet not too cool,--ideally correct. No squalls or
accidents because the lake is so perfectly protected with timber.
The grounds about the hotel are fitted up for tennis, croquet and target
shooting and a perfect gymnasium of indian clubs. Adjoining is one of the
prettiest picnic parks and groves to be found anywhere, with dainty rustic log
cabins scattered about. The spring water with which the hotel is supplied is
certainly not excelled—always cool, sparkling and clear. A windmill and tank
provides a perfect little system of waterworks, and the large verandas, quiet
peaceful scene makes it an ideal place for an outing.
The hotel has already entertained a large number of prominent Milwaukee and
Cincinnatti people and all who have been there once want to return again. It is
so convienent and accessible to Ashland that it makes a good place to spend a
Sunday or a day or two from business and get the real flavor of the wild and
picturesque beauty of North Wisconsin, without suffering any of the usually
consequent inconveniences. Mr. Besse and Mr. Giles always see to it that their
guests enjoy themselves and the Daily Press representatives can never forget the
pleasant and happy two days spent at Mash-Ka-No-She.
BUTTERNUT’S GOOD ROADS
In no other part of Ashland county are there such roads as in and around
Butternut. This may perhaps be partially due to the nature of the soil which is
not the red clay so abundant about Ashland. It is lighter and and more easily
worked, a sort of sandy loam in places. It makes good roads.
The Press representatives rode out on the Glidden county road for a short
distance and a good road it is. The road to Butternut Lake is better than
paving, for it is as smooth, and more easily repaired. The line road between
Ashland and Price counties is a beautiful drive, with tall pines on either hand,
waving ferns by the roadside, and a well beaten road to drive over. The road
west, leading out to the farming community is also as good a road as one might
expect in any old community.
Not only have all these roads been well built, but they are kept in repair.
Several times during the forenoon’s drive, we saw men and teams at work
repairing the roads, working their poll tax. In one place, a man armed with a
shovel was working alone, filling in every little rut and “pitch hole” with
dirt. It is one thing to build good roads, and it is another to keep them in
BUTTERNUT AND ITS FARMERS
There are 200 farmers in the Town of Butternut. Many of them are German’s, in
fact, west of Butternut is a community of Bavarians, whose farms are well tilled
and kept as neat as wax. Among the farms that were driven by that require
special mention, are those owned by the following:
Wm. Erickson, Joe Heitriter, Joseph Schennebeck, Joseph Young, Joseph Leiterman,
Joseph Kleinsteiber, John Ertel, John Fisher, Matt Bruch, George Parker; Mike
Devoy, James Mooney, John Russell, Paul Kennsberg, G. Goellner, G. Schwecke;
Ferdinand Bridenfelt; J. H. Smart, Wm. Tank, Fred Tank, August Wagner, Martin
Drott, Fred Hoth, S. B. Hogan, August Froeming, Chas.Kohlman.
Butternut has the only threshingmachine in Ashland county. It has a grist mill
that turns into flour the wheat and rye and creamery that dispenses of the
products of the dairy farms. The farmers in clearing off their farms sell cord
wood to the Butternut charcoal kilns, and find a ready market for their hemlock
bark for ?annerries.
No town in Ashland county has brighter prospects.
AN OLD ASHLAND COUNTY NEWSPAPER FOUND
From the Butternut Bulletin
Source: The Ashland Press (31 March 1922)
transcribed by Sandra Wright from the Wisconsin Historical Society
It is always interesting to glance at an old newspaper of a
community. One which can claim to be among the very first. Such an
interest exists in a copy of the second edition of the old Butternut
Times, which is in the possession of R. F. Goellner, and which is of
unusual interest to Mr. and Mrs. Goellner because it contained the
notice of their wedding.
The Times began its career in Oct., 1886, and the copy in Mr.
Goellner’s possession was a copy of Vol. 1, No. 2. The Times
although beginning its career, does not seem to have been the very
first newspaper published in Butternut however, as reference in the
local columns, to The Pioneer, was so worded that it would indicate
that The Pioneer had begun publication prior to the Times getting
out its first issue.
Among the advertisers found in the Times were Dr. J. R. Thompson,
the Cream City House, Fred Luellwitz, Prop. Milwaukee House, Winsel
Bahm. Propr. J. A. Vanderhoof, dealers in Groceries, Nels Saunderg,
Mfg. of Boots and Shoes, while M. J. McDonald was advertising lots
for sale in the Town of Peeksville.
The publishers of The Times were Gergahty and McDonald, and the
subscription rates were $2 per year in advance, just what the
Bulletin’s are now.
The paper was only four columns in width and fifteen inches long.
Only two of the pages, the front and the back ones carried local
news, the other six pages being devoted to plate matter or ready
At the time The Times began publication, Henry Besse, Sr., was
Postmaster of the Village of Butternut, and Thomas Tedford was the
Sheriff of Ashland County, while J.J. Miles, who was killed at a
railway crossing in Ashland last fall, was at that time the District
The democratic county ticket, which had evidently just been
nominated, consisted of Sheriff, Chas. Breen; County Treasurer, John
Erickson, County Clerk, Maurice Garrney; Register of Deeds, Ed
Fenneily; Clerk of the Courts, Chas. Fisher; District Attorney, J.
J. Miles; Surveyor, Geo. Parker; Supt. Of Schools, John S. Sands,
and Coroner, N. C. Rooney.
The Times in its second number, carried a very good distribution of
the Village of Butternut, which at that time contained about 1300
As a memento of the old days, the copy of The Times is one that
would be of interest to those who remember the Butternut of those
days, as a competitor of the modern country weekly it would be