|
|
|
 H. S. Allen |
The supplies in the keel boat were for H.
S. Allen at Chippewa Falls, about seventy miles up from
Reads Landing. On the north side of the river, where the principal
part of the city now stands, there was only a small sawmill with a few scattering dwelling
houses. On the south side there was quite a settlement, called French Town. Our pilot,
La Batte, lived there, and it was there that I made my home for many years. There were
many interesting families there--all either French or of French and Indian blood. Of the
latter class was the Demarie family. Louisan [Louis] Demarie was a fur trader, who with
his wife and family had come up the Chippewa River in 1832. He was a big, powerful man,
good-natured but absolutely fearless. For many years Mrs. Demarie was noted in that entire
section as a skilful nurse. Their oldest daughter, Mary, married H.
S. Allen, who was at the time the leading lumberman on the Chippewa. A number of
other of those early residents of French Town became prominent in the lumbering industry
in the valley. A few years after my arrival there I married for my first wife a girl by
the name of Blanchand--French with some Chippewa blood. She died some years later. |
 Mrs. H. S. Allen |
|
 H.S. Allen homestead |
 Old Chippewa Falls |