----Source: 1881 HISTORY OF NORTHERN WI, Chicago: The Western Historical Company, A. T. Andreas, Proprietor (grammar as is), Pg. 410

   James Chandler, Restored Photo, ©2009

JAMES CHANDLER, retired farmer, Black River Falls. Was born Nov. 18, 1812, in West Granville, NY. Came to Wisconsin in 1846, and settled in Black River Falls, and opened the first grocery store in that town in 1858, on Water Street. Continued at that business twelve years, adding dry goods, etc., to his grocery line, and in 1870, sold out and started a store at Greenwood (Clark Co., WI). In 1878, sold out to E. F. Brown. Returned to Black River Falls and farmed for one year. In 1880, he went up the North Wisconsin Railroad, and got a post-office established at a station named Chandler, after him. Is a member of the A. F. A. M., Black River Lodge, No. 174, and was married to his first wife, Miss Harriet M. Woodworth, in 1844 she was born in New York State, and died Feb. 28, 1855, leaving two children, Caleb W. and Nettie G., now Mrs. B. F. Brown. Was married to his second wife, Mrs. William Herriell she was born in New York, July 27, 1824. They have three children Jennie, now Mrs. W. G. Taylor, Virgil W. and George W., now in Florida in the mercantile business. They have lost one child, Jane A., who is buried in the Black River Cemetery.

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            Monroe, WI Main Street, showing the Chandler Store to the far right.  ©2009 Restored Post Card, Ca. 1902

 Jennie (Chandler) Taylor, Restored Photo, ©2009

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Banner Journal, Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI, February 23, 1994, Page 7 B

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon 

Looking back: The James Chandler Home 

by Toddy Porath

This feature stems from an inquiry made by Mary Hartwig who had noticed the house she was moving into in the Grove had a plaque indicating it was over a century old.  Many will recall this was the Bagan home for many years but when historian Jean Anderson learned of the inquiry about the plaque she responded, "That was James Chandler’s house in the early days" so the story she wrote about James Chandler was retrieved and information about James Chandler proved to be very interesting.  Anderson’s story about "the most unusual Masonic apron owned by Mrs. Erwin E. Homstad" and about the apron which had been owned by James Chandler, an early day businessman in Black River Falls.  He was elected and initiated into the Masonic Lodge of Black River Falls, Dec. 10, 1855, passed to fellowcraft Dec. 23, 1857 and was raised to Master Mason degree Jan. 7, 1858."

The feature quoted the writing of Black River Falls very early day historian Calvin Johnson published in 1868-1869 which stated Chandler "abandoned the trapping business when his family moved to Black River Falls in 1849.  He then engaged in one of the first mercantile businesses in Black River Falls, was associated with lumbering on the Black River and did some farming.  He served as County Coroner in 1857.

An article dated April 23, 1858 captioned "A Novel Passenger" was about "a string of lumber that left here last Monday with a fine black bear, the property of James Chandler, with Chandler probably taking the bear below for sale.  His bearship left in the best of spirits and will make a jolly raftsman and as much fun as the best of them."

When the obituary of James Chandler was checked it contained the following information.  James Chandler had died Jan. 28, 1893 at the age of "over 80 years."  He had continued to live in his house in the city but had gone to spend a bit of the winter with his son, Cabel* on a farm near the city when his death occurred there. (*Note believe this should be Caleb.)

He was born at West Granvville, NY, Nov.18, 1812 and went to Iowa first and then to Wisconsin in 1844.

His first wife was Harriet Woodworth with whom he had one son, Cabel (better known it stated as "Woody") and a daughter, Nettie, then Nettie Brown of Minneapolis.  The obituary stated James Chandler "Came to Wisconsin in 1845 and to the Black River Falls area in 1846 when the area was indeed in the primitive state and he engaged with his brothers in extensive trapping and they were said to be the first white men to penetrate the wilderness of the Popple River."  It also mentioned Chandler’s life included service as Undersheriff of Jackson County under Sheriff R. G. Pope.

A few years after that James Chandler engaged in the mercantile business in Black River Falls and for 12 years was in partnership with Ira Greely.  The business ventures were successful and at one time Chandler was considered one of the "well to do businessmen at Black River Falls."

In 1870 Chandler entered the mercantile business at Greenwood which he operated eight years and then he returned to Black River Falls and again worked with the North Wisconsin line of the railroad and a post office established was named for him, Chandler.**

His first wife died in 1854 and in 1856 he married Mrs. Mary Warren Herrill and they had three children listed as Jennie, Mrs. W. C. Taylor and two sons, Virgil and George, then each of Black River Falls.  The second wife died at their home in September of 1888.

A Masonic funeral was conducted for James Chandler who was a charter member and a very faithful one of the local Masonic Lodge which dates back to 1856.

The Badger State Banner issue of April 22, 1915 had this colorful information about the daughter, Jennie, Mrs. W. H. Taylor stating Jennie M. Chandler was born in Black River Falls on Sept. 19, 1858, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Chandler who were from New York and who came here as early as 1848 when "the village was in its infancy and the lumbering industry, with its accessories, was practically the whole thing."  Her obituary stated she was reared at here in the home where she died in the Third Ward and in her childhood days she had attended school in the school house which was built about the time she was born, "located just east of Albert Nelson’ present paint shop.  In 1872 she was one of the few now residing here who transferred from this old school building to the new brick building (now Union Place) two blocks further east, on the hill.  She graduated here from the high school with the first class to go out in 1875, the other two graduates being Edgar Le Claire and Julia Spaulding.  Prior to this there was no such thing as graduation here and they had the honor of being the first high school graduates in Black River Falls or Jackson County."

The obituary revealed following high school graduation Jennie Chandler married W. G. Taylor and except for a few years at Tomah, Greenwood, Farmington and North Bend she had resided at Black River Falls "thus near to being a lifelong resident."

Her survivors were listed as Cabel "Woody" Chandler in Cherry Valley, Ontario, Canada; Nettie Brown of Minneapolis; Mrs. Frankie Smith of Orange City FL, and George w. of Webster, Fl, and it was noted her brother Virgil "died at Cass Lake about a year ago." 

Mrs. Taylor was described as "a woman of industry, ambition and buoyant spirit and besides taking good care of her household she found time to take a prominent interest in society."

The funeral was from the house "and her four sons acted as pallbearers."  Her husband, William Goss Taylor had died Aug. 29, 1922 at the home of his daughter in Minneapolis and the funeral for him was "held from the home of his son, Virgil in this city Thursday afternoon" with his four sons as pallbearers.  The sons were named William, Virgil, Edger and Fred and the daughter was listed as Bessie Warren Olson of Minneapolis.

Mildred Bagan of Black River Falls, widow of Francis Bagan, said she remembers her mother-in-law, Josephine, Mrs. Henry Bagan telling about when the Bagans moved to Black River Falls in 1925 and apparently purchased the house at that time and until recently the house was the home of Bagan family members.  Josephine Bagan died there Oct. 5, 1956 and had been preceded in death by her husband, Henry, who died July 23, 1937.  Their son, Francis, has served as Chairman of the Town of Brockway and on the Jackson County Board over 20 years.  He and his brother, Thomas had operated a garage in the Vaudreuil area for many years.  Tom died March 15, 1966.  Their brother, Albert, died Nov. 26, 1991.  Their sister, Mary, widow of Leo Jessop is still a resident of the city and still lives in the Grove near the house which is featured here.

The present owner of the Chandler house is Mary Ann McDonald and when she saw the picture of this house as it appeared in the 1906 booklet she at once thought it would be very nice to again have the pretty porch on the home.  Since the June 20 flood she has had extensive modernization done with the old house and a basement put under the house and it is now divided into two lovely apartments.

**James Chandler actually left after jus one year in Greenwood and it was his son-in-law Benjamin Franklin Brown who then operated the business in Greenwood.  James opened a new store in Monroe, WI and that is shown above.

The Chandler-Bagan-McDonald Home, Restored Photo, ©2009

This picture of the house at the corner of South First and Lincoln Street in the Grove area of Black River Falls shows dirt from the excavating to install a basement is still on the lot.

Sources

1881 History of Northern Wisconsin, History Buffs' Restored Photo Collection, Banner Journal, Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI, February 23, 1994, Page 7 B.

Contributors

Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon, Janet Schwarze, Mary (Murray) Woods, Clark County History Buffs