The History of Cassville

Cassville was settled in 1827. Then part of the Michigan Territory, it was named after Territorial Governor Lewis Cass. When Wisconsin achieved statehood in 1848, Cassville's Nelson Dewey was elected first governor. Remains of his 2,000 acre estate are now Nelson Dewey State Park and Stonefield Historic Site.

Denniston House - "The Big Brick" Between 1833 and 1858, the ferry was a large rowboat. Ferry service powered by horses on a treadmill started in 1858. Later, the ferry was used to transport vegetables from rich Iowa bottomland fields to the Klindt Geiger Canning Company, founded in 1893. Gasoline engines replaced "horsepower" in 1913

Cassville Ferry In 1836, Cassville was competing for the honor of becoming capitol of the new Wisconsin Territory, The Denniston House or "The Big Brick" was built that year to house legislators.

The Steamboat era saw the foot of Frederic Street as the activity center of Cassville. Riverboats moored along the riverfront to unload goods, transfer passengers, and load lead from nearby mines. Riverside Park was established in the 1890's. An eagle effigy mound found here was built by Native Americans around 1000 A.D.

For more Cassville, Wisconsin history