History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 352-355

In the early days, when the settlers first came to the present village site, there was a number of Indian Wigwams at the confluence of the Little Baraboo with the Big Baraboo River, and tradition has it that this had been for many years a favorite rendezvous for the Winnebago Indians then dwelling in the Upper Baraboo Valley. J. F. HAMLIN, who was first of all the settlers upon the present village site, staked a claim at that point, and commenced immediately the development of the water-power. This was in 1849. Within a short time other settlers had come into the vicinity,and while they did not locate upon the immediate village site, they were factors in its beginning. Among these nearby settlers were: Solon RUSHMORE, A. H. BROWNELL, Elisha POTTER, Ezra HAGAMAN, Sebastian KARSTETTER, and M. A. MATTHEWS.

These settlers appear to have come early in the year 1849. Mr. HAMLIN built a shanty on the south side of the Baraboo River, opposite the point he thought the best for the location of a mill. He was joined that same season by Mr. RUSHMORE, who took an active interest in the project. They spent the summer of 1849 building a dam and mill, and early the following spring it was equipped with machinery and put in operation. The irons for the mill were manufactured by SANFORD and BECKEL, who then were conducting a small foundry at Baraboo. That summer the sawmill operated and the first lumber produced, it is said, was used in the construction of a substantial frame dwelling, the home of Mr. HAMLIN.

J. F. SANFORD, in 1848, had come to Baraboo, and established the pioneer store at that place, and in fact, the following year opened the pioneer store of Reedsburg, which was conducted by O. H. PERRY. In 1864 Mr. SANFORD came into possession of the mill property at LaValle, and removed to the village to take immediate charge of it. Mr. SANFORD soon established a flour-barrel factory in connection with the mill,and also equipped the mill for the manufacture of broom handles. In 1869 Mr. SANFORD turned his attention to the building of a grist-mill, to be operated from the water power. A large three story mill was erected, and with in a few months, LaVallians were using home-made flour.

"In 1874," reads the Sauk County History of 1880, "the old machinery in the sawmill was taken out, and the establishment was fitted for the manufacture of staves by STAFFORD & Company of Reedsburg, who had rented the building and a certain portion of the water-power for the term of three years In 1876 Messrs. KEITH and PADDOCK, who also owned and conducted the Reedsburg Stave-mill, obtained control of the concern. In the fall of the same year, a building was erected a short distance above the dam. In it were placed a steam boiler and engine and other necessary machinery for the manufacture of staves. Work began immediately and continued until June 15, 1878, when the establishment was destroyed by fire, at an estimated loss of $1,000. Immediate preparations were made for the re-occupation of the old mill, and with a few weeks the silent precincts of LaValle again echoed with the buzz of busy saw." It has not been written that the hauling of stave logs was for a number of years a means of ready money for the farmer, who had acres of standing timber, which had to be cut from the land before the soil could be put into productiveness. For miles around teams drawing huge loads of oak and basswood were frequently to be seen, and if asked whither they were bound, the driver's ultimation would be "To the LaValle Stave Mill!"

After SANFORD's retirement from the grist-mill business the property passed to the ownership of Lyman BEERY and Theodore YAGER. From them it passed through various ownerships, and about thirty years ago it came into the hands of Joseph DUDLESON. The DUDLESON family still own it, and it is managed by Victor DUDLESON, son of Joseph DUDLESON. It is one of the largest mills for a village the size of LaValle, in central Wisconsin, and has a thoroughly modernized plant.

The first general store in the village is said to have been kept by S. P. BARNEY, who, a farmer in 1855, moved to the village after a year and a half, and established a general merchandise store, which was burglarized in 1859 to the extent of $600. For the next few years Mr. BARNEY dealt largely in hops, and did not resume his store until 1874. His son E.E. took over the business about 1876, and conducted it for many years.

The first school in the village was taught in 1855, but there are no records available which show anything concerning the early pupils or teachers. But it was taught in a shanty which stood near the residence of the late Benjamin G. PADDOCK; in 1859 the village erected a better building, which was occupied until 1875, when it was replaced by a still better structure.

LaValle became a postmaster in 1856, when a "Special office" was established, and S. P. BARNEY, received the appointment of postmaster. These "special postoffices," as is well known, were "rural conveniences" and supplied from an older, established office. In the case of LaValle and Ironton the main office was Reedsburg.

Submitted by Carol