Burnside/Independence

burnside (597x800)
Burnside was settled in 1856. The first settlers were the Markham family who came from Great Britain and purchased land near the present day city of Independence. Other early settlers were Giles Cripps, J J Zimmer, Albert Bautch, Jessie and Lovell Kidder, Elias and Albert Spaulding, John Bugby, Martin Jellen and Theodore Sluga. The Town of Burnside was created in 1863 and named after
Gen. Ambrose E Burnside who commanded the Army of the Potomac for a short time in the Civil War. Rural schools within the Town were Borst Valley, Cripps, Farmers(Zimmer), New city and Wickham Valley. Independence was founded in 1875 when the railroad came through the Trempealeau Valley. The site for the town was purchased from Jake Pampuch and christened by Civil War vet David Kelly. The first three lots in town were sold to David Garlick, JC Taylor and Edward Elstad. Prior to the coming of the railroad the hamlet of New City enjoyed a short life southwest of Independence. It had a school, store and mill, When the railroad laid the tracks close to the confluence of Elk Creek and the Trempealeau River, many of the buildings in New City were put on skids and moved to the site of what is today’s Independence. For more information visit the Independence Historical Society on the ‘Links” page.

Burnside/Independence