Map from 1914 Plat Book. Albion was settled in 1856 by William Moon, Burden Cross, David Chase and A U Gibson. In 1857 Russell Bowers arrived and his home became the Hamlin post office. David Chase enlisted to fight in the Civil War and was killed. Burden Cross moved to Dane County but AU Gibson remained and named the township” Albion”–an ancient title of Britain. In 1857 a band of Sioux and Hochunks camped below the present day Norden church. At that time Elk, wolf, deer and bear were plentiful. Later the band moved near the present day village of Eleva. From there they had trails going all across the countryside and over the best crossings of the river and streams. These trails were used by settlers for many years. The little settlement of Hamlin on the southern border of Section 14 had a school, post office and a hotel where the stage from Eau Claire would stop. Eleva became the main trading center when the railroad went through. The story of the naming of the village attributes the letters E-L-E-V-A being painted on a grain elevator in town and citizens deciding to go with the truncated name. For more information on Eleva contact the Eleva Historical Society in the ‘Links” folder.
