Plum City in Pierce County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Plum City: Early History

Plum City Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 24, 2011

1. Plum City Marker

Inscription. French traders and Native Americans traveled these rich hunting grounds over 300 years ago. When European settlement began in this area about 150 years later, many settlers followed the old St. Antoine Trail east from the Mississippi River to this location. Here, at the juncture of the trail and Plum Creek, speculator Frank Moser acquired and had surveyed forty acres of land in 1857. With great hopes for future development and inspired by the profusion of plum trees in the area, he named the new settlement Plum City. The entrepreneurial Moser and his brother constructed a dam and sawmill, but the isolated town developed slowly and after eleven years only ten log and two frame buildings had been built. The economy boomed in the 1870s when many pioneering farmers bought Plum City's fencing lumber for farms in eastern Minnesota. After 1900, Plum City became a prosperous farming community with a large business district. But throughout its history, the enduring heart of Plum City has remained this serene natural Spring Pond.

Erected 1997 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 356.)

Topics and series.

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 44° 37.901′ N, 92° 11.573′ W. Marker is in Plum City, Wisconsin, in Pierce County. It is on Main Street (County Highway U / S) south of Pine Avenue East (County Highway S), on the right when traveling south. Marker is in Spring Pond Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Plum City WI 54761, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area

and in Western Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Swedish Methodist Church (approx. 4.9 miles away); Little House Wayside

Photographed by Keith L, October 24, 2011

2. Plum City Marker

(approx. 7.3 miles away); Lake Pepin (approx. 9½ miles away); Eau Galle (approx. 9.8 miles away); Frontenac (approx. 9.9 miles away in Minnesota); Wakondiota Park (approx. 10.1 miles away in Minnesota); Christ Episcopal Church (approx. 10.2 miles away in Minnesota); Maiden Rock (approx. 10.2 miles away).

Also see . . . Plum City, Wisconsin. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on October 25, 2011.)

Plum City Marker and Spring Pond image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 24, 2011

3. Plum City Marker and Spring Pond

Photographed by Keith L, October 24, 2011

4. Spring Pond

Veterans Memorial at Spring Pond image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 24, 2011

5. Veterans Memorial at Spring Pond

Photographed by Keith L, October 24, 2011

6. Plaque

Dedicated in Memory of
All Veterans
by American Legion Post 365

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,777 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 25, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.