The cascade which appears at the mouth of Levis Creek northeast of Black River Falls during the recent draw-down of the Black River, is a beautiful site unknown to the present generation.
Here Levis Creek drops from 15 to 20 feet over granite rocks before reaching the river bed. In the early history of the river, this was favorite picnic and gathering spot for pioneer residents.
John Levis, for whom the creek was named, and his family were prominent pioneer settlers on the Black River.
John arrived from Alton, Ill., in 1842. Either arriving with him or coming soon after, were three bothers, William K., Mahlon and George. His mother came at a later date and died here in 1863.
John's granddaughter, Grace Holder of Black River Falls, relates: "The Levis family was of English origin and John's great-grandfather, a Quaker, was the founder of the family in America. He secured 1,000 acres of land near Philadelphia during William Penn's settlement of Pennsylvania.
"John's grandfather, Thomas Levis, served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The part of the Levis family who remained in Alton, Ill. formed a glass company which eventually became the Owen Ill. Glass Company."
All four Levis brothers participated in the 1845 Indian War at Black River Falls. The affair started at Doc Snow's Fur Trading Post at the mouth of Levis Creek, when several Indians broke into Snow's cabin and stole whiskey and clothing.
After consuming some of the liqour, they advanced to one of their camps at Black River Falls. (This location is now the business area where the Jackson County Historical Gallery is located."
According to the writings of E.L. Brockway, another pioneer settler: "A delegation of settlers went to the camp in an effort to reclaim the stolen goods but were fired upon when leaving the camp. Throughout the remainder of the day and far into the night several hundred volleys were fired on both sides but not one person was injured!"
The Levis brothers were lumbermen and loggers. John located a sawmill and in on the south side of the mouth of the creek which still bears his name.
Mahlon and William owned and operated mills at several locations on the Black River and its tributaries. The 1847-53 survey maps note Mahlon Levis owned a "hot sawmill" on the river. Present-day historians cannot identify what type of mill this was.
The first wedding performed in what is now Jackson County was in January, 1847 when William K. Levis married Mary Elizabeth Blanchard Miller, widow of John Miller.
Mrs. Holder said: "the wedding to be was announced extensively by "Moccasin Telegraph," it being an occasion of note as the first marriage in the Black River Valley. the wedding was held at High Noon, but because of the extremely primitive roads and means of travel, the guests from La Crosse and Neillsville arrived to late to witness the ceremony.
"in righteous indignation aroused by traveling nearly 50 miles along rude trails, they demanded the wedding be held over again. Mr great -uncle and aunt were 'game' and the ceremony was performed a second time."
Some historians state the marriage was performed by the first minister (Methodist) of The Black River, Rev. R.R. Wood, also a justice of the peace, at "Browning's Place on the East Fork" while Mrs Holder said her family contended it was held on the Levis Creek property.
The Levis Inn was very popular among early settlers. The pioneers traveled great distances to attend dances held there. Those living on the west bank of the river found it easily forded near Levis' where the Indians had forded the river many years previously.
John was granted a three-year license to operate a ferry at this point at a special meeting of the Jackson County Board on March 24, 1857. The board set the rates for ferries and a bond of $500.
Levis had to agree "to keep a good and safe boat or boats, in good repair, adopted to the waters were they are to be used and faithfully attend the ferry, with a suitable number of men, during the several hours in each day and following rates of ferriage are hereby ordered and directed to wit:
"For ferrying a pair of horses, oxen or mules and vehicle, 25 cents; each additional horse, oxen or mule, 5 cents; one horse or mule and a vehicle, 20 cents; one horse and rider, 15 cents; footman, 5 cents; horse, cattle or mules in droves per head, 5 cents; swine or sheep or mules in droves per head, 2 1/2 cents."
At these nominal rates, Levis had to have a great number of crossings to even pay his bond fee.
John brought his bride, Emaline Olson, whom he married in 1851 in Prairie du Chien, to assist with the running of the Inn. She was born near Christine, Norway in 1821 and came to the United States in 1847.
The area around the Levis' sawmill had numerous outcroppings of iron ore. In 1854, a group of German industrialists began laying plans to erect an iron blast furnace just south of the Levis mill.
John and brother Mahlon, sold to the Iron Company the land on which they were to operate and furnished them many thousands of dollars worth of lumber and supplies all on credit.
A city was platted there, named New Denamora, and many people arrived there to work in the mining operations. A school house was built on the north side of Levis Creek, which was named Iron Creek while mining operations were in existance.
Many adversities befell the company, including the loss of thousands of dollars in cash in the pocket of their manager, John K. Quail, who drowned when the Lake Schooner, the Lady Elgin, went down in Lake Michigan on Sept. 8, 1860.
When the Iron Company failed, John Levis was a "heavy loser, and he never fully recovered from the financial blow, but continued to run his sawmill and do a general merchantile business for several years. He died at his home on Levis Creek on Sept. 11, 1893 at the age of 86 years.
William K. also suffered financial losses when high water destroyed his mill and lumber. He was forced to sell the remaining property and operated a farm near Alma Center for a while. He then kept an Inn at Hixton and moved to Trempealeau where he operated a stage station. In 1867 he moved to Osseo and purchased a hotel and later a farm. William died on Dec 26, 1897 in Osseo.
When Mahlon Levis left the river and lumbering, he went to Bakersfield, Calif. where he raised grapes for many years. Mrs. Holder recalls he returned to Black River Falls when the city held its Homecoming Celebration in 1908. He died in California.
George Levis returned to Alton, Ill at an early date and became associated with the glass making industry. He died in Illinois.