WI BIO - Eau Claire Co - WILSON, Richard F.

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, vol I, p 337

Richard F. WILSON came to [the area that became, during the following year, 
the village of] Eau Claire [Eau Claire County, Wisconsin] in the summer of 
1854, and remained until late in winter, selecting lands for the State. He 
returned in 1855, and laid out the town [village] in the fall of that year 
[1855], having purchased a half interest in 200 acres on the east side of the 
Chippewa and south side of the Eau Claire Rivers, on what is know as the 
original plat of the town [village] of Eau Claire. He purchased the land in 
connection with W. H. [William H.] GLEASON, Jesse J. GAGE and James REED. 
Mr. GAGE and Mr. REED sold their interest to Adin RANDALL, who soon afterward 
transferred his interest to CHAPMAN, THORP & BURHAMS. Mr. BURHAMS afterward 
sold his interest to CHAPMAN & THORP. In 1856 Adin RANDALL, is connection 
with Ira MEAD, laid out the city of Eau Claire on the west side. They were 
the original proprietors and owned it for a considerable time.

Mr. WILSON has never disposed of his entire interest in property acquired at 
the commencement of the town [village of Eau Claire], but has a large 
property, principally improved. The property which he owns on the west side 
[on the west side of the Chippewa River, in the northwest corner of the 
village], he selected for the State in 1854, but afterward pre-empted it. He 
owns 160 acres, know as R. F. WILSON's Addition to the village (now city) of 
Eau Claire. Mr. WILSON has dealt in real estate ever since his arrival in 
Eau Claire. He was also in the lumbering and mercantile business, but 
disposed of the latter in 1870. At the present time [1881] he is interested 
in two mills. The one, known as the R. F. WILSON mill, is located in the 
Sixth Ward, R. F. WILSON's Addition to Eau Claire, [this addition being 
located adjacent to the Chippewa River, in the northwest corner of what was 
then the village of Eau Claire]. This mill has a capacity of 50,000 feet per 
day of eleven hours' run, and employs about fifty men. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly