“Early Days in Baraboo”
Letter Written by Dr. A.A. Noyes.
Published February 12, 1908  

The following letter from Dr.A.A. Noyes was read before the Sauk County Historical society January 25, 1908.  

Mason City, Iowa  

I first went to Baraboo in 1846, and after a stay in Missouri I returned to Baraboo in 1850.  While I had my office Missouri, I practiced in three different states up and down the Des Moines river on both sides, and also across the Mississippi river, at Wausau in Illinois.  It was in 1849 that I made my first venture as a physician and surgeon, after my graduation.  I the spring of 1850 I was flooded out of my habitation by the old Mississippi and returned to Baraboo.  I soon gained the confidence of the citizens and the surrounding country as a successful practitioner of medicine and surgery.  I was the leader and charter member of the first medical society in Sauk county.  

I have been running over in my mind’s eye the names of the young men (old bachelors) who were in Baraboo from 1846 until 1850.  Boys that we all were; rollicking, boyish boys.  Here are the names of some of them who were then or a little later:  

M.C. Waite, Morris Waite, Joseph Alexander, Samuel Hiles, William Brown, D.K. Noyes, E.O. Gregory, John Crawford, Rosewell Clement, William Canfield, Lewis Hayes, Daniel Ruggles, Eb. Nelson, H.D. Evans, Fred Nelson, Elisha Walbridge, E.E. Ames, James Cowles, Nels Wheeler, J.E. Wilkinson, E.H. Potter, Orin Huyck, Dr. H.S. Alexander, Simeon Crandall, A.A. Noyes, Edwin paddock, Levi Crouch, Henry Hurlbut, L.C. Stanley, Hiram Hurlbut, Howard Huntington, Joel Hurlbut, Levi Moore, Noah Kirk, James Haines, Levi Munson, Henry Peck, C.C. Remington, Henry Cowles, R. Lewis Warner, Henry Southard, John Goode, Orange Cook.  

I was about the youngest of them all, 24 years old in 1846.  All were wrestling boys.  I used to have a good many boyish scraps with Dr. Cowles, M.C. Waite, and H.D. Evans, in the trying of strength in scuffling.  One time, with Dr. Cowles in front of his house we were both faces down in the sand.  Dr. Cowles was considered the “bully” of Sauk county.  All that could get into the old “Baraboo Hotel” with A. S. Johnson got in there for he kept us all on the high shelf as far as eating as concerned.  

The Hayes boys were frequently out late Sunday nights.  There were other roomers who were alive to playing jokes on one another.  Sometimes when the boys were out late Sunday evenings the other roomers would pile the stairway and stairs full of chairs, among which they piled all of the old tinware and such like things that would make a noise.  When the boys returned and opened the door the whole outfit came down rattle-te-bang!  

I was always too modest and reserved to be playing such pranks, but boys will be boys, and when I cast my mind backward and survey the life from that time until now, over sixty years, I am still alive at the top.  

In a former article I was not certain about the number of years Dr. Crandall was there (in Baraboo).  He went there in 1846 and in the fall of 1851 returned to Miss__________ where he formerly lived, and where he married his wife.  He died there in November, 1855.  His family returned north in June 1856, with his brother, D.P. Crandall and his family.  The wives of the brothers were sisters.  

When they went to Baraboo in 1846 they lived in a little board shanty which stood near the location of the hotel where Mr. Moore lived on the flat; it was then called “under the hill”.  Both families lived there together until Dr. Crandall built a house for himself and family across the street from this shanty.  Soon after this D.P. Crandall went onto his farm.  My wife, Mrs. Noyes, was a charter member of five who organized the First Baptist church of Baraboo in 1846.  Elder Peter Conrad was the pastor.  

A.A. Noyes, M.D.

 OLD LANDMARK FOR SALE  

By terms of will the old Noyes homestead will be sold.  We will receive written offers for the whole or any part, but at present will not quote any prices.  Offers will be kept confidential if requested.  The property consists of large brick house, barn and four full lots.  The location is sightly, central and in every way desirable.  This is the only large piece of real estate left in the central part of the city for sale.  If you think that a church, schoolhouse, hospital or any other building, public or private, would look good on this location, which is just eight rods from the geographical center of Baraboo City, give us a call.  RUGGLES & EVANSON, Attorneys, offices entire second floor 101 Fourth street, Baraboo, Wis 

Exhibition at Kilbourn as a warning to others who might have cheating inclinations.  

A letter from Dr. A.A. Noyes of Mason City, Iowa, on Early Days in Baraboo, was ready by the secretary.  The letter will be published later.  

Editor S.J. Hood of the Republic furnished several masterpieces in music upon his phonograph.  The music sounded well in the circuit court room where the meeting was held.  

L.H. Palmer stated that the work of clearing the man mound was progressing.

The next meeting of the society will be held in February and at that time Consulting Engineer H.E. French will present an article on Devils lake and Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Palmer will tell the story of Greenfield.  

The meeting was one of the most interesting and enthusiastic that has been held for some time.  The courtroom was well filled with members and friends of the society.