Jump River
Encyclopedia
The Jump River is a small rocky river in north-central Wisconsin
. In the late 19th century it was used to drive logs down to the Chippewa
. Today it is recreational, rambling through woods and farmlands, used mostly by fishermen and paddlers.
. From there it flows approximately 25 miles (40 km) through Rusk
, Taylor
and Chippewa
counties, emptying into the Holcombe Flowage and joining the Chippewa River
, and eventually the Mississippi
.
Settlements along the river are Sheldon, the community of Jump River, and Prentice
.
call this stream Manidoons-ziibi ("Little Spirit River").
Indians lived along the Jump in the early years, growing little plots of crops on the river bottoms.
Jump River Falls (Big Falls) was once thought the likely rapids where Father René Menard
disappeared in 1661 while trying to reach a band of refugee Hurons near Lake Chelsea. Current thought is that he more likely disappeared at the dells of the Big Rib River
, in the southeast corner of Taylor county
.
Logging on the Jump had begun by 1858. Before that the Jump River valley was covered by heavy forest. The first surveyors in the mid-19th century found hemlock, yellow birch, sugar maple, white pine
, black spruce
, tamarack, white cedar
, and other species, with hemlock most common in most areas. Crews cut the white pine first and stored the logs through the winter, then drove
them down the river to mills at Chippewa and Eau Claire. Logs were driven from April to July. For the winter of 1888 to 1889, the Chippewa Logging Company and Mississippi River Logging Company estimated the cuts on various branches to be:
The last logs were driven down the Jump around 1903. The less buoyant species have been logged ever since, hauled out by rail and truck.
The first bridge across the Jump was the Wisconsin Central Railway's trestle at Prentice, built in the 1870s. The "Black Bridge" above the village of Jump River's swimming hole was built in 1899 and 1900. The SM&P Railway bridge at Jump River was built in 1904. The Range Line wagon bridge in Jump River was built in 1909. It was wrecked by an ice jam in 1913 and repaired. The Albert bridge on what is now county H was built in 1912. The LaFollette Bridge just east of Jump River opened in 1933. The worst flood on record occurred around Labor Day of 1941. Days of rain raised the river level about twelve feet, destroying the Black Bridge and washing out approaches to the LaFollette and Range Line bridges.
Fisherman angle in many holes along the river. Fish in the river include northern pike
, smallmouth bass
, catfish
, redhorse
, and suckers
.
Big Falls County Park, known locally as "Jump River Falls," surrounds a small gorge where the river tumbles through boulders. It has a picnic area and walking trails along the river. Picnic areas are also at parks in the village of Jump River and Haley Park in Sheldon. Haley Park has a sandy swimming beach, as does "the swimming hole," a mile above the village of Jump River.
In winter when the river is frozen, snowmobiles run up and down it on the ice.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. In the late 19th century it was used to drive logs down to the Chippewa
Chippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
. Today it is recreational, rambling through woods and farmlands, used mostly by fishermen and paddlers.
Geography
The Jump is formed at the confluence of the North Fork Jump River and the South Fork Jump River in southwestern Price County, WisconsinPrice County, Wisconsin
Price County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,822. Its county seat is Phillips.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water...
. From there it flows approximately 25 miles (40 km) through Rusk
Rusk County, Wisconsin
Rusk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,347. Its county seat is Ladysmith. Founded in 1901, Rusk County was originally named "Gates" County. It was formed out of the northern portion of Chippewa County....
, Taylor
Taylor County, Wisconsin
Taylor County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 20,689. Its county seat is Medford.-History:The earliest recorded event in Taylor county probably occurred in 1661, when Wisconsin was part of New France...
and Chippewa
Chippewa County, Wisconsin
Chippewa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 55,195. Its county seat is Chippewa Falls. The United States Census Bureau's Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Chippewa County...
counties, emptying into the Holcombe Flowage and joining the Chippewa River
Chippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
, and eventually the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Settlements along the river are Sheldon, the community of Jump River, and Prentice
Prentice, Wisconsin
Prentice is a village in Price County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 626. The village is located within the Town of Prentice.-Geography:...
.
History
The origin of the river's name is the source of minor local controversy. Some say that the name comes from the jumping water in the many rapids which mark nearly the upper half of its course. Others maintain that the river was so-named because a 19th century forest fire jumped the river. Still others suggest that log drivers named it for the way the water level "jumps" up and down rapidly after rains and thaws. Its name in Ojibwe does not shed light on its present name either, since the OjibwaOjibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
call this stream Manidoons-ziibi ("Little Spirit River").
Indians lived along the Jump in the early years, growing little plots of crops on the river bottoms.
Jump River Falls (Big Falls) was once thought the likely rapids where Father René Menard
René Menard
René Menard was a French Jesuit missionary explorer who traveled to Canada in 1641, learned the language of the Wyandot, and was soon in charge of many of the satellite missions around Sainte-Marie among the Hurons...
disappeared in 1661 while trying to reach a band of refugee Hurons near Lake Chelsea. Current thought is that he more likely disappeared at the dells of the Big Rib River
Big Rib River
The Big Rib River is a river in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It originates in northeastern Taylor County at Rib Lake and flows into Marathon County where it joins the Wisconsin River....
, in the southeast corner of Taylor county
Taylor County, Wisconsin
Taylor County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 20,689. Its county seat is Medford.-History:The earliest recorded event in Taylor county probably occurred in 1661, when Wisconsin was part of New France...
.
Logging on the Jump had begun by 1858. Before that the Jump River valley was covered by heavy forest. The first surveyors in the mid-19th century found hemlock, yellow birch, sugar maple, white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
, black spruce
Black Spruce
Picea mariana is a species of spruce native to northern North America, from Newfoundland west to Alaska, and south to northern New York, Minnesota and central British Columbia...
, tamarack, white cedar
Thuja occidentalis
Thuja occidentalis is an evergreen coniferous tree, in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is widely cultivated for use as an ornamental plant known as American Arbor Vitae. The endemic occurrence of this species is a northeastern distribution in North America...
, and other species, with hemlock most common in most areas. Crews cut the white pine first and stored the logs through the winter, then drove
Log driving
Log driving is a means of log transport which makes use of a river's current to move floating tree trunks downstream to sawmills and pulp mills.It was the main transportation method of the early logging industry in Europe and North America...
them down the river to mills at Chippewa and Eau Claire. Logs were driven from April to July. For the winter of 1888 to 1889, the Chippewa Logging Company and Mississippi River Logging Company estimated the cuts on various branches to be:
| Main Chippewa | 75,000,000 board feet |
| ... | ... |
| Main Jump | 7,000,000 board feet |
| South Fork Jump | 13,000,000 board feet |
| North Fork Jump | 5,000,000 board feet |
The last logs were driven down the Jump around 1903. The less buoyant species have been logged ever since, hauled out by rail and truck.
The first bridge across the Jump was the Wisconsin Central Railway's trestle at Prentice, built in the 1870s. The "Black Bridge" above the village of Jump River's swimming hole was built in 1899 and 1900. The SM&P Railway bridge at Jump River was built in 1904. The Range Line wagon bridge in Jump River was built in 1909. It was wrecked by an ice jam in 1913 and repaired. The Albert bridge on what is now county H was built in 1912. The LaFollette Bridge just east of Jump River opened in 1933. The worst flood on record occurred around Labor Day of 1941. Days of rain raised the river level about twelve feet, destroying the Black Bridge and washing out approaches to the LaFollette and Range Line bridges.
Recreation
The Jump is good for canoeing when the water is high enough, with little rapids and boulders to dodge. The banks are largely undeveloped, though roads and farms are often just behind the trees. When the water level is medium to high, the stretch from the village of Jump River to County H or to Sheldon is fun. When the level is higher one can canoe from below Big Falls down to the village, and even above the Falls. Recent water levels at the gauging station at Sheldon are available here.http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?05362000Fisherman angle in many holes along the river. Fish in the river include northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
, catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
, redhorse
Moxostoma
Moxostoma is a genus of ray-finned fish in the Catostomidae family.- Species :* Moxostoma albidum * Moxostoma anisurum * Moxostoma ariommum C. R...
, and suckers
Catostomidae
Catostomidae is the sucker family of the order Cypriniformes. There are 80 species in this family of freshwater fishes. Catostomidae are found in North America, east central China, and eastern Siberia...
.
Big Falls County Park, known locally as "Jump River Falls," surrounds a small gorge where the river tumbles through boulders. It has a picnic area and walking trails along the river. Picnic areas are also at parks in the village of Jump River and Haley Park in Sheldon. Haley Park has a sandy swimming beach, as does "the swimming hole," a mile above the village of Jump River.
In winter when the river is frozen, snowmobiles run up and down it on the ice.