This small cemetery once served the area called "Skillins' Corners" or "The Corners". Moses Skillins settled here in 1860 and his brother Haram Skillins, a Baptist preacher, arrived in 1862. The creek that flows through Hiram's place was called "Skillins' Creek". Henry E. Pierce arrived in 1863 and bought Moses Skillins place. Henry was the father of Eden Douglas Pierce, M.D. who wrote about the early years of Trempealeau County and where much of this information was gathered. In 1863 James Wickham bought land for his son Andrew who moved into the homestead in Wickham Valley in 1864. William Eastman had arrived in 1863. William Arnold, his brother Douglas Arnold, and William Boorman settled in 1864. Captain John Lewis, A Civil War veteran, bought land in Lewis Valley in 1866. Lewis Niffiin had lived in Niffin Valley but moved away and the valley and creek were renamed Lewis Valley with the arrival of20John Lewis. A post office was established in 1866 and the name was changed to Williamsburg because William Arnold, William Eastman and William Boorman all lived near "The Corners", William Arnold was postmaster until the post office was discontinued in 1876. The first mail was carried on horseback from Minneska, Minnesota to Black River Falls. Later it was carried by stage or horseback from Trempealeau to the Trempealeau-Elk Creek Route. Perry Rumsy was the mail carrier. In 1866 a school house was built and Miss Francis Lewis, a sister to Captain John Lewis, was the first teacher. The school house occasionally served as a church.

The Williamsburg farmers raised wheat wich they hauled a long distance to market at Fountain City or Rempealeau. In winter when the Mississippi River was frozen over they hauled the grain to the mill at Pickwick, Minnesota. There was abundant wild g rass for their herds and the early settlers prospered in this new country. With the building of the railroad and the growth of the cities of Arcadia and Independence, Williamsburg slowly faded into history.



The State of Wisconsin did not require deaths or births to be recorded until October, 1907. The first burial at Williamsburg is believed to taken place in 1867 and the last in 1900. Unfortunately the records for this early cemetery have been lost or misplaced. Some of the markers have been removed because of disrepair or have deteriorated away. If you have any additional information on a grave or this cemetery please contact the Arcadia Historical Society at 1-608-323-7143 or the Arcadia VFW at 1-608-539-2802. To the best of our knowledge those early settlers are resting here.