He continued to live in the area even after it was settled by European settlers, and drowned in a canoe on Beaver Dam Lake in 1895.

While exploring, they came across surveyors who informed them of the upcoming railroad line that the North Wisconsin Railway Company planned to lay in the area.

A. Ritan, who lived near what is today Turtle Lake, and the Dahlby family, originally of Norwegian descent, from the town of New Richmond, both filed a homestead near the proposed railroad and built two log cabins 300 feet north of the present high school location.

Prior to the railroad, settlers were required to get provisions in Rice Lake, Barron or Clayton.

In 1880, the Dahlby family sold their cabin, moved to Chandler (now known as Spooner), and opened a store.

A. Ritan, also originally from Norway, lived in Cumberland for many years and helped develop the city before moving to Portland, Oregon.

Soon a school was located on the mainland area near the bridge with Miss Ida Schofield as the original teacher.

In early 1876 a post office, originally called Lakeland, was established three miles east of the city, with L.I.

Also around this time, a steam sawmill was set up in northern Cumberland, in what is now the "Mill Hill" area and operated for a few years until it was destroyed by fire on August 15, 1884.

In February 1893, the state board of health sent a representative to set up a quarantine on the Italian settlement due to unsanitary conditions.

On August 1, 1884 the city borrowed $5,900 via bond issue to establish a system of waterworks which was constructed by Fairbanks, Morse and Company in February 1895.

On September 14, 1895, the newly built water tank burst and damaged several nearby properties.

On November 20, 1897 the city approved a resolution for street lighting of all public grounds by electricity.

[6] Cumberland is located at 45°32′9″N 92°1′24″W / 45.53583°N 92.02333°W / 45.53583; -92.02333 (45.535892, −92.023389),[7] along Beaver Dam Lake at the beginning of the Hay River.

The ancestral makeup of the population were 34.2% German, 24.7% Norwegian, 14.1% Italian, 10.3% Irish, 9.6% Swedish and 8.2% English.

The festival features live music, carnival rides, food, a parade, and other events.