Biographical history of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each; engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 67

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 938

USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > Biographical history of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each; engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 67
USA > Wisconsin > La Crosse County > Biographical history of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each; engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 67
USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > Biographical history of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each; engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 67

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yours Judy

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of war. December 10 he was in charge of Norwegian Lutheran Church, and the former that battalion at the battle of Fredericksburg. is a member of the F. & A. M., of the G. A. R. and the Loyal Legion of the United States. In politics he has always been an ardent Republican. He has become a prominent citizen of the county, respected and esteemed for his sterling integrity, his broad intelli- gence and liberal and progressive ideas. About December 13 he reported to General Williams, commander of the division to which his regiment belonged, and was told by the latter to remain at his headquarters as addi- tional aid until the regiment en route from Harper's Ferry should arrive. About De- cember 25 he reported to his regiment at Fairfax Station, and resumed his position as Captain of Company E. Owing to a wound which he had received he could not march, MYRICK. and also owing to this wound his voice was very weak, so that upon tendering his resigna- REMINISCENOES OF EARLY TIMES. tion in March, 1863, it was accepted. IIe had devoted about two years of his life to the ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, January 28, 1892. HON. F. A. COPELAND, Mayor, La Crosse, Wisconsin. service of Unele Sam and prior to responding to the eall for troops he had served some three years in the Governor's guard of Madison, Wisconsin. He did noble service, and was well-known as a brave, capable and zealous officer.

After the elose of the war he spent several years in Europe at different sanitariums try- ing to restore his shattered health. In 1869 Governor Fairchild appointed him Fish Inspector for the State, which position oe- cupied his attention for three years. IIe then returned to his law practice and since 1882 much of his attention has been given to edi- torial work in La Crosse. but at the present time he is principally engaged in the practice of law, and is a well-read and able attorney and a ripe scholar. He was admitted an attorney to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1862, and has held the office of Court Commissioner since ISS1.

My Dear Mayor :- I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed letter of January 22, 1992, enclosing and officially transmitting to me an engrossed preamble and resolution passed by the Com- mon Council of the city of La Crosse, wherein a kind invitation is extended to me to be present on the 10th of February, 1892, the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of La Crosse, and also requesting me to permit a portrait of myself to be placed in the new City Hall, or in the Public Library.

I cannot express in words the great pleas- ure which this most marked and distinguished invitation and request has brought to me. The deepest feelings of respect for the city of La Crosse, which now seem in volume doubled by this distinguished aet of kind- ness, are, at this moment, so mingled with all my own reminiscenees of the settlement of La Crosse that it is now almost impos- sible for me to set in phrase my appreciation of the high consideration thus paid me.

Ile was married, in 1870, to Miss Andrea C. Joys, a native of Norway, who came to this country with her parents at an early age. They have two children: Edward John, who is studying pharmacy, and Valborg. Both To explain to yon briefly these feelings, Mr. and Mrs. Widvey are members of the I go back with me fifty years, aud stand. with

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

a few companions, in an uncivilized and un- settled place on the bank of the Mississippi river. While standing there in such a deso- late spot, contemplate and imagine, if pos- sible, that within fifty years, ont from the sands of the echoing shore there shall arise a populous and modern metropolis, from whose center the eagle engines hourly scream their flight to all the distant seas; whose hills shall be dotted with churches, dedicated to the ever-living God; upon whose slopes and plains permanent institutions of educa. tion, science and learning shall be erected, and upon whose tributary waters the eom- merce of a liundred-millioned republic shall be carried. This may seem possible. Yon may dream this: so did many of the first settlers of the republic dream. But imagine, if you can, that even under the lofty policy of this republic, before your own humble career shall be entered, that there will be found the high magnanimity and thoughtful consideration, under whose tender influences the great business interests of such metropo- lis shall pause in the exercise of their infinite energies to remember the young and unlet. tered trader who first erected a cabin on the site of the city of La Crosse. I therefore feel all the respect and humility which this confusing train of thought engenders, and I cannot write these down in words.

I most heartily desire that the 10th of February next shall be a glorious holiday to the good citizens of La Crosse, on which all the old settlers may again join hands with the new, pledging to each other alike, with the unanimity ever necessary to metropolitan advance, a loyal devotion to the liberties, civilization, security and peace of the city of La Crosse.

It is with the deepest regret that I am compelled to inform you, that both my health and the emergencies of my business will re-

quire that I shall be, upon February 10, in the distant State of California, but my heart will be with you on that day. as my affec- tions and my hopes are with you ever. It seems strange that the city of La Crosse, which is, in the single consideration of early settlement, somewhat of a child of mine, should, by its own graceful act, make me a child of itself.

My dear Mayor, in your letter you .asked me, in case it should not be convenient for me to be with you on the fiftieth anniver- sary. that I send you a brief account of my life and reminiscenses in relation to the set- tlement of La Crosse. This I have concluded to do, not in any spirit of vain-glory, but by an effort, overeoming a modesty with which 1 think your people are familiar. And, prompted by a sense of duty, and from the pleasure of doing, so far as in iny power, whatever may be requested of me by the city of La Crosse, I will herein give you the mod- est circumstances of my life, and, so far as I can, complete the chain of reminiseences which have already been put on record in relation to the settlement of La Crosse.

I have the honor to inform you that I have this day forwarded to the City of La Crosse, in your care as Mayor, a portrait of myself. It is my desire, dear Mayor, if it shall so please the eity. that this portrait be placed in the Public Library.

Permit me to relate to you the events of my life as follows:

I am the son of Barnabas Myrick and Lo- vina Bigelow, who were married about 1818. I was born at Westport, Essex county, New York, on July 7, 1822. My father had removed from Middlebury, Vermont, to Essex county about 1818, and continued to reside at Westport until his death in 1844. During his life in New York he was actively engaged in business in various forms; was at one time

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Loan Commissioner of the State of New York, and served in the House of Represen- tatives of that State about 1834. I was one of eight children, five of whom lived past their majority. These were Ira Myrick, now living at Elysian, Minnesota; Lonisa Myriek, now married to Hiram Buckland, of Brandon, Vermont; the late Andrew Jackson Myrick, who removed to Minnesota in 1852, and was murdered by Indians at the Sioux Agency near Redwood, in Angust, 1862; Abigail Myrick, who was married during the '40s to Stephen Goodall, who afterwards removed to Minnesota and lived at Elysian, and died in 1874. The other children were Hiram, Charles and Martin Van Buren Myrick.

My mother lived in Brandon the last few years of her life, and died in 1837. I was with her at the time of her death, and took her remains to Westport, New York, where they were buried by the side of my father. My paternal grandfather was Brazilla Myrick, who was born in Vermont, and served in the , Revolutionary war. He was a pensioner of the Government at the time of his death in 1841, at Westport, where he was buried. IIis wife survived him until 1849, and was buried by the side of her husband in the cemetery at Westport.

I went to the district school until about ten years of age, and was then entered in the academy at Westport, which was founded largely through the efforts of my father. remained there about three years, and at the expiration of that term was employed by my father in his tannery at Westport, going to school in the winter. Afterwards I was employed in a general store owned by my father in Westport, and remained there until 1841. At that time I was eighteen years of age, and was an intimate friend of the late Major Hatch, of Minnesota. who then worked for his father in a rival store in Westport. ' vate purse. As soon as I had exhibited my

We both became enthusiastic over the great West, at that time an almost unknown coun. try. The railroads were not then built, and the travel to the West was by canal boat to Lake Erie, and by steamboat to Chicago.

My father was an austere man, thoroughly engrossed by many enterprises other than those heretofore enumerated,-owning and operating canal boats and sail boats on Lake Champlain, lumber mills and lumber yards at Albany, sawmills at Westport, iron forges and other enterprises. One evening I went over to Mr. Hateh's store, and the West was discussed and talked about. I returned to my father's store, and as we were about to close the store for the night I asked my father if he would give me my time. He almost flew into a passion and said, "You have already had too much of your time." Ile soon got over the excitement which he was thrown into by the andacity I had in asking for my time, and said if I could do better for myself than he could for me l eould have my time. That ended the con- versation, and we went home to the house. I made up my mind then to seek my fortune in the West. This was mid-winter, and there were no means of travel before navigation opened on the lakes and canal: consequently I had to remain there until about the first of May. By that time I was ready to start and embarked on one of my father's boats. My friend, the late Major Hatch, intended to ar- company me, but was detained in New York by the illness of his mother. I started from home with an outfit of about $100, my own savings, being however well provided with books and clothing. After commencing my journey I was very much pleased to find in my trunk, between the pages of a pocket bible, an affectionate letter from my mother. enclosing a present of 815 from her own pri-

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earnest desire to go West by aetnally making a start from home without seeking pecuniary assistance from my father, he seemed struck with the serionsness of my purpose: and by letter, which he forwarded by my brother to intercept me, offered to restoek the tannery at home and make me a present of the plant, or, if I would be better pleased to stop at the hotel in Albany and remain there until he came, he would start me in a lumber-yard at Albany, or some other congenial business.

But I had that sense of independence and desire for personal achievement that I de- clined my father's very tempting offer and continued on my western journey. My brother traveled on the packet boat with me until we met the packet boat going north, on which he took return passage to White- hall and home, he all the time trying to per- snade me to return home. I told him that I had started for the West and could not return home, as many of my friends said that I would return to stay the first night. I went by canal boat to Troy, and rail to Albany" and to Schenectady, and then by packet boat on the canal to Buffalo, where I took the steamer Chesapeake to Chicago. I left Chi- cago, which had then abont 5,000 inhabi- tants, by stage, and went to Galena, Illinois, arriving there June 3d, there being no boats or stage running to Prairie du Chien. I hired a team and went from there directly to Prai- rie du Chien, where I arrived June 5th. My immediate object in going to Prairie dn Chien was to visit some former acquaintances from Westport, who were then living at the former place. I had with me a letter of in- troduction from General Hunter, of Westport, who had visited Prairie du Chien some years before, to HI. L. Dowsman, then in charge of the American Fur Company, -Alexander McGregor and Judge Lockwood. Upon pre- senting these letters, I was very kindly

received by the gentlemen named, but they declined to employ me in any services on account of my inability to speak Indian and my inexperience in Indian trading. I re- inained at the hotel until my funds were nearly exhausted, being unable in the mean time to seeure employment. Among other efforts in that direction, I applied to the pro- prietor of a tannery which had just been started in the north part of Prairie du Chien. This tannery was not enclosed, the vats being out in the open air. The proprietor, not- withstanding my representations of knowl- edge of the business, would not offer me more than $15 a month, which I declined, and said to him that I had left a good home to get rid of working in a tannery, of which faet, however, I never informed my father.

My first adventure was with one II. J. B. Miller, who was at that time engaged in the butcher's business at Prairie du Chien. Business being rather dull. he was desirons of making a trip to Cedar river, about 100 miles west of l'rairie du Chien, into an un- civilized country, ocenpied only by Indians. Mr. Miller happened to mention in my pres- ence that if he could secure some one to go with him he would like to make this trip for the purpose of seeing the country and doing a little shooting if any profitable hunting conld be found. I promptly offered to ac- company Mr. Miller, and we set out in a single covered wagon, with tent and supplies, for Cedar river, having obtained permission from General Brooks, in command of Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, and afterward from the commanding officer at Fort Atchi- son, near the Turkey River Agency. It was necessary to get permission from the mili- tary authorities in order to go into the Indian country. We were informed at Fort Atchi- son that there had been a fight between two tribes of Indians a few days before at Cedar

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river, and that it was dangerous to go any farther; that the troops had been ont to quiet the trouble, and had just returned. We paid no attention to what they told us, and pro- ceeded on our journey. We did not see much game nor any Indians on our trip. We camped on the banks of the Cedar river two or three days, shot a few fish, and then re- turned to the fort and to Prairie du Chien, where we were again about two weeks. It was during this trip that Mr. Miller and my- self became thoroughly acquainted with each other, and commenced the friendship which finally led to our entering into eo-partnership.

After our return from this Cedar river trip, I was employed in the postoffice at Prairie du Chien, receiving only my board for my services. I had only worked there a few weeks when I was taken sick. It had been arranged between Mr. Miller and myself that we should make a trading trip to the Turkey River Agency, permission having been granted npon our application, and the arrangements almost completed; but my ill- ness prevented my joining this adventure, Mr. Miller going out alone. Mr. David Clark, an acquaintance of mine, was very at- tentive to me during my illness, but his attention was in a characteristic Western way, and may be appropriately referred to here. Mr. Clark was satisfied that I was taken with a fever, and informed me that he would either enre me or kill me, and proceeded to pour ice-water upon the back of my head as long as I could endure it, keeping up this operation for about an hour, very nearly accomplishing the alternative of killing the patient, but very fortunately killing the fever as intended. Upon my recovery I returned to the postoffice, where I remained a few weeks; and, having two trunks, I sold one for $40, and gave Mr. Clark 820, which left me quite a little stake. About this time I formed

the acquaintance of Eben Weld, who had made a trip up the Mississippi river on horseback, as far as Fountain city, and who reported in a conversation with me, on the occasion of his calling at the office for his mail, that there were a number of good points up the river to trade with the Indians, and particularly at Prairie La Crosse, distant about eight miles from Prairie du Chien. The Postmaster at this time was J. B. Bris- boys, who had maintained a number of Indian trading posts on the Mississippi river, and who was well acquainted with the points along the river. Mr. Brisboys told me that the American Fur Company had at one time had some rails cut, and had started to make a claim at Prairie La Crosse, but that the steamers had burned up the rails, and the claim had never been perfected. Mr. Bris- boys' advice was favorable to the establish- ment of a trading-post at La Crosse. I made arrangements with Mr. Weld to establish a trading post there, if we could secure a stock of goods and conveyanee for the same up the river. I obtained from General Brooks, in command of Fort Crawford, the loan of a Government keel-boat, partially decked over, which would carry about forty tons. It was the nicest keel-boat I ever saw. It had standards along the sides, about six feet high, with an arch roof or deek, open on the sides; this extended to within about ten feet of each end of the boat; was sharp at both ends, had running-boards on each side the whole length to walk back and forth, for the purpose of poling the boat, with a rudder. I ent a hole through the upper deck, or roof, put a mast in, and made a square sail of bed-ticking and rigged it to the mast, for the purpose of sail- ing when the wind was in the right direction. I purchased some lumber to floor the bottom of the boat, and some clapboards, twelve feet ong, and made a cabin by siding up the

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standards at the stern end of the boat; made some berths to sleep in, put a sheet-iron stove in to cook on, and prepared to enclose the whole boat with lumber and live in it through the winter in case we were frozen in on the way up the river. We loaded with a stock of goods obtained from every merchant in Prairie du Chien, except II. L. Dowsman, of the American Fur Company, who was under contract with an Indian trader living about four miles from where I intended to go. While I was getting ready to leave, Mr. Kurts, a Mormon from Nauvoo, came up on a steamboat with some goods which he wished to carry up on the Black river. I had his goods loaded on our boat, and Mr. Kurts and two or three men in his employ assisted to pole the craft up to Prairie La Crosse, where it was unloaded. These goods were unloaded where the public landing now is, and sent up Black river. The last money which I had was expended in the purchase of crackers from the late Louis Roberts, afterward one of the founders of St. Paul, Minnesota, who was at that time engaged in closing up his business, in the expectation of removing to the Upper Mississippi. After this purchase there remained the sum of ten cents, which I told Mr. Roberts I was going to keep for seed. The weather was pleasant, and leaving Prairie du Chien on November 4 we reached our destination on November 9. We went ashore and looked around, and found that there was no timber there to build with,-nothing but a few oak shrubs. I then told the boys to shore the boat over to the island. On the island we built a double cabin of logs and puncheons, and prepared for our trade with the Indians.

At the time of our arrival there was not a man, either white or Indian, in sight, or in the vicinity of Prairie La Crosse. The In- dians had all gone to the Turkey River

Ageney to draw their money and supplies. There was not a habitation of any kind about the place. There was a dispute at one time as to who was the founder of La Crosse. We had quite a controversy over it, looked up the record, and it was finally decided that 1 was the first settler. If there was any one near there at the time I came, they must have settled some miles farther down the river. We put up our cabin, and after wait- ing perhaps ten days the Indians returned with plenty of money, and we had a pretty good trade. On the 18th of December, I started for Prairie du Chien for more goods. I took some provisions and blankets with me, and about $100 in silver. I did not know how to carry money, so I put some in one pocket and some in another, crossed the Mississippi river in a canoe, and took the Indian trail along under the bluffs. It commenced raining soon after I started. I found it difficult to cross Coon creek, but finally found a tree felled toward me across the river. This was my only chance: so I threw my pack over and jumped for the tree- top. I sank into the water up to my neck, but caught hold of the limbs and fortunately got ont. After I had crossed Coon creek. it commenced to snow. I was following the Indian trail down, and met a squaw. I tried to speak to her and find ont where I could get shelter, but she seemed afraid and turned off the trail. I followed her track through the snow, and came upon quite a camp of Indians on an island formed by the Bad Axe river and a slough; the latter I had to wade through to get to the camp after dark. The Indians were all drunk and were having a dance. The squaw came out, and she could speak a little English: she told me they were good Indians. I dried my clothes the best I could, and tried to sleep in a wigwam. I lay in such a position that an Indian could

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not get in or out of the wigwam without stumbling over me. They kept np their dancing all night, and kept coming in and out of the wigwam, so I didn't get much sleep. I didn't know what those drunken Indians might do, although the squaw told me they were good Indians. It turned very cold that night and the river closed with ice. I took a severe cold during the night, and was so lame and sore the next morning I could scarcely get up. The squaw made me some coffee and gave me refreshments such as they had. After partaking, I resumed my journey. I crossed the Bad Axe river on a fallen tree with the aid of a long pole; I was so lame and stiff that, when I came to a log or pole lying across the Indian trait, I had to stoop and piek up one leg and get it over, and then the other. After walking an hour or two I got limbered up a little. About noon I arrived at a place called Winoshick, a trading post kept by a Frenchman, about seven miles from the Indian camp where I staid all night; being very tired, I concluded not to go any farther that day. After drink- ing about a pint of hot water, whisky and common brown sugar to sweeten it, and eat- ing a hearty dinner, I felt very much revived. A Frenchman was there with a large paek, and was about ready to start for Prairie du Chien, and asked me if I would go on with him that afternoon. I said to him that I would not be able to keep up with him, and he said he would travel slowly. So I made up my mind to make the effort and started with him. Some of the time I was in sight of him and some of the time not, for he was a pretty good traveler.

We put up at a deserted cabin that night, and before I went to sleep I took off all my clothes and went out and rolled in the snow, and rubbed myself with it. I had heard that that was good for a man who was as stiff and

tired as I was, and it worked very well in my case. I rested very well that night, and felt quite fresh the next morning, and after we ate our breakfast, such as we had, we started on our journey. About ten miles above Prairie du Chien I found Alexis Baylie, with a flat-boat load of goods frozen up in the ice. I had known him the summer previous, and staid with him the balance of that day and night, going on to Prairie du Chien the next day, where I remained about a week, waiting for the ice to become strong so I coukl return with loads of goods on the iee. After dis- bursing what little money I had, I hired six or eight Frenchmen at Prairie du Chien, with their teams-one-horse teams-and loaded them up with goods and provisions, and drove up on the ice to the island opposite to Prairie La Crosse, taking three days to make the trip. The first night out I slept in the snow. It was the first experience of the kind, and I enjoyed it first-rate. When I got back we had quite a little experience with the Indians. One Sunday morning, just as we were finishing breakfast, two Indians came in and we asked them to sit down and eat breakfast, which they did. They then went away. Being Sunday morning, I thought I would look over my school-books a little, and I took from my trunk the "Life of Washington," in French, and was sitting straddle of a four-legged bench, my baek against the log wall, reading the book. In about half an hour one of the Indians re- turned; he asked for a number of little things, which we gave him, but finally re- fused to give him any more. Then he went away and came back with a gun. I saw that his gun was loaded, and he let me take it, and I went ont and fired it at random across the river and returned the gun to him. Ile went ont and reloaded his gun, and com. meneed to aet in a threatening manner. I

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 938

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 938