History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 100

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298

USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 100
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 100

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Rev. Adrian was succeeded by Rev. Eli Hard- ing who was followed by Rev. Crouch, and he by James Ford. Under the pastorate of Rev. M. Nuzum, a large number were added to the

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Church, who materially assisted in strengthening it, which then became a strong one.

In 1882 the Roman Catholic church comple- ted a substantial church edifice, on section 23, which cost $1,000. The size of the building being 24x48 feet. It is surmounted by a neat belfry. About twenty-two families are connec- ted with the Church, which is under the charge of the priest who lives in the town of Clayton.

The Christian, or Disciple denomination, have a society in the town, with a hewed log house on section 12. This society was organ- ized just after the Civil War.

CEMETERIES.

In 1884 there were three burying grounds within the town of Scott. The oldest of these is situated on section 18, and is not well loca- ted or cared for. The first burial was John J., a child of William Elliott, who was burned to death, accidentally, May 18, 1853.

On section 16 there is a well kept and bean- tifully sitnated cemetery. This is near the Mt. Zion (Methodist) church. Detbrick Coalburn, a Prussian soldier, who fought with Blucher, at the battle of Waterloo, was the first inter- ment; date, Jan. 1, 1856.

Another cemetery is situated at the Catholic church, on section 23. This was established in 1882. James Kane was the first person to be buried there.

STEAM MILL.

There are two steam mills in the town of Scott-one on section 20, owned by J. J. Hurl- but; this has a twenty-five horse-power engine, which runs saws, planing mill, shingle and heading machines; also turns out wagon and furniture stock.

The other mill is located on section 11. This is run by a forty horse-power engine. This was started in the fall of 1882 by II. J. Kast, who the year following sold to his father, W. F. N. Kast. This mill cuts common lumber and railroad ties.

TOWN HALL.

The voters of Scott, experiencing the incon- venience of migratory elections, concluded in

1866 to build a town house, which they pro- ceeded to do on section 16, near the centre-a very good, substantial building costing about $100. The enterprise of the town, considering the early date of building, and the fact that few towns in the State had established a prece- dent, and none in Crawford county, is com- mendable.

CAPTURING BEARS.

An incident of the early days of Scott is giv- en in the words of Mrs. William Gilbert, who lives on section 26:

"One spring, not long after we settled here (date of settlement was 1854), my husband was very hard at work getting a piece of ground ready for a crop. I used to help him in this work all I could. One forenoon I had been helping him, and about 11 o'clock went to the house to prepare dinner, going to the spring down a ravine a few rods, after water. I saw on my return, near the top of the ridge, coming out of another ravine, an old bear and four cubs; the cubs were as large as full grown coons. It occurred to me that if we could catch those cubs they would make nice pets, and I thought of who we could give them to, ete. But I did not stop to think long. I looked for and picked up a club, and went for them, and drove the old bear away a short dis- tance and the cubs up a small tree. Then went to the high ground to call my husband, but be- fore I could do this the old bear, who had kept up a whining, called the cubs down again, an ! I had to hurry back to keep them from going off into the woods again. This time I drove the cubs up a larger tree, the old bear walking around the tree in a circle and calling piteously all the while, and I was shouting at the top of my voice for my husband, who heard me, but was provoked at my calling him so early to dinner, as he supposed, but finally he thought, as I kept shouting, he had better come. Mean- while I had kept pounding on the tree to keep the cubs up there. When my husband came, he took my place and I ran for a neighbor-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Stephen Grow. Upon my return with him, the old bear gave up all effort to recover the cubs and ran off, and then, with ropes, we captured the cubs and disposed of them in one way and another."

REMINISENCE. [By Charles F. Coalburn.]

Late in the summer of 1846 J. R. Hurlbut, William and Elmer Russell, Anthony Laughlin and myself, all residents of Grant county, vis- ited within the present limits of the town of Scott. We crossed the Wisconsin river at Port Andrew; here we noticed the wreck of a steam- er, which Itad been used by the United States forces in the Black Hawk war for transporting supplies. At this time the settlers of Port Andrew were utilizing what was left of the steamer, in aiding them to provide shelters for their families. We followed the road by the left wing of the troops in their pursuit of Black Hawk and his people; this road led from the ferry (which at this time was operated by two men named Andrew and Combs), up Knapp's creek, to a spring branch coming in from the northwest, following the branch up and out onto the ridge, to about the center of section 14, and thence west through sections 15, 16, 17 and 18, and to the Kickapoo. This road was used by the earlier settlers of Scott and adjoining towns in moving in, and is now the main thoroughfare, crossing the town east and west. We passed on the way up an encampment made by the soldiers. The hewn basswood tables made by the men fourteen years before were still fit for some use, with a little cleaning. When we reached the high lands, two or three days after, our dogs struck a bear trail and followed until a little "too fresh," for they over- took the animal, and one of them being part bull, had more courage than discretion, and, consequently, was badly used up. We found a small cabin near the top of the ridge, which had been occupied, we afterwards learned, by Wil- liam and Randolph Elliott while hunting, and

perhaps by others; here we spent the night. The next day we looked over the land, noting the quality of soil and timber, etc., and then left, favorably impressed with what we saw. Three years later Hurlbut became the first per- manent settler of the town. I came back with my family in 1855. At this time wild game was so abundant as to be a nuisance. J. R. Hur]- but lost in one year fifteen hogs and a cow and calf by bears. On one occasion Hurtbut and Burrill MeKinney, looking after venison in the Kickapoo valley, counted from their position, overlooking a basin in the valley, forty-two deer. As they wanted only one, it troubled them to decide what to do. One season I was troubled by a dog, owned somewhere north of 18. The brute would worry and mangle my hogs. One morning, hearing an outcry by an old hog, I hurriedly siezed my gun and some loose bnekshot to put on top of the bird charges in the gun, and started to kill that dog! Reach- ing the scene, I discovered a huge bear, drag- ing off the hog, then dead! The bear left the hog and stood up awaiting me! After one shot she left. By running after her I got elose enough to give her the other, but I did not stop the bear! My wife and Hurlbut, who was at the house, attracted by the shooting, came over to where the bear had left the hog, and while there two more bears approached to within fifteen feet of them, unnoticed. They were probably attracted by a desire to breakfast on pork chops. My spring, a little way from the house, had a large white oak tree leaning over it. While dipping a pail of water one day, a few pieces of bark dropped into the pail. I glanced up to see the squirrel that did this work, and to my surprise saw a very large bear in the forks of the tree, directly over my head. I started to the house for my gun; the bear evi- dently understanding the situation, commenced moving, and attracted my attention. I saw the brute come down; this was done by rolling up like a caterpillar; he dropped about twenty feet and made good his escape.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

DISCOVERY OF BUHR-STONE.

In 1846, when J. R. Hurlbut was hunting a location, he discovered a formation of rock, which seemed to him to be similar to French buhr-stone. Hle took a small piece baek to Grant county with him, and had a miller, who was dressing up a new run of French buhrs, examine it. He first broke a small fragment off of the genuine buhr, unknown to the miller, and handed him both pieces for inspec- tion. The expert miller tested their quality and pronounced them both inferior and worth- less bits of stone. Mr. Ilurlbut then revealed the fact to him, and fitted the genuine piece to its place on the buhr which he was working on. No more was done in the matter until about 1878, when George Mullikin quarried out a set of mill stones from this ledge, and these stones have now, (1884,) been in constant use ever since, and are pronounced by all to be superior to the French buhrs. Several run of these stone are now in use, and preparations are being made to quarry them in an extensive manner. 'This formation is to be found on seetions 17 and 18, of town 9, range 3 west.

PERSONAL.

The oldest permanent settler of the town of Scott, John R. Hurlbut, was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1817. In 1822 he went with his parents to Cattarangus Co., N. Y., and after- wards to Trumbull Co., Ohio. When twenty- one years of age, John R. left Ohio and went to Illinois, remaining one year. In 1839 he moved to Grant Co., Wis., where he purchased government land near Ellenboro. Ile married Nov. 20, 1845, Charlotte Coalburn, sister of Charles F. Coalburn, who settled in Scott town in 1856. Mr. Ilurlbut came with a party into the town of Seott in 1846, and being well pleased with what he saw of the country, he re- turned in November, 1849, with his wife and three children. He had been preceded a few months by Burrill MeKenney, who brought his wife and two children and settled on section 18. He built the first dwelling in the town, a

log house. In July, 1849, Mr. McKenney sold his elaim and the following spring moved to Richland county. Mr. Ilurlbut lived with Mr. McKenney until January, 1850, when he moved into a log house on his own claim, on seetion 17, near his present residence. Mr. and Mrs Hurlbut have always shown great hospitality, and the new comer and the way-farer have always found a hearty welcome at his house. He has been postmaster at Hurlbut Corners since the organization of the office, in 1861, a period of twenty-two years. He was the first repre- sentative of his town in the county board of supervisors, acting as chairman of the board. He was the first town superintendent of schools, under the old system, and has for sixteen years been county surveyor. He was also chairman of the town board of supervisors nine terms and treasurer of the town nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Ilurlbut have had ten children, five of whom are living. We give their names in the order of their births-Seymour, born Aug. 28, 1865, died in the hospital at Madison, March 7, 1869 ; Charles H., born Dee. 23, 1847, died April 23, 1865 ; John J., born Aug. 8, 1849, now living in the town of Scott ; Winfield Scott, born June 8, 1852, now living in this town ; Robert M., born Sept. 6, 1854, now living in Dakota; Ira D., born April 7, 1856 ; living in Prairie du Chien, where he is associated with T. W. Lacy in the publication of the Prairie du Chien Union ; Charlotte Minnie, born March 7, 1858, died April 4, 1862 ; Theodore W., born Jan. 18, 1860, died March 26, 1862; Albert L,, born March 17, 1862, living with his parents ; Reuben M., born . Nov. 2, 1864, died March 27, 1865. Mr. Hurl- but still lives on the place that he pre-empted in 1850 and entered a year later. The winter of 1849 and 1850, he and MeKenney lived in the town twelve miles from their nearest neighbor.

John J. Hurlbut is a son of J. R. Hurlbut, has grown up with the town of Scott, his father having located here in 1849, when John J. was .but a few months old. He is a wide awake and pushing young man, supplying to the town

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

one of its most useful industries. He owns and operates a well managed steam mill, near the center of section 20, where he ents lumber of all kinds, suitable for general building, out of the hard wood timber still standing in abun- dance over much of the town. He has a plan- ing machine, heading and shingle machines also in connection with his mill. Furniture stock forms quite a large part of his manufac- ture, and he also has considerable wagon stoek. Mr. Ilurlbut first built a horse power mill in 1877, but finding this too slow be, in 1878, changed to steam power, and still finding more power demanded, he again changed, in 1880, to a twenty-five horse power. Ilis business is now a success financially and otherwise. Mr. Ilurl- but associated with himself, in 1881, J. Barto as a partner, but he soon after bought out Mr. Barto's interest and has since conducted the business alone. The earlier part of Mr. Ilurl- but's life, previous to engaging in the milling business, was spent in surveying lands in Craw- ford county, his father being county surveyor for a number of years, and John J. succeeding him in the business in a very able and satisfac- tory manner.

William F. N. Kast is the son of Chancey Kast, who came into the town of Scott the sec- ond year of its settlement (1850), and who still lives on his original pre-emption on section 19. William and his father live together, William owning a farm on the same seetion. He was born in Medina Co, Ohio, in 1836. Ife was married in 1855 to May Moody. They have had five children-llenry J., born in April, 1858, married and living in town of Haney; Isabella M., born in May 1863, died in March, 1866; Rosa, born in January, 1867; Elvira, born in April, 1868; Celia, born in 1870. Mr. Kast's wife died in 1873. Ile was married again in 1873 to Emma J. Sterling. Five children have blessed their union- Emmett, born in June, 1874; Mary B., born in February, 1876; Jennie, born in August, 1877; Fannie, born in October, 1879, died Feb. 7, 1881; Stella, born in Sep- 1

tember, 1881. Mr. Kast, in addition to farm- ing, is running a steam saw-mill on seetion 11.

Edward C. Elliott, son of William and Celia (Breedlove) Elliott, was born March 11, 1851, in Scott, Crawford county, being the first child born in the town, and still lives on seetion 19. In May, 1877, he married Harriet Quick, daugh- ter of Daniel Quick, who died May 28, 1882. Mr. Quiek was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1813, left home when twenty-three years of age, living at different points in the State, and part of the time sailing on the lakes. In 1843 he went to Indiana, remained there ten years, then came to Lafayette Co., Wis., from there, in 1855, to Seott, settling on land on section 18. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have three children-llar- riet E., born in June, 1878; Agnes E., born in October, 1879, and Albert B., born in October, 1882. Mr. Elliott's father was one of the pio- neers of Scott, having built a cabin there in 1845, which he and his brother occupied occa- sionly as headquarters while hunting and land- looking. They also made squatter claims, with a view to future settlement. In the fall of 1850, he built a small log house by the side of the cabin for a residence. Ile afterwards sold his first claim and purchased 120 acres on see- tion 17, where he lived till his death, May 5, 1879.

llenderson Young is the son of Alonzo Young, who came in 1853 to the town of Scott, purehas- ing of the government the east half of the northwest quarter of section 20. He afterwards bought forty acres adjoining. Alonzo Young was town clerk for twenty years. Henderson, being the only son, succeeded to his father's estate. llis grandmother, seventy-five years of age, and his sister, Rose, reside with him on the old homestead.

Robert Duncan was born in 1827, in West- moreland Co., Penn. When quite young he removed with his parents to Ohio. In 1844 Mr. Duncan went to Ellenboro, Grant Co., Wis., where, in 1852, he married Phma A. Jones. They have had six children, five of whom are

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living-Obed A., Charles A., Chauncy N., Laura A. and Ella M. Robert W. was born Oct. 3, 1869, and died Oct. 16, 1870; Charles A. and Chauncey W. are now living in Iowa. Mr. Dun- can came to the town of Scott, Crawford Co., in 1854, purchasing eighty acres of land, on section 21, where he has since resided. Ile afterwards purchased another forty acres of Walter Blandon. He served as a faithful sol- dier about nine months in the 47th Wisconsin Volunteers. He served several terms on the town board of supervisors.

Robert Eyers resides on the northwest quar- ter of section 26, Scott town. He owns eighty aeres here and also eighty acres on section 27. Mr. Eyers was born in 1822, in Wiltshire, England. He emigrated to the United States in 1843, landing at Quebec, and going to Lon- don, Canada, where he remained three or four years. Ile was married at St. Thomas, in 1846, to Eliza Wye. After changing residence in C'anada several times, in 1850 he went to Huron, Erie Co., Ohio, remaining until 1854, when he eame to this town. Mr. and Mrs. Eyers have had eleven children, six of whom are living- Lonisa, wife of HI. J. Marshall, residing in Wood Co., Wis .; George, also in Wood county; Henry, married and living near his father; Frank, Samnel and Sarah. The two last are twins. Emma, Lotta and Edward are buried in the beautiful little cemetery on Union Ilill. One infant was buried in Canada, and one in Ohio. Mr. Eyers served six months in the lat- ter part of the war, in the 47th Wisconsin Vol- unteers. He is a highly respected citizen and neighbor.

William Gilbert came to the town of Scott from Davis Co., Ind., in the fall of 1854. He was born in Huntington Co., Ind., in 1828. When he came here he purchased land on sec- tion 26, where he has since resided. The year previous to his coming he married Maria Logan. When he made a settlement, Tomkins Green was the only man living in this part of Scott (now called Irish Ridge). With Mr. Gilbert

came two families named Lucas and Rore. They lived together on section 35, but after a few years left the town. Rore died later in Grant Co., Wis., and Lucas died in this county, in 1882. Mrs. Gilbert was a good specimen of the old style of pioneer women. As proof of this there can be found on another page an ac- connt of her driving off a bear, and "treeing" and holding four cubs until help came and cap- tured them. In further proof, she has given birth to, and reared, ten children, all of whom are, at this date (1884) living-John, born in 1855; Margaret J., born in 1857; Henry W., born in 1859; Matilda, born in 1861; Abraham L., born in 1864; Ezra, born in 1867; Ella, born in 1869; Eliza, born in 1875; Nellie, born in 1877, and Lydia, born in 1879. In 1864 Mr. Gilbert eulisted in the 17th regiment, Wisconsin Vol- unteers, serving until the war closed; was a good soldier, and has always been a good citizen. J. R. Spencer was born in 1826, in 'Trumbull Co., Ohio. He there married, Oct. 3, 1849, Lydia H. Kinne, also a native of Trumbull county. In June, 1851, he moved to Ellenboro, Grant Co., Wis., where he lived until 1854, following his trade, that of a blacksmith. He then came to the town of Scott, locating on section 17. Since entering bis land he has bought eighty additional acres. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have had nine children, seven of whom are living-Marion O., Warren O., Ezra N., Ida May, Laura E., Ellen C. and Lydia V. The two deceased are - Emma C. and Charles S. Mr. Spencer is one of the substantial men of bis town and neighborhood. He has served one term on the county board, several terms as town treasurer, five terms as assessor, and was for six years a justice of the peace.

Charles F. Coalburn came to the town of Scott in 1855, locating on State school land on section 16, which he had purchased some time previous. His father, Deitrick Coalburn, was a native Prussian, and was a Prussian soldier under Blucher in the battle of Waterloo. Charles F. was born in Minden, Prussia, in 1826.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

In 1834 he emigrated with his parents to the United States. They lived the first two years near Pittsburg, Penn. Mr. Coalburn's father being entitled to a grant of land by the En- glish government, for services at Waterloo, and being able to obtain it only on condition that he settle on it, they, in 1836, moved to Canada to make a home. It not being desirable to re- main there longer after the Patriot war, they removed, in 1838, to Trumbull Co., Ohio. In 1846 they removed to HIarrison, Grant Co., Wis., where they resided until coming to this county.

Deitrick Coalburn died in 1856, being the first person buried in Union Hill cemetery. Mr. Coalburn was married in Grant county, April 27, 1851, to Mary A. Blakeslee. They have had eleven children, six of whom are liv- ing-Eliza E., wife of Robert Jones, Pocahon- tas Co., Iowa; Edith J., wife of A. A. Arms, town of Scott ; Maria O., John E., Frederick L. and Charlotte L. Those deceased were-Eugene E., Mary E., Charles HI. and Charles A. Mr. Coalburn enlisted in January, 1865, in the 47th Wisconsin Volunteers, being discharged after nine months service. Ile is now town treas- nrer.

James Turk, son of Ephraim Turk, was born in Butler Co., Penn., near Pittsburg, Sept. 7, 1822. When quite young his parents moved to Venango county, and in 1854 to Grant Co., Wis., where they lived about one year near Ellenboro. In the fall of 1855 they removed to the town of Clayton, Crawford county. In the fall of 1855 Mr. James Turk bought of the State the south half of the southwest quarter of section 9, Scott town, and he now owns 334 acres of land in the county. He was married in Venango Co , Penn., Dec. 24, 1844, to Sarah Greenleaf. Twelve children have blessed this union, nine of whom are living-Maria J., wife of M. D. Grow, of Dubuque, Iowa ; Anna E., wife of John Jones ; Martha M., wife of Henry Coney, Excelsior, Wis .; James M., postmaster at Sladesburg, this town; Samuel J., residing in this town; Sarah M., wife of Washington Davis,

this town; Anna B., wife of James Black, Os- born Co., Kan .; Butler L., residing in this town, and Wallace who lives at home. William J., John G. and Dorcas are deceased. Mr. Turk has bought and sold much land, and has deeded about 325 acres to his children. He served as chairman of the board of supervisors in 1880 and 1882, and is now serving his third term as chairman of the town board of supervisors ; is also one of the trustees of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Mount Zion, and was a soldier in the Union army during the last war.

John P. Coleman was born June 2, 1822, in Shelby Co., Ohio, and moved to Allen Co., Ind., in 1845. lle was there married to Catherine Doe- tor, June 3, 1847; then removed to Scott town in 1856, first settling on government land on see- tion 25, where he lived for seven years, then sold this place and bought land on section 27. where he resided until his death. Ile was the father of seven children, of whom five are liv- ing. Through all his hardships he tried to live a Christian life. He had been a member of the M. E. Churel for forty-five years. On Febru- ary 22d he was fatally injured while chopping down a tree on the side-hill. The tree in fall- ing lodged on a high stump adjoining, and while trying to cut the log laying in that posi- tion it broke off, and before he could get out of the way it caught him and pinioned him to the ground. It was twelve feet long and measured three feet at the butt; he laid under the log for five hours before he was found; called for help but no one heard him; there was no one at home but his youngest daughter and grand-son. The daughter had his dinner ready for him and waited for her father to come home. About 2 o'clock his son, who had been to the factory with a load of bolts, returned home, and she went out to tell him about their father, when she heard him call for help. The son put his horses in the barn and ran down where his father was laying, but could not roll the log off his prostrate body. Ile had to go a half a mile before he could get any help. When they

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got him out, his limbs were frozen almost stiff. He lived about fourteen hours after being taken home. Annie H. Coleman was married in 1880 to George Phillips. W. S. Coleman resides on the old homestead.

Eli Nutter is a native of Indiana, born in 1842. Hle came with his father to Scott town, Vernon county, in 1856. Twelve years later he purchased the land which was entered by Sam- uel Freeman, and rented by his father, on see- tion 20, where he still lives, his father making his home with him. Mr. Nutter was married March 12, 1864, to Julia Ann, daughter of Wil- liam Elliott. Mr. and Mrs. Nutter have had eight children, six of whom are living-Jose- phine, wife of A. Boyd, of Boydstown; Min- nie, Minerva, Ida, Delphia and Daniel. Wil- liam C. died in 1870 and Walter in 1882.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 100

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1298

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298