History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 134

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 134
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 134

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Dr. R. M. Miller visited the county in 1849, . and with his brother, L. N. Miller, as partner,

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

established in 1851 a general store at Port An- drew. But Dr. Miller did not bring his family until the spring of 1852. He then settled at said plaec and gave his attention to the prac- tice . of medieine, which in those days was very hard on a physician, as the country was but sparsely settled and there being no roads, the making of long trips was very tedious. In 1854 his property was destroyed by fire. In 1859 he started a drug store at Boscobel, and run the same one year. He then spent one year in Canada. Returning home he assisted Capt. Rowley to recruit a company of men for the United States service, and went with them to Racine, expecting to enlist himself, but one day while driving under a leaning tree on a side-hill, his wagon slipped and so crushed his body between the wagon and tree as to fracture every rib, and he was thus unable to leave the house for one year, and when he was again able to walk about, he found that he was two and a half inches less in height than when he was injured. Ile again resumed practice. But in 1872 he found himself well advanced in years and in poor health, and thus retired fron. practice. Ile never took much interest in poli- tics, although he served as justice of the peace for over twenty years, and never had a case ap- pealed from his doeket. R. M. Miller was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, in 1811. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and a contractor and builder by occupation. Mr. Miller assisted his father until nineteen years of age, then went to New Orleans. Three years later he went to Galena, III., where he continued the study of medicine ,which he had commenced with Dr. John Watson in New Orleans, with A. T. Crow & John Stukle & Johnson, preceptors in Galena. He afterward opened astore at Shells- burg, where he was the first merchant of the place. He was also the first merchant at Mifflin, lowa county. In 1837 he married Elizabeth Phlager. She was a daughter of George Phla- ger. She was born at Fort Snelling, Minn., in June. 1821, and was thus the first white child

born in that State. They reared twelve chil- dren, seven of whom were living in 1883-Alva G., Augusta, Frank D. O., Nathan B., George F. and Minnie B. Dr. Miller has been a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., since 1840 ; he joining lodge No. 5, Galena, Ill., the second year of its organization. After coming to Wisconsin, he became a member of Eureka lodge, No. 73, Muscado.

J. C. Wright, M. D., a leading physician of Richland county, son of I. J. and Catherine Wright, was born in Richland county, March 19, 1859. Ile attended the common schools un- til thirteen years of age, then took a three years' course at Muscoda. Ile went with his parents to Tennessee, and while there took a scientific course at the Edwards Academy, at Greenville. Returning to Muscoda, he was en- gaged in the drug trade a short time, then roughed it in Dakota one season. He com- menced the study of medicine with Dr. G. F. Gay as preceptor. Ile afterwards entered the Rush Medical College, where he graduated in 1882. Tle commenced practice at Excelsior soon after leaving college. He was employed by the board of health in 1883, and served as secretary of the Southwestern Wisconsin Medical Associa- tion. Dr. Wright is a well qualified physician and deservedly has a remunerative practice. Being a cautious an i affable gentleman he has a good many warm friends. Although young in years, his growing practice indieates his pro- fessional ability, and a future of prosperity seems before him.

TOWN OF SYLVAN.

Drs. Luke Dean and E. S. Stebin represented the medical profession in this town in 1884, the former being located near Sylvan Corners, and the latter on Mill creek.

TOWN OF WIL.LOW.

In 1884, the only medical practitioner located in this town was Dr. E. P. Kermott, of the vil- lage of Loyd.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

RAILWAY AND TELEGRAPH LINES.

Between the years 1838 and 1841 the terri- torial legislature, of Wisconsin, passed various acts, chartering several railroads. None of these corporations thus created, however, as- sumed any shape, with the exception of the Milwaukee & Waukesha Railroad Company, which after hanging fire for several years, was finally incorporated during the year 1847. The commissioners named in its charter assem- bled, Nov. 23, 1847, and elected the first officers, in accordance with the provisions of the act in question. Dr. L. W. Weeks was named presi- dent and A. W. Randall, secretary.

The books, for the subscription of stock, were first opened in the early part of February, of the following year, but from the lack of funds, incident to a new country, it was not until April 5, 1849, that the necessary amount of stock was subscribed for, or requisite fund raised.

During this time, in 1848, the charter had been amended, authorizing the embryo com- pany to build a road to the Mississippi river, the terminus to be located in Grant county, and, in 1850, the name was changed to that of the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Company.

After the company was fully organized, act- ive measures were, at once, taken to push the new enterprise forward to a steady completion. The city of Milwaukee loaned the corporation its credit, and, in 1851, this pioneer railroad of the State of Wisconsin, had reached Wauke- sha, twenty miles from Milwaukee. In the spring of 1852, Edward HI. Broadhead, a prom-

inent civil engineer from the State of New York, was put in charge of the work, as chief engineer and superintendent.

Under his supervision the work of building was urged onward-reaching Milton in 1852- Stoughton in 1853, Madison the year following. and in 1856, the iron rails were laid to Lone Rock in this county. The railroad was pushed on to the Mississippi river, reaching that stream at Prairie du Chien in the fall of 1857. The company after many trials and tribulations, incitent to a new railroad in an unsettled coun- try, in 1859 and 1860, defaulted the payment of interest on its bonds; a foreclosure was made, and a new company, called the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad Company, took its place, in all its rights and property.

In 1867, the road, through a change of name, became the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad line and that company still operates it.

Having drawn the above sketch of the great through line that traverses a small portion of the territory of this county, in a cursory man- ner, as in a manner explanatory of the following we approach the building of what might be called an entirely Richland county enterprise.

THE PINE RIVER AND STEVENS POINT RAILROAD.

This road owes its inception and completion to the public-spiritedness and business tact of the residents of the county seat of the county, and has been the means of a large increase in the value of real estate and business facilities of the entire county.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

As early as April 28, 1857, there was a move- ment made looking to the bringing of a rail- road from Lone Rock to Richland Center, but the plan seems to have been abandoned on ac- count of the then financial embarrassments of the whole country, during the panie of that year.

The whole scheme was held in abeyance un- til in the fall of that year when it was again agitated but nothing was done in a practical way toward the matter, and like the former project it too was allowed to drop. At various times afterwards some talk was made but noth- ing more was done in the premises until in 1870, when a charter was granted by the legis- lature to incorporate acompany for the building of a railroad-narrow gange, wooden or iron rails-with the above name. In pursuance with this charter, which bears date of Aug. 5, 1872, the first meeting was held August 20th, of that year, and the following directors were elected: George Krouskop, Joseph L. De Hart, John Walworth, Norman L. James, D. E. Pease, D. L. Downs, D. O. Chandler, A. C. Eastland, J. M. Adams, Charles G. Thomas and David Har- denburg. The officers elected were: George Krouskop, president; D. L. Downs, treasurer, and A. C. Eastland, secretary.

At the time of the organization of the com- pany it was not contemplated to build the road by their own unaided efforts, but simply to make such surveys as were necessary to ascer- tain the feasibility of the route and demonstrate to some other railroad company this fact, as an inducement that that company would build the road for them.

But during the summer 1875, the plan had so far undergone alteration as to develop into an arrangement to build a narrow gauge railroad by individual subscription, and to be supple- mented by the subscriptions of the towns trav- ersed by the line of the road and which would be most benefited thereby.

Stock subscription books were accordingly opened and stock subscribed by most of the resi- dents of the village of Richland Center and

town of Richland. The town, by vote, took stock to the amount of $19,000 ; and about $5,- 000 in stock was subscribed by parties outside of the town.

The contract for grading the roadbed and surfacing the same, and laying maple rails, was let at some $400 per mile, the work to be finished and the road to be in running order by June 25, 1876.

The road was to be narrow gauge, thirty-six inches between the track, laid with maple rails, 33x5 inches in diameter. All the road was laid with maple rails except three miles of switches and side tracks which were laid with iron rails.

In December, 1875, the engine was purchased, and also some flat cars for construction purposes. The locomotive was bought of Porter, Bell & Co., Pittsburg, Penn., at a cost of $5,000. It weighed ten tons, and was a perfect model for one of the class to which it belonged. It was hanled across the country from Lone Roek to Richland Center upon logging trueks, and was used for construction purposes from Richland Center south.

The road soon was carried to completion and was ready for business on the Ist of July, 1876, when the first passenger train ran through from Richland Center to Lone Rock. It had then cost about $66,508.10.

In the summer of 1875, the second set of di- rectors and officers were chosen. The directors were: George Krouskop, A. H. Krouskop, D O. Chandler, D. E. Pease, J. M. Adams, N. L. James, J. L. Dellart, W. J. Bowen and A. C. Parfley. The officers elected were: George Krouskop, president; A. H Krouskop vice-presi- dent; N. L. James, general manager; D. O. Chandler, treasurer ; and A. C. Eastland, seere- tary.

On the 27th of August, 1878, a meeting of the stockholders was hekl, and the following were elected directors to succeed those above mentioned: J. W. Lybrand, John Walworth, J. L. McKee, F. P. Bowen, J. L. Dellart, James II. Miner, Jacob Brimer, A. C. Parfrey and A.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

W. Bickford. At the election of officers of the company, the following were chosen: Jacob W. Lybrand, president and general manager ; A. W. Bickford, vice-president ; J. L. McKee, treasurer, and W. H. Pier, secretary. This was the last set of officers and directors that were elected.

The road continued in operation under the home company increasing its business, and finally arriving at what might be called a paying basis until May 26, 1880, when it was sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R. company. The directors obtained some $56,000 as the price, which paid the indebtedness of the com- pany and paid fifty cents on the dollar, on all original stock, except the $19,000 stock sub- seribed by the town of Richland, which had been sold at a nominal price and canceled. At the time of the sale the narrow gauge road was in excellent working condition. The entire length of the road having been laid with iron track, except about three miles. The Milwau- kee company at once proceeded to make thic road entirely iron rail, and the following year altered the track to the standard width of all their roads, and it is now a fully recognized branch of that monster corporation.

THE PONY TELEGRAPHI.

This was another wholly Richland connty enterprise. In 1874, Charles W. Towsley, tele- graph operator at Lone Rock, conceived the idea of constructing a telegraph line from Rich-

land Center to Lonc Rock. He accordingly made a proposition to the people of Richland Center, that if they would patronize him and pay for a certain amount of telegraphing in advance, he would construct and manage the operation of the line. Tickets, which were called "franks," were issued, and were handled the same as stock of a joint stock company ; only differing in this, "that the holder of a frank was entitled to telegraph out the amount shown upon the face of the frank, and was not entitled to divi- dends." The people of Richland Center took hold of the matter with a vim, and many of the enterprising citizens took $5, $10, and some as high as $150 worth of the franks. At least $700 was raised in this way at Richland Center. The line was ready for operation in September, 1874, and Mr. Towsley placed operators at Richland Center and Sextonville. The enter- prise met with marked success and gave the best of satisfaction to its patrons.

When the narrow gauge railroad was b ilt, this line of telegraph was used for railroad busi- ness, notwithstanding the fact that the wires followed the wagon track, and shot across fields and creeks, the nearest way possible to Lone Rock, regardless of the course taken by the railroad.

When the narrow gauge railroad was sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company, in 1880, it ended the existence of the Pony Tel- egraph as a Richland county enterprise.

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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CHAPTER XVII.

DARK DEEDS.

Crime, like every vice, has always, more or less, disgraced the annals of every community, and without entering upon a relation of minor actions, or mi-demeanors, that have occurred, from time to time, it is intended here to only give an account of a few of the more impor- tant events of that nature that have transpired.

The records of a community are so seldom preserved for posterity that the task of getting at all the facts is a difficult one. Could we have access to that book where time records the acts of man, it would be an easy task to write a true history of the past. But when in antiquarian research, we are compelled to rely in part upon the memory of the living, trench- erons at the best, ofttimes known only to the relator by tradition, it becomes an arduous task, and is often, by the force of circumstances, inaccurate. Memory cannot always be relied upon, especially in reference to dates, and hence the accounts herein have been taken mostly from the files of the papers of the county, sup- plemented by such facts as have been gleaned from the conversation and relations of the older settlers.

MURDER OF ARNEST HIERRLITZ.

The first murder committed within the limits of Richland county was that of Arnest Ilerr- litz, in the spring of 1859. Herrlitz lived alone in a little log cabin in the town of Dayton. He was a married man ; but a short time previous he and his wife had separated, and he had com- menced proceedings in the circuit court for divorce. On the fatal evening, in the spring of 1859, he was sitting in his cabin, when he

heard some one at the window as though they were trying to effect an entrance. He went to the door for the purpose of showing in who- ever it was, and just as he opened the door, the cowardly assassin shot him. He did not see who did it, but lived long enough to go to his brother's, a half mile distant, and relate the particulars, when death relieved his suffer- ing. 'Squire Durnford was employed to look up the facts and enough was learned to lead to strong suspicions, but not enough to justify the arrest of any one.

MURDER OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.

This was the next crime of importance com- mitted in Richland county. Benjamin Sutton, was an elderly man, but recently returned from the seat of the "war between the States," then raging, having been a member of the 11th regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was engaged in keeping a small grocery or saloon at Port Andrew, in Richwood town- ship, and while engaged in sweeping off the sidewalk in front of his place of business, abont 8 o'clock, on the morning of the 4th of Decem- ber, 1862, was shot by an assassin with a rifle.

It seems, from the evidence in the case, that Milton Hubanks had a quarrel with Sutton, said to have grown out of the treatment of Sut- ton's daughter by Hubanks, and out of this had sprung up a deadly feud, and Sutton had made many threats to shoot Hubanks on sight. Oa the morning in question, the latter concealed himself in the house of James Haney, within six or eight rods from Sutton's place, and locat- ing himself near a window overlooking the door

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

of that person's place, loaded his rifle with the intention of shooting him. It has been urged in extenuation that he was goaded on to this act by the threats of his enemy and the advice of some friends, on whom he relied, but whose warmth of feeling had warped their judgment. Here at the window, he waited until the old man made his appearance, and then deliberately taking aim shot him down, the ball passing through the abdomen, making a fatal wound. Sutton fell to the ground, and while lying there the dastardly assassin again shot him; this time the ball passing through the arm and entering the breast of his victim.

Sutton lingered in great agony for some hours, in spite of the strong efforts of Dr. R. M. Miller to alleviate the pain, and died before the fol- lowing morning.

Hubanks was arrested and brought before a jury and they adjudging him guilty of man- slaughter only, on account of the extenuating circumstances, he was sentenced for a term of four years to the penitentiary. After serving two years he was pardoned.

KILLING OF EDWARD LIVINGSTON.

This sad affair occurred in the same neighbor- hood as the one just related. Livingston was a remarkably smart young man; a lawyer, and when sober, a gentleman of polished manners. One evening, while half drunk, he went to the honse of an old man named Crozier, and at- tempted to get into bed with Mrs. Crozier. A violent quarrel and struggle ensued between him and Mr. Crozier, and during the encounter they got down upon the floor, when Mr. Crozier, who had succeeded in snatching a knife, stabbed the intruder fatally. The coroner's jury, at the inquest which was held over the dead body. exonerated Crozier from any blame and the case went no further.

MURDER OF MIRS. WALLACE.

One of the most atrocious crimes, one that has seldom been paralleled anywhere, was committed within the limits of Richland county in 1868. A simple recital of the crime, and the swift, sure

vengeance that overtook the fiend who commit- ted it, is all that space will permit in this con- nection. The following account of the affair is from the able pen of Hon. J. II. Waggoner:

"It was during the forenoon of Thursday, Sept. 24, 1868, that a floating rumor upon the streets of the village said that the body of a woman had been found near the house of Pat- rick Wallace; that her head had been eaten by the hogs, and her body otherwise mutilated by them. Soon afterwards word was brought that the wife of "Pat" Wallace had been murdered, and that he had discovered the body, after a night of care and anguish, brooding anxiously over the cause of her absence. An inquest was at once called, and justice Farlin and sheriff McMurtrey, accompanied by several citizens, made all possible haste to the scene demanding their official attendance.

"All agree in the statement that a more re- volting spectacle never met their eyes, and the record of a murder more horrid in its execution had never passed under their notice. Some of them were men whose form had stood in the red front of fierce battle, who had looked upon death in all its ghastliest shapes; some were men whose silvery locks betokened the snows of many winters that had settled there; all were accustomed to scenes and conversant with descriptions of terrible violence. But there the man of stontest nerve and hardihood quailed like weak children at the terrible sight that lay before them.

"A jury was impanelled, and the testimony of neighbors concerning the then mysterious affair duly taken. A physician was also called, who carefully examined the body and testified concerning the probability of death from the' wounds inflicted.

"The examination of the body disclosed a most horrid murder, terrible in its conception, but barbarous and fiendish in the execution. The head had been cut off, a deep gash cut into each side of the body, the flesh of one arm almost cleft from it, a fearful cut in the calf of

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

one of her legs, and all these marks clearly in- dicated the use of a murderous ax as the weapon of her taking off. A little search soon brought to light this instrument, all clotted with blood and hair, and the blades of which (for it was a double bitted one) fitted in the gashes made in the body. Only the lower jaw- bone and teeth could then be discovered, al- though the skull was afterwards fonnd, the certain marks of the ax deeply penetrating each side of it. The body where found-a dis- tance of twenty rods from the house, and toward the house of her father-in-law-was tracked by the blood which streamed from the murderous, gaping wounds. Through a cab- bage patch adjoining the house, over two fences and through the belt of woodland, until life was extinct or nearly so, had this much to be pitied woman almost bounded, followed by a fiend whose crime would shock the very demons of hell itself. Blood was oozing from her at every step, and precious life was being sacri- ficed at the instigation of a soulless wretch, lured on by the hope of possessing a few paltry dollars-the hard earned dollars of another. On investigation, the little money of the victim was found to have been taken, and also a coat and pair of pantaloons belonging to the hus- band. With these facts brought before them, the jury at once rendered a verdict indicating the foulest murder and pointing out the perpe- trator.

"The testimony of the husband, relatives and friends, left no doubt as to the identity of the committer of the dark deed. This was John Nevel, a boy of about fifteen years of age, the son of a nice, quiet and respectable farmer who resided in the town of Dayton, about six miles west of the village of Richland Center. This lad had, within the past four years, developed a precocity in almost inconceivable depravity beyond degree, both in his inclination and actions, but, in all charity to the boy, let it be said that his mind was not well balanced, and some said that he was quite imbecile. Although

guarded and surrounded by an honest, anxious father and friends during this time, he had committed all manner of depredations within his power, or that could suggest itself to a will- fully wicked mind. He had the reputation of being troublesome, disobedient and ungovern- able. Yet, until within a few days before com- mitting the crime for which his life. was the penalty, his deeds of sin and wickedness were mostly confined to petty thefts and disorderly brawls, of which many are reported.

"But the crime which led to or suggested the final one was perpetrated the day before. In a fit of brutal devilishness, he committed an un- mentionable crime upon a little girl of eleven years of age, the daughter of a neighboring farmer, and so inhumanly treated her that her life was endangered. This fearful exhibition of criminal propensity was enacted in the presence of the little brother of the innocent girl, and both he and his sister were threatened with death, if they should resist him, or divulge the shocking crime. Complaint was soon made, and a warrant issued for Nevel's arrest, but for some unexplained and unaccountable reason, its service was delayed. Hlad this warrant been served upon him immediately after its issue, and he taken into proper custody, the murder of the following day would have been prevented. But apprehending arrest, he was fleeing the county, and in his course-the road to crime having opened to him its broadest avenues- it was seemingly without remorse that he could perpetrate any deed or crime, no matter how devilish.

"The murdered woman, Mrs. Anna Wallace, was the daughter of John Joice and wife of Patrick Wallace, all industrious, peaceable, re- spected citizens of the town of Marshall. The residence of Mr. Wallace was about four miles from that of Mr. Nevel, the heartbroken father of the guilty boy, and about ten miles from the village of Richland Center. Mrs. Wallace was only about twenty years of age, and had been married only six months. Endeared to her

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

family and friends by her virtues, her accom- plishments and her winning manners, as well as the common interests of a nationality noted for its clannish love for one another. and of Church, her tragical death cast a gloom over the entire community, and brought tears to eyes unused to weep. That any life be taken, is enough to arouse the indignation of the coldest of hu- manity, but when to murder is added such diabolical atrocity and butchery, it seems as if every heart must be fired with hatred and thoughts of vengeance; the latent feeling will spring to the surface, and men will become brutes and worse than brutes, and do dire deeds that may prove the subject of life-long regret to them afterward.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 134

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