USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County Wisconsin, including its civil, political, geological, mineralogical archaeological and military history > Part 49
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THE TOWN'S DECLINE.
In 1847 the Henderson Block, a fine three-story brick building, was put up. Potosi celebrated the Fourth in 1848 "with great éclat," as the newspapers said, A county official in his diary exhausted his adjectives in describing the splendors of the fireworks and the dance, where "the light shone o'er fair women and brave men." Potosi was then at the zenith of her prosperity, but the era of her rapid decline and permanent depression was soon to open. It came with the rush to the California gold-fields. To describe the effects of this exodus on Potosi would be to repeat our history of the county and of the towns of Lancaster and Platteville during this period. Then came the cholera, and this dreadful scourge completed the depopulation the California exodus began. Another cause of Potosi's decline was that Grant Slough filled up with mud and steamers could no longer come up to the Lafayette landing, so that Potosi's river trade went to Cassville and Dunleith. A bridge was built across the slough in the winter of 1860-61, and a road made to the river bank, but it did not save the trade of the town. The phenomenal agricultural develop- ment in the county during the fifties did not revive Potosi, because most of her area was of rude and rocky bluffs, and the prairie in the north part of the township became tributary to Lancaster.
The population of the town of Potosi in 1855 was 2,596; in 1860, 2,078; in 1865, 2,754; in 1870, 2,686; in 1875, 2,644; in 1880, 2,375; in 1885, 2,147; in 1890, 2,110; in 1895, 2,061. The popula- tion of the village shrank from 1,300 in 1845 to 454 in 1895.
Potosi is one of the original towns formed in 1849 .. It consists of Town 3, Range 3, and the part of Town 2, Range 3, lying on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi. In 1899 the assessor found 32,734 acres of land assessed at $196,404; 754 houses, 2,661 cattle, 694 sheep, and 2,592 swine.
Among the justices of Potosi precinct in territorial times were: Peter Coyle, Wm. McDaniel, and James Chapman, 1843; Samuel Morris, 1844; David Gillespie, O. Cole, and C. K. Lord, 1846.
The roster of town officers since 1849 is :
TOWN OFFICERS.
1849-Supervisors, James F. Chapman, Wm. T. Ennor, Thomas Palliser; clerk, James W. Seaton; treasurer, Donald A. Mckenzie; as-
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sessor, Lewis Reynolds; supt. of schools, Wm. Hull; justices, W. R. Biddlecome, Cyrus K. Lord, James McCarrick, G. W. Ogilvie; consta- bles, Bluford Stone, John H. Clark.
1850-Supervisors, Wm. R. Biddlecome, Robert Templeton: Wm. Roberts; clerk, J. W. Seaton; treasurer, Wm. Ennor; assessor, Lewis Reynolds; supt. of schools, Wm. Hull; justices, Joseph Petty, Thomas Laird; constables, John H. Clark, Bluford Stone.
1851-Supervisors, B. F. Woods, Wm. Roberts, O. L. Stone; clerk, J. W. Seaton; treasurer, Wm. T. Ennor; assessor, G. W. Ogilvie; supt. of schools, Orsamus Cole; justices, David Goodrich, James McCarrick ; constables, James Blewett, John H. Clark.
1852-Supervisors, Orsamus Cole, Joseph Palliser, Jonathan Craig ; clerk, James W. Seaton; treasurer, Hyman E. Block; assessor, Josiah Dailey ; supt. of schools, James W. Seaton ; justices, John D. Mullikin, George McFarlin ; constables, John H. Clark, Bluford Stone.
1853-Supervisors, Thomas Palliser, William Roberts, Christian Miseley ; clerk, J. W. Seaton; treasurer, C. Kaltenbach; assessor, Jos- eph Palliser; supt. of schools, J. W. Seaton; justices, J. W Seaton, Orsamus Cole; constables, Bluford Stone, John H. Clark.
1854-Supervisors, S. Wilson, Wm. Roberts, Joseph Petty; clerk, J. W. Seaton; treasurer, Thos. Palliser; assessor, J. Palliser ; supt. of schools, H. D. Bristol; justices, John D. Mulligan, Wm. Hull; consta- bles, Bluford Stone, W. H. Palmer, J. H. Clark.
1855-Supervisors, Wm. T. Ennor, Celestin Kaltenbach, Wm. Roberts; clerk, J. W. Seaton; treasurer, Thomas Palliser; assessor, Edward Walter; supt. of schools, J. W. Seaton ; justices, J. W. Seaton, Elijah P. Hampton, Richard Armstrong; constables, John H. Clark; Wm. Cain, George W. Wright.
1856-Supervisors, Celestine Keltenbach, A. W. Emery, Philip Gross; clerk, James Roach ; treasurer, John H. Vance, assessor, Joseph Palliser ; supt. of schools, James Roach; justices, John Carlos, James Nixon; constables, Charles Vincent, Patrick Darcy.
1857-Supervisors, David Mckee, A. W. Emery, P. Gross ; clerk, J. W. Seaton; treasurer, Frank Holl; assessor, Joseph Palliser; supt. of schools. J. P. Hubbard; justices, J. W. Seaton, Thomas Stephens; constables, Patrick Darcy, Chas. Vincent, J. S. Rankin.
1858-Supervisors, Samuel Vance, Wm. Richards. Philip Gross; clerk, James W. Seaton; treasurer, Frank Holl; assessor, Joseph Pal- liser; supt. of schools, J. P. Hubbard; justices, R. Armstrong, Joseph
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Pedlar; constables, Patrick Darcy, F. Curtis, John M. Clark.
1860-Supervisors, Samuel Vance, Thos, Hammond, Philip Gross ; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, Frank Holl; assessor, Joseph Palliser; supt. of schools, J. P. Hubbard; justices, Edward Ivey, J. W. Seaton, Frank Holl; constables, John Dobb, Patrick Darcy.
1861-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, T. L. Hammond, Frank Muller; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, Frank Holl; supt. of schools, W. W. Hodges ; justices, J. W. Seaton, James Stephens ; constables, John S. Dobb, Patrick Darcy.
1862-Supervisors-A. W. Emery, T. L. Hammonds, Frank Muller ; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, C. Kaltenbach ; assessor, Frank Holl; justices, John Carlos, A. M. Neaville; constables, Patrick Darcy, John S. Dobb.
1863-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, T. L. Hammonds, Frank Muller ; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, Celestin Kaltenback; assessor, Frank Holl; justices, J. W. Seaton, Jas. Stephens ; constables, Patrick Darcy, John S. Dobb.
1864-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, Jacob Neufang, Henry Schwass; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, H. E. Block; assessor, Frank Holl; jus- tices, John Carlos, Frank Holl; constables, John S. Dobb, John L. Sweeney.
1865-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, Henry Schwass, John Bonn; clerk, Alex. Ivey; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, Frank Holl; justices, Thos. Stephens, Andrew Walker; constables, Chas. Hilgers, J. S. Dobb.
1866-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, John Bonn, O. L. Stone; clerk, V. F. Kinney; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, A. M. Neaville; jus- tices, J. W. Seaton, Alex. Ivey ; constables, Chas. Hilgers, Jas. Bonham.
1867-Supervisors, Jabez Hurd, John Bonn, G. W. Paugh; clerk, H. B. Coons ; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, Joseph Palliser; justices, Andrew Walker, Frank Holl; constables, Chas. Hilgers, John S. Dobb. 1868-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, H. P. Bell, John Bonn; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, J. W Seaton ; assessor, Joseph Palliser; justices, J. W. Seaton, Thomas Stephens, Engelhart Falk; constables, John S. Dobb, Charles Vincent.
1869-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, R. H. Kendrick, John Stelpflug; clerk, H. P. Greene; treasurer, Celestin Kaltenbach ; assessor, Joseph Palliser; justice, H. B. Coons; constables, J. S. Dobb, Charles Bennett.
1870-Supervisors, J. W. Seaton, Andrew Walker, John Stelpflug ; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, Celestin Kaltenbach; assessor, Joseph
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Palliser ; justices, Henry B. Coons, Thomas Stephens, Andrew Walker, Frank Holl; constables, J. S. Dobb, H. P. Bell.
1871-Supervisors, J. W. Seaton, John Stelpflug, Thomas Stephens; clerk, G. F. Brawner; treasurer, C. Kaltenbach ; assessor, Joseph Pal- liser ; justices, Frank Holl, Andrew Walker; constables, John S. Dobb, Isaac Hull, Chris Kreutzer, George P. B. Campbell.
1872-Supervisors, J. W. Seaton, Henry Gillilan, V. Huntemer. clerk, G. F. Brawner; treasurer, C. Kaltenbach; assessor, Joseph Pal- liser; justices, Theodore Mikesh, John S. Dobb, Thomas Stephens; constables, E. M. Wilmott, Michel Lingscheid, C. Kreutzer.
1873-Supervisors, J. W. Seaton, Andrew Walker, John Stelpflug; clerk, Ed. M. Wilmott; treasurer, Celestin Kaltenbach; assessor, Jos. Palliser ; justices, Frank Holl, Andrew Walker ; Joseph Thomas, Isaac Hall.
1874-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, Henry Gillilan, Andrew Walker ; clerk, Ed. M. Wilmott; treasurer, Celestin Kaltenbach ; assessor, Jos. Palliser; justices, Thos. Stephens, Andrew Wilhelm; constables, Wm. Bowles, Joseph Thomas, Anton Rupp.
1875-Supervisors, R. H. Kendrick, Jacob Dawson, Joseph Ger- hardt ; clerk, E. M. Wilmott ; treasurer, Celestin Kaltenbach ; assessor, Joseph Palliser; justices, Frank Holl, Andrew Walker; constables, Joseph Thomas, Christian Kreizer.
1876-Supervisors, R. H. Kendrick, Phineas Walker, Joseph Gerhardt; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, Celestin Kaltenbach; assessor, Geo. W. Hampton; justices, Thomas Stephens, Andrew Wilhelm ; constables, Isaac Hull, Christian Kreizer, Chas. Vincent.
1877-Supervisors, Thomas Stephens, Ed. Castello, R. H. Hen- drick ; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, C. Kaltenbach; assessor, George W. Hampton; justices, Frank Holl, A. Walker; constables, Christian Kreizer, G. P. B. Campbell.
1878-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, R. H. Kendrick, Joseph Ger- hardt; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, Celestin Kaltenbach; assessor, G. W. Hampton; justices, Wm. Mohrenburg, Theo. Mikeish; con- stables, C. Kreizer, Samuel Morris, M. A. Lingscheid.
1879-Supervisors, Thomas Davies, Chris. Zeller, Edward Castello; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, Bernard Els- kamp; justices, H. B. Coons, A. Walker; constables, Chris. Kreizer, Samuel Morris, Wm. Phillips.
1880-Supervisors, Geo. W. Hampton, Edward Cottell, Andrew
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Walker; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, J. W. Seaton ; assessor, Bernard Elskamp; justices, Wm. Mohrenberg, Frank Holl; constables, Samuel Morris, C. Kreizer, J. B. Stephens.
1881-Supervisors, Jabez Hurd, G. W. Hampton, Samuel Stephens; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, Jas. W. Seaton; assessor, Bernard Els- kamp; justices, Andrew Walker, H. B. Coons; constables, Samuel Morris, Christian Kreizer.
1882-Supervisors, G. W. Hampton, Samuel Stephens, Joseph Ger- hardt; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, Bernard Elskamp; justices, Frank Holl; constables, Samuel Morris, John B. Stephens, Christian Kreizer.
1883-Supervisors, Henry Gillilan, Samuel Stephens, Frank Holl; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, Bernard Els- camp; justices, H. B. Coons, John R. Price; constables, Bernard Els- camp, Henry C. Smith, John Kirkenbush.
1884-Supervisors, A. W. Emery, Philip Roesch, Wm. Mechler; clerk, H. B. Coons; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, Ed. M. Wilmott, justices, Henry B. Coons, John R. Price; constables, Michael Hilgers, Martin Kirkenbush.
1885-Supervisors, G. W. Hampton, Wm. Mechler, Joseph Kline; clerk, Richard Wilmers; treasurer, J. W. Seaton; assessor, E. M. Wil- mott; justice, George P. B. Campbell; constables, John R. Campbell. John B. Stephens, Chris. Kreizer.
1886-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Philip Roesch, Jacob Dawson; clerk, Richard Wilmers; treasurer, R. H. Kendrick; assessor, Bernard Elscamp; justices, Andrew Wilhelm, A. W. Emery, Richard Wilmers, George W. Hampton; constables, Wm. Gibson, Charles O'Hara, Frank Kirkenbush, W. J. Fine.
1887-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Philip Roesch, W. H. Hounsel; clerk, Richard Wilmers; treasurer, Robert H. Kendrick ; assessor, Benj. F. Elscamp; justices, Richard Wilmers, E. M. Wilmott; constables, Wm. Gibson, W. J. Fine, Joseph Schroeder.
1888-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, A. W. Emery, Wm. Mechler ; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, R. H. Kendrick ; assessor, Ben. Els- camp; justices, A. Wilhelm, A. W. Emery; constables, C. Kreizer, Henry Schroeder, John Bimler, George Campbell.
1889-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Wm. Mechler, Geo. D. Campbell, clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, R. H. Kendrick; assessor, Frank B. 84
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
Giesen; justices, E. M. Wilmott, Barney Russell; constables, John Campbell, Christian Kreizer, Jr., J. W. Schiffman.
1890-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Wm. Mechler, Barney Russell; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, R. H. Kendrick ; assessor, F. B. Giesen ; justices, Andrew Wilhelin, A. W. Emery; constables, John Campbell, John A. Druen, Christian Kreizer.
1891-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Wm. Mechler, Geo. D. Campbell; clerk, E. M. Wilmott ; treasurer, R. H. Kendrick ; assessor, John Camp- bell ; justices, E. M. Wilmott, Joseph Fine; constables, John Campbell, P. J. Huepper, W. J. Fine.
1892-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Wm. Mechler, Geo. D. Campbell; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, P. J. Blindert; assessor, J. R. Camp- bell; justices, Andrew Wilhelm, Barney Russell; constables, J. R. Campbell, Frank Kreizer, Henry Schroeder.
1893-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Wm. Mechler, Geo. D. Campbell; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, P. J. Blindert; assessor, John Camp- bell; justices, E. M. Wilmott, W. E. Uren; constables, John Campbell, P. J. Huepper, Henry Schroeder.
1884-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Wm. Mechler, G. D. Campbell; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, P. J. Blindert; assessor, Bernard Els- kamp; justices, Andrew Wilhelm, E. C Thomas; constables, P. J. Huepper, J. H. Jackson, Henry Schroeder.
1895-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, William Mechler, Cbris Bryhan; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, P. J. Blindert; assessor, Bernard Els- kamp; justices, E. M. Wilmott, Wm. E. Uren; constables, P. J. Huep- per, Henry Kreizer.
1896-Supervisors, John J. Tobin, Wm. Mechler, E. C. Thomas; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, P. J. Blindert ; assessor, Bernard Els- kamp; justices, E. C. Thomas, Andrew Wilhelm; constables, J. H. Jackson, Henry Schroeder, Henry Kreizer.
1897-Supervisors, clerk, and treasurer same as in 1896; assessor, Thomas Welsh; justices, E. M. Wilmott, Wm. Uren; constables, James Jackson, Henry Kreizer, Henry Schroeder.
1898-Supervisors, Clem Thomas, Ed Pierce, Joseph Stelpflug; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, P. J. Blindert; assessor, Chris Kuhn- er; justices, Andrew Wilhelm, Clem Thomas; constables, Henry Krei- zer, Henry Schroeder, William Vesperman.
1899-Supervisors, Clem Thomas, Joseph Stelpflug, Ed Pierce; clerk, E. M. Wilmott; treasurer, P. J. Blindert; assessor, Thomas Ger-
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hardt ; justices, E. M. Wilmott, W. E. Uren ; constables, Henry Schroe- der, William Liendecker.
1900-Supervisors, E. C. Thomas, Joseph Stelpflug, Ed Pierce; clerk, John Wallenhorst ; treasurer, P. J. Blindert: assessor, J. A. Ger. hardt; justices, E. C. Thomas, Andrew Wilhelm; constables, Henry Schroeder, J. C. Kreizer.
The charter of the village given in 1841 was withdrawn in 1854. There is no record left from which to ascertain the names of the village officers of the first corporation. The village was again incorporated in 1887. Following is the roster of village officers since that time:
VILLAGE OFFICERS.
(For supervisors see roster of county officers.)
1887-President, W. H. Hunt: trustees. D. J. Greene, George H. Lewis, Thomas Hymer, Andrew Kaltenbach. H B. Coons, T. R. Sea- ton; clerk, Richard Wilmers: treasurer. R. H. Kendrick ; marshal. C. W. Jewett : police justice, Richard Wilmers.
1888-President. W. H. Hunt; trustees, D. L. Greene, George H. Lewis, Andrew Kaltenbach. Thomas Zeller. George Kinney; clerk, J. A. Neaville: treasurer, J. W. Seaton; marshal, James Jackson; police justice, J. A. Neaville.
1889-President, T. R. Seaton: trustees. Frank Elskamp, W. H. Hunt. R. H. Kendrick, George H. Lewis, Joseph Patzner, John Fure; clerk, John A. Neaville;treasurer, W. A. Sprague; marshal, J. R. Camp- bell; police justice, John M. Grogan.
1890-President, T. R. Seaton; trustees W. H. Hunt, Theo. Run- kel. F. Elskamp, Horace Hymer, R. Schumacher, D. L. Greene; clerk, J. A. Neaville; treasurer, R. H. Kendrick; marshal, J. R. Campbell; police justice, H. B Means.
1891, President, John A. Neaville; trustees, W. H. Hunt, Horace Hymer, J. R. Campbell, A. Schumacher, J. J. Duve, Theo. Runkel ; clerk, Wesley Hymer treasurer R. H. Kendrick : marshal, Ben Bier; police justice, W. A. Sprague.
1892-President, John .A. Neaville; trustees, J. B. Fahey, Jacob Dave, Horace Hymer. W. H. Hunt, John R. Campbell, Cel. Brawner; clerk. Theo. Runkel; treasurer, R. H. Kendrick; marshal, Wm. Gibson.
1893-President, T. R. Seaton; trustees, John Fure, T. B. Ennor, Frank Morris, Bennett Elskamp, Jonn R. Campbell, Horace Hymer. clerk, T. H. Runkel; treasurer, R H. Kendrick ; marshal, R. P. Holmes; police justice, H. B. Coons
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
1894-President, W. H. Hunt; trustees, Horace Hymer, Frank Morris, T. B. Ennor, T. H. Runkel E. Staheli, John Fure; clerk, Wesley Hymer; treasurer, R. H. Kendrick ; marshal, J.H. Jackson; po- lice justice, H. B. Coons.
1895-President Horace Hymer; trustees, John Baumler, Bennett Elskamp, T. B. Ennor, W. H. Hunt, John Fure, Fred Grimm; clerk, Wesley Hymer; treasurer, W. H. Thomas ; marshal, J. H. Jackson; police justice M. L. Spaulding.
1896-President, W. H. Hunt; trustees, John Baumler, B. Elscamp, J. Duve, J. B. Fahey, W. Hoffman, John Fure; clerk, J. A. Seaton; treasurer, W. H. Thomas; marshal, J. H. Jackson.
1897-President, T. R. Seaton; trustees, James Scullan, Thomas Galway, Frank Doser, John Fure, George Schumacher, Wesley Hymer; clerk, J. A. Seaton; treasurer, W. H. Thomas; marshal, J. H. Jackson ; police justice, T. R. Seaton.
1898-President, T. R. Seaton; trustees, G. H. Lewis, W. H. Hunt, W. C. Hymer, John Bonn, B. Ennor, G. H. Coons; clerk, J. A. Seaton; treasurer, W. H. Thomas; justices, J. W. Seaton, E. A. Berge; con- stable, J. H. Jackson.
1899-President, T. R. Seaton; trustees, W. H. Hunt, T. B. Ennor, Wesley Hymer, Henry Walters, James Scullan ; clerk, Ambrose Seaton; treasurer, Wm. H. Thomas; marshal, J. H. Jackson; police justice, E. A. Berge.
1900-President, W. H. Hunt; trustees, H. E. Coons, G. H. Lewis, T. B. Ennor, P. Mclaughlin, W. H. Thomas, H. Walters; clerk, J. A. Seaton; treasurer, Wesley Hymer ; marshal, J. H. Jackson; police jus- tice, T. R. Seaton.
MURDERS, SUICIDES, AND ACCIDENTS.
Homicides have not been numerous in Potosi. Besides the two kill- ings already described, the most noted one was the murder of James Short in 1837 by a man named Gardner. The body was not discovered for a long time. The murderer was hanged at Jacksonville, Illinois, three years afterward for another crime and confessed to this one.
Robert B. Turner killed his brother Albert with an ax in a mineral hole near the village, November 29, 1873. There was considerable evidence of insanity, but the slayer was convicted of murder in the first degree.
On the night of October 22, 1896, Ed Day and his brother Alex. Day were going home intoxicated and were seen to have a fight on the
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way. The next morning Alex. was found dead in a creek with his head in water six or eight inches deep. Ed was tried for murder but was acquitted, as it was supposed that the death was caused by the drunken man accidentally falling into the water and drowning.
John Hail, who owned the Potosi brewery, committed suicide April 28, 1881, by shooting himself with a pistol. No cause for the act was known.
In the latter part of June, 1895, an old man named John Dun- stane, living alone near Rockville, committed suicide by shooting him- self through the head. He had a cancer and despaired of cure.
Joseph Ott, an apprentice in the Potosi flour-mill, was carrying an empty sack, when a revolving shaft caught the strings of the sack, winding up the sack and the boy with it, crushing him. He was thrown with such force that his boots and socks were stripped off and thrown across the mill.
George Hayward was killed May 15, 1867, by a large rock falling on him in a mine near Rockville.
Joseph Kitto was killed May 15, 1896, in a mine near Rockville, by a tub of water falling on him. He and his partner were bailing out the mine, and the tub got loose from the rope before reaching the top of the shaft.
The very narrow valley in which Potosi is situated is favorable to floods. A memorable one occurred in August, 1851, but without loss of life. Another occurred August 13, 1862, in which Peter Kaltenbach, a brother of Celestin, was drowned. His body was found half a mile from where the flood had engulfed him. At the same time a building was washed away in British Hollow.
NEWSPAPERS.
The Potosi Republican .- This paper was begun in May, 1847, as a Democratic paper, edited and published by Lucien B. Leach. It was a four· page paper with five wide columns (16 picas) to the page. With Vol. 2, No. 15, the names of Seaton & McKee appear at the head. J. W. Seaton and David Mckee were a combination of talent sufficient to make a bright and able paper, and that is what the Republican was. The slashing editorials and withering invectives of Goodhue's Whig Herald had no terrors for such able knights of the pen as the Potosi pair. McKee's name, however, appeared on only two num- bers, when the style changed to Leach & Seaton, and with Vol 4. No. 28, Seaton alone At the close of Vol. 8 Seaton. retired. leaving
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Edwin R. Paul to attend the dying struggles of the Republican, for when the end came, August 14, 1855, Potosi was suffering such a bus- iness depression that it could not support a paper.
The Potosi Signal .- This paper was established by David Mckee and Robert McKee, the first number issuing July 13, 1852, from an of- fice in the Langworthy building. The Mckees were bright, able men and they made a spicy paper; but they began in the very hight of the California exodus, and the decline of Potosi was so rapid that the pa- per was very short-lived. As no files are preserved, no further partic- ulars can be given.
SCHOOLS.
In 1838 Cornelius Kennedy, a Revolutionary soldier, opened a school in Potosi. Among his pupils were Henry B. Coons, Samuel Coons, John Coons, Mary Coons, George Langley, William W. Forbes, Harriet Forbes, Amanda Bushee, and John Long Kennedy taught one year with satisfaction, and was succeeded by a teacher named Eayers, who taught in a cabin at Van Buren. During this year, as we learn from the report of the County Board the next spring, sixty-eight pupils attended school in the "Snake Hollow " District. In the spring of 1840 G. C. Drake began school and taught six months at Van Buren and then moved his school to Bull's Tavern at Lafayette. After that a Mr. Johnson taught in a building formerly used as Clark & Wood's saloon. C. S. D. Crockwell followed in the old log Metho- dist church, and he was followed by Miss Emeline Fisher. Business tending toward "the Head of the Hollow," school was taught there in a log cabin by Edward Storey and others until 1846, when the brick school-house was built at a cost of $1,500 and a Mr. Cameron, said to have been a brother to the ex-Senator Angus Cameron, employed to teach. In 1847 James W. Seaton came to Potosi and was placed in charge of the school in the new brick house. He was an earnest and able educator and in the two years during which he was in charge be "set the pace." which his successors strove to follow, and it was a rapid one.
HON. JAMES W. SEATON.
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In 1867 a new and more commodious brick school-house was erected-not because the population had grown, for it had shrunk- but because modern ideas of common-school education had expanded. This new building on Northeast Street is two stories high with rooms for three departments and cost $7,500. Thisschool is at present under charge of Prof. Bohn ann Misses Spaulding, Medley, Fure, and Holl.
In the early forties there was what was called a female seminary, by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin, in the Catholic parson- age, with about fifty pupils.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Church .- This society was formed in 1839, when a class was formed with Thomas Clayton, leader, John Crockwell, Catherine Crockwell, George Maderie and his wife, James R. Short and his wife, John Pedlar and his wife. That year a brick building which the Mormons had built was bought and occupied as a church for five years. In 1850 the building afterward known as Temperance Hall was built and occupied as a church until 1877, when the society was dissolved. Among the resident ministers were: J. G. Hudson, 1853; E. B. Russell, 1855; Robert DeLap, 1856; Wm. Summersides, 1859; Richard Burge, 1860; W. Thomas, 1876.
St. Thomas Catholic Church .- This society was organized in 1836. Celestin Kaltenbach, Peter Coyle, Michael Lawler, John Tobin, and the families of these, with some others, were the original members. Mass was said at the houses of members until 1838, when a log chapel was built near the present church. The sawn timbers were brought from Hough's mill on the Platte. A log dwelling for the priest was also built on the opposite side of the street and was recently standing. Thechurch had no resident priest until 1840 Services and ceremonies were occasionally conducted by Father Matthias Loras, Bishop of Dubuque, and Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, resident priest at Galena.
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