History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 102

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?]
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 102

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Hoffnung Lodge, No. 172 .- This lodge was organized in 1869. Several of the German members of the Mississippi Valley Lodge upon returning from the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the I. O. O. F. at Dubuque, in April, of that year, conceived the idea of organ- izing a German Lodge at Lancaster. These three members, J. A. Boerner, Charles Heinze and Anton Schmitt, were joined in their plan by Messrs. Joseph and Jacob Nathan and Louis Gelbach. These six accordingly made application to their lodge for cards of withdrawal, which were granted them. Under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, the above-named as charter members, instituted Hoffnung Lodge, No. 172, November 4, 1869. The name of the lodge-Hope-in the language of the lodge historian, "was chosen because they had nothing in sight to encourage their undertaking but the hope that good men would join them." This hope might not seem unreasonable, in view of the fact that the population in the neighborhood of Lancaster has a large German element in its composition, but the new lodge remained for some time seemingly at a standstill. The same historian says, " Many a long evening these men sat in a hall decorated with regalia and surrounded by furniture belonging to their mother lodge." On the 20th of January, 1870, a charter was granted to the Hoffnung Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. On the first term, April 1, 1870, Hoffnung Lodge consisted of thirteen members with $25.15 in the treasury. "This," says the historian, " was not very encouraging, but they had faith. in their cause, and, in a few years, they saw that their labor and persever- ance rewarded with unexpected success." On July 1, 1879, Hoffnung Lodge had eighty-nine names on its list of membership, eight of these were admitted by card, and eighty-one regularly admitted. During the existence of the lodge to that time, eight members had withdrawn by

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

card, one had died, and sixteen had left in other ways, leaving the lodge possessed at that time of sixty-three members of good standing. Both lodges occupy a fine hall in Alcorn's Block on Maple street, which was inaugurated with impressive ceremonies.

· FIRE COMPANY.

Several heavy fires that had occurred in Lancaster and surrounding towns aroused the citi- zens to the danger constantly threatening the village, unprovided as they then were with no means of quenching the ravages of the fire fiend should he show himself. The feeling pro- gressed so far that in the early summer of 1873, a hand engine, the present one, was purchased. A fire company was organized July 24, the same year, Mr. L. Holloway being elected Foreman, Robert Brooker, First Assistant, and John M. Hurley, Second Assistant. The company, when thoroughly organized, numbered between forty and fifty members. A feeling of apathy having showed itself among the citizens in regard to the requirements of the company, the latter, in the spring of 1880, dissolved by consent, and turned the engine, apparatus and uniforms over to the city, leaving Lancaster plus an engine and minus a company, in which state fire matters have remained since.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Lancaster Woolen Mill .- This institution at present comprises in itself all the manufact- uring interests to which Lancaster is now heir. In 1865, Douglas Oliver had erected at North Andover, in the town of Glen Haven, a flouring mill. To the machinery necessary for that busi- ness ; he soon afterward added one set of machinery for the manufacture of woolen cloth. The business not being of a nature to warrant his continuing in that location, he gave up his mill and came to Lancaster, where he interested many of the leading citizens of this village in the subject of woolen goods to such an extent that a stock company was formed for the prosecution of that branch of industry. In the spring of 1868, grounds were purchased, including the " big spring " in the lower and east portion of the village and work commenced. In July of the same year, the buildings were finished and much of the machinery put in, including that which had formerly been used in Oliver's mill at North Andover. To this was added another " set " of the latest and most improved pattern, and early in the fall some of the machinery was started. A few first-class hands were brought from New England, under whose tuition were placed girls for instruction in the mysteries of cloth-making. The cost of the mill was about $30,000, it being calculated for forty operatives and with a capacity for using about 100,000 pounds of wool.

June 20, 1869, a quorum of the stockholders met at the office of J. Allen Barber and adopted articles of association under the name of the Lancaster Woolen Mill Company. J. C. Holloway, Addison Burr, D. Oliver, Henry Fox and Jacob Nathan were elected as a board of directors for the ensuing year. Addison Burr was elected President, George W. Ryland, Treas- urer, and Richard Meyer, Secretary.

The first superintendent of the mill was a man named Fuller, who, however, was discharged after a few months' trial. He turned out to be a deceiving illusion, his talents being decidedly phantom-like in their nature. After his dismissal, the company concluded to take the running of the mill into their own hands. Henry Fox was placed in charge, and the books and accounts were intrusted to the charge of T. A. Burr. In this manner the mill was operated for some- thing over a year, when it was found that assessments rather than dividends was the rule, and difficulties ensued which resulted in the sale of the property under a mortgage. It was bid in by some of the heaviest stockholders, and then rented to Messrs. Gledhill and Walker, who re- tained possession about a twelvemonth, and then gave it up. Messrs. J. C. Holloway and Mr. Clise then hired the premises, and was run by these gentleman in partnership about six months, when Mr. Clise retired, and Mr. Holloway continued the mill in operation to the end of the year.

The mill remained idle from this date until its purchase by its present owners, Street Bros., Marshall & Co., in May, 1880. The mill was thoroughly overhauled by this firm, and new and

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

improved machinery introduced, until it was placed on a par with the best mills in the State. The advent of railroad facilities has done much to solve the problem as to whether the venture will ultimately prove a success, the scale inclining under the present management to the winning side. In the absence of all other manufacturing interests, Lancaster has to hope for a success- ful pursuit of this branch of industry within its limits.

Bank .- December, 1861, Messrs. Ryland & Holloway commenced a private banking and ex- change business, on the corner of Maple and Madison streets. May, 1871, the business was re- moved to its present quarters, in a plain but commodious brick building, on Maple street, be- tween Madison and Monroe streets. The bank capital at this time was $10,000. In January, 1875, the junior member of the firm withdrew, Mr. Ryland continuing the business alone. No further change was made until October, 1880, when Mr. Richard Meyer and Mr. Meyer, Jr., were united with Mr. Ryland in business. The capital of the bank was increased to $20,000, the firm name being George W. Ryland & Co. As a means of furnishing the citizens of Lan- caster and vicinity with a ready and secure agent in financial transactions, the benefits of the institution have been felt from the first. The senior members of the present firm are well known as gentlemen of unimpeachable business integrity and financial ability ; the junior member af- fable and business-like to all, has already established himself in the good graces of the bank's patrons. The bank stands to-day among the foremost of such institutions in the county, and is extending its business relations in fast-widening circles throughout central Grant.

STORMS.

Lancaster and the vicinity has been visited early and late by several severe storms, which have done more or less damage. The most important of these destroyers was the hurricane of 1824, which gave the name to the strip of country southeast of Lancaster, nothing of any distinct- ness is known, as at that period the western portion was uninhabited, with the exception of a white man named Hamer, who claimed to have witnessed the commencement of the whirlwind at Cassville, where he was living at the time. But wherever may have been its starting-point, whether witnessed or unwitnessed by mortal eyes, the fact that there had a hurricane passed through this section was plainly evident to the early settlers in that region. The great forest giants were tossed and thrown about as with a Titan's hand-piled tier upon tier in inextricable confusion-so that it was many years before the country could be brought under the dominion of man, and even to this day signs of the great storm may be found by the close observer.

The storm of 1868, which visited Lancaster, while it did not reach the power and fury of either its predecessor or the terrible fury of 1876, was still the means of doing considerable damage. It was, however, more in the nature of a high wind blowing steady, but with great violence. The public school building had just been completed at a cost of $15,000, and a few days more would have been filled with childish life. Fortunately, this dreaded sacrifice was not added to the damage done. As it was, the roof of the building was torn off, and the walls parted in a dozen places, making a total wreck of what had been but a few moments before a beautiful and imposing structure. Other buildings in the city were unroofed, and much damage done, but nothing to compare with the destruction of the first-named property.

CHAPTER IX.

PLATTEVILLE.

LOCATION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-FIRST MARRIAGE-FIRST ELECTION-FIRST POST OFFICE- INDIAN TROUBLES-FIRST CHURCH AND SCHOOLIIOUSE-AN EARLY TRAGEDY-PATRIOTISM IN 1836-HARD TIMES-THE CALIFORNIA FEVER-TOWN OFFICERS-THE CITY OF PLATTEVILLE -MAKING THE VILLAGE-FIRST BRICK BUILDING-SMALL-POX EPIDEMIC-THE BEVANS LEAD-PLATTEVILLE IN 1850-DURING WAR TIMES-THE PRESENT CONDITION-OFFICIAL ROSTER-THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-EDUCATIONAL-THE POST OFFICE-THE PRESS-BANKS- SECRET SOCIETIES-OTIIER SOCIETIES-MANUFACTORIES-ELEVATOR-RELIGIOUS.

LOCATION.

Platteville is one of the southeasterly towns of Grant County, as also one of the more highly cultivated and prosperous, with abundant resources, both vegetable and mineral; is bounded on the north by the town of Lima, on the east by La Fayette County, on the south by Smelser, and on the west by Harrison, and contains a total of 23,040 acres of land, fairly divided into prairie and timber. It is well watered by Little Platte River and its branches, Block-House Creek and other streams furnishing superior water-power, which has been success- fully employed in operating mills, etc. The Galena & Southwestern and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroads, enter the township from opposite points, and converging at the city of Platteville afford ample facilities for communicating with all points immediate and remote, and are of incalculable value to farmers, merchants and the world at large as mediums of exchange and mutual benefits.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement made in this township-indeed, in the county-for the settlement of what subsequently became Grant County was commenced on the present site of Platteville City -was begun in the spring of 1827. Fifty and four years ago the foundations of a new empire had been laid in the almost undiscovered lands of the Northwest, which have since blossomed into a more than perfect realization of what was hoped for by its founders. These were com- posed of men who were the natural architects of success ; not men who, like chameleons, only reflect and have no positive coloring of their own ; but as Saul among his brethren stood head and shoulders above them, so stood these pioneers as compared with succeeding generations. Many of them are dead, but their works live after them. Rest well, grand old men who have dropped like grains of "good corn " and lie "warm in your earthly beds !"

In November, 1827, John H. Rountree, still a prominent and distinguished resident of the township, accompanied by Maj. J. B. Campbell and two men named William Ruby and John Mc Williams, made his advent into future Platteville, attracted thither by the opportunities he had ascertained only awaited the hand of industry and enterprise to pluck without resistance. . The previous spring it might be interpolated. Mr. Rountree had satisfied himself of these facts and began negotiating for the purchase of a claim owned by one Emanuel Medcalf, who discovered its value some time before while prospecting for mineral. After several attempts to effect its purchase which had failed to culminate, Messrs. Rountree and Campbell accomplished their object, paying for the title $3,600 ; contingently upon its equaling moderate expectations, and at the period indicated, came into the territory to test its value and identify themselves with the development of this portion of the "lead mines." These adventurous comers knew that, with patient watch and untiring diligence they would reap a generous reward, and having erected a sod cabin twelve feet square on the branch about two hundred yards southeast of Mr. Rountree's present mansion, corner of Pine and Lydia streets, began working the claim as the

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

breath of advancing winter made them to realize that the fall with all its glories had vanished, to be laid in the great storehouse of the past. Through storm and sunshine, when the icy air swept down the valley of the branch chilling all before its way, these four men toiled on from early to late hoping and thinking that, with the dawn of spring, their labors, their enterprise and their patience would be rewarded. So hoped and thought Columbus as he lay at anchor among the drifting seaweed and waited for the dawn of day. Nor was he disappointed, nor were the toilers in the lead discovered by Emanuel Medcalf, doomed to failure. Before the wandering snow flakes, sweet and silent messengers from a sinless region, had ceased to fall and kiss the earth's brown breast with their soft white lips, the toilers had laid up a hundred-fold of the treasure gathered with the "pick and gad." In truth, the results which attended the efforts of this quartette who first came to Platteville Township are said to have been of the most gener- ous character. But there was no furnace nearer than Gratiot's Grove or Galena in which the raw material could be rendered a marketable commodity, and until one was built the mineral was slacked up awaiting its completion.

During the inhospital winter of 1827-28, there were but few arrivals of men who became settlers. A limited number of huts, of the most primitive description and conveniences, skirted the incline, upon which the Gates House has since been erected, put up by an invoice of careless, quixotic, wandering miners, who tarried but long enough to prospect, yet not sufficiently long to realize, and went hence in search of more inviting if less hospitable scenes. That is, when the ice and snow, in which the hills and vales were wrapped, yielded place to the sunlight and affection of returning spring. With the arrival of that season, Messrs. Rountree and Campbell began the building of a rude log furnace, and hurried the same so effectually that its completion was an- nounced before summer. It was located in the Rountree tract, in sight of the habitation of these gentlemen, on a line between Mr. Rountree's present residence and Virgin's mill. They also put up what, for those times, was known as a commodious and pretentious domicile, on their tract, now opposite the foot of Oak street. It was a single story double log house, with a long hallway running down the middle, and adapted to the uses of a caravansary, for the accommo- dation of men employed by the parties operating the mine. Here came that spring Fred- erick Holman and family, accompanied by James R. Vineyard. Mr. Holman's family con- sisted of himself, wife and four children. He became landlord of the boarding-house, and Mrs. Holman was the second lady, it is believed, who came into the township, Mrs. Medcalf and Mrs. Lewis, her daughter, being the first of the opposite sex to locate in these comparatively un- known wilds of the time mentioned. The same spring a Mr. Jones escorted his wife and three young ladies of venturesome temperament into the Territory, and, putting up a log cabin near where Mr. Potter now lives on Water street, were enrolled as among the pioneer residents of the vicinity. Jacob Hoosier settled one mile south of the present city, where he still lives. There were some others came in about this time, though the number was exceedingly limited, and could be expressed without exhaustive numerical faculties. Among these were Joseph H. Dixon, who, with a younger brother, settled on a tract of land about one and a half miles south of the subsequent city, and made the first attempts of farming undertaken in the township, if not in the county. They plowed up ten acres of prairie, sowed it to corn, cultivated the latter until it grew yellow in the sunlight, when it was sold to J. H. Rountree, and sufficient was re- alized unto the producers to enable them to repeat their experiment with increased profit. The old farm, it is said, on which these early labors were expended, has passed through a varied ex- perience, and is still made to pay tribute to the necessities of mankind. Col. Dixon died a number of years ago, since when his widow become Mrs. Enoch Robinson, and a resident of the southwestern portion of the town, where she still remains.

This year was rather noted in connection with great endeavors besides those mentioned. On March 30, Mr. Rountree established the first store in the town. It was located near where he lived, and contained the usual stock of dry goods, groceries and provisions, obtained in St. Louis and shipped to their final destination via Galena. The business was transacted on a credit basis, and the distinction between meum and tuum in the obligations thus imposed was as.

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defined and sacredly observed as in portions of the country where sustained by the majesty of the law.

In October, 1827, the settlement was called Platte River and continued under that title until April 7,1828, when the name was changed to Lebanon, by which it was known until May 20, of the same year, when Platteville was substituted and still obtains. From records beyond dispute it appears that the following were residents of the vicinage at that date, in addition to those named : A. and W. Daugherty, Samuel Kirkpatrick, A. L. Orden, Alexander Willard, B. B. Lawless, John Wellmaker, Waller Rowen, William Morrison, Joseph Brammer, M. M. Woodbridge, Jesse Harrison, Benjamin James, Frederick Reamer, Isaac Yoakum, Thomas Densen, Israel Mitchell, Robert Roper, James R. Vineyard and William B. Vineyard.

FIRST MARRIAGE.

In September, 1828, occurred the first marriage in the town, the contracting parties being James R. Vineyard and Miss Mary Jones. A minister from Galena officiated, but be- yond the ceremony there was nothing to interest or entertain the contracted social world estab- lished at that day in this vicinity. Previous to this event, and on August 7, 1828, Maj. Rountree was married, at Galena, to Miss Mary Grace Mitchell.

FIRST ELECTION.

The same fall an election was held in Platteville, the voters depositing their ballots for State officers of Illinois. During its progress, a squad of men residing at Elk Grove and Benton visited the polls for the purpose of exercising their prerogative as citizens and, what is not an unusual circumstance upon similar occasions to-day, became pugnaciously inebriated. The re- sult was a row, which ended in a drawn battle, with the manor born, as it were, retaining possession of the field.

The improvements this year were limited to those already mentioned, namely, the furnace, Holman's boarding-house, Rountree's cabin and store house, Jones' cabin and one other, inhab- ited by miners. The Finney patch and Meeker diggings were discovered and worked, and the furnace which began operations in May, smelted mineral for miners working within a radius of twelve miles. Prairie fires in the spring and fall were the only sources of excitement, the In- dians having ceased to be the cause of apprehension or amusement. A scattering few belonging to the Winnebago tribe wandered aimlessly and harmlessly about the country and pitched a camp upon the banks of the Little Platte in the vicinity of which they hunted and fished, or enjoyed their dolce far niente, afar from the haunts of semi-civilization. Churches and schools were blessings that had thus far failed to materialize. Possibly some peripatetic Wesleyan or Calvinist, who combined both professions, may have "joined issue" with ignorance and sin, but according to the most authentic, at the same time reliable, reports, the bliss of the former re- mained undisturbed and the latter's presence unrebuked.

The winter of 1828-29 was mild and open, and work was prosecuted without interruption. A moderate degree of prosperity had accompanied the efforts of those who were employed the previous years, and continued in service during those succeeding, and, as a consequence, there were fewer of the trials incident to hardships indigenous to a new country than in other portions of the lead mines less remote from the humanizing as also tempting influences here wanting. Early in the spring, Pierre Teller, with his family, settled two miles southwest of the present city, and he was followed by others during the same year. Among these, were included William and Daniel Richards, the former with his family, and establishing homes in the vicinity of Teller's settlement. Thomas Cruson, William Davidson, Thomas Hugill, probably E. M. Örn, Benjamin Good, Benjamin Green, all with domestic dependents, and the usual run of sucker miners came into the township in this year. The former named remained, but the suckers following the habits of their finny namesakes, returned whence they came with the frost. This year, a man named Meredeth. became involved in a fracas with miners in the southwestern portion of the township, and received injuries which caused his death, said to be the first death happening in

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the township. The fact, however, is a mooted question, that distinguished honor being by some awarded to a young man who resided in a miner's hut near the Teller cabin. He was taken sick, it is said, with one of the malarial diseases peculiar to the times and place, and before another spring's violets colored the withered grass of the prairies, a mound was raised in the old cemetery near Virgin's Mill, another soul was beside the still waters. His name was not pre- served, and, with his fame, is denied to posterity.

FIRST POST OFFICE.

The most prominent events described as of record in 1829 was the agricultural beginnings made by Scott Kirkpatrick, and the opening of a post office at Rountree's store. Kirkpatrick came here in 1828, and procuring land east of the village site, plowed up ten acres and planted it in corn. The postal facilities were established at Platteville, so named, as already stated, by Mr. Rountree in 1828, Platte River being the derivation, and that gentleman appointed the Government official. This he did until October, when further honors were buckled upon his back, and he was obliged to divide his duties as Postmaster with those of Justice of the Peace, he being the first who served in either capacity in the township. There were mineral discov- eries made this year also, chiefly in the vicinity of those already developed.

The vear 1830 was marked by no event worthy of preservation on tablets of stone or memory. Nothing is remembered to have occurred calculated to electrify the world or paralyze the nation, save and except the birth of a daughter to James Vineyard and wife, which cheerful episode is claimed as the first to take place in the town. The young lady was christened Jane, and successfully passing through the ages of childhood, youth and felicitous maidenhood, was married in 1851, and removed to California with her husband, where Iris, of the ancients, clipped the golden lock of life that the spirit thus disencumbered might plume its wings for flight to the beautiful shore. The population in 1830 would not exceed forty, it is said, in the township. There were but two farms-one opened by Dixon, and the other by Kirkpatrick- but purchased that year by Mr. Rountree for a consideration of $150. Mining and smelting was carried on with remunerative results, and provisions and other necessaries could be obtained only at St. Louis. As yet mills and other conveniences of life, which succeeding years com- pelled the development of, were unknown factors in the sum of human experience in the wilder- ness. As the year advanced, the absence of many features, which subsequently contributed to the prosperity of the mines, was seriously felt, and produced an effect upon the community which, if not entirely cheerless, was not altogether rose-colored. With the winter came com- paratively hard times, depreciation in the price of mineral, scarcity of supplies, and few if any accessions to the population. This condition of affairs was continued into 1832, when the num- ber of inhabitants is quoted as at no time having exceeded a hundred, including women and children. In the spring of the latter year, a Methodist minister named Robinson, attached to the Indiana Conference, made a visit to Platteville, and formed a class composed of J. H. Rountree and wife, William B. Vineyard and wife, who settled in the country a few weeks pre- vious, and a very few others, from which sprang the Methodist Church, one of the most flourish- ing and the oldest religious organizations in either the present city or county. During the war, services were irregular; but in the fall, the Rev. John T. Mitchell succeeded Mr. Robinson, and formed a circuit made up of Platteville, Mineral Point, Galena and Gratiot's Grove.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 102

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?] Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?]
Number of Pages: 1050