History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 104

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 104

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Assessors .- S. F. Cleveland, 1849; Robert Neely, 1850 ; Thomas Hugill, 1851; Thomas Chapman, 1852; George R. Laughton, 1853; H. Hurlbut, 1854; H. G. Stiles, 1855 ; J. B. Penn, 1856-58; Thomas Reuder, 1859; J. W. Rewey, 1860; J. B. Penn, 1861-62; Henry G. Stiles, 1863-64-65 ; J. H. Evans, 1866-67; A. J. McCarn, one year ; Thomas Chapman, two years ; and O. A. Boynton, three years from 1868; A. J. McCarn declining to serve, C. T. Overton appointed in his stead ; James Durley, 1869-70 ; Thomas Jenkins, 1871-72-73-74- 75 ; E. Vanderbie, 1876-77-78-79; Thomas Jenkins, Jr., 1880-81.

Treasurer and Collector .- William H. Zenor, 1849; A. C. Inman, 1850-51; Jonathan B. Moore, 1852; William Butler, 1853; J. Miner, 1854; Leonard Coates, 1855 ; Thomas Chapman, 1856-57; F. E. Palmer, 1858; Frederick Hollman, 1859; E. T. Mears, 1860 ; Judson H. Holcomb, 1861 ; L. M. Devendorf, 1862; Engel Vanderbie, 1863-64; J. H. Hol- comb, 1865; John Grindell, 1866 ; Joseph Meinhart, 1867; Henry Rewey, 1868 ; Herman Buchner, 1869-70 ; R. Longhenry, 1871-72-73; J. H. Holcomb, 1874-75-76; C. G. Doels, 1877-88; H. C. Lane, 1879; J. N. McGranahan, 1880; J. H. Holcomb, 1881.

Justices of the Peace .- Bennett Atwood, A. C. Inman, S. O. Paine and Harrison Bell, 1849; S. O. Paine and A. C. Inman, 1850 ; W. H. Chapman and J. W. Vanorman, 1851 ; S. O. Paine and C. C. Clinton, 1852 ; W. H. Chapman and B. F. Wyne, 1853 ; F. Hollman and J. W. Vanorman, 1854; B. F. Wyne and I. S. Clark, 1855; no return for 1856; B. F. Wyne, H. G. Stiles and W. H. Chapman, 1857 ; A. R. Bushnell and N. Goodrich, 1858; B. F. Wyne and W. H. Chapman, 1859; Allen R. Bushnell and N. Goodrich, 1860; B. F. Wyne, E. A. Andrews and Frederick Hollman, 1861; F. Hollman, J. H. Evans and W. H. Chap- man, 1862; B. F. Wyne and John D. Wood, 1863; F. Hollman and W. H. Chapin, 1864 : Milton Graham and B. F. Wyne, 1865; Frederick Hollman and John Bender, 1866; B. F. Wyne and C. W. Hill, 1867; E. A. Andrews and A. W. Bell, 1868 ; B. F. Wyne and S. O. Payne, 1869; Joel C. Squires and E. A. Andrews, 1870; B. F. Wyne and Augustus Michae- les, 1871; C. Hiners and J. C. Squires, E. Vanderbie to fill vacancy, 1872; B. F. Wyne and W. H. Beebe, 1873 ; R. J. Huntington and C. W. Hill, 1874; B. F. Wyne and W. H.

PLATTEVILLE.

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

Beebe, 1875 ; C. W. Hill and R. J. Huntington, 1876; B. F. Wyne and Charles Weitenhiller, 1877; C. G. Marshall and C. W. Hill, 1878; B. F. Wyne and C. Weitenhiller, 1879; W. R. Laughton and Thomas Jenkins, Jr., 1880; Dennis J. Gardner and Charles Weitenhiller, 1881.

Constables .- J. B. Moore, 1849 to 1852 inclusive ; T. R. Hugill, 1853 to 1856 inclusive ; William Butler, 1857 ; E. W. Covell and Hudson Thomas, 1858; Hudson Thomas and T. R. Hugill, 1859; A. K. Young and J. H. Holcomb, 1860; J. H. Holcomb and T. R. Hugill, 1861 ; A. K. Young and C. W. Hill, 1862 ; C. W. Hill and J. W. Rewey, 1863 ; J. W. Rewey and E. G. Beckwith, 1864 ; E. Stephens and W. P. Durley, 1865; W. P. Durley and John Williams, 1866; A. K. Young and T. W. Smelker, 1867; T. W. Smelker, Henry Neills and P. D. Hendershott, 1868; H. Neihls, P. D. Hendershott and G. D. Streeter, 1869; H. Nehls, Thomas Gardner and S. J. Hutchins, 1870; T. R. Hugill, P. D. Hendershott and J. Alford, 1871 ; T. R. Hugill and Thomas Gardner, 1872; T. R. Hugill and J. H. Holcomb, 1873 ; James Dodge, Joseph Meinhardt and N. Bradbury, 1874 ; N. Bradbury and S. B. Spencer, 1875; John Cavanaugh, John T. Davidson and James Hammond, 1876 ; John Cavanaugh, J. L. Rewey and John P. Sampson, 1877; John Cavanaugh, J. L. Rewey and S. C. Stephens, 1878-79; J. L. Rewey, W. H. Bishop and E. J. Bentley, 1880 ; John Fawcett, E. J. Bentley and W. H. Bishop, 1881.

Sealer of Weights and Measures .- John N. Jones, 1850; Samuel Moore, 1855; Edwin McHoyt, 1860; A. J. McCarn, 1861-62; James Dodge, 1863; H. M. Gribble, 1864; F. R. Chase, 1865; A. J. McCarn, 1866-67 ; Samuel Stern, 1868; N. Messersmith, 1869 ; Thomas White, 1870; A. J. McCarn, 1871-72; J. H. Evans, 1873; no returns for 1874; E. H. Doscher, 1875; F. R. Chase, 1876, 1877 and 1878; E. H. Doscher, 1879.

Town Agent .- N. W. Bass, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877 and 1878.

CITY OF PLATTEVILLE.

The city of Platteville is situated in the heart of the lead mining region, surrounded by a beautiful and fertile agricultural country. The city is irregularly laid out, yet with considerable taste, though it bears the appearance, as is claimed by some writers on the subject, of having sprung up of its own accord. Its irregular character is accounted for in part by the fact that in early days it was a mining settlement, and in surveying the streets it was necessary to respect the rights of miners who owned mineral shafts on its present site, which were subsequently filled up.

MAKING THE VILLAGE.

In 1835, Maj. J. H. Rountree, to whom the present generation is indebted for the growth and prosperity that for a half a century has attended Grant County, Platteville Township and city, caused the survey of the southeastern portion of the present city. Thomas Hugill ran the lines and laid off nineteen lots. At the conclusion of his work, operations were suspended, to be resumed when the entire city was surveyed and platted, and lots became accessible to purchase.

At that day there were no improvements of any kind on the present site. The little cabin of Miles M. Vineyard occupied a limited portion on the slope south by east of where the Gates House now is, and the improvements made by Mr. Rountree on his farm. Richard Waller owned a cabin near Hawley's factory of to-day ; the Rountree furnace on Mineral street : the schoolhouse and church on Section 16 ; and miners' cabins located at large in the direction of the mill subsequently erected by N. H. Virgin and others, embraced the improvements made within sight of the prospective village. Upon the completion of the survey, Maj. Rountree put up a frame store at the corner where the post office now is, the lumber for which was obtained at McKee's mill in the southeast corner of Harrison Township. That fall a grocery was estab- lished on Grocery street by William Miller, whose stock in trade was made up of bibulous com- pounds. Robert Chapman erected a blacksmith-shop on the corner of Main and Oak streets, and one or two small cabins sprang up near the Branch. These were all the improvements

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

completed before winter. Among the citizens who were then or afterward became prominent, were Maj. Rountree, J. R. Vineyard, W. Vineyard, M. M. Vineyard, Samuel Moore, Henry Snowden, Richard Waller, Joseph Chalders, J. W. Woodcock, W. W. Barstow, Robert Chap- man, Irving O'Hara, William Martin, Thomas Lewis and John Wiley.

In this year occurred the first marriage celebrated in the future city, being that of George Rosemeyer and Fanny Jones, Maj. Rountree, in his capacity of Justice of the Peace, officiat- ing. There was no merry-making, the usual incident to modern weddings ; the happy couple took no note of such formalities, but subsided into practical life, without the attendant concomi- tants of wine, cake, etc.

The spring of 1836 was without features of importance; if there was any of more than passing consequence, they have escaped without having been placed on record. Early in the spring, Maj. Rountree built a hotel, the first in the town, on the corner opposite the post office, where it was known for many years as the " Blundell House," of which William Blundell was the landlord. It afterward became the Adams House, and, during the small-pox epidemic of 1843, was the scene of a number of fatal cases. The same season, James W. Woodcock opened a grocery on Grocery street; one or two log residences were located on Mineral street ; James Eastabrook made him a home on Market street; Samuel Mitchell came into the set- tlement and put up a frame house on Main street, where O. C. Griswold now lives ; the Rev. James Mitchell erected a residence on Main street, where John Grendell now resides ; and these constituted the buildings which found an abiding-place during this year.

John Barstow was the village carpenter; Samuel Moore and Robert Chapman, the village blacksmiths ; Drs. Locey and John Bevans diagnosed diseases and prescribed remedies ; the Rev. James Mitchell divided his time between commercial pursuits and preaching the Gospel, and is said to have been not only eloquent and persuasive, but capable of sustaining his position in arguments, to which the exciting times occasionally gave birth, when he was almost overwhelmingly convincing. On one occasion, the threat of a citizen to shoot him on sight was brought to his notice a short time before it was necessary for him to enter the pulpit. Thereupon he procured a pair of dueling pistols, and, placing them along side the cushion on the reading desk, promul- gated his knowledge of the fate reserved for his acceptance, and that he was prepared to join issue without unnecessary delay. There was a notable absence of lawyers up to this time, and for some years after. The inhabitants usually settled their disputes by arbitration or according to more effective modes of action. In the first place, they were, as a rule, composed of men who rarely failed to requite their promises and discharge their obligations. Theft was almost unknown, and refusals to abide by the terms of a contract were of exceptional infrequency. As illustrative of this, the following is related : During the forties, a citizenof the town, who was working a lead in the vicinity, failed to realize his hopes before his exchequer became exhausted, and, in a con- dition of mind pardonably discouraging, he visited the store of Samuel Moore, and related his grievances to the proprietor. The lead was there ; he knew it, and if he could obtain the means to enable him to prosecute his search to a finality, he would be richly rewarded.

" Well, what do you want ?" interrogated Mr. Moore.

"I want powder, fuse ; my tools are worn out, and my family is in want of necessaries," he replied.

" You can have them," responded Mr. Moore, and availing himself of the accommodation, resumed work. In about thirty days he " struck it big," and the first thing he did after mak- ing a sale was to liquidate the liability he had been permitted by Mr. Moore to undertake.

Nor was this all. Some months after, his benefactor was on the eve of visiting St. Louis to lay in his stock, when the successful miner called, and after inquiring as to his financial needs, insisted upon Mr. Moore's acceptance of a large sum of money, to be taken out in trade. Of such material was the early citizens of Platteville composed.

The supplies of groceries and edibles were then obtained at St. Louis ; those of dry goods and notions at New York. The former came by boat to Galena, thence overland to Platteville. The latter, however, were shipped to their destination via New Orleans, thence to St. Louis and home.

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

The amusements were of the most primitive and limited character, being made up of dances, sociables and card-playing ; and although the games of poker, seven-up and whist were never without patrons, gambling was as a rule rarely indulged. Occasionally a "sport " would put in an appearance, and hiring a saloon for a certain period, set up his game and gather in what he- was able to bet on faro, roulette and other ventures. But as stated, gambling was not of so uni- versal a character as in the mining regions elsewhere.

In the spring of 1837, the population of the future city was estimated at about 200, includ- ing women and children. The Methodist Church, on Main street, the first exclusively church edifice erected in the city, was commenced this season. Benjamin and Sanford Farmer built and opened a saloon this year on the corner of Main and Third streets ; Sylvester Gridley put up a store and residence on the present site of I. Hodges' bank, and these, with a few cabins and tents scattered about the city at long intervals, comprehended the list of improvements. During 1838- 39, the village seems to have progressed but indifferently. The hard times, failure of banks in Illinois, scarcity of money and other causes, combined to delay either emigration or the ex- pression of enterprise. But some came in and identified themselves with the town, and though the outlook was far from cheerful they remained, and, taking the tide of affairs at its ebb, rolled on to glory and fortune.

While material interests may have lagged, the same cannot be said of those relating to religious and educational affairs. Schools had been established, the academy had been incorporat- ed, and a subscription made for the erection of a building, and in these and some other respects a steady advance is said to have been witnessed. The early pioneers, though as a rule unedu- cated, evidenced a commendable interest in the cause of learning, and a determination to supply their descendants with that to which themselves had been comparative strangers. To the influ- ences exerted at this early day was the superior reputation of Platteville as an educational cen- ter to be attributed, for twenty-five years ago, it was known all over the State, and so pronounced was the reputation it had acquired in that behalf in 1866, that the city was made the point for the location of a State Normal School, which is now one of the most prominent and highly prized of the Normal Schools in the country.

The fall of 1838 is represented to have been unprecedentedly dry. In consequence of this steamboats found it extremely difficult to pass the rapids on the Mississippi River, and the inhabitants of Platteville could only obtain their supplies of coffee, whisky, sugar and tobacco at great cost. In the year, 1839, the Northern Badger, the first paper in the city, was estab- lished. The paper was a stock concern, and owed its origin to Maj. Rountree, who procured the press and type in St. Louis. In the following year the Academy was organized ; in 1842, A. M. Dixon was employed as principal at an annual compensation of $500, and he, it is said, gave the cause of education its first enthusiastic impulse. The first lawyer to settle profession- ally in Platteville came also in 1839. He was Wirom Knowlton, who was converted during the small-pox epidemic of 1843, and expecting to die caused his coffin to be made by one of the carpenters, and handsomely trimmed and stuffed, so that no delay might prevent the immediate interment of his remains. But he survived an attack of the disease, commanded a company during the Mexican war, and lived for many years, notwithstanding the premonitory admoni- tions which, as he supposed, enveloped him with the pustules. Of the remaining counselors, advocates and lawyers who flourished here in early days, B. C. Eastman, Lorenzo Bevans and George W. Lakin came in 1840; James M. Goodhue, afterward publisher of the Herald and St. Paul Pioneer, delayed his arrival until 1842, while S. O. Paine and C. K. Lord came still later. The early physicians, it may here be observed, were Drs. Bevans, Russell and Basye, of the regular school, and J. C. Campbell, who killed or cured with lobelia and steam.

Thus, practically, was the condition of affairs with the dawn of 1840. For the reasons cited, the growth of the city had been backward, and the improvements, both in point of num- bers and quality, were of the most limited and inexpensive character. Main street, as com- pared with its present prosperity, bore the appearance of desertion. True, buildings, or rather

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

cabins, lined that thoroughfare, but no more equaled the number or graceful attractions of those at present enrolled than an oleaginous Numidian is to be compared to the Phryne of Praxiteles.

Among the merchants who were present, prominent and prosperous at the beginning of this decade were O'Hara & Hopper, on Grocery street, the third door from the corner of Main ; J. S. and S. Bass, on Mineral street, opposite the City Park, Sylvester Gridley, where Hodges bank now is ; L. W. Link, French & Baker, and D. & N. Kendall, all on Grocery street. The Platteville Hotel was built this year by William Martin, and Dr. Deffenbacher's present resi- dence, corner of Mineral and Bonson street, materialized. But as already hinted, building was confined to very few undertakings. This rule prevailed also during the year 1841. Notwith- standing that the village was duly incorporated that year, and enjoyed the services of such dis- tinguished ministers as the Revs. James and Samuel Mitchell, B. T. Kavanagh, Rufus Spaulding and Elder Weed; the lawyers, doctors and merchants have already been mentioned, but it should not be omitted that Ezra Adams, John Bevans and French & Mitton kept hotels ; Messrs. C. K. Lord, Durley and Colter officiated as Justices of the Peace, while O'Hara & Hopper, Carson & Morrison, the Vineyards and David Seeley were smelters.

Among the residents of that day who have since become famous, was Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth, the authoress, who resided with her husband on Second street in the city. The couple had come into the country some months previous, but failing to secure a living, had been furnished with means by his relatives to return whence he came; but he was indisposed to do this, and with the fund subscribed to procure his departure, together with some further assist- ance from other sources, he established himself as a tinner in the old log schoolhouse. Success attended his efforts, when he moved on to Second street, invented a patent lamp, made consid- erable money, with which he removed to New York, where he deserted his wife, who had recourse to the "pen," and wrote "The Deserted Wife" and other tales, while he wandered amid the vine-clad hills and sunny vales of California. In time he returned to learn that she was "famous," wealthy, and a resident of Boston, which rejoiced his soul exceedingly (as he was impecunious) and hastening to her domicile he made overtures for a reconciliation, but this accom- plished no results, and he went back to California where he died.

In 1842, James and Samuel Moore, Isaac Hodges, E. Bayley and John Kemler were added to the commercial responsibilities of the town.

On the night of January 29, 1843, occurred the first fire which visited the village. Late in 1842, John H. Nichols, a resident of Southport, on Lake Michigan, consigned a stock of goods to Platteville, and opened a store in the frame house of Maj. Rountree, where the post office now is. George Laughton, still a resident of the city, was placed in charge and slept in the store. Between 1 and 2 o'clock on the morning in question, Mr. Laughton was aroused by the cry of fire, and narrowly escaped destruction with the premises. An examination into the causes of the conflagration, induced the belief that it was the work of an incendiary, and the indignation consequent upon this supposition created the most intense excitement. On the fol- lowing day a public meeting was convened in the village, at which resolutions condemnatory of the alleged act were adopted, and threats of lynching the supposedly guilty party indulged. This calamity was prevented, however, and the circumstance was, in time, lost sight of in the whirl of events.

This was a year of notable events. On February 4, James Paul, accompanied by a half- breed, made a trip to Ontonagon, a distance of 300 miles, over a comparatively trackless wilder- ness for the purpose of claiming what has since become celebrated in the history of the copper regions, as " Copper Rock," located in Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior. James R. Vineyard, James Hammonds and Grosevenor proceeded thither also, by the lake route, and the little company collected from Platteville held the fort until dispossessed of their possession by the United States forces, and for a valuable consideration.

The winter was remarkably prolonged and severe, succeeded by a spring both unprece- dented and alarming. It was changeable and complex as the variations of a kaleidescope. On the 22d of February, the mercury in the thermometer was frozen, and blizzard blasts ranged

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

over the prairies, down this street and then down that, tweaking noses and pulling ears, and completely paralyzing the business and other interests of the community. In April, the snow disappeared, and was succeeded by falls of rain and peals of thunder, the like of which had never been previously experienced. During one of these storms, a wedding party was overtaken on the ridge, near the present residence of Hanmer Robbins. Thinking to secure protection, the prospective bride and groom, with their guests, took refuge beneath the wagon, and nar- rowly escaped drowning. They succeeded in reaching the Platteville Hotel, however, where the services of a Justice were procured, the twain consolidated, and the storm was forgotten in the festivities which followed.

In those days " charivaris " were vouchsafed newly married men and women, which were provocative of emphatic profanity in some cases, and often taxed the patience of performers. The last of these happened about 1843 or 1844, when a Mr. Shinn was married to the sister of Dr. Clark. The bridal couple went to Dubuque on their wedding trip, and while absent ar- rangements were completed for greeting their return with a vociferous welcome. They man- aged to avoid the preliminaries concluded upon, and gain the bride's home by a back way, be- fore the minstrels were aware of their presence in the village. When this fact was brought to the knowledge of the artists engaged, they became furious, and proceeding to the residence of those immediately interested, where they set up such an orchestra of discordant arrangements that the entire town was attracted to the scene. But Shinn and the madame refused to be ad- monished by these hints, and laughed at the efforts of their persecutors. The latter determined to conquer, redoubled their efforts, and prolonged the contest until, at the expiration of a fort- night, the bride and groom admitted defeat, and paid for the price of their capitulation a gen- erous supper.

FIRST BRICK BUILDING.

In the summer of 1843, Maj. Rountree erected the first brick building in the village. The brick were molded and burned on the west side of the Lancaster road, a short distance from the town. The lime was manufactured in the vicinity, and the sand procured at Platte River. The building still stands, being now occupied in part by Mr. Wyne as a bookstore, and in part by the post office.

The Fourth of July was celebrated this year with impressive ceremonials, at the old acad- emy. George R. Laughton read the Declaration, and Jonathan M. Goodhue orated. The crowd was large, and the exercises rapturously applauded by all present except a lank, lean and hungry looking farmer named Fillebrown, who protested against the reader of the " Charter of American Liberties," because he was a Briton. But the protest was suppressed, and not al- lowed to diminish from the pleasures of the day, which were concluded with a picnic at Platte Mound.

SMALL-POX EPIDEMIC.

In December following, the small-pox broke out in the village, and, before the physicians were able to agree as to the exact nature of the malady, an epidemic succeeded. It was believed to have been imported hither from Milwaukee by a merchant of Platteville, whose clothing had become impregnated with the seeds of disease while in the former city. A son of James McKer- nan, who resided with his parents at the corner of Second and Mineral streets, was the first case, and died before remedies could be prescribed for his convalescence. Miles M. Vineyard was among the next cases, and he, too, died. He resided at the Platteville Hotel. and, after his death, the coffin was brought down stairs into the hall of that house, when Mrs. Vineyard, the widow, insisted it should be opened. This was done, nothwithstanding the protests of those present, and the virulence of the disease dates from this point, it is claimed.

During this period, the doctors in the village were debating the facts in the cases daily oc- curring, and, being divided in opinion, but little progress was made toward its treatment. Dexter Castle insisted that it was the unmistakable confluent small-pox ; Dr. Basye, that it was vario- loid ; Dr. Clark, that it was a new type of eruption, while Drs. Bevans and Campbell remained undecided in the premises. While they were discussing the facts, however, the disease spread

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

with discouraging rapidity and remediless violence. The city became panic-stricken, and to add to the gloom and distress which hung like palls above its prospects, was quarantined against by surrounding municipalities. At this point, the citizens convened, and, determining to take charge of affairs themselves, directed that all within the town limits should be vaccinated, and inaugu- rated other measures for the public welfare, including the appointment of a committee composed of A. S. Bennett, "Doc" Simmons, George R. Laughton, James McKernay and two others, whose names are forgotten. Their duties were to visit and care for the sick, bury the dead, etc., and were fortunate in discharging the same without becoming subjects for the physician or under- taker. The population of the village at that time was about five hundred, of whom two hundred and twenty-six were attacked, and of these eleven per cent, at least, fell victims ; whole families were swept off, and the survivors of the terrible experience recall its scenes with feelings of hor- ror. The epidemic prevailed during December, 1843, and January and February, 1844.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 104

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