History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 127

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 127

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"Another day some clabbered milk was given to the bear. Now Mackwa was very fond of clabber ; while he was eating, a little pig came to help him; he caught the pig in his paws. Mrs. Price heard the pig squeal and ran to the rescue, but it was too late. The squeels came fainter and fainter from poor piggy, till Mackwa, satisfied that the pig would do no harm, laid it down and went on with his clabber.

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

"Soon after the close of the war, an old Indian chief, War Eagle by name, came to see Maj. Price, bringing his grandson, a little four-year-old, with him. The chief soon made known by signs and broken English, that he wanted to sell the child, and the old man's price for his grandson was just two bottles of whisky. And he actually sold him to the Major for the whisky. " Wisconsin must have been colder then than now, for I have heard more than one pioneer say, that the coffee which would be spilled in the saucer would freeze hard before the family were through with breakfast, and with great blazing fires at that. People used fire-places, there were no stoves in the country then. Provisions were scarce forty years ago. They could only get sour flour and tainted pork, and had to pay $30 per barrel at that.

" Mrs. Price's sister was so afraid of Indians when she first came West, that she would fairly scream at first sight of one. But before the year passed, she often went into the country to spend the day, leaving the baby (the writer of this) in charge of an Indian woman, whom she well knew, would spend the day in all probability in a wigwam with her Indian friends. The presence of the soldiery at Prairie du Chien was needed for a long time, and, being acquainted with Maj. Price, were always invited to the latter's table whenever they chanced to be in Cassville. Upon one visit of this kind, Mrs. Price, having no girl, waited upon the table herself. One of the military gentlemen, being young, good- looking and vain, endeavored to make the acquaintance of the pretty waiter girl, and in order to further his desires, displayed a splendid gold ring which he wore, in as conspicuous a manner as possible behind his chair whenever the ci devant waiter girl passed near him. For- tunately for his equanimity, he never found out that the lady to whom he displayed his egotism and ring was Mrs. Price herself. At another time, a fine-looking officer called to see Maj. Price. Mrs. Price, again having no hired help, was busily engaged scrubbing her kitchen. The officer knocked at the door and asked if the Major was at home. He was not, and so the gentleman was informed. 'Is Mrs. Price at home ?' was the next question. Not wishing to be known, as she was looking so badly, the instant reply was, 'No. sir.'

"' Well, what may your name be ?' was the next remark.

"' Peggy, sir.'

"' Well, Peggy, you are a deuced nice girl, anyway.'

" The officer walked out, but soon returned to make more minute inquiries, and by way of recompensing Peggy for hindering the scrubbing, offered her a kiss and a large apple. She declined the kiss but accepted the apple. Frequently during her husband's absence, Mrs. Price was obliged to run into the store (which stood close to the dwelling-house), by the back door, to wait on some rustic neighbor who could not wait till the Major's return. She was called to open the store a few moments after the officer stepped out. Among others, the officer lounged into the store. Directly a neighbor came in and said, 'Good morning, Mrs. Price, I would like to get some nails.'

" Mrs. Price's face turned scarlet. The officer looked at her a moment, and then went to her and asked her why she called herself Peggy. She told him it was because she was looking so badly. Every apology was made that could be, she readily excusing him, declaring that she ought not to have misled him.

" This same pioneer aunt is an old lady now. She is living in Missouri. She went there four years prior to the breaking-out of the rebellion, and as a matter of course, passed through trials at the time of the war. Being a strong Union woman, she often had trouble with the rebels, but she stood firm and came out all right. Hers has been a life filled with stirring events ; a true pioneer life. May peace and quiet crown her declining years, and blessings be in store for her for the untold good she has done for many poor suffering ones."

Among those who came about this time were Col. Landers, Mr. Rich Ray and William W. Weyman. Ray had entered or pre-empted the southwest quarter of Section 20. Col. Landers had a claim at the mouth of the hollow. Maj. Price, after his coming had pre-empted and entered Section 29. The most of the above-named had gone away by 1836, which date marked the first " boom " felt by Cassville. As has been stated elsewhere, Southwestern Wisconsin

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

had, at this time, " great expectations" in regard to securing the capital of the territory within its borders, making each little burg for the time being a center of interest and a prominent factor in the solution of the new problem. Added to this was an era of speculation the like of which has not since, nor is it likely ever will be, seen in this country. Under these circumstances, a partnership or company organization was formed between several Albany and New York gentle- men, who purchased the Ray and Price pre-emptions, with the exception of three lots reserved by the latter where his store and dwelling stood, and commenced the village of Cassville.

Prominent in the plans of improvement was the crection of a mammoth hotel, which the proprietors fondly hoped would shortly furnish quarters to numerous honorables and all the hangers-on and officials which usually do congregate in State and Territorial capitals such as it was then expected Cassville soon would be. Under these circumstance, the Denniston House was commenced in the spring of 1836. It was located upon what was known as the Price pre- emption, the Ray pre-emption being at that time in litigation. But few buildings stood at time upon the site of the present village. Opposite the present residence of Dr. Cronin stood a tav- ern erected years before, and at this time kept by Capt. Estes and Capt. Reed. This, with the buildings of Maj. Price and a few other log cabins used for different purposes, were the only signs of a town then showing up. The new building was pushed forward during the year. By the next year the wing had been completed, and the main part well advanced. Cassville had, however, failed to secure either territorial or county honors, and following upon this came the panic of 1837, which for many years paralyzed the industries of the country, and put an effect- ual stop to all improvement. The property afterward became the bone of much contention between the proprietors, which effectually prevented any settlement in the new town. In 1838, Mr. Luther Basford erected a dwelling in the town followed shortly by others. Among the early experiences in the young town, Mr. Basford relates the following: "The only law we had in those days (1830-37) was that dispensed by Judge Lynch's court. While at work upon the hotel, a discharged soldier was employed to cook for the company's hands. One evening it was discovered that some clothing, together with a razor, had been stolen from one of the men. Suspicion fell upon the cook, and a committee was appointed to examine his effects, the result being a confirmation of the suspicions by a discovery of the stolen goods. A court was organ- ized, the man furnished with counsel, and a fair trial was given him. After hearing all the evi- ' dence in the case, the jury pronounced the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to receive twelve lashes on the bare back, the lashes to be laid on by the man owning the property stolen. After receiving his punishment, the fellow was ordered to leave town, which hint he was not slow in taking, and that was the last we ever saw of him. Another case came up soon after, where we had the satisfaction of meeting out justice to a different kind of an offender. This. man was a drunken, worthless scamp who lived upon his wife's earnings, and pursued a system- atic course of brutality toward her. One Sunday evening we were startled by cries of ' Murder !" proceeding from the cabin occupied by them. Upon reaching the house, we found the fellow engaged in beating his wife in a brutal manner. We did not stop to inquire further, but took the ruffian out, thrust a rail between his legs, and treated him to a free ride about town. Hav- ing punished him in this manner for a time, we then took him to the Furnace Branch, which was covered with a thin coating of ice, and ' dipped ' him several times, after which it was sug- gested that his room was better than his company, and if he had any regard for his health he would get out of town as soon as possible, and not again return under a promise of a repetition of the same treatment with'variations. He left and that was the last we ever saw of him."

Among those who erected cabins about the same time as Mr. Basford, were Messrs. Man- ahan and McNamee. A few others came in, increasing the list slowly, but a blight seemed to. have settled over the place ; the streets became filled with dog-fennel instead of being worn by the feet of tradesmen and customers. Says one early settler: "In 1842, the only path in the place was from Richard Hamer's store to his house." A new era soon opened up, and the next year a change for the better was noticable. A correspondent of the Grunt County Herald, speaking this year (1843) of Cassville and its prospects past, present and future, says :

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

"Cassville owes its existence to the stirring enterprise and memorable folly of 1836. It is situated in Section 20, Township 3 north, of Range 5 west, upon the bank of the Missis- sippi, upon a point entirely free from islands, and upon the margin of a beautiful plain nearly half a mile in width, and bordering the river for miles. This plain, which rises just sufficiently above the river to afford the utmost facilities of a landing, and be at the same time forever guarded against the possibilities of inundation, appears to the eye a perfect flat, but in reality rises to a very considerable, though an extremely uniform grade. The plain is terminated with a bluff of singular variety and beauty. Considered vertically, it presents three sections en- tirely different from each other, and remarkable for the extent to which this difference is pre- served. The first section, rising to an angle of about fifty degrees, and to a height of seventy or eighty, is entirely grass-covered and appears from the town a surface of almost exact uni- formity. The next is a belt of rock forty or fifty feet in width, varying only from a perpendic- ular elevation by a gradual falling back of the successive strata. The last section, which varies from fifty to one hundred and twenty-five feet in height, makes up a community of scenery at once noble and enchanting. Connect this scenery with the broad unruffled river, the bright foliage with which the extensive bottom bordering its opposite shore, is covered, all richly and harmoniously blended, and we have before us a site over which no point upon the Mississippi is at liberty to boast.

".The village commenced in 1836, declined in 1837, and was nearly deserted in 1838. It has revived this year, and is now speedily and steadily filling up, already numbering a popula- tion of 125. The town comprises twenty-five good dwelling-houses, and several stores and offices, exclusive of a building erected by the proprietors of the town, and by them designed for a place of entertainment. The dimensions of the wing of this mansion, composed of wood, are 26x60, three stories in height. The main building, of brick, is 50x55, five stories high, its. stateliness comporting well with the grand scenery about."

Notwithstanding the confident tone of the above, the growth of the town was very slow from this time forward until 1855. The wildness of the country about gave rise to numerous adventures with the wild-eyed denizens of the forest, one of which is thus related by Mr. Daniel R. Burt, one of the early pioneers: "I often had occasion," says Mr. Burt, "to pass from one settlement to another, frequently in the night, and on such occasions it was not unus- ual to have the company of several wolves. When on horseback, armed with a pistol and club, it was not difficult to keep them at a proper distance, but when on foot and alone, with no fire- arms, they were not pleasant companions, as I can attest from an experience in the winter of 1838. At that time the snow was about eighteen inches deep, having a sleet crust over it of sufficient strength to bear the weight of a man. I happened to be at McCartney's, near Cass- ville, and pressing business with a man by the name of Thompson, residing not far from the present village of Patch Grove, forced me to travel over the intervening distance late in the winter's day. It was in fact about dusk when I commenced my journey, and I had not trav- eled over two miles before I came upon two large gray wolves, that appeared more fond of my company than I was of theirs. They continued to follow me, keeping from fifteen to twenty yards in my rear, with no signs of withdrawing. I unfortunately had no fire-arms, my only weapons being a dirk-knife with a five-inch blade, and a stout stick. These I carried ready for instant service, and thus we traveled over the hard white crust, the wolves keeping about the distance named above. Occasionally I would turn on them with my knife and club and a yell that would not have disgraced a Sioux Indian, when they would retreat for a short distance, but as soon as I turned they would turn also, and again follow me. At times, however, when I passed over inclinations so great that I could not keep my feet, these white-teethed howlers would rush up on me, sometimes coming within five or six yards before I could regain my foot- ing. when they would again retreat. I took pains after one or two experiences of this kind, to avoid ground of this nature, although it carried me somewhat from my course. I found, much to my pleasure that my repeated assaults was telling on my adversaries, and as discovered they were losing courage I regained mine and turned on them the more frequently. After having

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

followed me a distance of some seven miles, they gradually allowed the distance between us to increase until finally we parted company for good, much to my relief, and I reached my desti- nation without further annoyance. The honor of a repetition of an escort of this kind was never coveted. Having passed the greater portion of my life upon the frontier, I have always regarded this as the most thrilling of my experiences."

The town continued to lay under the ban of litigation until the year 1856, when the " Brunson interest " was purchased by ex-Gov. Dewey, who proceeded with customary energy to build up the stagnant village. A correspondent, writing of the rapid progress made this and the succeeding years, said : "Until July, 1855, no title could be secured to town lots, and all building improvements were hardly contemplated until after that time. The amount of money expended on improvements during the last year is not a small item for a town no larger than this. In the course of the past fifteen months, we have expended $65,000." Another writer at a later date, says : "The population in May, 1855, was 149. In December, 1856, it was 421. The original cost of the Denniston House was $45,000. Gov. Dewey put on it $15,000. In 1856, the town had three stores, three hotels, three saloons, three black- smith-shops, one. wagon-shop, two cooper-shops, two shoe-shops, and two tailor-shops, one hardware store, one cabinet-shop, and several carpenter and joiner shops. About $6.000 has been expended upon the levee. In 1858, the population numbered over 600. The township was quite large, polling 330 votes. There were three mercantile firms doing a busi- ness of $200,000 annually, three large warehouses, a smelting furnace, a steam saw-mill, cutting at the rate of 10,000 feet per day, a brewery, and fifty other buildings. But one church, (Catholic, built early that year), and two hotels besides the Denniston."

From this period on, the growth of the village has been steady, though at times, quite slow. It is a favorite shipping point for a large section, and at present contains two excellent general merchandise stores, and four others of lesser capacity, four blacksmith and wagon shops, two tailor-shops, one bakery, one saddler's shop, two milliner's shops, five saloons, one furni- ture-shop, one hardware store, two boot and shoe stores, besides a steam saw-mill. For many years Cassville included among its business institutions a brewery, but lately this has not been operated. The health of the village is cared for by two physicians, both of the old school style of practice. The first man of medicine to locate in the town, when in its infancy, was Dr. Hull, who afterward removed to Potosi, where he died.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

Catholic Church .- This church was erected early in 1858, services, previous to its erection, being held in the schoolhouse. The building was not fully completed until a later date. The first priest in charge of the parish was Father Powers. Upon his retirement, Father Zuiber fol- lowed as priest in charge. In 1872, owing to the long distance many of the members had to come to attend divine worship, a division movement was inaugurated, which resulted in a church being built on " the ridge," in that year. The year following, the congregation divided, those living near the newly-built church attending divine worship thereafter at that place. The pres- ent Pastor of the church at Cassville is the Rev. Father Gardhaus.

Baptist Church .- December 1, 1875, the first organization of the present Baptist Church was effected. The original members were Mr. D. B. Stevens, Mrs. D. B. Stevens, Mrs. M. Stevens, Mrs. Pugh, Mrs. Anton Engels, Mr. F. W. Bartlett, Miss Alice Cannon, Miss Annie Crouch, Miss Lucy Bishell. The first officers elected were : Deacon, D. B. Stevens ; Clerk, F. W. Bartlett ; Treasurer, D. B. Stevens. From the date of organization up to 1880, the Sabbath services were held in the basement rooms of the Denniston House. In the above year, work was commenced upon the present church edifice, a plain but neat building of red brick. Operations were carried rapidly forward, and October 2 and 3, 1880, the dedication ceremonies took place. The first Pastor was the Rev. Stevens, of Bloomington, who served as such until the fall of 1880. The present Pastor is the Rev. William Clack, of Prairie du Chien, who divides his time between that charge and Cassville.

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

The officiary at present is as follows : Pastor, Rev. William Clack ; Trustees, Nelson Dewey, Samuel Okey, D. B. Stevens, F. W. Bartlett, Anton Engels ; Deacon, D. B. Stevens.

Educational .- The first schoolhouse was built on Section 16 previous to 1836. It was built of logs after the style of these earlier institutions of learning. Split " puncheons" formed the floor, the ragged edges of which left full many a crack through which the summer breezes could whistle. The first teacher whose name still lingers in the hearts of the earlier settlers is Miss Elizabeth Walker. To this lady there happened during her occupancy of the rude educational throne an experience at once startling and nearly fatal. Through one of the numerous cracks in the puncheon floor Miss Walker dropped her thimble. Stretching down her hand to recover it, she was suddenly bitten twice by a rattlesnake. Realizing at once her danger, she started for the village, where medical treatment was at once brought into requisition, with the result that the lady's life was saved. Not caring for any further incidents of this kind, the floor was torn up by the settlers, and the venomous reptile killed in his hiding-place. School was also held in the " Council House," a building erected by the company for town purposes previous to the build- ing of the "Yellow Schoolhouse " in 1845. This building, which stood one block north of the Denniston House, served for many years as the guiding road to the mysteries of hidden learning. In 1860, the village had outgrown this modest structure, and the main portion of the present building was erected. This in turn was found too cramped quarters for the fast-coming youngsters, and some years later an addition was bullt, which, when completed, furnished Cass- ville with one of the finest school buildings in the county. Three teachers are at present employed, the Principal being Mr. Knapp.

TOWN ORGANIZATION.

Cassville was organized as a town in 1849, it being one of the original towns of the county. It at that time embraced, besides its present limits, the town of Glen Haven. In 1859, it was divided. the present town of Glen Haven being set off as a new town, leaving Cassville's bound- aries as at present defined. The first town-meeting was held at the Cassville House, on Tues- day, May 3, 1849. J. M. Scott was elected Chairman, and E. H. Gleason, Secretary. On motion, the Chair appointed a committee of five, namely, Oris McCartney, I. C. Lander, E. H. Gleason, Luther Basford, and A. D. Ramsey, to make nominations for the several town offices, who, after being out a short time, selected a list of officers to be voted for. James M. Scott, Lewis Reynolds, and J. McDonald, were appointed Inspectors ; and E. H. Gleason, with H. G. Patrick, Clerks. Below is given a list of town officers from this date up to the present time :

1849-Supervisors, Orris McCartney, Chairman, M. K. Young, John Dodge ; Clerk, G. M. Price ; Treasurer, C. A. La Grave ; Superintendent of Schools, William Pollock ; Assessor, A. D. Ramsey ; Justices of the Peace, C. L. La Grave, I. C. Lander, James M. Scott, G. M. Price ; Constables, William Winney, Samuel Winsor, Samuel Becket, J. M. Castner.

1850-Supervisors, L. Basford, Chairman, J. Dodge, C. L. La Grave ; Clerk, G. M. Price ; Treasurer, James M. Scott ; Assessor, S. Higgins ; Superintendent of Schools, J. Dodge; Justices of the Peace, G. M. Price, H. H. Ray ; Constables, Charles Wamsley, W. Pollock, J. Scott, W. J. Winney.

1851-Supervisors, C. A. La Grave, Chairman, L. S. Reynolds, T. C. Scott ; Clerk, A. A. Bennett ; Treasurer, James M. Scott ; Assessor, Orris McCartney ; Superintendent of Schools, M. K. Young ; Justices of the Peace, C. A. La Grave, H. Catlin (E. Kidd, to fill vacancy) ; Constables, Charles Wamsley, S. Winsor, W. J. Winney.

1852-Supervisors, Thomas C. Scott, Chairman, L. S. Reynolds, Thomas Rogers ; Clerk, A. A. Bennett ; Treasurer, L. Basford ; Assessor, Orris McCartney ; Superintendent of Schools, M. K. Young ; Justices of the Peace, William Curtis, H. B. Goodman (A. A. Ben- nett, to fill vacancy) ; Constables, Charles Wamsley, W. Winney, William Frashier.

1853-Supervisors, John D. Harp, Chairman, W. M. Scott, Thomas Rogers ; Clerk, A. A. Bennett ; Treasurer, L. Basford ; Assessor, Orris McCartney ; Justices of the Peace, C. L.

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

La Grave, L. S. Reynolds, A. A. Bennett ; Constables, J. H. Crawford, W. J. Winney. Charles Wamsley.

1854-Supervisors, John D. Harp, Chairman, M. M. Scott, D. Tarter ; Clerk, A. A. Bennett ; Treasurer, L. Basford ; Assessor, Orris McCartney ; Superintendent of Schools, Douglas Oliver ; Justices of the Peace, J. D. Harp, Orris McCartney ; Constables, W. J. Winney, C. Wamsley.

1855-Supervisors, J. D. Harp. Chairman, D. Tarter, W. J. Winney ; Clerk, William Curtis ; Treasurer, N. Goodenough ; Assessor, M. M. Scott ; Superintendent of Schools, A. A. Bennett ; Justices of the Peace, C. L. La Grave, A. A. Bennett ; Constables, M. Metcalf, J. Browning, W. J. Winney.

1856-Supervisors, John D. Harp, Chairman, W. J. Winney, Henry Burgess ; Clerk, William Curtis ; Treasurer, N. Goodenough ; Assessor, Orris McCartney ; Superintendent of Schools, M. K. Young ; Justices of the Peace, J. D. Harp, Orris McCartney (J. H. C. Sneclode, to fill vacancy) ; Constables, M. Metcalf, T. C. Sovereign.

1857-Supervisors, William P. Dewey, Chairman, Henry Burgess, Mat. Metcalf ; Clerk, R. Thomas ; Treasurer, William Curtis; Assessor, John Coombs ; Superintendent of Schools, M. K. Young ; Justices of the Peace, William P. Dewey, A. A. Bennett (H. Burgess, to fill vacancy) ; Constables, M. Metcalf, H. W. Palmer, William Clement.

1858-Supervisors, William P. Dewey, Chairman, Henry Burgess, E. A. Kidd; Clerk, L. S. Mason; Treasurer, W. Curtis ; Assessor, John D. Harp; Superintendent of Schools, L. S. Mason, Justices of the Peace, J. D. Harp, Henry Burgess; Constables, W. A. Brenner, Mat. Metcalf, William Clement.

1859-Supervisors, John D. Harp, Chairman, W. J. Winney, L. M. Okey; Clerk, L. S. Mason (remainder of record missing).

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 127

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