History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 98

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 98

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

A strong wave of immigration set in this year toward Lancaster and its surrounding coun- try, which more than compensated for the gold worshipers who left for the gleaming sands of California. Mr. T. M. Barber having finished his new brick store (the same now occupied by Ivey & Webb), moved in a stock of goods in the early part of the year and opened the " Ready- pay Store." John M. Otis also moved his stock back to the old brick store on the corner. Kendall & Parker still continued to occupy their old stand, the latter attending besides to the duties connected with the Postmastership ; and in June Dr. Wood moved his stock of drugs into a building one door east of the above firm. The Herald, in the same month, noticing the posi- tion and advantages of the village, called attention to the fact they had " no shoemaker," " with an added hint that a mechanic of that kind would have a paying monopoly. The hint was taken, and the following month P. Darcey announced himself as prepared to furnish soles to such as stood in need thereof; his shop stood just beyond "the saloon." Among other changes this

646

HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

year, William McAuley took the "Grant County House," Charles Blanford started in business as a blacksmith opposite the Telegraph House, and John M. Coombs opened a gunshop on Cherry street, south of the " Grant County House."

In November, the much-wished-for but hardly expected telegraph line was put in running order and an office opened, with Jo Barnett as operator .. This office was located in the Tele- graph House, and the line was continued in operation until the following year when it succumbed to a lack of business ; assessments became too heavy and dividends too light, and Lancaster was again without communication with the outside world. A history of this line, however, is given else- where.

If the year 1850 was to be given a distinctive appellation, it would be "the year of cas- ualties." The earlier part, however, gave no sign of the events that were to mark the later part of the season. During the spring, the wants of the ladies of Lancaster were recognized, by the opening of a millinery store by Mrs. Rynerson.

A slightly increased outflow toward the Western Slope was noticeable, as the fever of spec- ulation increased in height, giving premonition of the greater outpouring that was to come.

In June that much-dreaded disease, the small-pox, made its appearance in the county, causing a feeling of apprehension at Lancaster ; but the village happily passed by the outskirts of the danger, no cases appearing within its confines. During this same month, the Wisconsin House passed into the hands of Myron Tuttle. A new addition was made to Lancaster's indus- tries by the opening of a carriage and wagon manufactory by Charles Ashley. John M. Otis left for Wyoming during the summer, and later in the year, Kendall & Parker having dissolved partnership, Dwight Parker, in November, removed his stock to the store formerly occupied by Otis, on the corner of Maple and Madison streets.

The yield of grain and farm produce this year had been most abundant, when rumors-at first whispered with bated breath, then repeated in a louder key-told of the approach of that ravaging monster, cholera, whose ghostly feet were swiftly covering the distance that intervened between his stronghold at the South and the new country lying further up along the " Father of Waters." Towns in nearly every section were being depopulated, the inhabitants fleeing in every direction to escape the chill fingers of the fierce monster. Lancaster, after taking all the precautions possible, silently, and almost breathlessly, awaited the verdict which at length came, and the village was safe-for this year at least. During the month of August, a heavy thunder- storm passed over the town and seriously damaged one or two buildings. A shaft of lightning struck the spire of the Baptist Church, and. passing down through and on the timbers, reached a ladder which had been left against the building, and then followed this to the ground. The steeple was badly shattered, and many panes of glass broken in the building. The residence of Dr. Roberts, corner of Adams and Cherry streets, was also touched by the erratic and destruc- tive fluid. Mrs. Roberts was alone with her children at the time, but fortunately they escaped unhurt, the building itself being but little injured. In December, the Grant County House passed into the hands of Reuben Thomas.

Among the early sports of the new country, which at times afforded much amusement, was bear and dog fights. The modus operandi of the affair was to chain bruin to a stout post with a chain a few rods in length, and then gather in all the dogs possible, when the performance would at once begin. The victory, however, was invariably with bruin, as one cuff from his unwieldly paw was generally enough for the fiercest canine, who thereafter was only too glad to keep out of reach of the muscular boxer. The entertainment continued so long as dogs could be found to continue the show. A performance of this kind was advertised for Christmas Day of this year, and resulted as usual, after which followed the inevitable resort to the hotel bar for liquid refreshment, but, in the language of one of the early settlers, "the whisky was better then than now," and only the best of humor was the result of these bacchanalian revivals.

Notwithstanding the fact that Lancaster, with other towns of the county, was beginning to suffer considerably from the constantly increasing exodus to California, quite a little advance- ment was made during the year 1851. The Methodist and Congregational denominations com-

647

HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

menced the erection of places of worship, both of which were dedicated before the close of the year, although the Congregational Church was not completed until later. In addition to this, the Baptist Church was completed, it having remained in an unfinished state up to this time. Among the business changes was the association of Mr. John Alcorn as a partner of T. M. Bar- ber in the "Ready-Pay Store," while early in the year Mr. R. H. Finkland had opened a cabinet-shop north of the court house. As soon as the weather would admit, the usual spring emigration to California commenced. T. M. Barber, J. B. Callis, Robert Allenworth and Wells Huston, with a number of others from the surrounding country, started on the six months' trip that was to land them in the region of the glittering phantom.

Heavy storms prevailed during the month of June; the house of J. R. Shipley was struck by lightning, and so heavy were the rains at times, that "every street had a mill privilege on it.". During the summer, F. P. Liscum & Co. commenced a general merchandise business in the store formerly occupied by N. W. Kendall. In the month of October, the Wisconsin House passed into the hands of Myron W. Wood, who retained it for many years. Two subjects made their appearance this year that continued to exert a disturbing influence upon Lancaster thought and aspirations, at intervals, for many years after. The first of these was the division of the county, which excited a somewhat bitter debate, but ended in smoke. The second, which became a chronic disease in this section, was the railroad fever that raged with much severity during the latter part of the year. Nothing, however, came of it, as has been noted in another portion of this work, and the year closed leaving Lancaster in much the same position as at its opening. aside from the few public buildings noticed above.

The year 1852 witnessed the height of the California fever. As early as January, Charles Ashley commenced advertising teams to take passengers through to the Western Slope for $125. The inflated stories of the untold wealth only awaiting the coming of the adventurer to yield itself a willing captive to his pick and shovel, were doing their work; farms were disposed of by the frantic enthusiasts; in other cases, mortgaged, in order to furnish their owners with means to reach the wonderful El Dorado. Monday and Tuesday, April 12 and 13, was the day set for the departure of the emigrants, and about fifty persons gathered in the streets of the vil- lage to embark in the long voyage. They were accompanied by their friends, and amid the cheers of the crowd, they weighed anchor and set sail, some to remain in the land of promise, a few to secure that wealth so bountifully promised, the majority to wander back by twos and threes, to again take up the old life where they had dropped it for the delusive yellow demon. The wolves had become so troublesome of late years, notwithstanding the settlement of the country, that the settlers found it necessary to organize hunts for the purpose of exterminating these pests; so bold had they become, that it was no uncommon sight to witness two or three of these long-legged denizens of the forest come quietly down the hill to the east of town-now covered with dwellings-and, after refreshing themselves at the " big spring," and performing a duett or trio, as the case might be, for the benefit of the citizens of the village, saunter back to their bushy retreat. And still the tide of emigration continued to ebb and flow. The Herald of May 19, took occasion to say, editorially, that "In the last week or two we notice a good many strange faces about Lancaster. A shoemaker, blacksmith and wagon-maker have just set up in business. Boss carpenters are equal to the demand-in their own opinion-but a few more ought to come in for sake of competition." The want, at this time, appeared to be a tailor, barber, chairmaker and saddler. In this month, another fire occurred in the village, the burned building being a barn belonging to Gov. Dewey; the cause of the fire was unknown. Notwithstanding the fact that the attention of Grant County settlers was being turned more and more to the tilling of the soil, it is noted that "more than 2,000 barrels of flour had been brought to Potosi from other States within the year, to feed the people of Grant County." During the latter part of the year, the returning tide of lucky and disappointed gold-seekers began to show itself in occasional arrivals, and by this time many had come in looking for homes, giving the town quite a motley appearance. In July, Dr. Ladd, Prof. Sweet, C. C. Childs and J. L. Pickard met at the Methodist Church and organized forty teachers into a

643

HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

"Normal school" for instruction in teaching; corresponding to the teachers' institutes held at the present day, during the summer; Lancaster High School was also started through the efforts of some of the leading citizens. Guyler K. Thomas added another to the list of Lancaster business houses, by opening a hardware store on the south side of Maple street, just east of the Herald office. That journal, later in the year, commenting on the business of the town, informs all whom it may concern: "We want a drug store in the village. A room can now be had, and the opening is excellent for drugs, paints, dyes and notions." Early in the winter, Lancaster was visited with the small-pox, but through energetic measures at once taken to stamp it out, it made but little progress, and the alarm felt at the first reports speedily subsided.

An inventory of the business houses of Lancaster, in 1853, would have shown the following : Dwight T. Parker, who occupied a store on the site at present occupied by Howe & Baxter ; Alcorn & Barber, in the brick store now occupied by Ivey & Webb; G. Maiben, in the build- ing now used by John P. Lewis; T. P. Liscum & Co., who occupied a frame building standing about where the store of William Baxter now stands. The hotels were four in number-Ban- fill's, located on. the present site of the Phelps House; the Lancaster House, at that time com- prising the north portion of the present building; the Mansion House, and the Wisconsin House, kept by Myron W. Wood, which building is now occupied by Mr. McCoy as a residence. These, with the log building on the corner of Madison and Maple streets, used as an office by Barber & Lowry, the small frame building standing on the present site of Johnson's brick, and used by the Herald as an office, together with some twenty or thirty frame and log structures used as residences, comprised the village of Lancaster as it was at this time. During the year T. M. Barber sold out his interest in the Ready-Pay Store to Mr. Benner, and he in turn dis- posed of it to Mr. Alcorn, leaving the latter as sole proprietor.

During the month of September, the neighborhood to the west of the village was intensely excited over the reported loss of a little three-year-old daughter of Mr. Bark. When last seen she had been seen playing around an open well, and fears were at first entertained that she had fallen into it, but as search developed the fact that this surmise was untrue, the male inhabitants of the neighborhood turned out en masse to search for the lost child. After a two days' search she was found sitting in the shade of a tree on a high bluff, only a half mile from the house. The population of Lancaster Township at this time was, according to the Herald, " about one thousand, one-third of that number being residents of the village." The principal wants at this time were " a drug store and a saddler shop."

The next year, 1854,-shows no incidents especially noticeable. The tide of emigra- tion had been stopped and had already begun to return upon itself. The citizens of the village had begun to awake the necessity of seeing that Lancaster was well supplied with workers in every kind of industry, which induced the Herald to say in its issue of June 26 : "The country demands all branches of trade to be kept well supplied so they can give all their patronage to Lancaster, or else go elsewhere. It is one of the best locations in the State for a cooper ; there are several merchant mills within reasonable bounds ; also plenty of walnut, cherry, maple and pine lumber for building, as well as blue limestone. Brick within one mile of town." " For the working of this lumber product there were at that time two saw- mills within the town limits. The year witnessed a second small-pox scare, which for a time stagnated trade and created somewhat of a panic in the village ; but, happily, it yielded to the energetic treat- ment meted out to it. Several deaths occurred from the loathsome disease, but at no time did it approach an epidemic. During the month of June the dread cholera fiend had again made its appearance, and the two first cases proved fatal ; other cases made their appearance afterward. The excitement was intense ; the streets of the village were deserted, so great was the fear of this fearful scourge felt by the inhabitants of the surrounding country ; eight or ten deaths occurred in rapid succession. The only physician of the town was prostrated under the burden of care and work. When everything seemed so dark, succor and relief arrived through the action of two public-spirited citizens-Judge McGonigal and J. Allen Barber. The former had been through the cholera season of 1850 at Wingville, and became aware of the potent influ-

LANCASTER.

651

HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

ence of certain remedies in coercing the cholera demon into silence. Starting at the first house they met in which the dread disease was working its fearful work, they rolled up their sleeves and commenced operations. Right manfully did they contest the possession of the young life with the demon, and at length were granted the happiness of knowing that their efforts were not in vain ; the regime of king cholera was broken, others coming to their assistance as nurses. This Spartan band continued their labors without abatement until the plague was stayed, and the village could once more breathe freely.

Among new-comers in business were George Ryland & Co., who opened a store of general merchandise in the post-office building, north of the court house. The first-named member of this firm had arrived in Lancaster some time before. S. Hyde & Co. also started a blacksmith- ing establishment in the latter part of the year.

The year 1855 marked many improvements in the village, and showed it had about recov- ered from the set-back caused by the western exodus some years before. Early in January the contract for building a new schoolhouse was let to Thomas Walker for $2,375, the building to be of brick and two stories high. In the same month, James Black started in business in the old " Telegraph House." Heretofore much trouble had been experienced in securing land in the village and immediately adjoining. The Herald, commenting on this early in the year, said : "Soon after Lancaster was made a county seat, speculators entered all the good lands in the vicinity, and held them at prices beyond the reach of the incoming emigrants. In 1854, they became alarmed and sold at from $4 to $10 per acre. In 1855, all lands in the vicinity are owned by actual residents. This spirit of speculation," adds the Herald, "left Lancaster behind in mercantile and business interests, and it must take some time to come up. Last year many wanted to build in Lancaster as well as in the vicinity, but it was impossible to procure material and workmen, hence it was deferred to another season. It is to be regretted that this prospective demand for building was not seen as clearly a year or two ago as at present, as then Lancaster would be in a fair way to add to her population and wealth fourfold by next fall."

In May, F. P. Liscum resigned the Postmastership, and G. W. Ryland was appointed in his place. Many new business firms are announced this year, among them that of Messrs. Howe & Baxter, who purchased Alcorn's store, enlarged the stock and commenced business in July. During the preceding month a movement had been made looking to the organization of a stock company with a capital of $8,000, to build a steam mill in Lancaster.

The population of Lancaster June 1, this year, was 275 families; 846 white males, 768 white females, 6 colored males, 2 colored females, 2 insane (females), 86 bachelors, and 364 persons of foreign birth. Total population 1,614 white and 8 colored-1,622 in all. "This," it is added, "does not include those who board in families." In August, Colter & Bradshaw opened the much-needed drug store, and the succeeding month J. B. Callis and John Pepper commenced a general merchandise business in the store occupied in early times by T. M. Bar- ber, on the corner of Monroe and Madison streets. Among the improvements mentioned this year was a residence erected by Judge Colter, a store erected by Dwight Parker, and a large warehouse put up by Mr. Ryland. In December, Daniel Banfill sold the Mansion House to L. A. Hyde, who had lately arrived from Vermont, and who remained proprietor of this famous hostelry until his death. The high rate at which property was held around the court house caused the town "to move down toward Judge Colter's spring," the business center at this time being in the neighborhood of the newly erected Methodist Church. The emigration had con- sisted this year principally of men with families, who came looking for homes, although the greater part of this emigration went to the country around rather than remaining in the village itself.

The year 1856 was in the main a repetition of the preceding year. In February, a destruc- tive fire occurred, by which the store occupied by Callis & Pepper was entirely destroyed. The fire was supposed to have originated in a room over the store used as an office and bedroom. A greater part of the stock was saved. With customary energy the proprietors proceeded

652

HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

immediately with the work of clearing away the ruins and the erection of a new building on the same site, which was ready for occupancy ir April. The new schoolhouse was also finished early in the year. Mr. George H. Cox was appointed Postmaster in August. A steam saw- mill was among the new additions to Lancaster business enterprises this year, erected by Messrs. Griswold & Meyer in the fall, the intention being to add to it the machinery nec- essary for the manufacture of flour after awhile. In November, the railroad through the northeastern portion of the county was completed and opened for traffic. A tri-weekly stage line, operated by Elliot A. Liscum, gave Lancaster a connection with this "iron highway" at Boscobel. Late in the fall, the small-pox again made its appearance, and three deaths from this disease occurred in a very short time. It did not, however, succeed in obtaining a general hold on the community, and the excitement over its appearance soon subsided. There were numerous accessions to the population of the village during the year, and the country in the immediate vicinity was benefited by the overflow. The succeeding year, 1857, witnessed that great upheaval of values known as the "panic of '57," which reduced so many from affluence to beggary, and blotted out forever many a well-known business. As to the causes which led to this convulsion, it is not necessary, neither does it come within the province of this article to speak. Lancaster, in common with nearly all towns in the lead region, suffered but little from the unsettlement of values which was the prevailing character of the fatal year. The causes of Lancaster's exemption from any bad effects of this year are assignable, undoubtedly, to several causes : First, the only money known in the lead district was gold and silver. At quite an early date. when the stability of the numerous "wild-cat" banks, then for the first time show- ing themselves, began to be questioned, the miners had determined to take nothing in payment for mineral but "hard money," and as it afterward appeared, this measure, more than anything else, was the most effective barrier against the wave of bankruptcy and ruin that swept over the land. Then the Territory now embraced in the present State of Minnesota was receiving its first influx of emigrants, who had to be supplied, as well as their stock, with food, and where would they be so apt to go for these supplies as to the country lying nearest to them, thus keeping up prices and furnishing the farmers of Grant County with an excellent market for their surplus beef, pork and grain during the panic year, and the seasons just succeeding it. By the time this source of revenue began to fall off, owing to the fact that the new settlers were now in position, not only to provide food for themselves but furnish a surplus for export, pros- perity was again reaching its golden wings over the country, and the balance of trade was thus sustained to the manifest benefit of Lancaster, which was thus relieved from the serious setbacks that characterized the history of many other towns at this period.

In the years succeeding 1857, and previous to the war, an apathy appears to have settled over Lancaster, but few houses were erected, and emigration was at a stand-still. The only thing that remained in a state of activity were the wolves, which had again become extremely troublesome. During the month of January, Mr. W. T. Patton, a resident of Ellenboro, while returning home from Lancaster one evening, in the latter part of the month, was met on the road by five large wolves, who seemed bent on attack. Mr. Patton happened to have in his hand an ax handle, which he had purchased at Lancaster, and with this, and by putting on a bold front, he was able to beat off the four-footed desperadoes and continued on his way, con- gratulating himself on his narrow escape. In 1860, the log house known in local parlance as the "block-house," and one of the most interesting relics of the first settlement of the village, was demolished to make room for the advance of modern improvements, which in this case was exemplified by a large and commodious frame structure, erected by Mr. Addison Burr. The old building had witnessed many turns of the Lancastrian kaleidoscope. First serving as a store, the earliest to open in the village, it was afterward the center of legal lore and judicial learning as the office of Barber & Dewey, for many years the only law firm in the new town. The senior member of this noted firm continued to occupy it as an office until its demolition. Could the log walls have sp ken, many a weird tale would they have told.

653

HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

THE WAR PERIOD.

The beginning of the war opened up a new era for Lancaster. The spirit of speculation which it engendered and the rise in the price of farm products, soon put farmers in an easier position than they had known for many years. As the development and prosperity of any place is dependent in a great measure on the prosperity of the farming community in its imme- diate vicinity, so Lancaster at once felt the effect of this expansion, and began in its turn to expand in size and mercantile importance. Despite the fact that seemingly every energy was being strained to send troops into the field, many buildings were erected, and many of the finest structures of which the city now boasts, date from the period during or just anterior to the war. When white-winged Peace once more settled over the land, and the bone and sinew which had been drained from all occupations to supply food for the demon-like destructibles in the field had been returned to its legitimate channels, the high tide of prosperity seemed to have come. During this period, Lancaster advanced with rapid strides.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 98

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