History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 35

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > Wisconsin > Green County > History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 35

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).

233

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

bor took one and I took the other. We left them there, with the understanding that I should take his team and get them home in two or three weeks. The Turtle creek at Beloit had then became impassable for teams to cross; but I got across by the help of some of the half- breeds living on the north side, who took me across in a canoe, and I made tracks for home. When this flour was gone I bought another barrel of Daniel Smiley, now living in Alba- ny, Wis., paying him $19 for it. When that was gone (which was not till after harvest) I went to Fox river above Elgin and got flour there. Along in April and May, when we had to live on flour and fish, we could hardly keep body and soul together. As to myself, I know I could hardly walk straight from mere weakness; but as vegetation came forward we got a few greens to boil, and seasoning them to some extent with wild onions, they certainly made a change of diet and little more relish. I also got an old Indian shot-gun about this time, and could once in a while get a duck, which made a sort of a feast for us. If it was a small one, it was better than none at all; but as we had some garden and a little corn, and in the summer raised some buckwheat, the next winter was passed quite comfortable.

I, that winter, kept a school-the first one kept in Rock county, and had for one of my scholars Daniel Stone, now living at or near the mouth of the Catfish.

In the spring of 1838 there was to be elected in the district then comprising Rock, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha counties, three county com- missioners and one assessor ;- and as there were two sets of candidates, there was considerable strife as to which should be the successful party. As I had previously held some written communi- cations with the sheriff of this district, he and Fred. S. Lovell came to my house to enlist my services toward electing their favorites, in which I became a cheerful volunteer; and as I then knew every man in the county, it was supposed I might be worth to them more than a mere

voter. As events turned, their friends were elected.

I learned that the assessor could appoint as many deputies as he pleased. I made applica- tion for the place of deputy assessor for Rock county, which I obtained withont difficulty; but it was necessary that I should go to Kenosha or Southport to be sworn into office by the said Lovell, who had been appointed as clerk of the board of commissioners - distance sixty-five miles. This journey I made on foot, there and back, in three days.

There were but few inhabitants at this time in Rock county, and none of them on the west side of Rock river, nor was there any land to assess in the district except on the west side of Rock river. After providing myself with plats from the land office at Milwaukee, showing the entries of lands, I proceeded to the assessment of that part of my district. At one time I was four days on the west side assessing, using the plats as best I could, endeavoring to find at night some wood and water near each other. I often, when thus assessing, thought what a laughable picture I should present to my friends at the east, by representing me with a quilt on my back for a bed at night, my provisions in a sack, with a coffee-pot on the top of my pack to make my coffee in, and a tin dipper to be used as occasion might require,-and myself examining my plats to see what I should assess.

It was part of my duty to call to my aid two assistants when assessing city or village lots. There was at this time, no less than four cities or villages in each county to be thus assessed, some of which had been surveyed and staked out and others merely platted on paper. Lots were usually assessed at 25 to 30 cents each for corner ones, and for inside lots 15 to 20 cents each.

As I passed along, I took something of a de- scription of the country for future use. The entries were mostly fractions on the river, or heavy timber in the interior, and were assessed from $1.50 to $3 per acre.

234

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

At the time I made my assessment return to the board of commissioners, the sheriff, Edgar R. Huganin, who was ex-officio collector of taxes, proposed to mne to collect the taxes in Rock county, but thinking it would not prove to be a lucrative business, I declined his offer, telling him, however, that I thought I knew a person who perhaps would like the position. On in- quiry, I ascertained that I could get no one whom I would recommend, and so informed him by letter. In the latter part of August, or fore part of September, he came to Rock county to post up some election notices, when he again asked to take the collection of taxes in Rock county, but as my ideas were that I would not get much pay, I again declined. However, I made him the offer to do the collecting for fifty cents a day, but if I had to be away from home over night he should pay my bills. This offer he declined to accept; but still urged me to accept the position, saying he would not ask me any bonus, and further said he had no doubt but that I could made more than fifty cents per day clear. He said he would not come there and collect the taxes for all he could get. He would sooner pay the personal property taxes himself than bother with them.

As I felt under some obligation to him, I told him I would take the collection of the taxes as we had talked about before, provided I could get bondsmen satisfactory. On his re- turn home, he sent me a blank bond except as to the amount, which I got some of my friends to sign, and I returned the same to him. I shortly afterward got the appointment in due form to simply collect the taxes due from the residents of the county. This would not have paid me fifty cents per day, but I got some taxes paid by non resident holders of land on the west side of the river.

I had to publish a notice of sale of lands for taxes due as delinquent, but as there was no newspaper published in either of these counties, I had to go to Milwaukee to have the publica- tion made as required. When the time came to

sell the lands, the sheriff was on hand to pay the taxes on some lands to the amount of some $30 more or less. I had to open the sales how- ever, and I offered a few pieces of which were rapidly sold. I then stopped to take the taxes from individual owners of land who were present. I soon took in over $100, and then again I commenced selling, which was done as quick as I could call off the description of the land with the taxes and costs added. Bidders were so plenty that they sat around a large ta- ble and each took his turn in the bidding. When I finally closed the sale, I found I had averaged some $4 per day instead of fifty cents, and that after giving Mr. Hugunin the taxes which he was to pay me, a prouder fellow in rags than myself one did not often meet.

The next season I bought on time, the land on both sides of Bass creek, near its mouth, and where Afton now stands; but after putting up a house and doing some fencing, I sold out the next season, and in the spring afterward re- moved to Green county. Two years after my settlement in Green county, I was elected as- sessor for the four east townships in the county, and wasre-elected. I was then elected as county commissioner and subsequently was honored with a seat in the first Constitutional Conven- tion. Not far from this time Alvinza Hayward proposed to me to buy some law books with him and go into the practice of law. I told him it was all proper for him to commence the study of law, but as to myself I was too old to undertake to study a profession.

The following winter after the suggestion of buying some law books by Mr. Hayward, of which I have spoken, he went into the pinery on the Wisconsin river, and worked in a logging camp, and when the raft went out he went with it to St. Louis where the raft was sold and he was paid off. He then bought $130 worth of law books and came back to his home in Exeter, where he again made the proposition to sell me one-half interest in the books, and both study

O. J. White

237

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

them as best we might, he keeping a part and I a part; we were to exchange as we might desire.

It becoming known in that neighborhood that I had an interest in the books, and rather aspir- ing to make myself somewhat acquainted with law proceedings, I was occasionally called upon to plead some plain cases, (as most clients have plain cases, any way) with Mr. Hayward as op- posing counsel. In one of the first snits tried, when we called a certain witness on the stand to give his testimony in the case, Mr. Hayward · objected to him, as he intended to impeach his testimony. My reply was, that possibly the witness might not state any thing objectionable to his case, and that, at least, he should wait till the witness gave in his testimony before he at- tempted to impeach it-to which he said he should not object. We were then, both of us, as ignorant of the rules of impeachment as we were of the Bible, if not more so. After the witness had given in his testimony, Mr. Hay- ward called on a man as an impeaching witness. and after the impeaching witness was sworn, Mr. Hayward asked him if he was acquainted with such a man (witness to be impeached). Answer, "yes." Second question: "Would you believe him under oath?" Answer, "No, I would not." He then turned the witness over to me for cross examination. First question : "Has this man ever been convicted of crime, punishable by imprisonment for a length of time in the States prison, and not pardoned?" "No, I dont think he was ever in any States prison." Second question: "Do you live near nim?" Answer: "Yes." Third question: "Is he a fair neighbor?" Answer: "Yes, one of the best I ever knew." Fourth question: "Well, if a good neighbor, and you have no knowledge of his ever committing a crime, why would you not believe him under oath?" Answer: "I once heard him say that if he had a brother who had perhaps committed a crime (when in reality, the person injured was the aggressor), and the officers in pursuit should call on me to know if my brother was not there, (although I had in re-

ality secreted him), I would deny it, as was done in a case that had occurred in the county some time previous-and under like circumstances, he would do as that other man had done."

Counsel for defence asked if I had no other questions, as he liked the way I was doing. He had merely asked the witness if he would be- lieve the witness under oath-but that proved the reason why and thus strengthened the point beyond a cavil or doubt. In his remarks to the court and jury he said the plaintiff had no case, as the testimony of the impeached witness must be taken for nothing, and that being thrown out, we had no case (which was true).

In answer to Mr. Hayward, I replied that he had not impeached onr witness at all ; but, if there was any impeachment, the impeaching witness had impeached himself. He swears he would not believe him under oath, and yet he believes him some when not under oath, and could only make the case applicable when a parallel case was under examination. Such was not the case then and there to be tried. I further stated this riddle for counsel and jury to unravel: When a man says he lies, does he lie or does he speak the truth. If he speaks the truth then he lies and if he lies he speaks the truth. The jury decided the suit by giving me the case, which proved to be a feather in my cap.

Mr. Hayward was admitted to the bar in some twelve or fifteen months after, with honor to himself and the profession. Some eight or ten months after, I bought the other half of the law books, and he went to California, and there became, in due time, a millionaire; since he went there, I have not seen him.

Subsequently I was admitted to the bar, whether well-fledged or not. I have had cases when from both evidence and pleadings (proper), I ought to have had judgment for damages, but got none ; and, at other times, it has been the reverse, faithfully proving what a lawyer in Hartford, Conn., once told me when I went to him for counsel: "We lawyers say

238

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

that there is a glorious uncertainty in the law ;" which I have found literally trne.

In my peregrinations, I at one time found myself in Staffordshire, England ; this was in 1854. I went there mostly at the request of Walter Tait, whose father's family then lived in England. It was thought he might have some money there belonging to him from en- tailed property. The property was entailed to Walter l'ait's oldest son-had Walter been the oldest legitimate son. His mother was married twice to the same man; and after some years from the first marriage when she had presented to her husband some two or three sons and some daughters, there was some talk that an- other branch of the family might get the en- tailed property, and they went over to Scotland and were there married again. Walter was the only male heir under that marriage. Now if he could show that the first marriage was not legitimate and thus make the children by the first marriage illegitimate (his father being dead), then he could inherit a fortune. But the law as declared by the highest anthority (the Chancellor), said, if parties lived together as man and wife and were so known among their neighbors till one of them died, they would be considered as lawfully married. An elder brother after his father's death had got the entail cast off, spent the money, and died. Hav- ing no further business there, I returned home, bringing with me two crates of crockery, which I sold in Albany, Green county, after keeping out enough to last our life-time, (wife and self) and we are now using it.

VIII .- BY MARGARET M'COY.

It was a bright and sunny morning, with a pure atmosphere, that seemed to bathe all na- ture with gladness, when I left the "Cream City." "The world all before me," but not " where to choose," as my husband had preced- ed and located on a quarter section of town- ship 4 north, range 9 east, section 17, (now the town of Brooklyn). The warmth of the day made only light wraps necessary, and

as the teamster had placed my baggage in the very bottom of the wagon, under a load of sun- dry merchandise, such as soap, salt, tea, coffee, etc, I was left without a chance to get at heavier garments. There were no railroads in those days, and it took some days to reach our destination. The next day was ushered in by a "sun burst," and we were in hopes of fine weather, but alas ! for our hopes, the scud- ding clouds indicated rain, and the blue mist made nature seem in a weeping mood, too soon it poured down, and my sitnation perched on a salt barrel, with only an umbrella and a thin shawl as a wrap, was anything but envious. I was literally drenched. Soon the wind changed north and then froze, but when reaching the " Bale Tavern," I was in no need of the many inventions we have now-a-days to make clothes stiff, as mine were thoroughly so, by the process of freezing. I vividly remember my getting down from that barrel, and trying to induce circulation. Young reader, you who can travel in 1884, in your "Cushioned Pullman's," cannot realize the hardships of primitive travel- ing in 1848.

After resting at the "Bale Tavern" all night, and feeling refreshed, our teamster started the third day with hopes of reaching our goal. We made as much haste as the horses and roads would permit, until within two miles of the now thriving town of Evansville, when one of the horses took sick. We had to dismount, and try to find some place to stay over night. I called at a house. I think the name of the owner was Foster. The lady of the house was at a neighbors, caring for some sick person, and had sent a young girl from there to take care of her children. I slept with that young girl. Next morning I learned from Mrs. Foster that my bed-mate was a squaw of the Mackinaw tribe, and was a clean, pleasant looking brunette. So on we go, through the "grove," as it was then ealled, with only a few houses and the Meth- odist church. We pass unheeded-through miles of prairie. We pause at a hut to inquire

239

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

our way, and are told we are not on the right track. We retrace our steps for a mile and a half, when we reach "Father Egglestone's." There we stay for dinner, and make the ac- quaintance of his wife, a sweet, delicate little lady. There, also, we met two men to whom I had given a letter of introduction to my hus- band while in Milwaukee. He helped them to locate on a quarter section. Soon we reach the log mansion secured by my husband from a widow, who had buried her husband and was going to Walworth county with her two chil- dren-one of whom is our present townsman, Mr. Roots.

I well remember knocking at the door, and, "like patience on a monument," standing lean- ing against the rough portal (as I did not then enter), inquired where Mr. McCoy was. There were three women there; two were wives to those Fee brothers whom I met in Milwaukee. The third was a Mrs. Shell, whose husband had come from Poland with Mr. Root. One of the ladies sat in Arabic fashion, as chairs were minus.

I was told "he was off chopping, and they did not know where, as they could not cross the fence lot lest they would get lost." I asked in what direction. "Oh, he goes by the back of the house." So by the back of the house I went, and took a straight line for the next settlement through the marsh, and at length reached a house where the lady was pulling up beets for the winter's nse. Her husband sat beside her in the garden, on a chair, as he was in the last stage of consumption, and died in about three weeks afterwards. His name was Carpenter. Iu answer to my in- quiries he told me to turn an angle of his fence and I would come before long to where Mr. McCoy's lot was. I followed his directions, but soon "tired nature" asserted her rights, and I sat down to listen for the sound of an ax. Yes! there it was, as the echo reverberated through the woods; soon it ceased, and shortly after I espied a man in the distance, whose walk I

knew, emerging from a tangled opening, with an ax on his shoulder, dressed in a swallow- tailed English broadcloth coat, pants of the same, fancy vest and a silk beaver stove-pipe hat, with seventeen blisters on his hands, his busi- ness suit being in our baggage, which I then brought. On reaching our future abode, the teamster deposited the freight, was paid, went his way, and I must here describe the interior. There was a cook-stove, two trunks belonging to the Fee's, and a bedstead in one corner, formed of poplar poles, which had been made by the lady who owned the house, for her hus- band had been an invalid and died a short time previously. By way of courtesy, the Fee's ex- temporized pallets "up chamber," and left me the bedstead. Our trunks served us for chairs, and a large "chest" which had seen "marine service," was a substitue for a table, rather out of character with the damask linens which sometimes covered it. When he went to Mil- waukee to buy lumber for our house he pur- chased chairs, table, bedstead and a crib. The lumber was brought out by teams which hauled produce, etc. We lived in the log house the first winter, which needed no modern modes of habitation, I assure you. The great problem of housekeeping was now to be solved, and being a novice in that line, I had to gather informa- tion from every one who was within reach. My next neighbor, Mrs. Shell, was very kind on all occasions. Then there was Mrs. Gray, and Mother Stopp, who was verily a " Queen of Cuisine." I thought if others knew how, I could learn also. Here my first lesson in wash- ing linens was rather severe. Not having soft water, we had to "cleanse," and so I in my ig- norance put a tripple portion of lye in the hard water. Consequence, fingers stripped of the skin. I never repeated the operation. The winter was severe, but as our wardrobe was ample, we did not suffer. But there were rails to haul and a yoke of oxen were bought, and a sled manufactured most primitively, which de- serves a designation here. It was of sawed

240

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

timber, generally done at "Winneshiek saw- mill," and having holes bored for four stakes at one (the back) end a chain fastened across, with a few boards on the bottom and one at each side, formed the box. When we "went to meeting" or visiting we threw a quilt over the chain, and thus formed a seat, protected from the wintry blast. I must not let our oxen pass unnoticed. Had I the genius of a Scott or a Dickens, they should be immortalized in history or song, beyond a "Marda," or a "Linda," for many times they outstripped in speed the the horses of our neighbor on the road to Ex- eter meeting. As there were then no "excur- sions" or "picnics," or "apple parings," we had to depend on the wild grapes, currants, plums, etc., of Sugar river the winter was environed by "bees" of various nature, combining pleas- ure and profit. There were chopping, sausage, sewing, quilting, and many a kind mother was thus helped along.

fire, put on the tea kettle, had it boiling when my husband came in, almost breathless after a run of two miles. We sometimes went with said oxen to the south corner of the township to meeting. At one time a humorous incident oc- curred. A man arose to clear a local preacher of the charge of stealing corn. He said he had a line from father, and that the bag, instead of corn, only had a beetle and wedges. Thus "the spice of life" kept ennui at a distance. Every one seemed hopeful, because they were young and had an object to work for. The spring of 1849 came, and with it new work. We had our house to build, which was done by Mr. Lozin, and as we are fond of the antique, we still reside in it, with some "additions" as the family needs increased. The lumber was hanled from the lakes. That year prices for produce were low; we bought our wheat at twenty-five cents per bushel, our pork at $2.50 dressed, flour $1.50 per hundred-weight, potatoes twenty cents per bushel, corn eighteen cents per sixty pounds shelled. I remember a young man bringing a load of barley to Milwaukee, and after being seven days on the road came home with two cents, as the proceeds of his load. What an ar- gument in favor of railroads!

"Our neighborhood" then took in a circle of three miles or more, and in sickness every one outdone the next in "helping," and many were the social gatherings enjoyed. One I remem- ber well, held at Amos Kirkpatrick's, where John Dalrymple now resides. The elder ladies met to sew, the men to chop. The day was We had to go five miles for our mail, to the village of Exeter; when oxen were busy on the farm had to walk. Exeter was notable for its mineral then, and also for there being a store, postoffice and tavern. Here we were waited on by the clerk in Mr. Safford's store, who has since made his mark in the county as merchant, banker, etc., and never forgets his early friends. cold, but the thermometer stood high (had there been one there) under that hospitable roof. The young people staid to "trip the light fan- tastic toe" until "the wee sma' hours," but we sober matrons left early. After wrapping and be- ing seated in our model sled, I found I had for- gotten my furs, so Mr. McCoy returned to the house for them, which he had no sooner done I think our township was early an advocate of temperance. Once a "raising" was being held in a joint district, and, in the absence of a good meal, a whisky jug was introduced, when the men staggered around as if drunk, with it in their hands, until they broke it and spilled its contents on the ground. than off went Buck and Bright like an arrow over the "spring run," up the hill, down to the dale, across the creek, dashed along heedless of any oxen lore I possessed, my whoas only ac- celerated their speed. At length, and in a short time too, they reached the gate. I got out, opened it, then very instinctively they turned We were indebted to the visits of a colporteur for the books used in our Sunday-school, and as we around an angle and went straight for a hay stack. I then entered the "cabin," started a | had no stated ministry, we were from time to

241

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

time favored with preachers of widely different theological views-sometimes it was a Method- ist or a Congregationalist, or a Mormon, or a Christian, a Universalist, etc. One I remember who still lives, made use of such "highfalutine" phrases that he appeared to belong to the "Par- tington" school.

Time passed on in its course, town duties loomed up, and though the ladies never had "their say" in the business, yet I think there were many who did their share in the work, for instance, when the "braves" were in town coun- cil at dry prairie rendezvous, Mrs. Anderson, wife to Jerry, and his daughter, Mrs. H. Allen, made them many a rich repast, disdaining re- muneration, and in latter years, when our "un- pleasantness" called for husbands and sons, many resigned them to their Nation's need, one or whom bitterly remarked (who had lost her husband in camp), that she had a notion to erect a hospital for the lame or sick Yankees, and unnaturalized foreigners.

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 Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 35

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168