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 79
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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
defend and lay down their lives to honor, will drop a tear, and in their hearts fire three vol- leys over the resting place of a brave comrade, gone to "headquarters," "discharged to receive promotion."
The bugle note and rattling drum,
Shall from dreams ne'er wake him more; The lights are out, and ceased the hum
In the camp by the dark river's shore. C.
Death of an Old Citizen. [Sept. 25, 1872.]
Charles S. Foster, well known by the people of Green county as one of the first settlers and public spirited gentleman, died at his residence in this village Sunday morning last, after a short illness. This community will miss Mr. Foster very much, his enterprise and activity in public matters, his many good qualities as a neighbor, friend and husband and father, made him prominent in the community. During his life, for nearly thirty years, he had often been elected to official positions, which he filled with credit to himself and advantage to his con- stituents. Ile at different times aided with his influence and money, public enterprises, and was a liberal subscriber to the new manufacturing establishments now being built. He was also a member of the board of education of this place ; the subject of common schools having always received a large share of attention from him. His family have the sympathy of many friends who are called to mourn with them in their great loss.
Another Old Settler Gone. [June 24, 1874.]
Jere Chandler, one of the pioneers and a highly esteemed and valned citizen of Monroe passed peacefully from earth, last Thursday, at his residence, where he had lived for many years. "Uncle Jere" as he was called by all who knew him, came to Monroe in 1845, and established his family here, for many years carrying on the wagon making business. He had acquired a good property during his work- ing days, and provided with the aid of her who
survives him, a beautiful home of comfort and plenty. "Uncle Jere" was not a noisy man, though his convictions were strong, and he ad- hered to them constantly. He had been quite feeble for the past two or three years, and prior to his death had been confined to the house for nearly a year. He was seventy-one years of age when he died, and he leaves a host of relatives and friends who will long remember his life of ill- dustry and true worth. The funeral took place from the residence, last Sunday, at 9 o'clock A. M. Rev. E. Powell assisted by Rev. Mr. Pal- mer and Z. II. Howe conducted the exercises and a large concourse of people followed the remains to the last resting place on earth.
Our old men are passing away, one by one, but more rapidly now than hitherto. Those who came before the multitude, to break the way to a prosperous estate for the generations of the future, are growing old, and each year sees the clods heaped above the faithful, manly forms of our old men and women, the grand- parents of this prosperous people. Let us cher- ish them while they stay with us; for it has taken many storms to bleach their locks, and many days of sunshine to tune their smiles, and when they are gone we shall never see their like again.
Death of William C. Green. [Aug. 5, 1874.]
In the death of William C. Green, of this vil- lage, Green county has lost one of its oldest and best citizens, a man who had filled the measure of life nearly full to its brim, and that, too, with consistent, straightforward works. Mr. Green had been in poor health for more than a year, and he repeatedly told his friends that he ex- pected to leave this country soon and go toward the setting sun.
The deceased came to Green county in 1839, from New York State, and had lived here ever since, rearing a large family; seven chil- dren of whom are now living, the oldest being over fifty years old. He was a farmer during the better time of life, and his two sons are now
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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
carrying on the farm at "Green's Prairie" -- named by the deceased. Besides being a good farmer, Mr. Green was possessed of a good education, and in his younger and older years taught school. He served several years accept- ably as school superintendent of Green county, to which position he was elected by the repub- lican party, of which he was a faithful and stead- fast member.
William C. Green was born in 1802, and was seventy-two when he died, at 2 o'clock Monday morning, Aug. 3, 1874. The funeral takes place to-day, Wednesday, August 5, at 11 o'clock.
Honors to the Dead Soldiers. [June 4, 1873.]
The first upon the list is that of Capt. Oscar F. Pinney, of the 5th Wisconsin Battery, who fell mortally wounded, on the 31st day of December, 1862, at the fearful battle of Stone River, the horrors of which cannot be exag- gerated.
"For three long days the battle raged In front of Murfreesboro,
And cannon balls tore up the earth As plows turn up the furrow."
Capt. Pinney lingered in hospital until the 17th day of February, 1863, when he died and his remains were brought home by his brother and buried here.
The testimony of all the members of the gal- lant 5th Battery, who were with him in that terrific contest, and some of whom I recognize here to-day, is, that he was a brave man.
Joseph Hall, a member of the 5th Battery, re- turned home with consumption, contracted or aggravated bythe hardships and exposures inci- dent to military duty, and died in the village of Monroe.
Chaplain, C. E. Weirich, 23d Infantry, died at Vicksburg from over exertion on the battle field in behalf of the wounded.
Lient. Charles Ruf, of the 45th Wisconsin Infantry, died in Madison, Wis., and his re- mains were brought here for interment.
Sergt. James McQuillian and Plinny D. Muz- zy, both of the 81st Wisconsin Infantry, are
buried here, but the circumstances and place of their death I have been unable to ascertain.
Thomas Virtue, of the 31st Wisconsin In- fantry, died at his home in Monroe, of disease, contracted in the army.
Jacob Ruegger, also of the 31st Infantry, is buried here, but I have learned nothing of his history.
Samuel Hopkins, of the 16th Wisconsin Infantry, died of disease in Monroe.
Oliver Hancock, of the 18th and Edwin Gardner, of the 22d Wisconsin Infantry, died of disease in Monroe.
G. W. Holmes, of the 18th Wisconsin In- fantry, was brought home sick from Pittsburg Landing, and died in Monroe.
Hans Gulbrandson, died in Monroe, since the war, of disease contracted in the army.
Elijah McGinlay, of the 23d Wisconsin In- fantry, was wounded in battle, returned to Monroe where he died from the effects of his wound.
George McLain, of the 36th Wisconsin In- fantry, died in Madison, Wis., and his body was brought here for interment.
Joseph Snyder, of the 38th Wisconsin In- fantry, is buried here, but the history of his military service, and the place and cause of his death, are unknown to me.
Francis C. Glascott, of the 30th Missouri Mounted Infantry, died in camp at Memphis, Tenn., of disease, induced by the hardships of military service. His remains were brought here for burial.
The remains of Lucius A. Belden, of the 4th Kansas Cavalry and of William Daggett, of the 6th Kansas Cavalry, rest in this cemetery, but 1 am unable to give any of the incidents of their history.
Capt. G. D. Jennings, of the United States Army, formerly of the 3d Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, was seriously wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. He was distinguished for his gallantry, fought his way to a captaincy in the regular army, went under orders to the
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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
Pacific coast, where his failing health, the effect of wounds received in his country's battles, admonished him that his time on earth was brief, and he sought to reach his home that he might die among kindred and friends, but his vitality was not sufficient for the undertaking, and, at Omaha, his brave spirit passed to the better land, and yonder shaft of white marble marks its last resting place. Col. E. M. Bart- lett and Col. Ezekiel Clapp, soldiers of the War of 1812, were also buried here.
Of those whose remains are not here, I have the following names:
James McLain, of the 4th Wisconsin Cav- alry, died at Baton Rouge, his remains, I be- lieve, are buried there.
John Wyatt was killed at Fort Mahone, in front of Petersburg. I understand his remains are buried somewhere in this county.
Charles Miner fell at the battle of Gettys- burg.
Oscar IIaley, of the 5th Battery, died at Jacksonville, Tenn., Nov. 5, 1872, of sickness.
John F. Smith, of the 5th Battery, who was well known in Monroe, was killed in the battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862.
Jefferson Feathers was killed in front of Petersburg, June 17, 1864.
Lieut. Almond Smith, of the 5th Battery, died at Inka, Miss.
Capt. Moses O'Brien, of the 3d Wisconsin Infantry, one of the bravest of the brave, died of repeated wounds received in the fearful con- flict of Cedar Mountain.
Stewart Mosher, of the 3d Wisconsin In- fantry, whom all the old residents of Monroe well remember, was the first hero who fell a martyr to liberty, from Green county. He was killed at the battle of Bolivar Heights, and was buried near the spot where he gallantly fell, upon the banks of the classic Potomac, whose waters, as they roll through the mountain gorges, on their way to the sea, shall ceaslessly chant his solemn requiem through all the ages to come, till time shall be no more.
Death of Justus Sutherland. [December 17, 1873.]
" The circle is broken-one seat is forsaken, -
One bud from the tree of our friendship is shaken, - One heart from among us no longer shall thrill With joy in our gladness, or grief in our ill."
Justus Sutherland died at his residence in the town of Sylvester, in this county, December 6, of pneumonia, after a brief illness. He was born at Rutland, in the State of Vermont, on the 27th day of September, 1797. He lived for a long time in Madison Co., N. Y .; subse- quently resided in Illinois, and, in 1836 he moved to Green Co., Wis., where he reared a large and highly respectable family, and by in- dustry and good judgment he acquired con- siderable wealth, and where, at the end of a long and active life, he has been cut down like a shock of corn fully ripe in its season, and consigned to the "narrow house appointed for all the living." Mr. Sutherland lived in this county thirty-four years, and was one of its earliest settlers. The brave, enterprising and adventurous spirits who constitute the vanguard of civilization, who carry the implements of husbandry, and the habits of industry into the wilderness, or those of them whose rude cabins usurped the places where stood the red man's wigwam in southern Wisconsin, knew him well, and called him to many positions of honor and trust; and the few who remain of the com- panions of his manhood's prime, say that he never betrayed the confidence which they re- posed in him, and that at all times, and under all circumstances he stood a grand specimen of God's noblest work, an honest man. He was a person of most exemplary habits, and his loss will be deeply felt beyond the circle of his im- mediate relatives, beyond the neighborhood in which he lived, by all who knew him, but by none more keenly than by those who shared with him the dangers, hardships and privations of pioneer life. Ten sons and daughters of mature years stood around his coffin and listened to the falling clods whose resonance
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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
spoke to all of man's mortality. His neigh- bors and friends came from far and near to per- form the last sad rites, and pay the last melan- choly tribute of respect, until the funeral cor- tege assumed proportions greater than ever be- fore witnessed in this county. It is a consola- tion to his friends, that his last hours were tranquil, and that he passed quietly and pain- lessly to the other, and happier shore.
"As a cloud of the sunset slow melting in heaven, As a star that is lost when the daylight is given,
As a glad dream of slumber, which wakens in bliss He hath passed to the world of the holy from this. He has gone but a little before us,
We can only say, now, in the words of the poet: Farewell! a little time, and we Who knew thee well, and loved thee here, One after one shall follow thee
As pilgrims through the gate of fear Which opens on eternity."
A Sensation for Winslow. [Aug. 19, 1874.]
About eleven years ago a man by the name of Alvy Gaylord left the neighborhood for Cal- ifornia, leaving a wife and children. For some years he had been given up as lost to his family, and his wife was declared a widow. A few days since a man claiming to be the husband of Mrs. Gaylord came to Winslow and succeeded in making the widow and her son believe that he was the identical Gaylord, and he was taken to the bosom of his family. He immediately set about disposing of property belonging to the estate preparatory to returning back to Cali- fornia. Here a brother of Gaylord comes for- ward and declares the would be "Alvy" an im- poster and that he is not the true husband of the widow. But the son of his mother declares that the stranger is his own father. Now, it is not every boy that knows his own father- especially after he has been gone eleven years, and when he left home the boy was quite young. But so determined was the brother to expose the imposter that the whole affair was noised about, and parties who had known Gaylord in days of yore came forward to identify him. It
seems that Gaylord had a finger torn off by a threshing machine before he went away, he also had one foot split open on top in an early day. This man had no such marks. Then comes one certain Mr. Burbridge, who walks up to the stranger and offers him $2 to show his arm. There was a mark on it he would like to see. The stranger scouted the idea of showing his arm but he finally was induced to do so. There in deep blue were the initials "J. T.,"John Traverse, well known by all the neighbors. John Traverse, of California, who evidently knew Gaylord and his family, as he spoke fa- miliarly, calling them all by name. He knew his neighbors too, and they knew him now. He had married a daughter of Burbridge fifteen years ago, and had gone off to California. An old woman had recognized him a few days be- fore this singular denæument, when he was making inquiries about the Burbridge family. " Did they know of a man who had married a daughter of Burbridge, year ago and run away to California." They knew such a man, and "Thou art the man," said an elderly woman. So, on Monday the brother of Alvy Gaylord demanded the arrrest of Traverse. A warrant was made and a posse undertook to capture him in the street at about 3 o'clock r. M. He drew two revolvers, and retreated to the house of widow Gaylord, where he barricaded him- self in a room up stairs. Four men, braver than the rest, John Gordon, Lou. Blair, Peters and Lloyd, volunteered to go in and take him for the sum of $20, well knowing that that amount might possibly be necessary to bury some one or more of them, for they were bearding a lion in his den. The door was burst open, and a rapid firing of pistols ensued, but without hurting any body seriously. Traverse alias Gaylord, was wounded, a ball had traversed the arm that bore the tell tale, "J. T." and it was strongly suspected that the stranger had tried to wipe out the "dammed spot," but it wouldn't out. The alias is now in custody, and parties have gone to Winslow to identify him,
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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
and there can be little doubt that he will be put "where he can do the most good." Where that place shall be is not for us to say, at pres- ent.
Death of John Bridge. [June 11, 1884.]
On Thursday evening last a telegram was re- ceived by George B. MeLean informing friends in this city [Monroe] of the death of John H. Bridge, who left this place in excellent health, with his son, Joseph, to visit in Iowa, Kansas and take a trip west through Colorado, and Califor- nia, to see the lands beyond the Mississippi. A letter received by relatives Monday last, which was written from some place in Colorado, stated Mr. Bridge had had an attack of cholera mor- bus, had been very ill, but was recovering. The deceased was about seventy years old, was one of the old settlers of the county and was unusu- ally vigorous. His death is a great surprise to his friends here. He had lived an industrious, plodding sort of life until within a few years, when he retired from farming to live in Monroe, investing in real estate, and receiving a hand- some income from his accumulated wealth.
AN EXPENSIVE EPISODE. ' 'Bless me this is pleasant, Riding on a rail." SAXE.
In a previous chapter mention has been made of an oath being prepared during the war for the citizens to subscribe to, which some refused to take and that, as a consequence, one citizen a resident of Sylvester was ordered to keep out- side the limits of the village of Monroe, and another -- a citizen of Clarno-was treated to a free ride part of the way home, on a rail. The last method of treating obnoxious persons did not, however, work well when again tried ex- cept for the time being. A Mr. Steves, of Dn- rand, happened to be in Monroe and took oc- casion to denounce the proceedings which re- quired the taking of the oath.
At this point, we cannot do better than give the particulars as recited in Miss Bingham's history:
" Ile [Steves] was denouncing the proceed- ings in a violent manner, when some one re- marked that probably Mr. Steves had better take the oath. A crowd formed, and escorted him to the court house, and summoned Mr. Rote from his supper table to administer the oath. Mr. Rote read it and asked the prisoner if he would subscribe to it. Being answered in the negative, he said nothing more, for by that time the office was so full of men who wanted to take it that he was obliged to light a candle and go up into the court room to accom- modate them. When about sixty men had been sworn, proceedings up stairs were interrupted by a cry that those who had been laboring with the man below were riding him out of town on a rail. Mr. Steves' fate made copperheads cau- tious about expressing themselves in Monroe; and his resistance taught Union men to be less busy in seeking out offenses. This was the last encounter of the kind during the war, but it was long before men heard the last of this. Mr. Steves brought suit against twelve citizens of Monroe. In selecting the twelve, he was assisted by Monroe men whose opinion of the war was the same as his own. All those select- ed were zealous supporters of the war, and most of them were members of the committee of fifteen appointed the 29th of July; but a majority of them were opposed to such violent measures as were adopted in Mr. Steves' case, and some of them did not reach the square that night until the work was done. One of those sued was Mr. Rote, whose part in the affair has been told. On the other hand, some who helped carry the rail were not mentioned in the suit. The case was tried in 1865 in Milwaukee; Judge Miller presided, and during the trial gave vent to his feelings by exclamations of 'oh'! and 'horrible! ! The disunion element predomi- nated in the jury, and damages was awarded Mr. Steves to the amount of $5,000 and costs."
HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
COUNTY BUILDINGS AND POOR FARMS.
When, on the 26th of March, 1838, the "com- missioners court" ( as the county board was first called) got together for the first time, there was no house belonging to the county for them to meet in, and they were compelled to hire a room for that purpose. At that meeting it was resolved by the commissioners that the district court should be held at the house of Jacob Ly Brand until otherwise ordered. Of course the necessity for a court house was at once felt and it was not long before a temporary one was pro- vided for.
OF THE THREE COURT HOUSES.
On the 8th day of July, 1840, the county commissioners
"Ordered, That the clerk of this board give notice, by posting up in three or more of the most public places in this county, notices that sealed proposals will be received by the clerk of this board at his office, until the first Mon- day of August next, for the building and en- closing a two-story frame house, 20x30 feet, in the town [village] of Monroe, for a temporary court house, said proposals to designate par- tienlarly the size and description of the timber, quality of shingles and siding, etc. Bond and security will be required to the faithful per- formance of said contracts."
On the 4th day of August, 1840, the follow- ing entry was made in the record of the "com- missioners court:"
"WHEREAS, Proposals were ordered to be received, and have been received by the clerk of this board, for the purpose of erecting a
two-story building in the town of Monroe, for the purpose of a temporary court house, be it
"Ordered, That the proposals of James Campbell and A. J. Sutherland be accepted by this board, and that they give bond in the penal sum of $900 for the faithful performance of said contraet, to the board of commissioners of the county of Green, agreeable to the tenor and effect of said proposals on file, to be completed on or before the 1st day of December, 1840."
This building was accepted on the 4th of November, as appears by the following entry upon the record of the board:
"WHEREAS, James Campbell and Andrew J. Sutherland are bound to the board of commis- sioners of the county of Green, by bond, dated Aug. 4, 1840, to erect a two-story building for the purpose of a court house in the town [vil- lage] of Monroe, and in the opinion of the court, the condition of the said bond has been complied with, it is
" Ordered, By this court that the said house and job of work be received and that an order be made out to them for the balance due them on said contract, amounting to $150.30."
But this temporary court house soon after took fire accidently and was totally destroyed. It was erected on the lot upon which is now (1884) the United States House, owned and oc- cupied by Louis Schuetze, as a hotel.
The next spring, the county commissioners agreed with Demas Beach to lend him $400 for six years, for which consideration he was to erect a building in which the county should have the use of certain rooms. This building,
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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
afterward known as the American House, had a court room and county offices on the second floor, while the ground floor was used for a store and dwelling. When court was not in session, a shoe shop was kept in the jury room. The building was ready for use in November, 1841, as appears by the following entry upon the record of the board: "Nov. 1, 1841,
Ordered, That the county commissioners' court be hereafter held at the court house in the town [village] of Monroe."
This so-called court house was occupied until April, 1846, when another one took its place. As to the last mentioned structure, the one which is still to be seen (1884) in the center of the public square, we have the following record from the "commissioners' court:"
April 23, 1844.
" Ordered, That William Dunten, of Roches- ler,{ Racine Co., Wis. Ter., be employed to build a court house in Monroe, Green Co. Wis. Ter., for the sum of $3,500, said building to be put up with brick and in all things agreeing with the plan and specification on file in the elerk's office, for which said Dunten is to re- ceive payment as follows, to-wit : One payment is to be made when the foundation or stone work is done, to two-thirds of the amount of the estimated value of the work done and ma- terials furnished, one-half of which payment is to be made in drafts on the county treasury and the other half to be made in bonds issued by the board of county commissioners, bonds drawing interest from the Ist day of January next. One payment is to be made when the brick work is done to two-thirds the amount of labor and materials furnished, one-half of which payment is to be made in drafts on the county treasury and the other in bonds issued by the board of county commissioners with interest, and the remainder to be paid in bonds drawn by the board of commissioners on the 1st day of August 1845 or when the job of work shall be completed ; and, he it farther ordered that
said Dunten file his bond with approved security for the performance of said work."
The work of "William Dunten, of Roches- ter," still stands ; but, as a "magnificent temple of justice," worthy of Green county, it cannot be said to be a success. It is neither useful nor ornamental. It will soon be torn down and a new court house erected.
FIRE PROOF BUILDING.
The increasing business of the county and the danger of fire consuming the valuable county records, induced the county board to order the erection of a fire proof building as an " overflow," so to speak, to the court house. Therefore, on the 4th day of June, 1857, it was "Resolved, That a building be erected for the county offices, and that the same be located on lots 132 and 133 in Ly Brand's donation to the county of Green, and that there be a com- mittee appointed by this board to superintend the erection of the same.
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