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 87

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 87

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).

of grief, and tearful eyes, they took leave of friends and father-land; and with few earthly goods, but with bright hopes for the future, they embarked in an open boat or barge.

Before starting, M. Jenny, a delegate from the government, addressed them in a feeling manner. He urged upon all the necessity of industry and concord as indispensible to their success, and after commending them to the care of providence, bade them God speed, and amid the tears and good wishes of hundreds of friends, who had come to witness their depart- ure, the emigrants started on the way, and slowly commenced their wearisome juorney to the New World.

The emigrants chose two of their number, George Legler, Sr., now of New Glarus, and Ja- cob Grob to act as leaders and spokesmen dur- ing the migration, and to preserve order among the party, and exercise general care and super- vision over everything connected with the jour- ney. The colonists,on their part, promised to render due obedience to their directions and commands. On reaching Zurich the weather became very inclement, and snow fell. The women and children would have suffered great- ly, but for the kindness of a Swiss gentleman, Cosmos Blumer, the then representative of the canton of Glarus in the Swiss legislature, who accompanied them on this part of their journey, and provided covered wagons, in which they followed the boat on shore until all reached Basle.

The journey from this place to Rotterdam, in Holland, was continued on the Rhine; it was slow and tedious, which, combined with the cold wintry weather, and an uncertain future prospect, was the cause of much depression to all. Arriving at Rotterdam on the 6th day of May, they learned that the ship on which they were to sail lay at New Dieppe. Proceeding to that place, the ship was found to be not yet ready to sail; it having been engaged in carry- ing cotton from New Orleans to Europe, was not provided with berths, etc., for the accom-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

modation of passengers. The colonists were thus delayed six days, until the ship was fitted for their reception. This caused the already needy people a great expense, which, however, was partially alleviated by an advance of 100 gulden by a warm-hearted Swiss gen- tleman, P. Jenny. However, on the 12th of May, they embarked for Baltimore; and, after a stormy, toilsome voyage of forty-nine days, arrived at that place on the 30th of June.

They there contracted for passage to St. Louis, that being the point where they were di- rected to await orders from the pioneer agents, Duerst and Streiff. At Baltimore they were, for the first time, put on railway cars and were carried about fifty miles, to Columbia, Penn. At the point where the road crossed a mountain, the first cars were drawn up by an engine on the top, by means of wire ropes, and then the descending cars were made to pull up the others. At Columbia they were placed on board canal boats, in which they were conveyed to Pittsburg, Penn. From thence they descended the Ohio in barges to Cincinnati; thence for the first time they rode in a steamboat, which took them to St. Louis, where they arrived on the 23d of July. They were here kindly re- ceived and entertained by Swiss countrymen who were settled in that city.

No intelligence, no directions, had yet been received from the pioneer agents. On the con- trary, after waiting some days, the discourag- ing but false rumor reached them, that in pene- trating into the interior those adventurous agents had lost their lives. What was to be done? Long delay would inevitably break up the party; some had already, through fear, dis- satisfation or other causes, dropped off, and sought and found work at some of the various stopping places by the way.

After remaming, with no little anxiety, in St. Louis two weeks, with no tidings from their agents, it was resolved that two of the party should go and search for them. Jacob Grob and Matthias Duerst were selected for this ser-

vice. They proceeded to Galena, Ill., and there learned that those whom they were seeking had been there some weeks before, and had gone northward. They were advised to go to Min- eral Point, where there was a government land office, and where the pioneer agents would have been likely to enter land, in case they had bought in Wisconsin. The searchers went to "the Point," as it was termed; and, on inquiry at the office, found that their agents had bought land in township 4, range 7, on Little Sugar river. The men were much rejoiced when this good news was communicated to them, and at once sent back word to St. Louis for the party to start for Galena immediately. They then re- solved to find the location. Theodore Ro- dolph, now of La Crosse, who was then at Min- eral Point, offered his services as guide, which were thankfully accepted. They commenced their journey at once, over a trackless country for thirty-two miles, fording creeks and streams, with a compass to direct their course, until they came to a point directly north of the location about three miles, according to a corner stake which was found on a hill.

Rodolph led the men due south, and, on rounding a point of brush land, came directly upon the pioneers, on the 8th of August, who were busy erecting the primitive hut of the set- tlement. After the first joyous greetings were over, it was decided that Nicholas Duerst should go to St. Louis and guide the colonists to their new home.

The two new comers were eager and anxious to remain, and assist in the work of building. Duerst at once left, and had proceeded as far as Galena, when, just as he was about to leave for St. Louis one morning, he heard some one remark that a large party of emigrants had arrived in town the evening before. Curiosity cansed him to make inquiries, when, to his astonishment, he found that those whom he was going to St. Louis to escort, were already in Galena. He at once directed that the able bodied men should start for the new settlement, and assist in build-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

ing the necessarry shelter for the reception of the colonists, while he would arrange to follow with the main body.

On the afternoon of the same day, eighteen men started on foot for the settlement, with eager steps, a distance of sixty-two miles. They traveled all night and the next day, when they arrived at Wiota, in Lafayette county. There they obtained a night's shelter in a stable; and the next morning, after procuring the ser- , viees of a guide, there being no traveled track there, and buying some flour at a mill on the Yellowstone river, they, without much diffi- culty, walked the rest of the way to their land, arriving late in the evening, foot-sore and weary.

They related that every person whom they met fled at their approach, and no wonder; for bearded, unkempt, and ragged as they were, car- ' rying axes and tools of every description, and bags of flour and provisions, they at a distance more resembled a band of robbers than a party of honest emigrants.

Upon their arrival they united with their three predecessors, and erected a much larger hut than the primitive structure. This was lo- eated near the west wall, and within the en- closure of the old grave yard, and close to where the district school house now stands. Its size is not recollected. A large excavation was made in the hill side, posts were inserted in the ground, the sides inclosed with boards hauled sixty-two miles from Galena, and covered with boughs and wild hay. The floor was construct- ed of split poplar logs, the riven side upper- most; and no windows, nor chimney. All pos- sible dilligence was used to complete the rnde structure, and have it in readiness for the com- ing colonists. Autumn was at hand, and winter approaching. Some of the men were carpen- ters, who had brought their tools with them from their old Switzerland home.

After the shelter was prepared, which took but a few days, the colonists all arrived, teams having been hired at Galena to convey the

women and children, provisions and other necessaries; but not in sufficient numbers to carry them all. So they had to take turns in alternately riding and walking. The main body arrived on the 15th of August, the whole long journey having been made by water, except the short distance from Baltimore to Columbia, and the sixty-two miles from Galena to New Glarus. One hundred and eight persons, out of the original 193 remained, the rest hav- ing, from various causes, become discouraged, and dropped off along the way. Many of these, however, in after years, rejoined their friends, and shared in the fortunes of the colony.

Many of these original colonist brought their pots, pans, kettles and other utensils all the way from the Old World, all of which did duty for a long time in the colony, in the days of its infancy, when it required all the means the people possessed, and could obtain, to sup- ply food and clothing. About a dozen pans and kettles had to do duty for all the families; and it is related, that for some time a single broom sufficed for the whole settlement. It was, no doubt, better than the modern made article.

When the colonists arrived, there was scarce- ly any food on hand, as their arrival had not been so soon expected, and the necessary pro- vision had not been made. In this emergency, the streams were largely drawn upon for food, being abundantly stocked with fish. As there were not many hooks and lines, the party was divided-some caught fish, and others bait- namely, grass-hoppers. In this way a plenti- ful supply of fish was caught, which were cooked and eaten without seasoning, as the supply of salt had given out.

Even in later years, owing to unforeseen cir- einstances, the necessary food for the colonists was sometimes very short; for as late as the fall of 1850, the Rev. Wilhelm Streissguth, the first preacher, wrote that there were not fifty pounds of flour in the settlement, on account of the

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY

threshing machine having broken down, and no wheat threshed. The threshers had to - go to Milwaukee, 100 miles, for repairs, which trip could seldom be made in less than a week. Oxen were used to run the first thresh- ing machine for several seasons. The good pastor wrote that he frequently made his meals three times a day upon boiled potatoes alone, and with relish, for "hunger is the best of sauce."

The elannish spirit of the native valleys, in spite of the common poverty, early asserted itself in the New Glarus settlement. The in- habitable portion of Old Glarus is mainly sepa- rated into two natural divisions-the Great and Little Valleys. Each locality has some peculi- arity of language and customs that differ from each other; and consequently the inhabitants of each section cherish a sort of clannish affection for their own clan-people, whether Great or Little Valleyites. This is more particularly true of the people of Little Valley, perhaps from coming less in contact with the rest of the canton and the world, because of their secluded location. About one-quarter of the original set- tlers of New Glarus were from Little Valley; and very soon after their arrival, began to evince their ancient spirit of clannishness, finding some cause of disagreement over often very trifling matters. This soon led to a secession, on a small scale-some twenty-five persons, includ- ing the Little Valley portion, retiring from the contracted quarters of the common hut or cabin, and erecting a separate shelter for themselves on the east side of Little Sugar river, about eighty rods from the main habitation, and close to the bridge, on the road leading east from the settlement. But in the eusuing spring, they assisted the others in building additional cabins, and rejoined the main body. Several families, however, at an early day, abandoned the colony, removing some twelve miles east, into the towns of Mount Pleasant and Sylvester, where much prosperity has attended them. The people have since become more homogeneous, and little, if

any, of the old clannish feeling of distrust to- ward each other is seen or cherished by the younger generation.

The beginning was now made, it is true; the land was bought and the people were on it, but the immediate outlook was dismal enough. In a strange land, among strangers, ignorant of the language, manners, customs and mode of farm- ing of the country, and bare of clothing and the necessaries of life, with winter approaching, it certainly looked dark to these settlers; and if it had not been that the sum of $1,000, to meet their necessities, had arrived from the old home, and been made available, it would have gone hard with the colonists. This money was ex- pended for food, tools, and some stock of vari- ous kinds, and for building material.

The large cabin or hut, built partly in the hill-side, answered the intended purpose of a make-shift until others could be erected. This original shelter for the colony was so contracted that at night, and on rainy days the inmates were crowded together like sheep in a pen. New log houses, of rude structure, were erected, some twelve to sixteen in number, so as to ac- commodate the several families, by putting two in each cabin. So, by Christmas the several families were distributed in their new homes, and somewhat prepared for the expected sever ities of the season.

The first winter was thus encountered, indif- ferently provided for, but fortunately it proved a very mild one. In the following spring, the land was portioned off into sixty lots of twenty acres each, and, according to the arrangement made in Switzerland, each colonist who was the head of a family, twenty-two in number, re- ceived twenty acres of tillage or meadow land, the location being determined by lot. The tim- ber lot was, for eight or ten years, held in com- mon, each using, under certain rules what he required ; but it was at length divided into two and a half acre lots, and apportioned among the heads of families. It was understood that the value of the land at the time of the purchase,

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$1.25 per acre, should be repaid within ten years, by the colonists, without interest ; and should any persons abandon their portion he- fore payment, the next emigrant settler arriving might make claim thereto. However, few por- tions were abandoned, and all were paid be- fore the allotted time expired. The remainder of the allotment tracts, after supplying the original emigrants, was subsequently granted to new comers, to several single men of age,. and, in some cases, to widows who claimed them.

After the division had thus been made, each colonist began to clear and break up his lot in small way, in which labor the women rendered assistance, as most of them were accustomed to out-door work from childhood. This break- ing was slow and laborious, as teams and plows had not yet been obtained. Most of the first breaking was done with spades and shovels.

Some time during the spring of 1846, drovers from Ohio brought a lot of cows to Exeter, a mining town eight miles east of New Glarus. The colonists hearing of it, at once set out to pur- chase some ; and, being excellent judges, soon selected the best animals of the herd in sufficient numbers to give each family one. These cost $12 apiece, and were paid for out of the unex- pended balance of the $1,000 aid, before men- tioned. Additional log huts were now erected in sufficient numbers, so that each family had one for its occupation. These were built elose together, apart from the twenty acre apportion- ments, so as to form a small village. In after years, when the several lots had been increased, houses were built upon the farms, while me- chanics and tradesmen occupied those in the village.

Progress toward the hoped for independence was for some years very slow, owing in part to poverty, and yet more to ignorance in tilling the soil, and handling the erops after the fash- ion of this country. Generally in their old Switzer homes, no horses nor plows were used in agriculture ; all spading, sowing, mow-

ing, etc., being done by hand. The hay and other crops are carried on the backs of men and women ; even manure was, and is still carried there in tubs made for the purpose, up to the steep mountain slopes where it was used. In fact they were ignorant of all modes of farm- ing, except the care of cattle, in which they ex- celled.

This beginning certainly looked discouraging to the people. Without money, without skill in a strange land, and among those whose lan- guage was different from their own, it required firm determination, courage and faith to hold ont. With some, it is likely it was only the want of means to return that prevented their leaving. Most of the men, hwever, made up their minds to win success by unceasing efforts. They, as well as the women, sought and found work elsewhere, the men at the lead mines at Exeter, and Mineral Point, and on the farms of older settlers; the women as domestic serv- ants, washer-women, in fact anything by which they could honestly earn something. Their earnings were scanty-about fifty cents a day being a man's wages, and even this was paid mostly in flour, meat, potatoes and other pro- duce, which they carried home on their backs, often a distance of twenty-five miles. Money was an almost unknown commodity. In this way they managed to live until they could cul- tivate enough land to enable them to find work and food at home.

As the year advanced, Mr. Streiff purchased four yoke of oxen for the common use of the colony. They were used, in turn, by each family, for breaking up land, drawing wood from the timber tract, or anything else neces- sary to be done. After one person had used. a yoke of cattle the allotted time, he turned them over to the next on the list entitled to them. The oxen are reported to have had as hard a time of it as any of the colonists, if not harder fare, and harder service.

When the colonists went into winter quarters about the close of 1845, much to the regret of

HON. JAMES CAMPBELL

MRS. JAMES CAMPBELL

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

all, Nicholas Duerst, one of the pioneer adven- turers and locators of the colony, returned to his native Switzerland. J. J. Tschudy was pre- vailed upon by the friends of the enterprise to take Mr. Duerst's place as leader and advisor to the colonists, and reached New Glarns in the autumn of 1846, and continned his residence there until 1856, securing, in a high degree, the confidence and esteem not only of his coun- trymen, but of all classes of people. About this time, the connection between the colony and the father-land was, in a great measure, dis- solved, the lots having all been disposed of, and paid for. Mr. Tschudy, now advanced in years, resides in Monroe, highly respected for the good services he rendered the New Glarus colony in its infancy, and for his worth as a man and good citizen. The names and memo- ries of the two Duersts, Streiff, Tschndy, Legler, P. Jenny, Sr., Egger, Streissguth, Zimmerman and Etter, will long be held in grateful remem- branee by the people of New Glarus and their descendants.

From this time, 1846, onward, although the progress of the Swiss emigrants was slow, it was snre. The money earned by most of them was carefully hoarded; and as soon as enough was saved to buy a forty acre tract, it was thus promptly invested. The journey to the gov- ernment land office at Mineral Point, a distance of thirty-two miles, was often made on foot, for prior to 1850, there were few horses in the set- tlement.

The early unfavorable reports sent home by the discouraged ones, very naturally tended, for some years, to deter others from following; and, until 1850, their numbers were not much increased. After that time, owing to the better and nearer markets, and afterward the outbreak of the Crimean War, and the consequent rise in the price of wheat, at that time the principal product in the New Glarus settlement, a steady acquisition of emigration from Switzerland was received each year, and that mostly of a class

who possessed means to buy land and stock, and make needful improvements.

At length the long toiled-for result, so anx- iously hoped for, yet so long doubted and de- spaired of by some, was realized beyond expec- tation. Strong and self-reliant, the colony is not only a success, but is a standing proof of what a small amount of money, well directed and expended, may do to better the condition of the honest poor of over-crowded cities, towns and localities in the old and new world. The money expended has long since been refunded, so that in fact the founding of this colony cost literally nothing, while the benefit to thousands has been priceless.

Owing to the fact that the cheap lands have all been taken up, and there being little disposi- tion to sell among those possessing landed estates, immigration has now almost altogether ceased. On the other hand, many young men, far more in number than the original colonists, have gone to the fertile prairies of the west, in some instances again forming sn.all colonists; but many have dispersed, each striking out for himself.

Many of those first comers, who had nothing but their poverty and their willing hands, are now not only in good circumstances, but wealthy. And all, without exception, of those who retained and practiced the old-time habits of industry, economy, and, above all, sobriety are much better off than it would ever have been possible for them to have become in the country they left, to which, though dear the memory be, few would return to stay. And little need is there to return, for here the Swiss finds everything he left at home, language, peo- ple and customs the same, only lacking the towering snow-clad mountain to complete the resemblance.

In sketching briefly the enstoms and institu- tions as they now exist here, it is proper that the Church and religion of the colonists should be first in order. The first house of worship was built of hewn logs, in 1849, by voluntary

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contributions of labor and money, and was for the time a roomy and substantial structure. It was also used for school and town purposes. The village school district bought it when the present structure was erected; and when, in process of time, a new school house was needed, it was sold to a farmer living three and a half miles east of the village, who removed it, and now occupies it as a dwelling. The present church was built of stone, in 1858, at a cost of $1,950 in money, and 550 days' work by the members of the congregation. It is a plain structure, with a square tower, surmounted by a dome, and provided with two bells. The first bell was bought by the Rev. Mr. Streissguth in Milwaukee, in 1852. It weighs 327 pounds, and cost $112. The second was bought in 1859, weighing 468 pounds, and cost $172.50, of which $120 was raised by subscription.

Before the arrival of a clergyman, Mr. Tschudy conducted religious services. The first preacher was the Rev. Mr. Streissguth, now of St. Paul, Minn., who was sent to the colony in 1850, and was supported for two years at the expense of parties in Switzerland. He remained five years. He is spoken of asa man of good ability. a true Christian, and in every way worthy and charitable. He had some knowledge of medicine, which he exercised gratuitously for the relief of the sick, at a time when physicians resided at a distance, and the people were too poor to employ them. His successor was the Rev. John Zimmerman, now of Burlington, Iowa, who was pastor from 1855 to 1859. He was engaged when Mr. Streissguth left, and on his recommendation. He resigned on account of disagreement with the trustees in matters of government, rules, ete. The present minister, Rev. J. T. Etter, came in 1860, and has uninterruptedly served the con- gregation ever since ; and during the eighteen years of his pastorate, he married 115 comples, christened 861 children, and attended the burial of 267 persons.

The second church belongs to the Evangeli- cal Association ; the members are few, and the manner of worship is identical with that of the Methodists. The first itinerant preachers came into the vicinity in 1847. They gained some converts in spite of the opposition, distrust and dislike with which the colonists regarded any religious innovations. In 1859, they built a large, frame church, on the hill, about two miles from the village ; not daring at that time to build in the village, so strong was the preju- dice against them. In 1865, this feeling hav- ing considerably moderated, the church was removed into the village, and worship is held regularly without molestation or disturbance from others. They now seldom receive any ac- cession to their numbers, which are few ; but among them are some of the most worthy and substantial citizens of the colony.

The reason why the New Glarus people have so generally adhered to the faith of their fa- thers, is, doubtless, because at an early day they organized a Church with regular services after the customs of the father-land, which, with peo- ple disposed, as these are, to venerate every- thing that their ancestors did, went far to strengthen their attachments to their ancient forms of worship.

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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 87

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