History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 96

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958

USA > Wisconsin > Iowa County > History of Iowa County, Wisconsin > Part 96

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).

But, as is often said, " one cannot have too much of a good thing," and that Mineral Point was so lucky as to come into possession of a small part of the public domain without price is only a matter for congratulation. Likewise, if that august representative of the people before mentioned, should take as beneficent an interest in towns generally, as was manifested here, or is exerted for the benefit of "poor and needy " railroad corporations (never too little, often too much), there would doubtless be many a happier community than can be often found in this State or elsewhere.

It appears that the early miners had claims scattered here and there about the "Point," staked out to suit their fancy, on an area of about eighty acres. now within the corporate limits of the city. This portion of country was surveyed by Charles Bracken as early as 1835, for the settlers or miners, without reference to Government authority, for the purpose of placing limits or boundaries for future claimants to be guided by. At that time, this land was not in the mar- ket, having been reserved by the Government officials as mining lands. Therefore, those who were here then were simply tenants at will, commonly called squatters, and not until 1837 was a foot of land entered in the village. But, previous to that time, an act was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, published July 2, 1836, making especial provisions for the survey and sale of the lands at Fort Madison. Burlington, Bellevue, Dubuque. Peru and Mineral Point.

The bill provided that the land where these places stand should be laid off, under the direc- tion of the Surveyor General, into lots, streets and avenues. in comformity with the lay of the claims generally, and according to the just rights of the settlers. Not more than 640 acres could be thus appropriated for any place, and the inner town lots could not exceed one-half acre in size, and the outer lots were limited to four acres. A plat of the survey was to be returned to the Secretary of the Treasury, and, within six months, the lots were to be sold at auction to the highest bidder, under the direction of the President, as he should think fit : provided, " that no lot shall be sold for less than $5."

The lots were to be set off into three classes, according to their relative value on account of situation and eligibility for business purposes, without regard to improvements that had been made thereon.

Those who were occupants of or claimants to the lots, previous to the act, could, for them- selves or through their representatives, make purchase of their claims at the rate of $10, $20 and $40 per forty acres, according to the relative value of the land, but none of the persons aforesaid could enter more than an acre. An appropriation of $3,000 was made to defray the expenses of the survey. In connection with the above, an especial provision was made in the act, donating a piece of land to the town, to be held forever as a public square.

653

HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

An amendment to the act of July 2, 1836, was passed and approved March 3, 1837, by which a Board of three Commissioners, two of whom constituted a quorum, were to be appointed by the President, at a salary of $6 per day for service, to attend to or perform the duties for- merly assigned to the Surveyor of the Territory, as they could not interfere with what had already been done. They were required to take oaths for the faithful and impartial perform- ance of their duties, and were authorized to hear and reduce to writing the evidence given in support of claims, and to administer oaths and determine as to the validity of said claims. They were to place on file all certificates of pre-emptors and pay for them to the Receiver of Publie Moneys, from whom they received a receipt, entitling the purchaser to a patent from the Gov- ernment, as in the case of the sale of other public lands. After the Board of Commissioners had determined upon all cases of pre-emption, the lots not taken were to be sold as at first pro- vided, after advertising the same for three months in three publie newspapers. After all contin- gent expenses incident to the survey and sale of the land had been paid, the balance remaining was to be remitted to the Receiver, who, in turn, was to pay the same to the Trustees of the different interested towns, to be expended by them in the erection of public buildings, and mak- ing street improvements, etc.

FIRST SURVEYS AND ENTRIES.

The first Government survey of the land was made by Garrett F. Vliet, in 1836, as appears in a note on a certified copy of a plat or map of the survey, which dates back to September 5, 1837-whether of the original survey alone, or of that and the one made in 1837, in connection, does not appear. Subsequent to this, in the spring and summer of 1839, another survey of land was made for the Mineral Point District, as the survey of Garrett F. Vliet covered but a small portion of the tract allotted to the village by the United States Government. The last survey, which was made by C. C. Harrison, covered all of the remaining territory allowed to the village, and this, including the Vliet survey, is described as follows : " The south half of the northeast quarter of Section 31; the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 31; and the southeast quarter of Section 31, of Town 5, Range 3; and the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 5, Town 4, Range 3; and the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 6 ; the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 6; and the northwest quarter of the north- west quarter of Section 6, Town 4, Range 3." The Commissioners appointed by the Presi- dent to attend to the sale of the land, were Geo. Cubbage, Wm. W. Carrell and M. M. MeCarber.

The first entry of land pursuant to the above, was made by J. F. O'Niell. on the 5th day of September, 1837-on the day that the transcript or copy of the Vliet survey was received here. The lots entered were 97, 98 and 110, on one of which O'Niel had already built a house. This house is yet standing, a memento of the past, and is one of the oldest houses in the city. The settlers were so anxious and alert to prove up on their claims, that, by the 30th of September. after the first lots had been entered, eighty-two persons had made their claims good. No other entries were made of lots in the village subsequent to this, until after C. C. Harrison's survey had been made.

The names of the different parties who made entries on the first survey previous to September 30, 1837, were consecutively as follows : J. F. O'Neill. Milton Bevans, Abner Nichols, John Bevans, B. L. Webb, Alexander Turner, J. L. Crocker. R. C. Hoard, William Sublitt, Jr., R. G. Ridgeley, M. M. Strong, J. Catlin, John Milton, Nicholas Uren, Nicholas Curry, Thomas Cook- ing, Edward Code. James Pascoe, J. D. Ansley, C. P. Burrows, George Hardy, David Kendall, Richard Griddle, I. T. Lathrop, A. Garrison, James Wasley. Stephen Lean. Mark Terrill, James Hitehins, Richard Martin, Joshua Bailey, Robert Gray, James Pascoe, Charles Etter- shanks, H. R. Hunter, R. Goldsworthy, William Sublitt, M. M. Bishop, S. Thomas. W. Thomas, J. Gordan, J. R. James, J. Milton, John Rich, W. Predieux, James Eneix, J. Brunette. W. Ball, P. Ilughs. M. V. B. Burriss. O. P. Williams, B. Salter, William Henry, Edward Bivans, J. Jenkins, S. and B. Thrasher, Thomas MeKnight, Mark Terril !. Joseph Bailey, Francis Vivien, Jo Tregaskis, William Sherman, M. Harris, R. W. Gray. F. Carter, J. Hugill, IJ. Stephens, W. May. J. Caperly, W. Olney, J. Bennett, Abel Moore. William Moore, Enoch Long,

654

HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

William F. Managan, E. S. Baker, J. S. Bawden, G. B. Cole, Charles Louis, Robert Dougherty, J. Hood, J. Tyac and H. Rablin.

The first entry was made on the Harrison survey on the 19th of July, 1839, by Andrew Crowgay, who purchased Lot 130. The only other entries during this year were made before the 30th of August, and were, with but few exceptions, in favor of assigns who had secured the interests of different claimants. The legal provision made for assignees in the Government grant afforded an excellent opportunity for speculators to make investments in claim assignments. and then prove upon them, paying at the regular Government rates already described. This would probably have been rendered impossible, had it not been for the interim between September 30, 1837, and July 19, 1839, during which time a large number of persons who were justly enti- tled to receive patents at the nominal prices provided for regular elaimants, left the country. Subsequent to 1839, entries made by assigns were made gradually less frequent, until they almost entirely disappeared from the entry book. In 1839, forty-three individuals made entries, repre- senting the claims of eighty four persons. Ten entries were made during 1840 ; then occurs an interval of five years before any more were made. After this time, the entries of land in the city were very frequent until the entire number of surplus lots left from the sales of 1837 and 1839 had been disposed of.

PUBLIC SQUARE IMBROGLIO.

In September. 1837, July, 1840, and December, 1844, the officers of the Land Office, either through ignorance or intention, granted patents to Robert Dougherty, D. W. Jones and the county of Iowa for the Mineral Point publie square, contrary to the express stipulations of the first land grant act. The square was divided into three parcels, that part upon which the old court house stands being assigned to the county of Iowa, and the remainder being divided between Dougherty and Jones, who at once proceeded to dispose of the property. The error of this proceeding was doubtless known to many, and also the means by which it was brought about in favor of the parties mentioned; but, as they had patents from the Government, granted in due form, it was generally thought that nothing could be done to rectify the diffi- culty ; and, furthermore, as the land was being disposed of for town scrip or almost anything available, and, as it was especially desirous for building purposes, there were more who stood ready to purchase than to condemn the public square gobble.

Nothing eame of this matter until many years after, when the right of a public square had not only ceased to be mooted, but a majority of the people had forgotten (if they ever knew) that there had been such a thing reserved to the place. But they were doomed at last to be rudely shaken from their repose and contentment, for, when the county seat was removed from Mineral Point to Dodgeville, in July, 1860, the county claimed an indemnity for their interest in the court house and the ground where it stands. This claim was repudiated by the authorities of the village almost immediately after it was made, upon the ground that they had contributed $1,500 toward the erection of the court house, and, besides that, the land belonged to them beyond peradventure. The county authorities then brought suit for eject- ment, and the war began in earnest. The case was finally tried in April, 1867, at the county seat of La Fayette County, in order to secure an unbiased and equitable decision in the prem- ises. The attorneys employed for the defense were M. M. Cothran, W. T. Henry and Judge Dunn ; P. A. Osborne being employed by the county. The result was in favor of Mineral Point, as it was shown by the defense in the evidence adduced, that the county, nor any individ- ual had no right whatever to the public square, as it was the exclusive property of the village, separate and independent of a patent, which could not take precedence of a special aet that went into effect before the patent was granted; and said patent might have been secured through an oversight at the land office or through the collusion of the district land office and other parties.

The village and county eventually compromised such difference as it was conceded existed between them in the possession of the court house, by the payment of $1,500 by the village. And thus the matter was fully and finally settled, and the city left in the undisputed possession

655

HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

of its ancient domain. The square, which is numbered as Block 53. is at present occupied by the public buildings, and a large number of the best business houses in the city and a few pri- vate dwellings.

MINERAL POINT BEFORE 1832.

Very many events of deep interest connected with the early settlement and growth of this locality, must necessarily be irretrievably lost to history and the knowledge of men, owing to time's all-pervading and omnipotent sway, against which, unhappily for civilization, there is no perfect safeguard. Yet. fortunately for this place, there still remains enough of accurate and positive information, embraced in the memories of early residents and visitors (scanty though they be), together with the reminiscenees of "ye ancient pioneer " who still haunts the scenes of his youthful efforts, to give a faithful reflex of the past.

But, when viewed by the vision of to-day, which can only feebly scan its lineaments, that past appears almost unreal, so great are the changes that have been wrought during the half- eentury. However, it can be no exaggeration to say, in the words of the Roman slave, applied here, that " anything that belongs to humanity is not foreign " to Mineral Point.

As early as 1827, certainly, it was known among the miners of Galena that there was lead ore to be found in abundance in Iowa County ; but that they then discovered mineral at the " Point" does not seem so certain, although it is an established fact that large numbers of explorers were wandering over the country during that year, in search of the mystic Masonic weed, and must have dug here as well as elsewhere. Besides, the trail through Gratiot's Grove, Shullsburg and New Diggings to Sugar River, led directly through this part of the country, and, according to the majority of accounts, directly over the site of the city. That route was the most desirable, on account of Jerusalem Spring (as subsequently called) being one of the best points for obtaining good water. Whether this was first an Indian trail or not. is immaterial to the narrative, but in all probability it was. as it is a well-known fact that the Indians (as after- ward aseertained), had been smelting lead near here, no one knows for how long a time before the discoveries by white men in 1827. The principal point where the Indians smelted in this vicinity was on the northeast corner of Seetion 31. at a place now known as the old Irish Dig- gings, where there are yet relics of their primitive furnace.

As to whom, by right, belongs the distinction of having settled here first, according to the data already mentioned, it is not easy to decide, as several conflicting statements have been made by reliable parties, some of whom were on the ground at the time, and who are now living, and can have had no possible motive for deception. In like measure, there are conflicting views as to who first discovered mineral at the "Point." These differences of opinion can only be accounted for on the hypothesis that some have remembered imperfectly, or. if not defective in memory, they were not very observing of the movements of those who surrounded them-which was especially necessary. in order to be able to speak accurately of matters at a time when nearly all of those who came here were living in a transitory state, coming and going constantly.

It appears, from the general statements made, that mineral was not discovered here. or. at least, was not known to have been discovered, until after several parties had built cabins. That this could have been the case, seems hardly probable, as at that time mining was the chief object with those who came here and located, and, if there had been no degree of certainty, they would hardly have been tempted to remain. Furthermore, many of those who were engaged in ex- ploring, employed help, and invested considerable money, owing to the positive knowledge, which was extant, that mineral had been found here, or in the vicinity, in paying quantities. With regard to this matter, some say that the first explorations were made here entirely on the strength of the stories current among the traders, and did not result in a discovery being made at this place until 1828, while others aver that mineral was known to abound here, among the regular miners, for some time previous, although no professed discovery had been made. How- ever, in conclusion, it can only be said, that, so far as certain knowledge extends. the latter opinion ean seareely be maintained, although it be the true one.

656

HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

WHO WAS THE FIRST SETTLER ?

The following representations concerning the early settlement, we present without comment, as they are sufficiently explicit: Says Peter Parkinson, Jr., of La Fayette County : "My father, D. M. Parkinson, and myself, removed to Mineral Point early in the spring of 1829, for the purpose of starting a hotel at that place. When we arrived there, we found two cabins already built and occupied. The first was ereeted in the summer or fall of 1827, by a Calvinistic Baptist minister named William Roberts, and an associate, one Solomon Franeis. The other cabin or hut was owned by a German by the name of Christopher Law. and stood on land now the property of Mr. Coade. My father then erected a comfortable log house, where James James' harness-shop now stands. This dwelling, to the best of my recollection, was the third building there, and the first public house. either at the 'Point' or in the county." The first dwelling spoken of stood in the sequestered vale of Jerusalem, near the spring of the same name, which bursts forth here, and which for many years was the village watering-place. or fountain. The spring received its name through the devotional lays of Elder Roberts: who used to make the hills and valleys resound with the song of "Jerusalem, my happy home." One of the first streets, or, rather, paths, in the village, which have since become streets, trav- ersed the valley of Jerusalem. The old spring, that perhaps witnessed the meeting of many a modern Jacob and Rebecca, has fallen a victim to Time's inevitable changes, and has been super- seded by a pump, that common contrivance of to-day. Thus is invaded "the grace of a day that is dead," the type of the past.

In a memorandum made by Francis Henry, now in the possession of William T. Henry, he says : " Squire Hoard came to Mineral Point on the 12th day of June, 1828, and built the first cabin on the ground where Abner Nichols' tavern stood," which is now occupied by a livery stable. " The next house," Mr. Henry continues. " was built by a man by the name of Tucker. and stood where Lanyon's tin-shop now stands." "These and other notes were obtained," William 'T. Henry observes, " several years ago, for the purpose of preparing an historical lecture or discourse," and. being derived from good authorities, at a time when a large number of the old settlers were living, are undoubtedly entitled to due consideration.

" In July, 1828," says Edward Bouchard, who still lives here, " I camped at Mineral Point one night while on my way to Sugar River, where I afterward took up my abode. At that time, I saw no one at the Point. except three men, who were erecting a log cabin. I remember only the names of two of them, Messrs. Blackstone and MeMurrish. 1 am quite cer- tain that there were no other persons living at the Point then, for, so far as I am aware, min- eral had not then been discovered here, and consequently nearly all of the miners, like myself, were inclined to go where they were well assured lead had been found, rather than to spend their time in prospecting. But. after all, the most of the people were coming and going from place to place constantly. trying to find better diggings or locations, so you could hardly tell how long your next-door neighbors were going to stop, and, in fact, it might be said that sometimes you hardly knew who they were.'

An opinion, which, at the present time prevails largely among the old residents of Min- eral Point, perhaps more generally than any other, is that John Hood and wife were the first permanent settlers here. Mrs. Hood lived until 1879, and always maintained that they were the first permanent residents. They came here in the spring or summer of 1828, according to the best accounts, from Missouri. Their first shelter was a hint made of poles and covered with bark, in which they lived until a sod house could be erected that would afford them better pro- tection. This cabin was 10x12 feet on the ground, and afforded them a dwelling-place for some time. Although others may have been here and erected cabins previous to this, as stated, never- theless it does not appear, from the evidence given, that there was what might be termed a per- manent home made here before they came, simply because the " better-half " of a home had not made her appearance in the wilderness up to that date. However, Mrs. Hood was not long the only woman in the town, for Elder Roberts' family and others not known came during the

657

HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

season, some of whom remained permanently. One evidence particularly in favor of Mrs. Hood as the first woman here that deserves mention, is that she was acknowledged to have been entitled to the grant of land from the Government for the first woman in this portion of the country. Whether she ever received this or not, is not known. Mr. Hood labored at mining for others for a time, together with prospecting for himself, until finally he struck a rich lead, which he worked until his death, in 1844. During the Black Hawk war, he was a Lieutenant under Gen. Dodge. At that time, Mrs. Hood is said to have been as valuable as a man in connection with the garrison at this place, as she was a dead shot with a rifle, and did not hesitate to expose herself outside of the fort whenever it was necessary. After the war, she established a board- ing-house-the first of the kind ever presided over by a woman in this section.

THE FIRST NOTABLE EVENTS.

Early in the summer of 1828, Nat Morris came to the Point, and, soon after, he and two other brother adventurers, Messrs. Tucker and Warfield, it is said, discovered the first lead on Mineral Point hill, directly east of the city. The news spread like wild-fire, and, consequently, during the following season, the influx of miners and settlers was quite numerous, and several cabins were erected on either side of what is now Commerce street, and around Jerusalem Spring. Of those who came some time in August of that year, R. C. Hoard and John Long. who was also one of the first arrivals, erected a furnace about two miles east of the Point. This was the first furnace erected by white men in this vicinity, although within the season one or two others were built. In this connection, perhaps it will not come amiss to make special mention of Mr. Hoard, better known as Col. Hoard, as he was one of the best-known and most influential of the first comers. He is described as having been a man of strong mind and ster- ling qualities, true to his friends, and brave to defend the interests of the Commonwealth, as well as his own. He participated in the Black Hawk war, as did nearly every one of the pioneers, and served with distinction.

In the summer and fall of 1828, the first stock of merchandise was brought into the place by Erastus Wright, and a man by the name of Guiard, whether as assistant or part owner, is not known. The store building was a common log house. This was no ordinary enterprise for those early days, taking a lot of goods out into a comparatively unknown country, for the accom- modation of miners. After the opening of a store, Mineral Point began to assume a local dig- nity and importance as a sort of commercial center for the surrounding country.

By some, it is thought that during this year (1828), the first Fourth of July was celebrated here, but this is an error, as at that time there certainly were but few persons located here, and those were doubtless composed as largely of foreigners as of Americans, or those who would care to celebrate. The first and real patriotic demonstration occurred in 1829, when there were quite a large number of people here to enter into such a fete with national spirit and zest.

In 1828, a physician located here in the person of Dr. Mannegan, and the following year Dr. Justine came. Although these were undoubtedly the first physicians to locate, they were not the first to come here, a Dr. Loofborrow, from Gratiot's Grove, being the first. What may have been the practice especially followed by those sons of Esculapius is not known ; in all probability, it was either " corn or calomel" -- in other words, botanic corn-sweats and allopathic calomel drenchings ; but in those days the man who depended solely on his saddle-bags for bread and butter was apt to go lightly fed, no matter how good his practice or how great his skill.

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 Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 96

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 958

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958