History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 99

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

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THE BANK OF MINERAL POINT.

This bank was the second opened in the State. and in its day was one of the noted institu- tions of the country. Like many similar establishments of an early day, it started out with bright prospects, but within a few years became the tool of swindlers, and exploded as a grand fiasco, leaving those who had invested poorer, but not much wiser respecting the crookedness of public victimizers, as illustrated by some of the principal events which have transpired here within the last twenty-five years.

By an act of the Territorial Council, approved December 2, 1836, a charter was granted to two commissioners to establish a bank at Mineral Point. in the town of Pecatonica. The capital stock was limited to $200,000, and, during the following May, after thirty days' notice had been given, the stock was to be opened for subscription. The superintendents and commis- sioners appointed were William S. Hamilton, J. F. O'Neill, M. M. Strong, James Morrison, John Atchison, Richard McKinn and G. V. Dennison. who were to control the bank interests until the stock was soid and an election could be held. The subscription books were to be kept open six days, and any one was at liberty to subscribe to five shares.

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

The charter was granted to continue until 1857, under the management of seven directors. The bank was not to ineur an indebtedness which would at any time exceed three times the amount of capital stock actually paid in. If at any time bills became due and they could not be settled on demand, the corporation was dissolved. Votes were to be issued according to the number of shares. A less denomination than a five-dollar bank note could not be issued, and then not until $40,000 had been paid in. Whether enough stock was taken in 1837 to allow of the opening of the bank or not, is immaterial to the narrative, as it appears that the bank was not thien put in operation. The heaviest buyers of stock were a Mr. Webb, who represented the Erie Transportation Company, that was then operating in Helena and vicinity, and James D. Doty. Each of these parties entered into a strife to gain a controlling interest, which resulted in favor of Mr. Doty, who finally became the bank (so to speak), he having gradually bought up nearly all of the stock, at the nominal rate of 20 per cent on each share.

In the fall of 1838, or spring of 1839, S. B. Knapp and Porter Brace put in an appear- ance, and, either as purchasers or representatives for Mr. Doty, took charge of the bank. Mr. Knapp was the financier of the establishment, and Porter Brace was his assistant. It is sup- posed, from subsequent circumstances. that the young men came here. having but little cash in store, with the intention of absorbing the bank, and making what, in common parlance, would be called "a stake." Although, in the event, the design was frustrated, yet, as will be seen. the institution was swamped by them.

In connection with receiving deposits, the principal business of the bank was transaeted with the smelters, who, upon the purchase of lead from the miners, drew orders upon the bank, to be taken in exchange for drafts on the Eastern banks, where the lead was sold. In accord- ance with this condition of affairs, about the first thing done by the new firm, on commencing business, was to issue what were called " post bills," which were indorsed across the face with red ink. to be paid in two or three months after date. Although this was an innovation upon the plan of banking contemplated by the charter, yet it was not expressly forbidden ; so the business men and miners, with a little grumbling, accepted the situation, and contented them- selves by dubbing the bills "red dogs." The " red dogs " had not been in use over a year before Mr. Knapp, according to his plan of operations, concluded to make an advance on the enemy, and issue "post bills " for six months. These notes were indorsed with blue ink, to be paid in six months after date. No sooner did the publie get hold of them, than a perfect storm of indignation was launched at the wily banker by his proposed dupes, who saw through the fraud at a glance, and refused to accept them, in most instances. These bills were familiarly called the " blue bellies."

Publie meetings were held, and the bank proceedings denounced by the speakers in the strong language of those days. At one of the meetings, M. M. Strong made a bitter speech against Mr. Knapp, and, in the evening, after his return home, he was waited upon by that gen- tleman, who informed him that he had called to demand satisfaction (at the same time drawing a couple of pistols), and that they could then and there settle the difficulty, according to "the code," in the dark. To this Mr. Strong demurred, stating that he did not care to kill him, and much less did he care to be shot himself; but if, after mature deliberation, he should decide that they must fight a duel, why, well and good, providing suitable and gentlemanly prepara- tions could be made. To this Mr. Knapp agreed and withdrew, and that was the last of the duel.

The bank continued to operate until the general dissatisfaction became so great that an official examination into the affairs of the institution began to be mootedl. When Messrs. Knapp and Brace heard of this, they quietly "folded their tents," locked up the bank "and stole away." The following day, when it was discovered that the birds had flown. a party of eight, led by I. P. Tramel, Deputy Sheriff, started for Galena in pursuit of the fugitives, whom they captured at that point. Mr. Knapp had nothing when taken, except his traveling-bag and two volumes of Diekens' novels : the latter he presented to Mr. Welch, who was then editing a paper at Galena. Something about the circumstance attracted the attention of some of Knapp's captors, and they demanded the books, when lo! what should they discover, pasted within the

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fly-leaves of the books, but the notes and bills of exchange which represented the assets of the bank-a sum not less than $50,000. Delighted with the success of their expedition. the party returned to the Point, having the absconding parties in charge.

Soon after their arrival, a publie meeting was held, and Pascal Beckett, J. F. Dunn and W. H. Banks were appointed Bank Receivers. A short time subsequent to this, after the affairs of the institution had been overhauled, Mr. Banks was deputized to go East and collect on the sureties. In the end. Banks turned out to be the greatest rogne, and, by his conduet, very aptly illustrated the aphorism of " There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip," for he never returned, nor was he heard from, and, up to date, the " red dogs " and " blue bellies," if there are any in existence, remain unredeemed. The effect of the bank failure and eventual loss of the funds proved a serious set-back to the community at large, for a time, and afflicted a good many very severely. However, within a brief time, business was restored to its wonted vigor, and the matter of the loss of $50,000 or $75,000 was soon forgotten. The bank was opened in a log building on the public square, and, in 1839, was transferred to a stone structure erected for the purpose, which stood where the Episcopal schoolhouse now stands.

From 1838 to 1844, there was rather a diminution of business than an increase, owing to the many bank failures through the country at that time. However, no particularly marked depression in the general activity could be noted, as the place fairly held its own against the financial adversity of the times. Immigrant arrivals were not large, neither were the departures for other fields very great, therefore it can be said that Mineral Point had at last settled down to a more temperate and judieions pace, the result of which could scarcely be unfavorable under any circumstances. The following are the names of several of the more prominent men who came here and settled permanently between 1836 and 1844, who have left or are dead: W. Tregay, Ed Cornish. J. J. Miner, Dr. David Ross, D. Richard Ridgley, Henry Lanehan, O. P. Williams, Parley Eaton, A. W. Parisb. G. B. and Phil Morrison, C. C. Washburn, Cyrus Woodman, Jabez Pierce, Judge M. M. Jackson, Edwin Whitmore, S. Pulford, M. D., Henry Koop, Whitney Smith, Crane Floyd, Samuel Baker, Thomas Davey, George Hardy. Henry Tollier and William Bennett.

THE TRIAL AND HANGING OF CAFFEE.

Probably the most thrilling episode that ever occurred in Mineral Point was the trial and hanging of William Caffee for murder in 1842. The erime was one of revolting brutality, committed with slight provocation, and therefore with searcely an extennating circumstance. A man by the name of Berry had erected a new house in the town of White Oak Springs, now in La Fayette County, and, as is customary in rural districts, invited his neighbors in to " a honse- warming," among whom was the man Caffee. The manager of the amusements, a man by the name of Southwick, had the dancers numbered off upon a piece of paper, from which the names were called in turn. Professing to be offended at some trivial circumstance, Caffee seized the paper and ran out doors with it. Southwick, it is said, grasped a stick of wood and pur- sued Caffee, threatening to knock him down if he did not return the list. At this. Caffee drew a pistol and shot him dead. In the prosecution, it was proved that Caffee had made a boast that he would kill his man that night; consequently, although he was ably defended by M. M. Strong, he was found guilty of murder in the first degree, and was sentenced by Judge Jackson (now a foreign Consul) to be hanged by the neck until dead. As usually happens, the friends of the criminal attempted to get the sentence revoked, or commuted to imprisonment for life, but without avail, and in November, 1842, William Caffee suffered the extreme penalty of the law and paid blood for blood. During the first part of his incarceration, he was lodged in the old jail, and watched day and night by four armed men, and sometimes more, as it was rumored that an attempt was to be made to set him free. At that time, they did not have the conven- iences now in vogue for shackling criminals, so irons were riveted on his legs by James James, the blacksmith. Each week the process of unriveting and riveting had to be gone through with, and at those times Caffee would say to James, " You had better be careful how you put the

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irons on, for, if I should get loose, you might be sorry." Just before the wretch was taken to the gallows, he expressed a wish to have a raw slice off from the heart of Judge Jackson, to eat. The gidlows was erected on the old Russell lot, near the depot, and it is said that one of the largest crowds that ever assembled here was present and witnessed the finale. After the horrid affair was over, the body was taken by the friends of the deceased, and an attempt made to restore life, but, fortunately for society, without success.

The verdict returned by the jury is a voluminons document, the quaint phraseology of which is sufficiently explicit and conclusive to render the finding a cast-iron and unequivocal judg- ment. For the benefit of modern Solons who return sententious verdiets. we reproduce the paper :

" In the District Court of Iowa County, Wiskonsin Territory. of April term. 1842:

"The grand inquest of the United States of America, inquiring for the county of Iowa. in the Territory of Wiskonsin, on their oaths do present that William Caffee, late of the county aforesaid, yeoman, not having the fear of God before his eyes. but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, on the twenty-third of February, in the year of our Lord one thon- sand eight hundred and forty-two, at Gratiot's Grove, in the county of Iowa aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this court. in and upon one Samuel Southwick, in the peace of God and of the said Territory, then and there being feloniously. willfully and of his malice aforethought. an assault did make, and that the said William Caffee, a certain pistol of the value of one dollar. then and there loaded and charged with gunpowder and one leaden bullet, which pistol the said William Caffee. in his right hand then and there had and held to and against and upon the said Samnel Southwick, then and there willfully, feloniously and of his malice aforethought did shoot and discharge ; and that the said William Caffee, with the leaden bullet aforesaid, out of the pistol aforesaid, then and there by force of the gunpowder and shot sent forth as aforesaid. the said Samuel Southwick, in and upon the left breast of him, the said Samuel Southwick. then and there feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought, did strike, penetrate and wound. giv- ing to the said Samuel Southwick, then and there with the leaden bullet aforesaid so as afore- said shot, discharged and sent forth from the pistol aforesaid by the said William Caffee in and upon the said left breast of the said Samuel Southwick, near the region of the heart of him. the said Samuel Southwick, one mortal wound of the depth of six inches and of the breadth of one inch. of which said mortal wound, the said Samuel Southwick, on the said twenty-third day of February, in the year aforesaid. at Gratiot's Grove, in the county of Iowa aforesaid, instantly died. and so the jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do say that the said William Caffee, the said Samuel Southwick, in manner and form aforesaid, felonionsly, willfully and of his malice aforethought. did kill and murder against the form of the statute in such case made and provided. and against the peace and dignity of the United States of America.

.. WILLIAM R. SMITH, District Attorney of Iowa County.

Witnesses : John W. Blackstone. William S. Dering, Fortunatus Berry, David T. Lufkin, Charles H. Lamar, Joseph H. Scales and Charles H. Gratiot.

BORDER JUSTICE AND VENDETTAS.

One of the methods of punishment prevailing here forty years ago was whipping. When- ever the people were particularly incensed, they seldom waited for the slow processes of the law if they could avoid it, but took the offender to some convenient spot and gave him fifty or a hun- dred lashes. Such diversions as fist fighting, an occasional knifing or shooting fray could be tolerated, but petty trickery or stealing was exceptionally odious to the average miner. The actual state of society at that time will be best illustrated by giving a few incidents. One day a man from Galena came into town in search of a couple of men who had hired four yoke of cattle from him to come here after loads of mineral ; they not having returned in due time, he had started on foot in search of them. A little inquiry revealed the fact that they had sold the oxen to Francis Vivian and Thomas Jenkins. As soon as it became known what the men had done,

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a lot of sturdy fellows got together and hunted around until they found the thieves. Then they took them out a short distance from town and gave them such a thrashing as they had never received before, in all probability. More dead than alive, they were then set at liberty and allowed to depart, with the warning that they must never show themselves here again.

At one time a professional gambler and blackleg by the name of Bunee came to the Point, and began to hoodwink and fleece the boys unmereifully. They stood the game for awhile, but at length, finding that they could not match his knavery in any way, they determined that he should emigrate. When told that he must leave the village, " Will you, nill you ?" he swore roundly that he would not, and no one could make him. Upon that, a stalwart fellow by the name of Mills took a cowhide and told him he must either go at onee or he would whip him out of the place. The fellow again declared that he would not, and Mills went at him and literally whipped him step by step out of the village.

One day, in 1839, a cracking of fire-arms was heard on High street, at the old Burris grocery. When the erowd came to the spot, whom should they find but good-natured Unele Ab stoning the worthy Burris for dear life, while the latter was returning the fire with pistol- shots. When Unele Ab was fairly aroused, he was a terror, and, before he could be stopped, Burris was put to ignominious flight, fire-arms to the contrary notwithstanding.

The terrible and sanguinary fierceness of some of those early encounters is hardly describa- ble ; neither ean the coolness and determination which was characteristic of most of those men be fully comprehended. At one time, while H. B. Welch was editing the Miners' Free Press, and Charles Bracken, the stern old pioneer, was conducting the Galena Commonwealth, Welch published an article peculiarly odious to the opposing journalist. As a result, the first time they met, Bracken deliberately cowhided Weleh. One day, not long after, Mr. Bracken was walking leisurely down High street, leading a horse, when Weleh came out of his log building, which stood on the Coade lot, No. 41, armed with shot-gun and pistols, and started in pursuit of Bracken, firing at him as he went. Within a minute the male residents of High and Commerce streets were out looking on in great excitement, but nothing was done except that different par- ties stepped forward with pistols for the belligerents. Mr. Bracken turned neither to the right nor the left, but walked along until he reached Commerce street, Welch having in the meantime shot at him six times ; then he turned, coolly drew a pistol, and, taking deliberate aim, fired at his antagonist, laying him out, but not killing him. Braeken then, without more ado, pursued his way. This was one way that early differences were settled quite often, and sometimes in a still more terrible manner, as in the ease of Ben Salter and Phil Thomas, who fought with knives and stones one day on High street to satisfy an old feud. But, for some reason, these encounters seldom ended in death.

The Sunday amusements of that time may be characterized as having been free from all restraint. Gambling, foot-racing, horse-racing and what-not were the standard sports. One old miner, called Kentuck, eame here on Saturday night, on one occasion, and stopped over Sunday, but went away dissatisfied on Monday morning, saying that he had not had any fun because he did not have but fifteen fights.

A FRENCH PRINCE VISITS THE BOROUGH.

In 1840, Mineral Point enjoyed a visit from one of the imperial family of France, the Prince de Joinville, who came to this country at that time in search of the lost Prince or French Dauphin. He stopped with his suite overnight at Unele Ab's while en route from Fort Craw- ford to Green Bay. The newspapers of the time, in commenting on the treatment extended to the illustrious foreigner, stated that at Galena the landlords, conceiving that he was a legitimate prey, charged him enormously, and ridiculously as well, for everything that the party received. and, it may be added, did, for they were required to pay $5 for using a piano during an evening. But "Unele Ab" never thought of such a piece of unwarrantable extortion, and did not charge any more than would have been demanded from any first-class guest ; thus every tavern in the country suffered in comparing the quality of the entertainment.

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The individual who created the greatest interest in the minds of the French people subse- quently was Eleazer Williams, a half-breed Iroquois, son of Thomas Williams, one of the famous old Williams stock of preachers and missionaries. Eleazar, or rather Lazare Williams, was bred among the Indians, and became a missionary or preacher and teacher among the Oneida Indians, large numbers of whom, during the early part of his career, he converted to Christianity. Being ambitious of establishing a grand Indian empire, west of and between the great lakes and the Mississippi, he succeeded in getting the six nations to entertain the scheme, which was agree- able to the Government. But a treaty, known as the Schermerhorn, was made in 1836. which effectually ruined Mr. Williams' empire seheme, as it limited the possessions of those tribes to a small area. He was with the Indians a good many years, a portion of which were passed at Green Bay. But, at last, the Indians rose en masse, and made such bitter complaints against the Rev. Eleazer, aceusing him of malfeasance, that he was dismissed from his post. For some time after this, nothing was heard of the gentleman until finally, one day, who should turn up but the "lost prince " in the person of our quondam preacher. However, his second scheme for the acquisition of greatness also misearried, for he was unable to sustain the identity. It may be said of him that he is regarded as having been the prince of knaves and charlatans.

THE CALIFORNIA EXODUS.

The discovery of gold in California, and the subsequent exaggerated reports from that region, fired the hearts of many and carried dismay to the landholders in the county. The effeet was magieal ; the large floating population, attraeted by the glittering ore, forsook their lead diggings and disposed of all their available assets to defray the expenses of a trans-conti- nental trip. A hegira of unparalleled proportions set in, and all business was paralyzed. The few growing industries fostered by the mineral operations were effectually erippled, and the land was irretrievably depleted of a frugal and thrifty class of citizens. Every branch of trade was prostrated. and the mechanie and merchant, the miner and smelter, suffered alike in the general ruin. The fever of emigration, onee fairly inoenlated upon the people, developed into an irre- mediable contagion. Panie-stricken, all classes fled toward the West, deluded by the mirage of wealth that beckoned them on to the golden fields.

Merchants, on awakening from the hallucination, found themselves surrounded by heavy stoeks of merchandise, with vacant stores filled with the stillness of the grave. No busy tide of customers lined the counters, and the voice of traffie was hushed in perpetual gloom. Promis- sory notes matured and were presented for payment, only to be met by a liberal display of book debts. To avert financial disaster and total ruin, stoeks were literally thrown on the market and sacrificed for what they would bring in ready cash.

The proceeds were usually small, as at that time merchandise was cumulative, and failed to realize anything. In this dilemma, stores were closed, and the capitalists joined the eager throng pressing on toward the Pacific coast. The army of enterprising native American prospeetors, whose shrewdness and energy founded the eities of Mineral Point and Dodgeville. abandoned their remunerative elaims. Animated by that restless spirit of adventure that first drew them to the Mississippi lead fields, they, with little relnetance, "pulled stakes," and shifted the scene of their operations from Wisconsin to California.

The first adventurers to eut adrift from Iowa County were three from Mineral Point, consisting of John J. Ross, Alexander Turner and William J. Tilley. They proceeded by water via Galena, thenee down the Mississippi to New Orleans, whenee they embarked for the Isthmus of Panama. In the spring of the same year numerous contingents from every nook and corner in the county east their fate with the generality of their fellow-citizens. That season was marked with remarkable activity, the streets and shops resounded with the bustle and traffic ineidental to the preparation of mining outfits. The roads were crowded with prairie schooners, whose balloon tops obseured the view, and impressed the spectator with a faint idea of the extensive emigration. During the summer of 1849, a lull occurred in business eireles, and the torrent of outpouring humanity was temporarily stemmed, awaiting tidings from the

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advance guard of the army preparing to follow. John J. Ross was the first man to return, and the flattering reports circulated by him accelerated the tardy ones and stimulated the unbelievers to renewed action.

A MINERAL POINT CRAFT AND HER ADVENTURES.

One of the peculiar features of 1849 was the construction of a sea-going schooner at Min- erał Point. Work was commenced in the fall of 1848 by several tradesmen, who with unusual prescience foresaw the wave of emigration that was to set in in the following year, and prepared themselves accordingly. The boat was built according to the plans, and under the immediate superintendence of Henry Butler, a carpenter. Oscar Paddock was the capitalist who supplied the pecuniary means to further the construction. Another person who lent his assistance was a sailor named Vance, who with the roving habits peculiar to his class, had become stranded in the mines far away from his native clement. The keel was laid opposite the present site of the depot, and there the three shipbuilders employed their time during the long winter. When completed and ready for launching, the little craft measured thirty feet keel by seven feet beam. In the spring of 1849, all was in readiness for the auspicious event of removal. Amid much excitement, the boat was loaded on to a large mineral wagon and propelled on wheels by two teams to Galena. Here it was launched under most propitious circumstances, which augured well for the venture. The services of Vance were now impressed to step the masts and rig the vessel in schooner fashion. Having accomplished this necessary work, a cargo of provisions was stowed away in the hold, and one bright day in May the lines binding the boat to its native shores were unloosened, and on the turbid waters of the Mississippi she was rapidly borne toward the ocean. Tradition does not preserve the title of the boat, nor does it relate whether the hardy crew condescended to the frivolitv of christening it by the time-honored custom of breaking a bottle of wine on the prow. If, however, we are allowed to infer from a knowledge of the habits and customs of the mining community, we would surmise that the conventional practice was fore- gone, the precious liquor being assimilated by the crew in honor of the success of their enter. prise.

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History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 99

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