USA > Wisconsin > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin > Part 69
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" Collisions over the rights to ranges were of frequent occurrence, and did not always assume such ridiculous phases. Broken heads and ugly wounds from knife or pistol would be the consequence.
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
" In the years of 1846 and 1847, there were over five hundred men working on the one mile square that constituted the deep clay diggings. The Mexican war drew off many of the wild and restless spirits that were mining here; and when the California fever broke out in 1849, it became nearly deserted, and there has been but little work done here since.
" All the ore raised here was above water, being only float, or surface mineral, as it is called. There have been over forty million pounds of lead ore raised on this piece of ground ; and if the same principle holds good here that has proved true in other parts of the lead mines. that the largest deposits of ore are beneath the water level, there is untold wealth in this piece of ground.'
Running along the south part of the southeast quarter of Section 10, and being within the incorporated limits of the village of Shullsburg, is a range or lode of lead ore, known as the "El- evator Range." This has been one of the best-defined lodes that has yet been discovered in the lead region. and the most extensively worked. Assuming different names along its course, ac- cording to the whims of the discoverers. it stretches along in one continuous course north 72ยบ west, for three-fourths of a mile in length, in one continuous vein. The first of these was the Elevator Range. Two men, father and son, by the name of Olmsted, in the spring of 1826, being out on a prospecting tour, discovered this very valuable range of mineral. In passing over the then almost unbroken surface of the prairie, they noticed a very remarkable growth of vegetation running in one direction, and this induced them to sink a hole in it, and the result was the discovery of the range. In some parts of the vein worked by them, the ore lay almost at the surface of the earth, and they took out masses of ore from the soil, or black earth, that would weigh from 300 to 500 pounds. Large quantities were thrown out upon the surface by hand, not being sufficiently deep to require the use of a windlass and tub, as in ordinary cases. In working down to the rock, it proved to be a gash vein, or, in mining parlance, an open clay crevice, filled with clay and ore to the width of four feet, and sometimes even more than that. There were parts of the crevice worked by them where there would be vertical sheets of ore eighteen inches in thickness, and filled in by side junks that had to be broken to raise them to the surface of the earth. The range runs along near the summit of a wide and flat ridge, and consequently it was no great depth to water, not more than twenty-five or thirty feet, and very strong at that. Here was a difficulty that no miner had as yet attempted to contend with, and it was supposed that there was no way of successfully mining in this country below the water level. They therefore contented themselves by working along the surface of the water, and avoiding any hard rock, as that was an equal barrier to any further progress to them as the water. They were not very enterprising men, and, after working for two or three years, spend- ing their money as fast as it was taken from the mines, for whisky, or at the gaming table, they found themselves as poor as they were at the beginning. The only title to land here at that time was a permit granted from the War Department of the United States Government to those who should discover mines, upon their agreeing to pay the Government one-sixteenth of all ores raised and sold. Under promises from a designing man to put on a pump that would drain the ground, they suffered him to get the permit. After promising and delaying for a year or two, without affecting anything, the Black Hawk war drove all parties from the field-the Olmsteds to return no more.
After the close of the Black Hawk war, and when the miners again returned, a man by the name of Sam Bateman, in 1836, got possession of this range, and after taking out some ore at the sides and along the top of the water, concluded to try a horse pump. This was a very primi- tive affair. The horse had to walk a circle of twenty-four feet in diameter, to make one stroke of four feet in a six-inch working-pump. It would be difficult to calculate the number of gallons it would throw to the minute, as the motion would be too slow for calculation. But the man persevered and raised some ore, though not enough in the two years he worked it to pay his expenses. Finding it unprofitable business, he abandoned it. But he proved one thing-that mineral went into the water, and was better there than above it.
In 1836, Beon Gratiot, Dean & Wyley, of Galena, Ill., took possession of the mine and
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
put on a steam engine for the purpose of raising the water. This also proved a failure in a pecuniary point of view. There were no persons here at this time who thoroughly understood mining below water ; and none especially understood working a steam engine for mining pur- poses. Fuel was scarce and dear ; and the engine was of near twice the capacity for the work it had to perform, consequently, it took double the amount of fuel to raise the power that was needed for working the barrel pump. After working about eighteen months, a dispute arising about the rents belonging to the ground, they abandoned the working and took off the engine.
In the summer of 1841, James Irvin & Co., put into the mine what they called an Ele- vator Pump, which gave the range its name. This was a contrivance to raise water by means of buckets similar to those used in mills to elevate grain, the power being supplied by horses. This was a profitable venture to the parties interested, some of whom were well-skilled miners from Cornwall, England. But at the end of that summer, they had worked as low as their pump would exhaust the water. In all this time, with all the parties that had worked the mine, they had succeeded in getting only about twenty feet under the level of the water, where it was first discovered. William Hempsted, previous to this, in 1836, had erected an inclined wheel on some ranges that run parallel to this, about one thousand feet north of it, and was successfully raising the water from his mines with the pump attached to this wheel, which was known as the Bull Pump. These mines being about sixty feet deeper than the workings of the Elevator, Curry & Co., successors to James Irvin & Co., con- ceived the idea of going into the Bull Pump range and driving a drift into their range so that the Bull Pump could raise the water for them. They commenced operations accordingly, in the summer of 1844. This was a hard undertaking; one thousand feet, and, for anything they knew, through a hard rock, with water pouring in on them through the rock overhead, and every foot to be blasted out with powder ; but they persevered until the spring of 1849, and, although they were more than half way through, they abandoned the work and went to Cali- fornia. In the fall of 1849, Edward Weatherby & Co. took possession of the mine, and the next spring started the first multiplying horse-power pump that had ever been erected in the mines. This pump would make four four-and-a-half-feet strokes to one round of the horses, discharging through a ten-inch working barrel, an immense amount of water. This enabled them to sink deeper than any one supposed it possible to drain the ground by means of horse- power pumps. It opened up rich deposits of ore of great purity. This pump drained the ground for seven years, making the enterprising owners very wealthy. In 1857, the diggings being worked out as deep as it was possible to drain them with the pump then in use, they were abandoned by a part of the company, Mr. Weatherby, retaining his interest. Capt. E. H. Beebe, of Galena, became a partner with him, and they commenced the continuation of the drift begun by Curry & Co., in 1844. This work took six men about two years to complete, again opening the ground still deeper for working, the water running off through the level, saving the immense expense of pumping, giving the owners a rich reward for their perseverance and enterprise, and proving conclusively that the only successful way of mining is by running adits into the ridges that indicate they contain deposits of lead ore.
Farther west, the range is known as the "Miller Diggings," and subsequently owned by Dr. George W. Lee and partners. There has been a large amount of ore raised here, but, as all the ore dips deeper going west, this part of the range is now under water.
The west end of the range known as the " Nick Walsh," or Sand range, has, on account of the water, been abandoned for many years. Being situated where the range dips into the deep clay basin, the mineral lies deeper and the water is very strong. There was a large quantity of mineral taken out of this range above water, and was left going down into it, indicating that there are large deposits deeper down, awaiting the working of some active company to bring in an adit that will unwater the range.
The east part of the range known as " Davenport's North Range " has been worked since the year 1852, and has yielded large amounts of ore, paying a large per cent on the capital in- vested, and making several parties very wealthy. It is estimated that over fifteen million
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
pounds of lead ore has been raised on this range since its first discovery ; and it is not at all probable that the largest deposits of ore have been reached yet.
There is ore going down all along the range into water. Mr. Weatherby has said that in one place, by the aid of a hand-pump, he sunk a hole four feet by eight, and fourteen feet deep, and took out one hundred thousand pounds of ore, leaving it going down better than at the top.
Upon the land being brought into market by the United States Government, upon which this range is located, it was purchased by William Hempstead, of Galena, Ill., and is now owned by his heirs.
The geological chapter of the lead region contains detailed mention of mines now in opera- tion. Reference is made thereto for a statement of the present condition of the interest in this and the other counties in the district.
FIRST MARRIAGE, BIRTH AND DEATH.
In addition to these mines, the Black-Leg, the Badger, and other mines were either dis- covered or prospected for in 1828, and the year was noted for some of the most important events in the early history ; being the year, it is believed, of the first birth, marriage and death in the county, and the season during which the first school and church were opened.
In January or February, 1828, Rosanna J. Parkinson was married to Thomas P. Conners, of Bond County, Ill. The event was duly celebrated at New Diggings, though there was an absence of the forms and ceremonies which elegant life, as to-day existing, deems indispensable in that connection.
In 1829, occurred one of the first births in the county, though the truth of history necessi- tates the statement that this is mildly disputed. During the winter mentioned, Alphonso W. Moore, son to Col. John T. Moore, was born at the Parkinson place, near Prairie Springs. But the claim is made that Mary Ann O'Leary, daughter to Peter O'Leary, who lived half a mile east of the village of Benton, was born about the same time. She is now Mrs. Conway, residing near Fort Dodge, Iowa.
The first death is believed to have been Fowler St. Vrain, who was killed at the head of Yellow River by the Indians in a massacre. He never was seen subsequent to that event, and his scalp was one day discovered in the hands of a Winnebago Indian.
In June of this year, Beulah Lamb opened a school on the prairie, in sight of Gratiot's Grove, which was attended by the children of settlers for miles around, and continued until fall. This was the first school taught in the county. In the fall of the same year Miss Lamb was married to George Skillinger, and still lives a resident of the village of Wiota.
In 1828, a Methodist Class-Leader, named Aaron Hawley, visited Wiota and held services in cabins and huts, the first of a religious character observed in the county.
A GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI.
The accessions to the population this year being large, contained the complement of mis- cellany usual to a community, the composition of which was chiefly of miners. True, the morality of those who constituted the settlements was far from gilt-edged, yet, as has been noted, they were men whose integrity, hospitality and sympathetic natures were never appealed to in vain. As can be readily inferred, the condition of affairs was mercurial, so to speak, constantly changing. There were no courts for the enforcement of rights or the redress of grievances. With the exceptions mentioned, neither schools nor churches. Every individual and interest was measured by the merit, not claimed, but deserved, and violations either of person or property were redressed summarily and effectually. The days were occupied with labors in the field or mine; the nights in the amusements only accessible at that early day before public sentiment found outward expression of opposition to their presence. These included gambling, horse- racing and sports indigenous to or growing out of their indulgence. No sooner had the mines become objective points for all orders and conditions of men, than sporting characters began to tend
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
in their direction. Games of chance found lodgment when the industrious miner was often with- out the necessaries of life, an l, sustained by the patronage extended became wealthy and pro- portionally powerful as the industrious miner became impoverished and dependent. The class of men who made up the army of adventurers of whom mention is here made, were, the truth of history compels the admission, superior to those who came during subsequent years and worked their schemes on the scenes which were "placed" by the first arrivals. They are represented to have been strictly honorable in their dealings, profuse in their expenditures and liberal in their sup- port of public improvements. Nearly all were men who, though fairly educated and generously reared, being without honor in their own land, as the Biblical prophet, had sought in fields of action, distant from the surroundings of birth and education, the honor that follows the acquisi- tion of wealth. In nearly every instance their modest ambitions were realized, while in some cases the " spirits " succeeded in amassing fortunes that have survived the extravagance of succeeding generations. They are said to have been open-handed, brave, and, though not reckless, unusually careless in their expenditures. Quick to resent an affront, true to friends and uncompromising to those from whom injuries had been received, they were a mighty factor in the days in which they lived for developing resources and creating influences that have served to build up the country, enrich the inhabitants and civilize the State.
Upon one occasion, a sport from Missouri, who frequented the resorts open at that day, became involved in a dispute with a prominent operator in the fields then opened for individual and corporate invasion, which resulted so ludicrously that no apology is offered for its recital. Upon several occasions previous to the occurrence here related, the operator had been prompted to intervene his advice and suggestions to the Missouri emigrant, without solicitation on the lat- ter's part, and generally concluding with assurances of consideration the opposite of " very dis- tinguished." The contentions between them had become a subject of frequent discussion among the miners, measured in its complexion by the quality of intimacy which existed between the factions and the individual factors.
One evening, the twain met at a faro bank, where and when the trouble was resumed, with intense aggressiveness on the one side and apparently cowardly timidity on the other, the crowd being attracted or disgusted as the war of words waxed interestingly bellicose. At last, the trouble culminated in the Missourian's resenting the volley of words directed toward him, and, with a threat to shoot his adversary the following morning, the contestants separated.
The encounter was forgotten amid the scenes of "sport " visible in the place, and little was thought of the threat promulgated by the injured innocent. But not so with the sport from Missouri. On the morning succeeding the events narrated, he appeared in the village, armed with an antique but effective army-musket, and proceeded to hunt for the whereabouts of the Colonel. After diligent search, that individual was found, and, having lost the drop, so to speak, sought safety in flight, pursued by the man who had undertaken a gunning expedition. He was driven furiously, rivaling in his speed the gait of Nimshi's steeds, and, anticipating the early follow- ing of his assailant, took refuge upon the roof of a building in the village of White Oak Springs, now occupied as the post office. Stationing himself astride the ridge of the roof, he began a treaty of peace, meanwhile accommodating his position to shield himself from the shots of his pursuer by leaning in an opposite direction from that party, who hurried to the opposite side, whence he was immediately followed, only to disappoint the crowd, which witnessed the ridiculous by-play, by extending himself across the thither beam. And so on the comedy con- tinued, until the Missourian, wearied of his pursuit, halted and began a treaty of peace. This was concluded upon terms acceptable to the latter, when the Colonel descended from his perch, stood treat, and, smoking the pipe of peace, became a fast friend of the bloodthirsty sport, who was long after an object of special interest to the residents of the surrounding country.
CLAIM TROUBLES.
This culmination, however, was far from being the rule in disputes arising out of the trou- bles that were engendered by claim litigations. No one possessed an irrefutable title to the
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
lands, and he who came first and staked out his ownership was regarded as the lord of that por- tion of the Territory. It often happened, however, that the title thus acquired was trespassed upon through ignorance or otherwise during the absence of the legitimate owner, and, upon the latter's return, trouble was born. Occasionally, such trouble was decided by arbitrators, there being then no legal tribunal in the Territory, and, if this means failed, recourse was had to force. Sometimes partners became involved in discussions as to the integrity of each in the management of the mine, which were also arbitrated, fought out, or concluded by the submission of one of them.
Upon one occasion, a miner in the Shullsburg district had opened a lead in conjunction with his partner, which promised abundant results. Suddenly, according to the report of him who had charge of the operations, it was declared the lead was superficial, and not worth working. This was not the case, but, being in need of money, he had gone to a saloon-keeper in the vil- lage, and, confidentially imparting its richness, disposed of the joint claim for an insignificant consideration, and left the country. His fraudulent proceeding was evidenced soon after the departure of the unjust steward, and, upon its being made known to the miners, a terrible fuss arose, which was not subsided until the vendee of the claim disappeared.
Indeed, troubles peculiar to the times, the people and the opportunities presented by the unsettled condition of affairs were of frequent occurrence, and multiplied as the inhabitants increased in number, until legal remedies were afforded by constituted tribunals. Added to these varieties of an unsettled condition of affairs, were the disputes consequent upon dissipation and its attendant concomitant-horse-racing. Drinking was universal, and testing the mettle of high-spirited racers the most frequent amusement save "playing against the bank." An old resident related to the writer that as late as early in the forties he was wont to sit on his door- step in the village of Shullsburg and watch patrons of the turf engaged in sport across the ravine, while the notes of sacred melody and the voice of the minister ascended up to heaven in praise and thanksgiving to Him for His goodness and mercy to the children of men.
These incidents of pioneer life were gradually lessened with each year, and finally became obsolete when the golden fields of California beckoned to the miners, gamblers and outlaws, who, for a season, at least, seemed indigenous to the county of La Favette.
The year 1829 began with prosperity and good fellowship throughout the mines. Settle- ments were distributed at frequent intervals, and at most of the available points. Rude, it is true, but still existing and holding out inducements for new-comers. This was notably the case at White Oak Springs, Shullsburg, Benton, New Diggings and Hamilton's Fort, now known as Wiota. Mineral Point was, however, the great center of attraction to a majority of the miners; some of the largest leads were there struck and extensively worked, and quite a number of mining and smelting establishments were erected, both at the Point and in that vicinity. Merchandising, too, was largely engaged in, and business became of the most ani- mated character.
This year Col. D. M. Parkinson opened a hotel in La Fayette County, near Mineral Point, the first in that section. He was one of the most prominent and enterprising of the early settlers, and has left a good name and a reputation for energy and integrity to his descend- ants. He was born in Custer County, East Tennessee, August 1, 1790, where he resided until 1818, when he moved to Madison County, Ill., settling near St. Louis. Remaining there about two years, at the expiration of that period he removed to Sangamon County, and estab- lished a home near Springfield. In 1833, he entered a quarter-section of land five miles south- east of Mineral Point, where he subsequently erected the home whercin he eventually died. The place was known as Prairie Springs Hotel prior to its occupation by Mr. Parkinson, being then kept by Col. John Moore, and where were often congregated such congenial spirits as Gen. Henry Dodge, Col. Ebenezer Brigham, Col. William S. Hamilton, Gen. Charles Bracken, Judge J. W. Blackstone, Col. A. Nichols, Maj. J. P. Cox, Col. J. Morrison, Col. L. Sterling, Maj. J. B. Terry and others, scarcely any of them surviving the army of men who laid the founda- tion of empire and progress in Southwestern Wisconsin. Differing in politics, they neverthe- less contracted the warmest personal friendships.
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
Col. Parkinson was a member of the first Territorial Legislature, which convened at Belmont, in La Fayette County, in 1836-37. His district was a kingdom in extent, embracing what is now Iowa, La Fayette, Richland and Grant Counties, now represented by ten members. Serving in several Territorial Legislatures succeeding, always as a man of mark and power, when the time arrived to elect delegates to a Constitutional Convention, Col. Parkinson was elected to represent La Fayette County. Among the anti-bankites he was prominent, and, when it was ascertained that the people had withheld their indorsement of that instrument, he shared, in a large degree, the regrets of its friends. In the first State Legislature he held a seat, and took an active part in the deliberations of that body. He was married three times, his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Hyder, a native of Tennessee, and first-cousin of Gen. Wade Hampton, of South Carolina. He died October 1, 1868, at his residence in La Fayette County, universally esteemed.
During this period, the country grew in strength and influence. In those earlier days, even when the lines of life were wrinkled and distorted by adversities and disappointments, hope lingered like a fruit in reach, sweet before the eyes.
The mines were often bare of results, and starving cattle lowed over fields and prairies that were brown with the rust of drought and aridness. Yet, day after day, the citadels of success were stormed, and the advancing columns of the army of civilization and progress never faltered, dazed with fear. But faces were lighted up with smiles, when reflecting upon the prospect of victory, and sustained by the hope of a time in the near future when their troubles would be past.
The prosperity that came in with the advent of 1829, as will be inferred, was not long lived, and, before old Father Time had run the race set before him in that year, declined most sensibly. This was carried into the winter, and much suffering was experienced, even by those who had become familiar with sufferings and afflictions. In short, the inhabitants encountered the severest times they were ever subjected to. Lead and mineral, states one familiar with the fact, depreciated in value from a fair price to comparatively nothing, the former bringing but $3 a thousand. While the exclusive product of the county was thus depressed in price and hardly marketable, provisions increased in a corresponding ratio. Flour commanded from $15 to $18 per barrel ; pork was $30 a barrel ; coffee 50, and sugar 30, cents per pound. At these ruinous rates for lead and mineral, and high prices for provisions, it required a desperate effort on the part of the miner to secure even a scanty living. From four to five thousand pounds of mineral was necessary to pay for one barrel of flour, and other commodities were held pro- portionately. In consequence of this depression, many persons became discouraged and left the country. Many more gave up business but remained, and the present county of La Fayette, during the period intervening between 1829 and 1831, presented a gloomy and unpromising appearance.
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