USA > Wisconsin > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin > Part 71
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
While there was an occasional Justice located in the woods, and dispensing law to those who sought the benefits of remedies provided, there were no courts, in the strict meaning of the term, to redress grievances or enforce contracts. Every individual stood upon his personal merits, and, if dispossessed of a claim, or insulted in good name or reputation, became the expounder of the law in his own behalf. Yet, in spite of the absence of these essentials, the moral atmosphere of the county-notwithstanding the non-existence of schools, churches and courts-was far from malodorous with crime or misdemeanors.
While the country was rapidly undergoing a transformation from a lonely wilderness into a comparatively civilized and flourishing community, the present features of such change were happily insensible to a great extent. The number of men in the various settlements who neither drank nor gambled was exceedingly limited. Faro, poker and brag were more regular than wor- ship, and drinking was the attendant concomitant of daily life. Yet, amid all this, there were occasional gleams of moral sunshine breaking through the clouds of immorality and dissipation and promising a brighter future; but it was not until the establishment of courts of competent jurisdiction, some time after, that matters assumed an appearance of peace and perfect order. Even then, there were quarrels and troubles growing out of disputed lands and claims. The absence of these adjuncts of civilization entailed proceedings on the part of farmers, and which were settled summarily, but, in many instances, without equity. If an interloper or rapacious claimant made himself obnoxious, he was suppressed with very little regard to his defense. These lasted until after the land sale, which took place at Mineral Point after the Blackhawk war, when John P. Sheldon was Register, and Thomas Enox, Receiver.
At one of these, Dr. Philles, of Galena, bid upon a tract in which Moses Eastman, of Bel- mont, had claims. When his action was brought to the knowledge of the settlers, in the lan- guage of an informant, "h-I was to pay." A meeting was held, and arrangements made to estop the possession of the bidder. But the latter, realizing the outlook with feelings of appre- hension, yielded to the logic of events and retired from his advance.
Upon another occasion, a speculator named Russell enforced his claim to a tract of land now known as the Widow Tourgee farm, near the village of Fayetteville, and, notwithstanding the opposition made to his possession, retained the same-held the fort, as it were, against the advance of his accusers.
The land sales did not put a period to these internal dissensions either. They were con- tinued, even after the conclusion of the sale, until a date by no means remote.
Some time early in the thirties, a settler from New York made his advent into Willow Springs Township, and made claims to tracts of land of liberal dimensions. The knowledge of these proceedings was promulgated, and the usual meeting succeeded the announcement. This was made up of about thirty settlers, and, after deliberating the issue from daylight until sun-up, a committee was sent to warn the intruder of the fate which awaited his acts, if he insisted upon persevering in their accomplishment. The family visited was made up of two brothers and a sister, the latter a veritable athlete, it is said, who was no mean foe in a dispute vi et armis. One of the committee was a very pious man, and had been a class-leader on his native heath. Finding that eloquence was wasted, these ingredients of an argument were employed
467
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
to persuade the intruder to vacate, in which the pugnacious sister essayed a leading role, to the discomfiture of the committee. But the intruders, notwithstanding, were compelled to give up the lands they had entered, as, in nearly every instance, the trespassers were made to appreciate the unwritten law.
But the wavering hours of these busy days have crept away into the past, the clatter and clash of discord have long since ceased. The angel of peace, years ago, entered unseen into the midst of this contentious experience, and, spreading her white wings over the blasts, quenched dark thoughts with her visions of light, and brought hope to hearts that were sad and oppressed.
The year drew to a close, and the happy realm of to-day, to whom indulgent heaven has given its richest bounties, and in whose earth nature's wealthiest mines are stored, was on the eve of sorrows more poignant, if less prolonged, than those precipitating the death of the Trojan Patroclus. These have already been imperfectly detailed, and can scarcely be enlarged upon. The actors in the drama of life as presented in that day, long since made their farewell bow, and disappeared from the stage of activity behind the curtain which separates dreams and realities. The winter was one constant dissension between the elements, all crowding for pre- cedence, and pregnant with fearful forebodings of evil. The Indian summer refused to smile upon the landscape, the fields, the valleys, and the hillsides that, but a brief period before, had resounded with tanned reapers' songs, or upon the gray barrens looking from their hazy hills, from which but a month previous a greeting had been sent down to the settlers and miners, or the "dull thunder of alternate flail."
The autumn, fairly typical of the decline of prosperity in the county, proved a cheerless prelude to the season which followed. Throughout its blasts and storms, which succeeded each other, it is said, constantly and fiercely, there was little to encourage the miner or the agricultur- ist in preparations for the advent of more hospitable seasons. The winds came rushing through the forests and valleys without interruption or embargo, and the snow, mounted upon the frigid blasts, left the marks of its fleecy passage upon the hives that once resounded with the sound of labor, the hut of the miner and the home of the husbandman combined-both hunted the abodes of misery and affliction, and, shrouding the inmates with its spotless mantle, shrieked in notes of discordant melody the joy of its passing triumph.
The old year floated away into the past, and the new year dawned inhospitably on cheer- less, hopeless homes that were scattered like sentinels upon the frontier posts of this army of civilization. The generous past has written ineffaceably upon the tablets of memory, when kind thoughts and high hopes were engraven ; the future was without prospects-invisible as the light hidden behind the dark clouds, which, banked up on the horizon, indicate the coming of the storm.
The transient visitor to La Fayette County of to-day regards his sojourn there as incom- plete if he fails to view the cultivated farms teeming with prosperous evidences, or descends into the mines rich with undeveloped treasures. As he sees the comfortable abode of the agri- culturist, embowered in foliage of trees, old as the county itself, the grounds laid out in har- mony with an exquisite taste and cultivated to the height of perfection, he will scarcely realize that less than half a century ago the courageous inhabitants were subjected to vicissitudes beyond the power of pen to describe or limner's touch to illustrate. What a world of changes has been brought to all, to the heroic pioneer not more than to youth and innocence. What a revolution in things material not less than in affairs temporal and spiritual.
As the season of 1830 advanced, mining was re-commenced, and the sons of toil sought to create an Eden from the unbroken wilderness. But varying success only attested the dili- gence of their efforts. Fortune refused to keep pace with their labors or to keep pace with the sanguine hopes that had been indulged. As a consequence, disappointment at- tended all, and usurped the place of confiding hope. The prosperity which came in with 1829 was "snuffed out " during the following year. The profits of the mines were scarcely sufficient to pay for their working ; farms were practically abandoned, such at least as had been com-
468
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
menced, and the wolves and the catamounts ran wild when the first advances of the army of progress had left its marks. To aggravate this condition of affairs, provisions appreciated in value and commanded enormous prices. Such was the outlook as it appeared to settlers, and conclusions adverse to remaining found frequent expression, not only among men who reasoned from correct premises, but also from those ordinarily of enthusiastic temperament and given to enthusiastic vaporings. The prospects which erstwhile were pictured in bright colors were dis - figured or dissipated, no more to find an abiding-place in La Fayette County. The canvas which had been exposed to the gaze of admirers but one short year before, and upon which had been traced with the hand of a master the limnings of speculative resource, yielded place to the dark and gloomy realities experienced by the inhabitants. The dreams of wealth in many instances gave way to actual want. Those who felicitated themselves in a belief that they were secure retired abashed at their insignificance.
During this entire year, no material change for the better appears to have taken place ; many left the country and sought for a more satisfactory solution of life's problem in other parts. Overtrading, excessive bank issues and the rage for speculation in Western lands, the true causes for this terrible train of evils, did their work effectually, if not permanently. And, while they worked their own cure, during their continuance, pride, with its importations of grandeur and opulence, was reduced to indigence. Yet a lesson was impressed upon the country and prevented a recurrence of such times by a return of the people throughout the country to industry, frugality and perseverance in the pursuit of professional and laborious callings.
The settlements at this time, notably Gratiot's Grove, Benton, Shullsburg, White Oak Springs, Belmont, Hamilton's Fort, etc., were in a condition of semi-improvement. Many houses had been erected within their confines, and some effort was made toward the establishment of depots of commercial importance. There were smelting furnaces in Monticello, Willow Springs, Benton, White Oak Springs, and generally wherever the product of the mines justified their building. But the operations carried on were limited. No one worked save to earn but a bare subsistence, and they were often without the raw material to smelt. The only store, proper, it may here be inter- polated, maintained as such, was that conducted by J. P. B. Gratiot, at Gratiot's Grove. The Prairie Springs Hotel, the first in the county, by the way, that of S. M. Fretwell, at Willow Springs, those at Gratiot's Grove, by Capt. Fortunatus Berry and A. C. Ransom, with rude attempts in Wiota and Fayette, were the leading houses of entertainment. Of schools there were few. The children of settlers ambitious to obtain the primary principles of education were mostly taught at home, and, when they had outrun the limited curriculum there afforded, were sent to Springfield, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Edwardsville or St. Louis. But these were exceptional cases. As a rule, the procuration of life's necessities required all the labor and means available, and there was nothing to spare to enable the sons and daughters of the pioneer to cultivate their æsthetic tastes. Religious services, too, were never held-there were none of any creed or denomination. At long intervals, a colporteur in the cause of Christ canvassed the country for subscribers to the tenets of Wesley or Calvin, but, beyond a limited conversion, failed of ob- taining any response. It was not until the Black Hawk war had strutted its brief hour upon the stage that any advance, even of a minor character, was accomplished in this direction.
The Indians, too, were still a very prominent factor in the sum of daily life. They were harmless, however, and preferred the safer excitements of the chase to decorating their belts with the scalps of the inhabitants. Very frequently they lighted their camp-fires within sight of a settler's cabin, and passed days in the vicinity curing the hides of game taken in their annual hunts. But beyond occasional poaching upon his store of poultry, vegetables collected for winter's use, and other pilferings, they ceased to be a source of annoyance, until a year or so later, or a short time prior to the breaking-out of the Black Hawk war, when they became more active and less disposed to maintain their position as dependent, so to speak, or rather subordi- nates in the history of the times.
But little happened during the succeeding year to change the current of events from the channel in which they had flowed. The hard times run the race of oppression and began to dis-
1.6. Blackstone
WHITE OAK SPRINGS.
'. דגן
471
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
appear, but so imperceptibly that the change from penury to comparative independence, and from hardships to comfort, was almost indistinguishable. Some farms were put under fence, the price of lead increased and mines were worked more satisfactorily. Settlers, too, began again to tend in the direction of La Fayette County, and forms and combinations for the promotion of temporal blessedness were improvised and completed. In short, the outlook cheered those who were on the ground and encouraged others to prospect or establish themselves in this portion of the territory.
During the winter of 1831-32, the Indians became more aggressive, and reports of their con- templated action, when marching became possible, were frequent and authentic. These reports imported but one conclusion, an invasion by the Sacs and Foxes in the near future. As spring advanced, these rumors took shape and promises crystallized into acts. In May, 1832, informa- tion was received that the Indians had crossed the Mississippi and were pointing in the direction of Michigan Territory with the object of forming a coalition with the Pottowatomies and letting loose the dogs of war to the extermination of the entire white race.
Fully aroused by the news which reached them, miners and farmers assembled at various points in La Fayette County, and began active preparations for the impending conflict. In May, 1832, a meeting was convened at Willow Springs, made up of the settlers in that and adjoining townships, and discussed the outlook for hostilities. Robert C. Hoard presided, and there were present, among the rest, Col. D. M. Parkinson, S. M. Fretwell, Gen. Charles Bracken, Peter Parkinson, Jr., Jameson Hamilton, Jefferson Higgenbottom, John Henry, Col. John Moore, A. P. Van Matre, John Clark, the Gratiots, Gabriel, Joseph and James Bailey, James Guiard, Benjamin Funk and many others.
A meeting was also held at Gratiot's, to which came Fortunatus Berry, Capt. Southwick, Samuel Scales, Jesse Shull, Capt. Clark, R. H. Magoon and others ; and at Wiota, Col. W. S. Hamilton presided over a similar gathering. Every other business was abandoned, forts were erected in Monticello, Shullsburg, White Oak Springs, Wiota, Elk Grove and Diamond Grove, and every arrangement was made to warmly greet the savages when the issue should be joined.
Upon reception of the news that Black Hawk was advancing, a large meeting was held at Mineral Point, at which it was decided to send a messenger with dispatches to Dixon, on Rock River, to ascertain correctly the strength and intentions of the Indians. Col. D. M. Parkinson was re-elected as the ambassador, and proceeded immediately upon his mission with dispatches from Gen. Dodge, in behalf of the inhabitants of the mining region ; to John Dixon, of Dixon ; and Henry Gratiot, agent of the Winnebagoes, who, it was reported, had proffered assistance to the foe. Upon the reception of Gen. Dodge's dispatches, the latter proceeded to Black Hawk's camp, then at the prophet's village, on Rock River, to ascertain the facts in the case. Upon his arrival he was held as a prisoner and retained a prisoner for forty-eight hours.
Col. Parkinson faithfully executed the trust committed to his care, and upon his return fully confirmed the reports previously received in the mines. Black Hawk's force was supposed to have been about five hundred warriors, which number was subsequently augmented to eight hun- dred by accessions from the Winnebago and other tribes. Immediately upon the reception of this confirmatory news, Gen. Dodge collected and organized a mounted company, consisting of about fifty men, of which James H. Gentry was chosen Captain, with Henry L. Dodge and Paschal Bequette, Lieutenants, which was kept constantly in the field, and made an expe- dition to Dixon for the purpose of securing additional force from Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, who had arrived at that point, as also to ascertain, if possible, the designs of Black Hawk, and whether marauding parties of Indians had been operating upon the frontier. He failed to obtain any additional force, and found none of the enemy upon the southern border of Michigan Ter- ritory.
Returning to the mining district, he brought the first intelligence of Stillman's defeat being at the mouth of the Kishwaukee, and this was the means of inspiring the meetings held in the county as above detailed. Considerable alarm and confusion was manifested, as may naturally be sup- posed; but the presence of such men as Col. D. M. Parkinson, Col. W. S. Hamilton, Maj.
„J
472
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
Richard H. Kirkpatrick, Capts. R. H. Magoon, John H. Rountree, James H. Gentry, Jesse W. Shull, Joseph Dickson, John Clark, John Moore, Charles Bracken, Dr. Loughborough, Samuel H. Scales and many others, served to dissipate the feelings of terror inspired by the prospects of war, and, by their wise counsels and untiring exertions, to place the country in a state of defense.
The safety of families of settlers being completed, three additional mounted companies were raised in the mining district, and commanded by John H. Rountree, of Platteville, Capt. Clark, of White Oak Springs, and J. P. B. Gratiot, of Gratiot's Grove, and these, with the troops of Col. Dodge, upon the latter's return from his expedition to Rock River, were put in motion for Blue Mound fort, upon which it was apprehended the Indians contemplated an attack.
" While on the way to that point," writes Col. Parkinson, "the force ascertained that the two Misses Hall, who had been captured at the massacre on Indian Creek, near Ottawa, had been released, but this act on the part of the savages was subsequently neutralized by the intel- ligence White Crow, a Winnebago chief, communicated to Capt. J. P. B. Gratiot. This was to the effect that the murder of the whites that night was contemplated by the Sacs and Foxes, who opined that their foe was a soft-shelled breed and could not fight." This however was only the conjecture of Capt. Gratiot.
Upon the information being conveyed to Gen. Dodge, who had retired for the night, he instantly jumped up, and said with great emphasis, " Be not alarmed, sir; let them come, and we will show them, sir, that we are not of the soft-shelled breed." White Crow and some others were taken into custody, and retained as hostages for the good behavior of the nation, assured at a council held on the farm of Col. John Morrison.
A return was then made to Fort Defiance, when information was received that a man named William Aubrey had been killed at the Blue Mound Fort. A force was sent to that point, but the deceased was buried.
About this time, the people of La Fayette County became very much alarmed in conse- quence of Capt. James B. Estis coming, under whip and spur, and announcing that he had seen a large body of Indians about seven miles below Fort Defiance, making their way in that direction. Immediately upon this announcement being made, Capt. Howd, who commanded at Fort Defiance, ordered Col. D. M. Parkinson, with M. G. Fitch, John Ray and Rensen Hall, to make a reconnaissance and ascertain the facts. They did so, and found no sign of Indians, and the inhabitants resumed their wonted quiet and confidence. Soon after an expedition was fitted out and commanded by Gen. Dodge to reclaim and inter the bodies of St. Vrain, Hale and Fowler, who had fallen in an encounter on Plum River. Parts of four companies composed the force, with a few independent volunteers, who started forth to war on their own account. The first halt was made at Felter's, a point nine miles from Gratiot. Before dismounting, Gen. Dodge strongly impressed upon the rugged yeomen the necessity that existed for united action, and urged them to steady discipline. The troop was formed into a hollow square, and, on receiv- ing orders to dismount, each man removed his saddle and laid it on the ground, when he dis- mounted and turned his horse out to graze. The orders were, that, if any alarm was sounded during the night, each man should spring up in his place and thus be formed in hollow square to repel an attack. There was no attack, however, and the line of march was resumed on the following morning. Later in the day, the bodies of St. Vrain, and those of Hale and Fowler, were found and properly buried ; but that of Hawley, who was supposed to have been killed near the same place, was never found, and nothing satisfactory was ever heard of him. The march was continued to Dixon's Ferry, on Rock River. Upon their return, and before arriving at Gratiot's Grove, a halt was made to graze the horses, but no provisions were visible for the sup- port of the men, and they were placed in a quandary, not knowing how to remedy the omission. In the vicinity was Felter's deserted cabin, and, while wandering around the premises, one of the men discovered a huge, rusty iron kettle. Summoning assistance, the kettle was cleaned and filled with mustard greens, from which they expected to sup sumptuously. Alas for the hopes of the men ; when the mess was boiled and dished out, it proved to be unpalatable and nauseat- ing. Arriving at Gratiot's Grove, Gen. Dodge informed the volunteers that they had covered two hundred miles in five days, and complimented them upon their bravery and fidelity.
473
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
The month of May, 1832, was devoted to general skirmishing and guerrilla warfare, which permitted the utilization of Gen. Dodge's two hundred mounted men. The united strength of the Sacs and Foxes, Winnebagoes and Pottawatomie Indians, aggregated six hundred warriors-a force that could have annihilated the gallant miners had they met in a pitched battle. When the mounted men were dispatched to bring the bodies of St. Vrain and his unfortunate compan- ions thence to Ottawa, Black Ilawk, who had been reconnoitering the position of the white men, realized the serious error committed, and instructed Little Priest to make a descent on Fort Hamilton.
Acting upon these directions, Little Priest raided the Spafford farm, six miles southeast of Fort Hamilton, on the Pecatonica. In this sortie, Spafford, a man named McIlwaine, one named Searls, one known as "John Bull " and another were killed, while a man hamed Spencer and a companion (Bennett Million) escaped, the latter reaching the fort, running from dinner time to sundown, and conveying the awful tidings to the fort, whence it was communicated by couriers around the immediate country. The massacre occurred on the 15th of June, 1832, and the exigencies of the occasion demanded immediate and energetic action. A dispatch was accord- ingly sent to Gen. Dodge, and the men at the fort that could be mounted were soon in readi- ness to proceed to the scene of action. This detachment consisted of R. H. Kirkpatrick, Charles Bracken (who was a Lieutenant at Fort Defiance), Samuel Black, Peter Parkinson, Jr., Levin Leach, Dominick McGraw, Mathew G. Fitch, Thomas H. Price, Samuel Brints, Benja- min Lawhead, -- - Highton, -- Van Waggoner and Col. D. M. Parkinson. Previous to departure, some dissatisfaction was expressed by the men relative to being placed under the command of Lieut. Charles Bracken, who was entitled to the command of those who belonged to the fort company. Capt. Hoard, after consultation, decided to place R. H. Kirkpatrick in command and this was accordingly done. In consequence of this momentary disquiet, Lieut. Bracken, and Benjamin Lawhead, started in advance of the detachment, but were overtaken previous to reaching Fort Hamilton, and, with the volunteers, arrived at that point about mid- night, where they remained until morning. " The fort was in the greatest confusion," relates Col. Parkinson, from whose memoirs the history of the occurrences of this time are quoted, " with no quarters or refreshments for the volunteers, who were obliged to shift for themselves as best they could. Others joined the party there, and, some further altercation occurring regarding the command, an election was regularly held, at which R. H. Kirpatrick was chosen. The detachment then proceeded to the scene of the murder, under the guidance of Bennett Million.
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.