USA > Wisconsin > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin > Part 77
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1862 .- Officers : President, Peter Parkinson, Jr. ; Vice Presidents, Frank Buckmaster, E. C. Townsend, John Pool; Treasurer, C. Z. Cutting; Secretary, A. W. Hovey ; Executive Committee, Daniel Hawley, Joseph White, Stephen Blackstone. Owing to the great excitement attending the breaking-out and progress of the war, there was no fair held that year, and the Society practically disbanded.
June 13, 1863, a meeting of the citizens of the county was called to re-organize the society. at which the constitution and by-laws of the old society were adopted. The meeting adjourned to June 27, 1863, when the following officers were elected : President, H. H. Gray ; Vice President, B. F. Buckmaster; Secretary, A. F. Dickenson ; Treasurer, Silas R. Davis. Fair held at Darlington, October 6, 7, 8, 1863. Annual address by Hon. John Delaney. Receipts, $505; disbursements, $576.50.
1864 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 27, 28 and 29. Officers : President, Israel Boies ; Vice President, B. F. Buckmaster; Secretary, A. F. Dickenson; Treasurer, William Tolly.
1865 .- Officers : President, Peter Parkinson, Jr. ; Vice President, E. Townsend ; Secre- tary, Charles E. Brunner; Treasurer, Allen Warden.
1866 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 27, 28 and 29. Officers : President, John H. Williams ; Secretary, William W. Birkitt.
1867 .- Fair held at Darlington. Officers : President, William Brown; Vice Presidents, Simon Lamprell, John Roberts, William Stephens ; Treasurer, S. S. Allen; Secretary, W. W. Birkitt.
1868 .- Fair held at Darlington, October 6, 7 and 8. Officers : President, Frank Buck- master ; Vice Presidents, H. Phillips, A. Miller, J. Barry ; Treasurer, J. H. Martin ; Secretary, W. W. Birkitt. Receipts, $1,498.33 ; disbursements, $1,495.60.
1869 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 22, 23, 24 and 25. Officers : President, A. W. Warden ; Vice Presidents, Thomas Teasdale, Hugh Campbell, A. D. Richardson ; Sec- retary, M. J. Alworth ; Treasurer, Alden Pratt.
1870 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 15, 16 and 17. Officers : President, John Merriott; Vice President, Samuel Salisbury ; Secretary, H. L. Brown; Treasurer, S. S. Allen. Receipts, $1,132.11; disbursements, $1,121.46.
1871 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 25, 26 and 27. Officers : President, Francis Campbell ; Vice President, J. G. Knight; Treasurer, S. S. Allen ; Secretary, W. L. Abbott.
1872 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 12, 13 and 14. Officers : President, Francis Campbell ; Vice President, J. G. Knight ; Secretary, H. L. Brown; Treasurer, S. S. Allen. Receipts, $1,035.15; disbursements, $1,037.82.
1873 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 25, 26 and 27. Officers : President, S. War- den ; Vice President, Peter Parkinson, Jr. ; Secretary, H. L. Brown ; Treasurer, W. J. Bird. Receipts, $1,193.21; disbursements, $969.23.
1874 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 17, 18 and 19. Officers : President, S. War- den ; Vice President, H. Campbell ; Secretary, R. B. Cutting ; Treasurer, W. J. Bird. Re- ceipts, $743.66 ; disbursements, $595.81.
1875 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 14, 15, 16 and 17. Officers : President, H. Campbell ; Vice President, Thomas Sheldon ; Secretary, W. L. D. Martin; Treasurer, A. Richardson. Receipts, $1,920.72; disbursements, 1,878.45.
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DARLINGTON.
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
1876 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 13, 14 and 15. Officers : President, A. B. P. Wood; Vice President, James R. Rose; Secretary, John Meehan ; Treasurer, Albert Richard- son. Receipts, $1,304.22; disbursements, $1,276.85.
1877 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 9 and 10. Officers : President, N. T. Parkin- son ; Vice President, A. O. Chamberlain ; Secretary, John Meehan ; Treasurer, D. Schreiter. Receipts, $1,977.69 ; disbursements, $1,993.94.
1878 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 15, 16 and 17. Officers : President, N. T. Parkinson ; Vice President, R. H. Williams ; Secretary, D. S. Rose ; Treasurer, D. Schreiter. Receipts, $583.10; disbursements, $587.74.
1879 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 17, 18 and 19. Officers : President, P. A. Orton ; Vice President, John Roberts ; Secretary, H. L. Brown; Treasurer, D. Schreiter. Receipts, $1,598.43 ; disbursements, $1,663.04.
1880 .- Fair held at Darlington, September 8, 9 and 10. Officers : President, James H. Earnest ; Vice President, A. Richardson ; Secretary, Neil Fisher ; Treasurer, D. Schreiter. Receipts, $1,473.56; disbursements, about $1,550.
In 1863, the grounds owned now by the " La Fayette County Agricultural Society," con- sisting of ten acres, were purchased by the " La Fayette County Stock Club," and sold to the Agricultural Society, July 10, 1867. January 13, 1874, the " Stock Club " and the " Agricult- ural Society " were consolidated under one constitution, and, in 1876, a floral hall was erected on the fair grounds, at an expense of $300. The uniform success attending the annual exhibitions of this society has been achieved by well-directed efforts, and the uprightness and integrity dis- played by the officers in meeting all legitimate demands has been the characteristic which proves this society an organization answering the end for which it was created.
AMONG THE SHORT-HORNS ON AMES' BRANCH.
Having its source in springs in the direction of the Platte Mounds, Ames' Branch runs south of east to the Pecatonica, through one of the most picturesque and fertile valleys in the county. Every farmer who has settled within it, who has managed his affairs with ordinary prudence, has become well-to-do, and some of them wealthy. The wisest have devoted their energies to breeding fine stock, and, in consequence, have given the locality a wide reputation. Ames' Branch and the vicinity are more or less known as the home of finely bred animals of various kinds, from Canada to Colorado. During 1879, when one of the largest stock-men of Chicago wanted one hundred of the choicest young ewes that could be found to put on his home farm, he sent a man here to buy them, and they were selected from the flocks of Bird, Rowe, Joseph and Henry Colbeck and Weaver, and bought at so low a price that the Chicago man could scarcely believed stock-men would allow such superb young ewes assorted from their flocks for so small a sum. Probably no finer mutton and long-wool sheep can be found in the country than is bred in this locality. For short-horns, Frank Weaver keeps two thoroughbred bulls, and Joseph Colbeck owns Chieftain 5th No. 28,845, a fine pedigreed bull, bred by S. S. Brown, at Hazelwood Farm, Illinois. Mr. Colbeck also has some very choice cows and young animals and a fine herd of grades.
George Stevenson, of Fayette, and James McWilliams, of Seymour, are each line breeders, and have a small herd of as fine thoroughbreds as can be found in the West.
John Matthews has a thousand finely-bred sheep rented on shares to the farmers of La Fayette and Grant Counties, besides his home flock of about two hundred. Himself and his sons have fifteen hundred sheep, and one hundred high-grade heifers, and a number of thorough- breds on the Harvey County Stock Ranch, Kansas. He keeps his herd of thoroughbreds on Ames' Branch at about fifty head. These, in addition to his jacks and jennies, his brood mares and stallions, his Essex pigs and goats, the breeding of all which he has successfully managed for many years past, entitles him to be regarded as the most extensive breeder in Southwestern Wisconsin, and probably in the State.
L
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
Twenty-five years ago, he commenced breeding thoroughbred short-horns from the En- chantress and Peerless stock of the Shakers, of Mercer County, Ky. ; and since that time, by judicious selections and purchase, and with the thoroughbred bulls Monarch, Minister, Golden Duke, Grand Duke of Alma and Camargo, he has produced a herd of rare excellence, and one that is making and will continue to make its mark upon the stock through a wide section of country which he supplies with breeding animals.
LA FAYETTE COUNTY DURING THE WAR.
The responsible citizens of La Fayette County were foremost among those loyal bands who sprang to the defense of the Union in the first days of the Southern rebellion. Miners, mer- chants, professional men, farmers and mechanics joined in the work of sustaining the righteous cause. These noble efforts were speedily made manifest in the presence of several well-drilled companies, who engaged in perfecting their military education while they chafed and fretted at the delay of the Legislature in claiming their services. Capt. Vandergript, an old veteran of the Mexican war, was conspicuous in recruiting, and to him belongs the honor of commanding the first company formed in this district. The company was organized in the vicinity of Shulls- burg, hence the designation of "Shullsburg Light Guard." When the ranks were filled, the Guards were mustered into the service of the United States and assigned to the Third Regi- ment, dropping their nom de guerre for the appellation of Company I. Capt. George H. Whit- man's Company H, from Darlington, was a close competitor for priority, arriving in camp at Fond du Lac in June, 1861.
In certain sections of the county, an element among the inhabitants was imbued with a deeply rooted antagonism to the war, and consequently adopted all means within their power to resist the demand upon them for assistance. They were never betrayed into any overt act of disloyalty, but in the excited and perturbed imagination of the people it was represented that a strong rebel e' ment was mobilizing at New Diggings. The only basis for such reports was the outward host" ty of certain miners, whose nomadic career had taken them to the lead mines, but for whose a ;'ions the permanent residents of the county were in no way responsible. The " Knights «,' the Golden Circle," a secret association, having for its avowed object resistance of the draft, was organized in June, 1862. The caucus meeting for organization was held in the open air, in Elk Grove, about 7 o'clock in the evening. At that hour there was a large muster of men from New Diggings, Benton and Shullsburg, who proceeded immediately to organize. The leader, one Floyd, who claimed to have been in Price's rebel army, took a position at the base of an ancient gnarled oak, and, after delivering an address, performed certain rites inci- dental to the initiation of officers. At a late hour, he dismissed the assembly, first imparting to each man a password and instructing him in the use of cabalistic signs designed to identify the members and bind them in closer affiliation. Throughout the meeting, a member of the United States Secret Service occupied a coigne of vantage in the tree, where, laying out on a jutting branch, he overheard all the proceedings and possessed himself of the passwords, which he sub- sequently turned into service.
The Union League was also organized to combat the doctrines of the "Knights," and uphold the law. In the fall of 1862, the draft was issued for nine months' service. The fol- lowing Deputy Sheriffs were appointed in 1862, to enroll all the able-bodied men in their respective districts: John B. Schofield, Wayne; John Adams, Monticello; M. Crawford, Kendall; John O'Toole, White Oak Springs; Dennis Murphy, Benton; E. W. Jennan, Gratiot; James Noble, Willow Springs ; T. C. L. Mackay, Elk Grove; James Harker, New Diggings; Furness Lambert, Argyle; John Cline, Fayette; John Barry, Shullsburg; James Wood, Wiota; Walter E. Jones, Belmont; Luke Ager, Centre. The drafted men reported at Darlington, in the Ellison House, since changed to the Whitman House, where they were reg- istered by Judge Blackstone, one of the Draft Commissioners. H. Ellison, the generous land- lord, furnished each man with rations for the journey to Madison. The contingent was in charge of Lance Sergeant P. F. Dering. On arrival at Madison, the eighty-odd men from La.
509
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
Fayette were inspected, and a large percentage rejected. The remainder of the men procured sub- stitutes, which, at that time, could be had from $100 to $200. In 1863, the commutation draft created much dissatisfaction in the sparsely populated section of the county, where threats of resistance were freely uttered. The law was enforced, and a collision was avoided by the dis- satisfied men quitting the district. Later in July, 1863, Maj. Clowney, with Companies A and B, Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry, was detailed from Madison to assist the Provost Marshal in enforcing the draft in the district between Benton, Shullsburg and New Diggings. The military were apportioned to those places, the squads being commanded respectively by Maj. Clowney, Lieut. Wilson and Capt. Harriman. The authority of the law was asserted, and the refractory persons were soon submissive enough. One Sullivan, who had become amenable to the law, was captured about the end of July and incar- cerated in an improvised guard-house at Shullsburg. The civil law was invoked to effect his release, and on application a writ of habeas corpus was obtained from Judge Cothren, at Min- eral Point. The officer in command refused to recognize the authority, and referred the friends of the prisoner to O. M. Dering, at that time Provost Marshal. Dering, in doubt of his power, telegraphed to Gov. Lewis for instructions. Back flashed the electric spark with the sententious reply, "Hold him ; will send 10,000 men if necessary." That settled the ques- tion, and Sullivan continued in durance. While in the execution of his duty as Special Deputy Provost Marshal, Mark Richards was assassinated. The affair occurred as follows : Marshal Richards had received notice of the presence of a deserter in Benton. He indicated the house to the authorities, who surrounded the premises and called upon the inmates to admit them. No reply was accorded, and, breaking open the door, the officers filed in and took pos- session. Finding his escape cut off, James McMahon, the alleged deserter, jumped out of the second-story window, and was disappearing with celerity when commanded to halt, under penalty of being shot. Not hearing the command, or not wishing to obey it, if heard, he con- tinued running, when he was overtaken by a bullet and dropped down in his tracks. Some days subsequent, as Richards was going along a by-path leading to Benton, he was fired upon from concealment, and received a full charge of heavy buckshot in the thigh, from the effect of which he expired some months afterward. Rumors of trouble were rife, and social confidences were disrupted to the general disorganization of business. One report received in Darlington announced the equipment of a rebel force at New Diggings, coupled with the intelligence that they were marching on to capture the county seat. Bells were rung, and a public mass meeting of the citizens of Darlington was convened to consider plans for the defense of the village. Men hied away homeward and resurrected shotguns and rifles, long since superannuated from service, and prepared to do battle in defense of their household treasures. On the following day, the heterogeneous force massed in the town square to await the foe, when a messenger arrived with the information that the rebel expedition had retired, after approaching within view of the vil- lage. Such was the fruit of gossip disseminating distorted intelligence. Again, it was related that the Union flag had been torn down and trampled on in the public square of Benton and New Diggings. These statements can be accepted as an index to the distrust which, for some time, prevailed at certain points in the county.
When the 1863 draft was ordered, the prominent citizens of New Diggings emulated each other in patriotic zeal. In that town it was proposed to grant a bonus of $60 to each of the first five men to enlist. The sum of $300 was contributed for that purpose by R. H. Cham- pion. George Leekley contributed a similar amount to the next five volunteers. Interest was aroused, and a large sum was made up by personal contributions on the spot. This proved the most enthusiastic conscripting during the campaign.
The County Board of Supervisors met on July 27, 1864, to deliberate on the propriety of levying a tax for the purpose of paying a bounty to volunteers under the last call of the Presi- dent for 500,000 men. It was
Resolved, That when the volunteer is mustered into the service of the United States, and shall present to the Clerk of the County Board the certificate of the Adjutant General of the State, certifying that he has been mustered into the service, and credited to any town in this county, then the County Treasurer is authorized to issue to said volunteer, or his agent, the sum of $300, payable in county orders of denomination of $5 each.
510
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
An act was sanctioned by the Legislature on February 23, 1865, authorizing the issue. Under this act, bounties were paid out as follows : Belmont, five; Kendall, eighteen ; Willow Springs, ten ; Argyle, seven ; Wiota, twenty ; Centre, twenty-five; Wayne, eleven; Gratiot, twenty ; White Oak Springs. nine; Monticello, nine; Benton, forty-four; Fayette, thirteen ; Shullsburg, thirty-four ; New Diggings, twenty-eight; Elk Grove, twenty.
At the solicitation of Gov. Solomon, during the draft troubles of 1863, a "home guard" was organized at New Diggiugs, to maintain the authority of the law. Capt. Longhorn, who was elected to the position in the second year, was a one-armed veteran, of British descent, who came to New Diggings from England, and in a few weeks after his arrival enlisted in an Illi- nois regiment ; had his arm taken off in the battle of Chickamauga. The existence of the com- pany was short, as the ranks were depleted by the continual enlistments into the Federal army.
The muster-roll filed with the County Clerk gives the official membership of La Fayette Guard, organized at New Diggings in August, 1863, as follows : Captain, William Bird; First Lieutenant, John Harker ; Second Lieutenant, Charles B. Champion; Orderly Sergeant, M. J. Williams ; Line Sergeants, Thomas Harper, John Corwin, Thomas Eggleston, John Alderson ; Corporals, John Siles, Henry Looney, Thomas W. Teasdale, Thomas Fawcett, Matt. Robinson, John Eggleston, William Martin and James Anderson; Privates, Jonathan Allan, Anthony Aldersen, Julian H. Austin, Thomas Anderson, John W. Ayer, Milton Austin, William Bon- ner, Arthur Penrick, Joseph R. Bird, Thomas Currah, William Croft, Timothy Cottingham, Anthony Cottingham, John Cottingham, Thomas Calvert, John Dawson, Fred P. Dering, George Dodson, Charles Doan, Elliot Eggleston, John Eastwood, Thomas Fawcett, Robert Gra- ham, James Gunn, John Heath, Hunter Hall, Leonard Harker, John V. Harker, William Harker, William Harrison, James Heath, Simon Harker, Hugh Jones, Francis Jackson, Edward Longhorn, James Lappin, Anthony Liddle, James Martin, William J. May, John Martin, James H. Peacock, John Peacock, John Pedelty, James Pedelty, Christopher Per- kins, Thomas Raw, George Redfearn, George Rain, John Ross, Francis Raw, Isaac Robinson, Benson W. Right, Francis Respin, William Redfearn, William Spensley, Jonas Spensley, Samuel Topliss, Joseph Thompson, Joseph Teasdale, James Thompson, William Teasdale, John Vickers, John White, William White.
In the early part of 1864, the company was re-organized by amalgamation with another body then existing in Benton. The muster-roll of the new company, dated August 27, 1864, as filed with the County Clerk, contains the following names :
Captain, James Longhorn ; First Lieutenant, Thomas Vipond; Second Lieutenant, Jor- main Tipping ; Orderly Sergeant, P. F. Dering; Line Sergeants, John Harker, John Sides, William B. Wood, Thomas Fawcett; Corporals, Florence Tipping, John Rudd, La Fayette Shaw, Simon Harker, William Spensley, William H. Vickers, Matthew Collison and James Peacock.
Privates : William J. Ayers, Milton Austin, Benjamin Busby, William Brown, Philip Baker, William Croft, Henry Caulthard, Joseph Caulthard, John Corwin, Thomas Currah, John Coltman, Charles B. Champion, Thomas Eggleston, Elliot Eggleston, James Francain, Thomas Fairley, James Gear, William W. Gillette, Henry P. Greenleaf, Hunter Hall, Henry Hall, Leonard Harker, Anthony Hambell, Thomas Herring, William Higginbotham, Hugh Jones, Francis Jackson, Thomas Jackson, John D. Noal, Robert Peasley, George Rain, Joseph Rain, James Robbins, Robert Ross, James Spensley, Charles M. Short, William Stevens, Richard Stevens, Samuel Stevens, Joseph Teasdale, Samuel Vickers, Isaac Vipond, William White, Will- iam Watson, Henry Williams, John Winder and Joseph Wood.
Company H-Third Regiment : Captain, George H. Whitman ; First Lieutenant, George W. Stevenson ; Second Lieutenant, James G. Knight. This company was organized in Dar- lington, as the " La Fayette Rifles," on the three years' enlistment, in June, 1861. Companies H and I joined the Third Regiment at Camp Hamilton, Fond du Lac, where they were engaged perfecting their drill, under the supervision of Col. C. S. Hamilton. They were mustered into the service on the 29th of June, and left the State on the 12th of July, under orders for Hagers-
511
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
town, Md. After a brief visit to Harper's Ferry they moved down the Potomac fifty miles, to Darneston, where they went into camp. They marched to Frederick, Md., on the 12th of Sep- tember, where they surrounded the city and arrested the Legislature. A detachment of three companies, including Company H, was despatched from Fredericks, on the 9th of October, with orders to secure a quantity of corn, which was stored in a mill at Harper's Ferry. While return- ing with the grain in charge, they were attacked by a rebel force of infantry, cavalry and artil- lery, 1,600 strong, under Col. Ashley. The rebels were repulsed and driven from the village of Bolivar to Bolivar Heights, where, having captured a thirty-two-pounder, the enemy was held at bay until the arrival of re-enforcements from Col. Geary. The loss of the detach- ment was six killed and eight wounded. Leaving Frederick on the 22d of October, they ascended the Potomac to Muddy Branch, where they were employed on guard, returning to Fredericks December 1, and assigned as provost guard. On organizing the army for the spring campaign, the regiment was attached to the Second Brigade of Gen. Banks' Army Corps. They joined his command at Sandy Hook, and commenced the march up the valley of the Shenandoah, occu- pying Charleston on the 27th. Accompanied Gen. Banks' command to Harrisburg. On Banks' memorable retreat to Williamsport, the regiment did duty as rear guard, bearing the terrible harassments of the enemy with intrepidity. Their conduct in this line is beyond praise. Their loss during the retreat was three killed, fifty-nine wounded and seventy-nine missing or captured. On the 9th of August, participated in the battle of Cedar Mountain, losing twenty-five killed, sixty-five wounded and eighteen prisoners. During Gen. Pope's retreat, on the 18th of August, the regiment, still under Gen. Banks' command, was frequently under fire and lost six men, taken prisoners. Took part in the battle of Antietam, losing, out of a force of three hundred and thirty-five men engaged, twenty-seven wounded and one hundred and seventy-one killed. May 1, attached to Gen. Hooker's division, moving along Fredericksburg Plank Road, did picket duty, being driven back on main body. Formed, with advance guard, line of battle, and, after a hotly contested fight, the regiment gained one-third of a mile, when relieved by Gen. Whipple's forces, losing twenty killed and eighty-one wounded. During the withdrawal of the army from Chancellorsville, the regiment covered the left of the retreating line. June 27, at Gettysburg, Penn., was occupied in supporting position on the right, and to the rear of the general line of battle. On the 2d, was ordered to the front, taking up a position along the east bank of Rock Creek, which they fortified by throwing up breast-works of rails and earth. In the battle of the following day, their loss was only three killed and eleven wounded. Served in New York to enforce the draft, and, on September 30, were transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, being attached to the Third Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Army Corps. On the 21st of December, three-fourths of the regiment enlisted as veterans, under general orders from the War Department, and the veteran Third bid farewell to Wartrace, Tenn., on the line of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railway, en route for Madison, Wis., where they arrived on the 28th of October.
Arriving at the State Capital, the men scattered to their homes to improve their furlough in the enjoyment of domestic tranquillity. Re-assembled at Madison, February 1, 1864, whence they moved to Tullahoma, Tenn. Concentrating on Atlanta, Ga., the Third regiment, attached to the First Division, distinguished itself in various encounters with the enemy, leading the advance and constantly skirmishing on the way. June 1, the troops took position in line of battle to the left, which they held for three days, taking the advance of the 4th, and gaining a position, on the 6th, in front of the enemy's entrenchments at Pine Knot, which they retained, under an incessant fire, until the 15th, when the enemy abandoned the entrenchments during the night. During the next three days, the regiment, always in front, advanced from point to point, and on the 21st were ordered to advance on the Powder Springs road. On proceeding a short distance in that direction, the foe was encountered in such superior numbers that Col. Hawley deemed it prudent to await the arrival of re-enforcements, with which he forced the passage. In the advance on Kenesaw Mountain, the loss was one killed and seventeen wounded, three mor- tally. In the operations before Atlanta, a loss of five killed and one wounded was sustained.
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