USA > Wisconsin > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin > Part 91
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There are two churches in the village, a Catholic and M. E. Church. The Catholic Church, a fine edifice and handsomely situated, was built in 1869-70. The Methodist Church, a commodious structure, is of later date.
Gratiot has had its various societies, as debating clubs, Good Templars and singing classes, but the only institution of this character which remains at present is the Philharmonic Society, which includes the best local musical talent.
The business element of the place is now in a thriving condition generally, and is repre- sented by several prosperous firms. Yet, in times past, there have been failures, and the break- ing-up of firms by disastrous fires, several of which have occurred here. There are now two hotels, the Exchange and the Rodolf House. The first, which is the successor to the old Bebee House, being a part of the same, and occupying the original site, is now conducted by H. N. Bragg. The Rodolf House, erected in 1843 by Hiram Tuttle, is now conducted by Mr. Baker. There are three general dry-goods and grocery stores, conducted respectively by G. F. West, S. W. Lemont and Collins & Doyle. One bank, a branch of one of the Darlington banks, managed by Mr. Gallagher ; one drug store, John Marriott, proprietor ; one hardware store and tinshop, by Charles Freeman ; three blacksmith-shops, by J. A. Kelly, L. O. Amond- son and H. Kinney ; two harness-shops, R. D. Middleton and R. Buche ; two butcher-shops, J. Flannegan and the Black Brothers; two wagon-shops, L. O. Amondson and J. Elster; two shoeshops, Hans O. Nuss and P. Burke, and one livery, Mr. Cone, proprietor. There is a very good schoolhouse, erected in 1867, as successor to the first one built in the town. There are three warehouses at the depot, two of them owned by J. S. Gallager, and one by Nelson Bow- ers. There is also a lumber-yard at this point, owned by C. W. Lemont.
Of the business men who have operated at Gratiot at different times are mentioned Paul Chandler, Mr. Brewster, S. Ellsworth, the Gates Brothers, Mr. Collins, A. Valley, Davenport & Easley, George Packard, Frank, John and Moses Campbell, H. Berner, E. Slothower, Tom
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
Cox. Hiram & George Knox, E. Meloy, J. Lutter, S. G. Bragg, Bragg Brothers, Mr. Kenrick, C. H. Gratiot, Scott & Berner and William Fannin.
VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE.
This village, located at Shultz Ford, on Section 4, was surveyed in 1856, by Charles Tem- ple, for J. J. Ross, and here the first depot, already mentioned, was built, in 1857. It now stands disused. The first business done here was the selling of whisky by N. Barrington, in 1857. He was drowned soon after beginning his traffic, and his place was then taken by A. V. Conyne, now of Warren, Ill., who developed a considerable trade in general goods. After him, Werden & Stevens, G. Perry, Henry Berner, Henry Webb, C. Pickett and others did mercan- tile business. There is now no store in the place. G. Parkinson erected a hotel here in 1859, which was first kept by La Grand Winton. After passing through various hands, it was recently closed. The business of the place is now represented by a blacksmith-shop, Mr. Bry- ant, a wagon-shop, Tully & Doran, and a shoe-shop, by Peter Falston. There are several houses in the hamlet. Just over the Pecatonica from Riverside stands the grist-mill of the same name. This mill, which is three stories in height and of frame structure, was completed in 1868, by Gen. Warden. The foundation was laid some time before, but, owing to litigation, the work was delayed. The mill, which is now the property of John Dixon, has two runs of stone and excellent machinery, and bears the reputation of doing first-class work.
TOWN OF WAYNE.
The town of Wayne was an election precinct connected with Gratiot until it was erected into a town, by the action of the County Commissioners, on the 3d day of January, 1849. The name given was selected by the inhabitants, in honor of " Mad " Anthony Wayne, of Rev- olutionary fame.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Amos Eastman April 3, 1849, when the following officers, among others, were elected : Russell Baldwin, Chairman ; A. G. Pinney and William Hoover, Supervisors ; W. K. Underhill, Clerk ; S. Young, Assessor, and F. A. Under- hill, Treasurer.
This township, for several years, was known as the "Lost Township," as the original Gov- ernment survey was lost in being transmitted to the United States Land Office. In 1835, it was re-surveyed, and, in 1836, the first land was entered. There was also one section over- looked or lost from the last survey, which was not open for entry until five years later.
The surface of the town in the northwestern part is generally rough, and, in some places, quite broken. In the southeast portion, it is smoother, although rolling in contour.
The soil of the low lands is usually a rich, black loam, with a sub-soil of sand predominat- ing, especially so close to the river beds. The uplands are usually of a heavy, reddish clay loam and limestone marl. The hills are usually stony, and hard to till. The inhabitants in the valleys have to dig about twenty feet to get good water, while those living on the highest points have to go from eighty to a hundred feet.
Wayne is splendidly watered by the Pecatonica, which flows from west to east, on an irreg- ular course, through the north part of the town, and Spafford's Branch and its numerous trib- utaries, which flow northerly, through the southern and central parts, the main stream empty- ing into the Pecatonica. There are also several other small streams in the town, which are tributary to the Pecatonica. The two main streams furnish excellent water-powers, which have been employed at different times, but not to a great extent.
There is enough timber in the town to supply the needs of the inhabitants and to spare, of the usual varieties to be found in this section of the county. The present growth is some- what small, probably on account of the large timber having been cut down, to supply the needs of the first comers.
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
The present population is a mixture of several nationalities. They are principally Ger- mans, Norwegians, English and Americans, the latter preponderating, and representing largely sons and daughters of the New England and Eastern States. The social, intellectual and moral status is uniformly good, as is attested by the hearty support extended to a large number of schools and several churches.
The products of the town are chiefly agricultural. Good stone is easily obtained for build- ing purposes, and mineral has been frequently found, but not in paying quantities thus far.
Wayne is in some respects quite noted as historic ground, although it was not generally set- tled at so early a date as the neighboring towns. One reason for this was the fact of its having come into market later than the balance of the county. The first claim, it is said, was made by two men in company, named Spafford and Spencer. They moved here certainly as early as 1830, for they had a large improvement made before the Black Hawk war. The claim was located near the junction of Spafford's Branch and the Pecatonica, on Section 10. If there were any other claimants here before the war mentioned, who made improvements on their land, it is not known, and in all probability there were no others. One of the incidents especially notable, in connection with the history of this town and of the county, occurred at the Spafford place. It is familiarly known as the Wayne Massacre of 1832, and which was the only very serious Indian affair that transpired in the county during the war. It appears, as nearly as can be ascertained, that on the 14th day of June, 1832, five persons, three besides Spafford and Spencer, named Searls, McIlwayne and Bennett Million, a boy of seventeen, were, while work- ing on the Spafford farm, attacked by Indians. Spafford, Searls and McIlwaine were instantly killed, but young Million and Spencer escaped. Million jumped into the river, and, by swimming and diving, managed to find refuge in the timber. The Indians chased him several miles, per- . forating his hat and clothes with bullets, but he finally reached Fort Hamilton in safety, although nearly dead with exhaustion. Spencer did not jump into the river, as he could not swim, but skulked along the banks. An Indian, mounted on one of the plow horses of the party gave chase, but Spencer shot him before he was overtaken. He reached the woods, where he wan - dered for several hours before he came in sight of the fort. When lo ! what should he see but a lot of Indians surrounding it. Frightened at their appearance, and thinking that the fort was captured, he retreated to the forest, where he remained concealed for several days, until found by some person, who conducted him to the fort, but fright, starvation and exposure during that time, did a fearful work, making a physical and mental wreck of him, and turning his hair perfectly white. The spot where the massacre occurred is one of the most lovely and desirable in the. town. Very soon after the close of the Indian war, the settlers began to come in, although slowly.
One of the earliest comers was John Armstrong, familiarly called "Devil John," who, it is said, first made his appearance in this locality in 1829 or 1830. He was a large, powerful fel- low, fierce and impetuous, and noted far and wide as a terrible fighter, one who could, in back- woods parlance, " whip his weight in wildcats." He did not live here many years, being a miner, and of roving disposition.
Another pioneer was Alexander Higginbothom, who laid a claim in the north part of town somne time before the war. Higginbothom was one of the party with Felix St. Vrain, when William Hale and Aaron Hawley were killed by the Indians in Jo Daviess County, Ill., but, owing to the fleetness of a little mare which he rode, Higginbothom effected his escape. In after years, it is related of him, he cared for and petted the mare as though she had been a child, and when the old gentleman was deep in his cups (being fond of the ardent), he would stand and hug her, and tell her by the hour how she had preserved his life, and that she should want for noth- ing on earth while she lived.
In 1835 and 1836, H. R. Hunter, James Anthony, Miles McKnight, William King, J. and C. Hoffman and C. J. Hale settled in the town. William King was one of the first sur- veyors in the county. His descendants have at this time a small map of the town drawn by him with pen and ink, which has marked out the location of several of the first settlers. The Hoff-
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
mans and McKnight were enterprising business men, and did considerable toward promoting the interests of the town. C. J. Hale still lives in the town, was in the country during the Indian war, and lost his father at that time, as mentioned in Gratiot. Of Mr. Hunter there is no record, save that he was an esteemed citizen.
In 1837 and 1838, Ezra Wescott, Josh Brown, A. G. Pinney, Daniel Sanford and James McMetery became residents of the town. Mr. Pinney, who still lives here, was the first mer- chant in this section, having opened a store near the northeast line of the township the first year he came.
During the next five years, the influx of settlers was rapid : William K. Underhill, E. Gray, A. Eastman, Anson Andrews, W. J. Hoover, F. A. Underhill, T. Parsons, Thomas Bean, E. Chapman, Ole and Peter Iverson, Peter Davidson, Arne Anderson and James Thorpe.
There are now living here A. G. Pinney, C. J. Hale, W. W. Hale, W. K. Underhill, D. Eastman, Moroni and John Parsons, Ole Iverson, A. Eastman, James Thorpe, Nelson La Due, B. F. Watson, Mr. Jeffreys and many others.
The first deaths were those already described. Some time after the massacre, the bodies were found, one of them with the head severed from the body, and the others terribly mutilated. They received decent burial.
The first marriage was that of James McKnight and Caltra Million, in 1835. Mr. McKnight first came here from the Wiota diggings, and built a cabin. He brought his bride to the new home.
The first born white child was Anthony, a son of Mr. McKnight, born about a year after the marriage. None of the family are now living here.
A school was first taught in Wayne in 1840, by E. I. Wescott, in the old log schoolhouse of Section 4. From this small beginning, the town has gradually increased its educational facili- ties until at present there are seven whole and two joint school districts in the town, and seven schoolhouses, the most of which are very good buildings.
Religious services were first held at the house of William King, on Section 5, in 1841, a Methodist itinerant preacher by the name of Whitford officiating. Whitford afterward acci- dentally shot his wife, in the town of Fayette.
The post office was established in town about twenty-five years ago. The first Postmaster was G. M. Hobbs. The mail pouch was his pocket or liat, and the office was kept at his resi- dence on Section 22, near the center of the town. The name of the office was Wayne, at first, but it was soon changed to Spafford.
One of the early enterprises engaged in was the running of a ferry-boat over the Pecatonica. near the mouth of Spafford branch, before 1840, by J. Hoffman and J. McKnight. This ferry, which was operated by poles, was the only method of crossing the stream available in the town for several years, unless it was to ford the river. A large quantity of lead was lost here at one time, which still reposes at the bottom of the stream, awaiting the efforts of some enterprising person to resurrect it.
A blacksmith-shop, built of logs, was erected in town in the spring of 1841, by James McKnight, who did the welding and sharpening for the pioneers. Previous to this time, they had to go to Wiota or Gratiot to get their work done.
A saw-mill was built on the Pecatonica, Section 1, as early as 1848, by Samuel Young and Joseph Payne. This mill continued to do work until 1861, when it was abandoned.
The first grist-mill was what was known as a tub-stone corn-cracker, started by John Hoover, at a very early day, on Spafford's Branch. This institution was not in operation a great many years, but while it did run it desiccated many a bushel of corn, supplying meal for man and beast.
A man by the name of Hurlbut started a saw-mill and corn-cracker combined, on the Peca- tonica, Section 4, in 1855. This mill was not operated more than five years. The Spafford mill, located on Spafford's Branch, Section 15, was built about twenty-five years ago, by Miles McKnight, and first employed as a saw-mill. Some ten years afterward, it passed into the
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
hands of G. and J. Hartsough, who converted it into a carding-mill. A few years later, it was purchased by William Tobias, who changed it into a flour-mill, putting in two runs of stone. It is now owned by J. Beard and J. McMullen.
M. B. Chilton, in the spring of 1841, built a distillery near the northwest corner of the town, and almost on the line between this and Gratiot. The structure was of logs, and supplied with machinery and fixtures for the manufacture of sour mash, as rude and simple in design and construction as that which is now used by the Scotch Highlanders, or the Southern moon- shiners. The still was not in operation over five years, for the price of whisky, about 1845, went down to 12} cents per gallon, and consequently the business died. At that time, whisky was a very common beverage, and always figured largely at the raisings.
A village was laid out by J. P. Dickson on Sections 10 and 11, and on the 23d of August, 1858, the survey made by Robert Patton, was duly acknowledged and recorded. The village was named Wayne. Two buildings were erected on the plat, one of which was occupied for a time as a millinery-shop. That was the first of Wayne, but not the last, for eventually there was a heavy law-suit about the division of the property among several owners. Probably there will be a village there yet ; for at last, almost as if in compensation for the former disappoint- ment, a road is being built through the north part of town, over the course formerly pursued, and which will soon be completed and in operation.
In the way of manufactories, there is a cheese factory, and creamery, and sorghum evapo- rator now in the town. The former, which stands on Section 22, was built about six years ago by F. W. Crosby and J. Nelson. There is one cheese vat and three churns which are kept constantly in use during the busy season. The evaporator was brought into town one year ago by E. Craig. At one time, there were two others in town, one owned by Bordon & Sons, and one by J. H. Nelson.
There has been a Good Templars' society in the town, but at present there is none, and no other secular organization exists, except a Grange, which has been in operation six or seven years.
During the winter of 1875, the farmers of Wayne and Gratiot united and formed a fire insurance company to be called the " Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Wayne and Gratiot." A. G. Pinney was the first President, S. W. Usher, Secretary, and B. F. Watson, Treasurer. The company is in a thriving condition.
Opportunities for worship in early times were very limited, there being few men who were willing to devote their lives to following the pioneers into the wilderness for the sake of doing good, but those who did this work were usually sincere and worthy servants of their great Master. There are now several churches in town which are regularly supplied with ministers. The first one erected in town was the Calvinistic Church, located in the western part. Very soon after the close of the late rebellion, the Baptist stone church, situated on the south corner of Section 22 was completed. This is a substantially built and commodious house of worship, and is a credit to the spirit and enterprise of fifteen years ago. The Baptist ministers in town are the Rev. Mr. Parkins and Elder Eastman.
The Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, located on Section 13, a frame building erected in 1873, was the first church of that denomination built in the town. Nelson La Due, near whose dwelling the church stands, was largely instrumental in promoting the building. There is also another Methodist Church situated on the southeast corner of Section 29, which was erected in 1874, and which is known as Zion's Church. The Methodist Churches are connected with the State-Line Circuit of the Mineral Point District, from which they are supplied, having no resident minister. Mr. Jeffreys was one of the early local preachers.
There is one church cemetery and five commonwealth cemeteries in the town.
At this time, the mercantile and mechanical business of the town is represented by one store, opened at what is known as Spafford Village in 1873, by L. W. Heindel, Postmaster, four blacksmith-shops, and one wagon-shop, located in different portions of the town.
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
George Nobles and A. G. Bebee will be remembered as having been two of the first store- keepers in the town, and old Mr. Brown, who gave all his property to the American Bible Society, will not soon be forgotten. Neither will E. I. Wescott, one of the representative men in culture and goodness of heart in the county.
TOWN OF ELK GROVE.
The town of Elk Grove is bounded on the north by the towns of Belmont and Kendall, on the east by the towns of Kendall and Center, on the south by Benton and Shullsburg, and west by the town of Benton and county of Grant. It comprises the north half of Township 2, Range 1; the south half of Township 3, Range 1, and west half of Township 2, Range 2, east of the Fourth Principal Meridian. The town takes its name from a beautiful and valuable growth of heavy timber extending for miles through its center, in former times much frequented by game of all descriptions. It is a rich agricultural town, containing scarcely a tract of refuse land, and is well watered.
On account of these advantages, Elk Grove, especially the western portion, is said to have been settled and cultivated when the balance, or nearly all, was yet Government land. The township is eminently a farming region, though mineral has been discovered in several locali- ties, particularly at the Strawberry Diggings, from which large quantities of ore have been raised from time to time.
At the former farm of Capt. Justus De Seelhorst, now occupied in part by Luke McNett, in the midst of a beautiful and romantic section of the country, stood Fort De Seelhorst, which became the headquarters of Capt. Cornelius DeLong's company during the Black Hawk war, as also the place of refuge for the endangered settlers.
The town is well watered by Fever River and its branches, and the eastern portion by small tributaries to the Pecatonica. The surface is gently rolling, with but few rocky points, and these are valuable as quarry deposits for building purposes.
The first settler in the town of Elk Grove was a Frenchman, who had located on Section 7 some time previous to 1827, this being the date of the arrival and settlement of a Mr. Col- lette and James C. Wright, who found the former and family here at that time. Mr. Collette and Mr. Wright located on the south half of the northeast quarter of Section 7. Immediately after locating his claim, Mr. Collette erected a log furnace for smelting, on the Fever or Galena River, with a double furnace, where he continued to reduce the mineral found on his and adja- cent claims until 1835, when, the mineral having become exhausted, the smelting works were abandoned.
While Collette was preparing his smelting works for operation, James C. Wright had built what at that time was considered a large double house, of oak logs, for the purpose of boarding the men connected with the smelting works. Mr. Collette had also erected a dwelling-house of logs, nicely hewn inside and out, the lumber used in the construction of the building being brought from St. Louis. The shingles covering both houses were of black walnut, found in the woods which at that time bore the name of "Collette's Grove." At this beautiful and roman- tic section of the country was located a fort, called Fort De Seelhorst.
During the Black Hawk war, from May 12 to August 20, 1832, the company of volun- teers commanded by Capt. Cornelius DeLong made this their headquarters. The fort con- sisted of one acre of ground inclosed by split wooden pickets. Inside the pickets were two block-houses, in which the settlers sought refuge every night. The inclosure also contained the residence of Mr. Collette.
In 1832, impending Indian troubles, which culminated in the Black Hawk war, retarded immigration into the lead mines, and Elk Grove, with the remainder of La Fayette County, was affected thereby. Though the presence of an armed force in that town was not a matter of fact, it was thought to be there, and every precaution was taken by the settlers to guard against surprise and attack. As already stated, a fort was constructed of logs, in which a company
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
was stationed, and hither miners, farmers and inhabitants generally, within a circuit of several miles, "focused" for protection. The fort stood opposite the present residence of Luke McNett, and was commanded either by Capt. De Long or Col. J. H. Gentry, there being some doubt as to the personality of the commandante, though Capt. De Long enlisted and directed the maneuvers of the company therein domiciled. During the apprehension of Indian visitation from May until October, 1832, a sleepless vigilance was maintained, but the savages wisely and humanely consented to avoid entailing trouble upon the inhabitants of this vicinity, who were permitted to enjoy life and the peace of mind which accompanies constant fear of attack.
The fort was never assailed by the Indians, who would have unquestionably been treated to a warm reception by the trusty garrison. On the site of the old fort, in 1836, a brewery was built jointly by Henry Rablin and Thomas Bray. The building was made of hewn logs and rough rock, and was partially destroyed by fire April 1, 1848. The burned portion was rebuilt in stone. The barley required for malting was crushed beneath a roller turned by a primitive one- horse power. The product of the brewery easily sold for an eagle a barrel. Rablin & Bray continued here until 1850, when the brewery was rented to different parties, who continued to manufacture the Teutonic beverage until 1856, when the business was abandoned. The first farm cultivated in Elk Grove, was that of Mr. Collette, comprising the south half of the north- east quarter of Section 7, which was entered in 1835, and is now owned and occupied by Luke McNett. Justus De Seelhorst located in Elk Grove, in 1828; was followed by Capt. Leslie, who purchased the Collette estate in 1833. This year was also the date of the arrival of Nathan Goodell, who built the old log tavern on the present site of Elk Grove Village, in the fall of 1835. At this tavern was held the first religious service in the town, by Rev. Kent, of Galena, who visited Elk Grove twice a year to guide the spiritual destinies of the isolated flock. Henry and Horace Curtis located on Section 7, on the farm now owned and occupied by John Moore and John Cooper, in the spring of 1829. Among the other early settlers may be mentioned T. C. Legate, William I. Madden, Alexander Willard, David J. Seeley, Charles Dunn, James Wiswell, Henry C. Barretto, James Hanly, Mr. Holman, Mr. Shattuck, John Rollins, John McBride and Charles Good, who located where he now resides.
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