USA > Wisconsin > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin > Part 93
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The fort was not attacked during the war, but four of the members were killed. The death of three of them, Searles, Spafford and McIlwaine, is described in the Wayne town history. The other was Henry Apple, a German, after whom Apple River was named. On the 16th day of June, two days after the death of the last-mentioned parties, Appel started out, against the remonstrances of his comrades, to visit his farm. About half a mile northeast from the fort, he was waylaid by the Indians, killed and scalped. The same day Gen. Dodge, who had but just arrived from Fort Defiance with twenty-nine men, who were going in search of the Spafford party, started after the Indians. They followed them east and overtook them at the banks of the Pecatonica, where they had taken refuge in a swamp or slough, at what is called Horseshoe Bend, on Section 14. The Indians, fourteen in number, were all killed, and four of the attack- ing party were either killed on the spot or mortally wounded. For several years after, the bones and skulls of the Indians were scattered about the spot where the fight occurred. This was the only bloodshed of that war which occurred in the town.
Very soon after the close of the struggle, the settlers began pouring in, and within a few years the country around Wiota was largely taken up. Of the first arrivals, we have the names of Adam Collins, George Mathew, Henry Adam and John Helm, Mr. Clark, H. W. Barnes, Mr. Blackmore, Russell Baldwin, A. McConnell, James Woods, Robert Gray, G. Hawley, William Floyd, William Porter, Isaac Robinson, R. Short, L. Sargeant, G. W. Dobbs, Asom Riggs, Tom Mat, J. Riggs, J. Lease, Mr. Davis and Jesse Miller. There are but few of these parties now living either here or elsewhere.
Among the early settlers who are living here still, aside from those already spoken of, are C. Robinson, J. Reed, J. Lutter, O. F. Schager, M. Dean, S. Johnson, M. Hansen, Horace Bebe, T. Nicholson, the Van Matre Brothers, M. J. and J. K. Hans Swanson, T. K. Robin- son, George Stuart, James Kemp, Morgan, Tim and Richard Quinn, J. Purcell, J. H. Branum, H. Hulverson, Lars Munsen, N. Saterlee, William Fop, William Mayne, C. Osterday, J. J. Bridg-
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
man, Samuel and William Sweeny, Nat Rogers, J. Mason, A. Anderson, J. Kern, Chris and Andrus Stree, M. Ericksen, E. Ingerbricksen, J. Million, the Pickett brothers, D. and E. Chris and J. Geirhart, Ole and A. O. Rossing, W. Stevenson and S. Kelly.
The first nuptials in the town were celebrated in the fall of 1828, when Robert Campbell, who then lived at Gratiot's Grove, was married to Mahala Hale.
A miner's wife, while while stopping overnight, when on the way from Galena to Dodge- ville, in 1828, was confined. The first child of resident parents was William, the son of Robert Campbell, born in the fall of 1829.
In the winter of 1831, the little son of Mr. Campbell died, this being the first death in the Wiota Diggings. The body was interred in what is now known as the old graveyard, which lies about a quarter of a mile southwest of Wiota Village.
A grocery and general provision store was opened here by Mr. Hamilton before 1832, which stood near the old furnace, south of the village. This establishment was continued for several years.
A post office was established in Wiota precinct very soon after the Indian war, Mr. Hamil- ton being appointed Postmaster.
Mr. Day and Jesse Miller were the first mail carriers. Previous to the establishment of the office, the mail had been brought here once a week from Galena, Ill., and distributed at Hamilton's store.
The first religious services were held at the cabin of William Hale, in 1830, by a Method- ist itinerant, the Rev. Stevens. The Wiota Diggings were not considered in early days a very good field for ministerial effort. The miners, although not dishonest or unkindly disposed gen- erally, were, nevertheless, unfavorably disposed toward the "preacher."
Mr. Carroll, one of the first comers, who lived on the farm now owned by the Van Matre brothers, had a grand harvesting-bee as early as 1831. People came from every direction for miles around-men and women. The men harvested eighty or ninety acres of grain before 3 o'clock, and the women made several quilts. They then went in for a good time, which lasted until the wee sma' hours.
A regular smelting furnace was erected very early by W. S. Hamilton and a man by the name of Drum. It was operated according to a book on chemistry, which, it is related, the fireman could not read.
It is narrated that at one time a minister who was particularly odious for his extreme sanctity and want of virtue, was rotten-egged out of the place.
A school was first taught in the town in the winter of 1833, by George Cubbidge, in ye ancient temple of learning that stood about one mile east of the diggings. Now how great a change ; there are fourteen districts in or connected with the town, and the standard of educa- tion is of a high order.
One of the mechanical institutions, nearly indispensable in a new country, is the black- smith-shop. This want was supplied for Wiota in 1830, by Robert Campbell, who first woke the morning echoes in the wilderness, and ushered in the evening with the ringing of his anvil, to the chorus of the miners' picks and shovels.
A tavern was first opened in the village by Russell Baldwin, soon after his coming in 1833. After that, at different times, there were several public houses in the villages.
Succeeding the close of the Black Hawk war, Messrs. Burrette & Gray built a saw-mill on Whiteside Creek, in the northeast part of the town ; this mill, which was the first in this section, was operated for a good many years. At this time, there was a grist-mill in the town, built twenty-five years previously by Mr. Williams, four miles northeast from Wiota Village, on the Whiteside Branch. It has passed through several hands, and is now owned by J. Sardison. It is built of stone, is two stories high, and is supplied with two runs of stone.
George Carroll built a log distillery in the town in 1841, which was operated for many years. John Connery was the first distiller.
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
During the above year, a grand Fourth of July celebration was indulged in by the miners and settlers. The English element of the place at that time was pretty strong, and it was pro- posed by some of them that they should raise a red flag. At this, the Americans declared if they did they would not only pull it down, but that they would " knock down, drag and clean out " every one who participated in the affair. The flag was not raised, and peace prevailed with the exception of the belligerent demonstrations inseparable from a " glorious fourth."
The second store in the town was opened in 1838, a short distance west of the diggings, by J. Slothower and Charles Thomas.
There are at present four sorghum evaporators in the town, which did a thriving business during the past season. Those owned by the Winn and Bebee Brothers made about one thousand eight hundred gallons of sirup each, and the two owned by Messrs. Bridgman & Mason made about one thousand gallons each.
Wiota possesses four churches. The oldest and most substantial structure is the Methodist Episcopal stone church, which stands on the east half of Section 3, Range 4, and which was built nearly twenty-five years ago. The Union Church of Wiota was built in 1875. This is the " free-for-all " church of the town, there being no denominational control exercised over it. The United Brethren have a church located on Section 32, and the Lutherans have one, which is situated on Section 16. There is a large commonwealth cemetery lying on Section 13, con- trolled by the town.
VILLAGE OF WIOTA. -
The first village of the above name was laid out by W. S. Hamilton, in 1836, on the banks of the Pecatonica, on the southeast corner of Section 36. Seven or eight buildings were erected there, but the effort to create a village at that point would not work, and they were eventually moved to the diggings or torn down, there being no occupants for them.
The present village was platted for the Ridgeway Mining Company, successors to Hamil- ton & Co., by Nathan Corwith and John Slothower, on the 1st of July, 1858, Charles Temple being the surveyor. Previous to this, the lots were sold hocus-pocus, so to speak, and the sur- vey and plat were made to conform to the old streets and lots as much as possible As a result, the place is as rambling and irregular in shape as an Indian village. The early history of the village was the history of the town as narrated. From 1840 to 1856, or until the Mineral Point Railroad came through the county, the village did a thriving business. There were seven stores at one time, and various mechanic shops, besides hotels. At the present time, there are two small stores kept by J. Lutter and B. F. Hahn, the latter being the Postmaster. There are three blacksmiths (P. Davidson, Charles Smith and E. Peterson); two shoe-shops (A. Field and A. O. Skinrood), a brewery (P. Elder), and a hotel kept by William Mayne.
The mining district was, as stated, first owned by Hamilton, Shook & Haws. They con- ducted the business in partnership for two or three years, when Hamilton bought out the other two, becoming sole owner. A short time after, Peter Van Bergan purchased an interest in the mines, but he did not retain it long. Then Russell Baldwin became interested with Hamilton, but he, like his predecessor, soon after abandoned the business, Hamilton again becoming the proprietor. In 1834, he became involved to such an extent that the property was taken for his debts, Henry Corwith, of Illinois, being the chief creditor. Anthony Miller was appointed Assignee, and entered the land from the Government. After this, a joint stock company was organized to operate the mines, called the Ridgeway Mining Company, Nat Dean and John Slothower being the local operatives. The company set up a seventy horse-power engine and force-pump on the grounds, and erected a saw-mill, and for a time did an immense business. The company ceased mining about 1870, and a few years subsequent the engine and machinery were sold. With the exception of a little digging done by private individuals, nothing has been attempted since that time.
The best-yielding points were what are known as the ridge veins and the large patch dig- gings. The mineral of the ridge ground was found in the crevices of the rocks, the mystic
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
Masonic weed being the miners' guide to the precious deposit. That of the patch diggings was found lying from four to six feet beneath the surface, entirely isolated from the rocks, and scat- tered about promiscuously. The most abundant yield in early times was from the patch, about 75 per cent of the material taken from this place being pure ore. The ancient wind- lass and bucket were the means employed to raise the mineral. At first, when at any point the shafts or mines were sunk so deep that the work was obstructed by water running in, a horse- pump was employed to remove it, but in later years an engine was used for this purpose. The most remarkable mineral deposit ever discovered here, or anywhere in the mines of this district, was found by Robert and Samuel Paxton and M. Inman in 1830. After prospecting for some time at Mr. Hamilton's expense, they were at last rejoiced and rewarded by finding a solid mass of ore thirty feet in length by fifteen feet deep and four and a half feet wide, which yielded above a quarter of a million pounds of pure lead. As unexampled as this statement may seem, it is nevertheless true, for there are those living now who saw the phenomenon and can vouch for the accuracy of the statement. The price of mineral has fluctuated from $5 to $100 per one thousand pounds. There were never anything but log and ash smelting furnaces at this point.
BELMONT TOWNSHIP.
Belmont is in the extreme northwest corner of La Fayette County, comprising Townships 3 and 4 north, Ranges 1 and 2 east, of the Fourth Principal Meridian. In 1862, Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31 were taken by act of Legislature from the town of Kendall and attached to Belmont, which is now composed of forty-two sections. It derives its name from the mounds within its limits. At an early day, French travelers who were passing through this region, pursuing their explorations of the Northwest, discovered the mounds and named them " Belle Monte," signifying beautiful mountain. These mounds are three in number, one near the cen- ter of the town, called "Belmont Mound," and two in the western part, termed respectively " Lit- tle Mound " and "Platte Mound." The mounds of Belmont are known throughout the southern part of the State, and are visited annually by hundreds of tourists. The general surface of the town is a beautiful rolling prairie, and, to the eye of the traveler passing through the town, it forms a magnificent view. There are about four square miles of uncultivated land in the town. This embraces the northeast corner, which is known as the Welsh Settlement. The soil of the town is a black loam, and will average about twelve inches deep. This soil is recognized as being valuable, especially for the cultivation of corn and oats, the yield of this product being enormous. Stock is raised quite extensively in Belmont, owing to the peculiar adaptation of the town for this branch of industry. At one time, flax was prominent among the products, but of late years it has been abandoned. Located in different parts of the town, may be found valuable groves of small timber of the different kinds indigenous to this locality, ash, black and white oak.
The town is well watered by the "Mound," "Bonner's " and " Harris'" Branches of the Pecatonica River. These, with their numerous sub-branches and the many natural springs found here, render it one of the best-watered sections in the county.
The town is settled by different classes and nationalities; the Germans, however, who form one-quarter of the population, predominate. In point of intelligence, education and gen- eral qualifications, the citizens will compare favorably with those of the most advanced settle- ments in the county.
In 1868, the Platteville Branch of the Mineral Point Railroad was built through it, cross- ing Sections 13, 14, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, and passing into Grant County from Section 18. The earliest settler and pioneer in the town of Belmont, is a Mr. Bonner, who immigrated to the county in the year 1827, and located the farm in Section 10, now owned and occupied by Edwin Johnson. During the same year, Thomas Welsh came to this town and settled near " Old Belmont." Soon after, in 1828, came Robert Terry; in 1829, Col. James H. Gentry and Oliver Holzhouser; and, in 1830, followed James Wiswell. Moses Eastman, Cornelius
M.V. Burris
BELMONT.
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
DeLong, Col. John Moore and Moses Whiteside were prominent old settlers, having located in the town in 1833. The first building erected in the present limits of Belmont, was a log dwelling, built by Thomas Welsh in 1828, on his claim, near the site of "Old Belmont." In 1829, Robert Terry built a smelting furnace on his selection, and continued to smelt the min- erals of the surrounding country until 1832, when, at the opening of the Black Hawk war, the business was abandoned. The old mineral house connected with the furnace, was afterward used for a schoolhouse. About 1830, Oliver Holzhouser established the first blacksmith-shop in the town. The few tools used belonged to the smelting-works.
An amusing incident occurred here during the winter of 1831. Mr. Holzhouser was engaged to build a sleigh for one of the settlers, and, as the weather was very severe, after pro- curing all necessary articles, he proceeded to the construction of the vehicle inside the little log shop. The work having been completed, the sleigh measured 8x12 feet, and, to the astonish- ment and chagrin of the blacksmith, it could not be drawn out through the 3x5-foot door of the shop. Nothing daunted, however, he immediately proceeded to remove the roof of the building, and, with the aid of a few settlers, the mnuch-prized sleigh was raised and placed on terra firma outside. It is with a keen sense of the ridiculous that Mr. Holzhouser now relates this incident to his friends.
About the first land entered in the town was 320 acres, which is at present occupied by Mrs. M. Whiteside. When entered in 1834, it was the property of Dr. Addison Philleo, of Galena.
Always in the early settlement of a new country is found a sharp appreciation of educa- tional institutions, and the settlement of Belmont is no exception to the rule ; for, as early as 1833, a school was established in the old building used for storing the minerals of the abandoned smelting works, and John Boyer was engaged to instruct the dozen scholars in attendance. To show the contrast between past and present, there are now in the town of Belmont seven school- houses, requiring the services of eight teachers. The number of children in the town over four and under twenty years of age aggregates 423. The average wages paid to male teachers is $37.50; to female teachers, $25. The value of school property in the town, as shown by the report of the Town Clerk of 1880, is $5,975. The first district school in Belmont was estab- lished in 1842, on Section 3, Nathan Olmsted being employed as teacher, and paid by subscrip- tion. At this school, books of all kinds and from all parts of the Union were studied. Previous to the founding of Old Belmont, the citizens of this town received their mail from Mineral Point, Iowa County.
The first church erected in the town was built in 1846, in the extreme northwestern part of the town, in the locality known as the Kirkpatrick Settlement. This was of the Methodist denomination.
Belmont was organized as a town in 1848, immediately after the adoption of the constitu- tion of the State, and the first election, at which 70 votes were polled, was held at David Wright's. Judge Charles Dunn, the first Chief Justice of Wisconsin, was elected Chairman of the board.
In 1865, a grist-mill, run by water power, was erected by Thomas Martin and son John on Section 18, where it was operated until 1875, when it was moved to the village of Belmont, and was burned in 1876. The site of this mill in the village is now occupied by a steam grist- mill, erected in 1879, by Charles Simmeron.
The population of the town has decreased from 1,303 in 1870 to 1,278 in 1880, although its wealth has increased.
Following is a list of the officers for the town since 1870 :
1870-Supervisors, John Martin (Chairman), Charles Speilman, O. Holzhouser ; Clerk, G. W. Miles ; Treasurer, Nathan Olmsted ; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
1871-Supervisors, George Frost (Chairman), Charles Mappes, O. Holzhouser; Clerk, G. W. Miles ; Treasurer, Paul Speth ; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
1872-Supervisors, George Frost (Chairman), O. Holzhouser, N. Thomas; Clerk, G. N. Miles ; Treasurer, E. J. Bennett; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
1873-Supervisors, George Frost (Chairman), O. Holzhouser, O. Wright; Clerk, G. W. Miles; Treasurer, E. J. Bennett; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
1874-Supervisors, George Frost (Chairman), O. Wright, O. Holzhouser ; Clerk, G. W. Miles ; Treasurer, E. J. Bennett ; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
1875-Supervisors, P. Speth (Chairman), O. Holzhouser, W. P. Roberts; Clerk, G. W. Miles ; Treasurer, A. C. Roy ; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
1876-Supervisors, E. J. Bennett (Chairman), H. Evans, O. Wright; Clerk, A. F. Clif- ton ; Treasurer, A. C. Roy ; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
1877-Supervisors, Paul Speth (Chairman), J. W. Dickenson, O. Wright ; Clerk, A. F. Clifton ; Treasurer, Thomas Martin ; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
1878-Supervisors, Nathan Olmsted (Chairman), J. W. Dickenson, W. P. Roberts ; Clerk, A. F. Clifton ; Treasurer, Thomas Martin; Assessor, M. V. Burris.
1879-Supervisors, Nathan Olmsted (Chairman), J. W. Dickenson, W. P. Roberts ; Clerk, A. F. Clifton ; Treasurer, Thomas Martin ; Assessor, John Speth.
1880-Supervisors, Nathan Olmsted (Chairman), J. W. Dickenson, W. P. Roberts ; Clerk, A. F. Clifton ; Treasurer, Thomas Martin ; Assessor, John Speth.
OLD BELMONT, THE FIRST CAPITAL OF WISCONSIN.
The site of this decayed village is located in the center of the town of Belmont, on Sec- tion 3, near the foot of Belmont Mound, and is now known as Grand View, a station on the Galena Narrow-Gauge Railroad, which was built through the township in 1876.
The Territorial government was established by act of Congress, approved April 20, 1836, and the Territory of Wisconsin embraced within its boundaries all of what is now Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and a part of Dakota. Henry Dodge was appointed Governor, J. S. Horner, Secretary, and Charles Dunn, Chief Justice. These persons took the prescribed oath of office July 4, 1836. A census was soon after taken, and the time of election appointed for October 10, 1836. The permanent location of the seat of government, the division of counties and the location of county seats were the all-absorbing questions. The Governor, by proclamation, designated the village of Belmont as the place for the first session of the Legislature, and October 25, 1835, as the time for the meeting. At this time, the village of Belmont became the subject of the most sanguine expectations. Forthwith an embryo city was laid out, the most extravagant plans indulged in, and extensive improvements projected and displayed on paper. Speculations raged high, village lots being sold for $500 each. The imaginary din of the busy streets and avenues of a great commercial center so wrought upon the feelings of the people that every other village in the Territory was dwarfed in their estimation to their own Belmont. But the Legislature speedily dissolved their blissful hopes by locating the capital at its present site November 28, 1836, and deciding to hold its next session at Burlington, now in the State of Iowa.
A well-informed pioneer, who was at Belmont during the session of the Legislature in November, 1836, says : "The location of the capital was the all-important question before the Legislature, and a very animated and somewhat angry warfare was carried on between the friends of Milwaukee, Portage, Belmont, Cassville, Mineral Point, Madison and many other places, for the recognition of such of their favorite towns as the most eligible site for the future seat of Gov- ernment.
" J. D. Doty, of Green Bay, and Gov. Mason, of Michigan, had purchased a considerable tract of land of the United States, between what was then known as the third and fourth of the Four Lakes, at $1.25 per acre. Mr. Doty, with all the proverbial integrity and adroit skill that characterizes the modern lobbyist at Washington, was on hand with a beautiful plat of Madison, to convince the members that it was far better to locate the capital in the interior, than either on
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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
Lake Michigan or in the neighborhood of the Mississippi, where the population of the Territory at that time was principally located. The most common and convincing argument to secure votes in favor of this proposition seemed to be, that by locating the capital in the interior, it would promote the settlement of a large tract of country, then without inhabitants, and, when the whole Territory was settled up, it would be found to be exactly in the right spot. This, then, was the ostensible reason why a majority voted for Madison, but the records soon after revealed the fact that a large proportion of the members had deeds of lots in their pockets, of earlier date than the passage of the bill, which clearly indicated one of the reasons that influenced their votes."
Although the wisdom of the selection of Madison for the seat of government is pretty gen- erally conceded, yet the historic Belmont, overlooking the waters of the Pecatonica, with its majestic mounds, the beauty of its surroundings and general attractiveness, might have formed a city which, but for the inconvenient distance from the northern part of the State, would com- pare very favorably with the now much admired city of the lakes.
The site of the village of Old Belmont consisted of eighty acres, and was owned by Col. John Moore, who located on Section 33, near the village site, in 1833. Col. Moore entered the land in 1834, and afterward sold it to John Atchison, of Galena, who, in 1835, proceeded to sur- vey a village. Capt. Craig, from Galena, was the Surveyor, and Oliver Holzhouser, the Chain- man, who platted the historic village of Old Belmont. The heirs of Mr. Atchison afterward sold the village site to David W. Jones, who disposed of it to Owen Wright, whose heirs now
own a part of the property. Immediately after the laying-out of the village, John Atchison, who acted as contractor, proceeded to the erection of suitable buildings for the meeting of the Legislature of the vast Territory of Wisconsin. One of these buildings was the first structure erected in Old Belmont. The buildings designed for the meeting of the Legislature, were a council house, Governor's residence, and lodging-house for members. The old Council House, known in Belmont as " Noah's Ark," from the fact that a half-dozen families have been shel- tered within its confines at one and the same time, is now occupied by John Garber as a resi- dence. The old " Lodging House," after the adjournment of the Legislature, was fitted up for and occupied by Judge Charles Dunn, as a dwelling. The " Governor's Residence " has long since decayed. The Legislature held but one session here, and that during the winter of 1836- 37. At the convening of the Legislature in 1836, a printing office was established here and a weekly paper published by Plowman & Nash, editors and proprietors. This office, however, was removed the following spring, and was the foundation of the Burlington Gazette. The building was converted into a kitchen for Judge Dunn's residence.
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