History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 29

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318

USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 29

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"The hanging took place at his home on the 24th day of November, 1889. He lived in a small log house and a few feet from one of the windows was a burr oak tree with a branch sticking out from the tree almost hori- zontal, and on this tree he was hung. The day was Sunday and word had been quietly given out in the neighborhood for the people to come to a certain place near Charles Johnson's farm where there was a vacant house at that time. The place of meeting was about one mile from Olson's house. Charles Johnson was the instigator and leader, and had encouraged the men who went with him by telling them that if they could get together a mob of forty or sixty men, that no jury would ever be found to convict them. Most of the men who followed Johnson had the idea that the pur- pose was to drive Olson out of the country, but Johnson probably knew what would be the result from the beginning, for at this vacant house they provided themselves with two ropes, one a heavy well rope and the other a smaller rope, probably taken for the purpose of tying him, as they knew Olson to be a man of extraordinary strength and a very determined man. At the place that the mob met, a son of Olson's met with them, and after going within sixty rods of the house the mob sent Olson's son to reconnoiter. He went to the house and found his father asleep and came back and reported the fact to the mob. The mob went to the house and I think four men went in and took him from the bed and called him out under this tree. He refused to go and they put the rope around his neck and pulled him up, held him a short time suspended, then let him down and renewed their demand. Then they strung him up again, this time keeping him suspended so long that when they let him down they found he was not able to stand, so they carried him into the house, laid him on the floor until he revived. Someone in the crowd asked his wife what they should do with him and she told them to take him away. They then took him out in front of the house barefooted on the frozen ground, and asked him to leave the country. His reply was this: "This is my home, and I will not leave it till God takes me away.' He was then strung up the third time and left hanging until morning. During the whole time he never resisted. His strength was such that probably no two or three men, or even more, would have been able to handle him had he made resistance. Whether his courage was moral courage or simply animal courage, it is difficult to say, but certainly the courage shown was of the highest kind in its class. After the hanging the mob dispersed, with the exception of two members who remained all night with the wife and children and to screen the window so that the corpse would not be visible, the woman hung up a blanket, and twice during the night made coffee for the men who

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stayed. Early the next day an inquest jury was summoned, and Charles Johnson was foreman of that jury, and the decision of the jury was that Olson had come to his death by hanging by persons unknown to the jury. "The same day the district attorney issued a warrant for the arrest of Johnson and some thirty others on the charge of riot. Johnson went to the district attorney's home at midnight and made dire threats, but in spite of this, warrants were issued charging Johnson, the widow, the son, and a neighbor with murder. Charles Johnson, Bertha M. Olson (widow), Ole J. Hanson (son), and Ole J. Sletto were convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life. More than fifty others who took part were convicted of riot. Most of them paid their fines. All four were pardoned by Governor Peck after having been in prison for something over five years. The people who took part in this killing were most, if not all, good, peaceable, law-abiding citizens, and some were men of excellent character. Mr. Johnson, who was the leader, claimed to be afraid of Olson-afraid that he would burn his property or injure his family. Johnson was a man of acute intelligence, had been chairman of his town several times, was presi- dent of a Farmers' Trading Association, and in fact a leader in all municipal affairs in his neighborhood. Johnson, after his return from prison, stayed in and about Blair for several years."

Winnebago Festivities. The festivities among the Dakotas and Winne- bagoes consist of dancing, singing, feasting and speech-making, and are held several times a year.

The peace jubilee, or autumn festival, is celebrated by the Winnebagoes after the cranberry season is over, usually some time in October. This jubilee includes the "medicine" or "magic" dance. Invitations are sent out four days before the dance, and an immense tepee is erected on the ground where the celebration is to be held. This structure is about 110 feet long and 12 feet wide, and is covered with boughs and canvas. The invited guests are each supposed to make a present of four blankets to the person getting up the entertainment. On the evening of the pow-wow the Indians assemble, and after building large fires, start the celebration with a chant. Then the young squaws and bucks begin the dance, and the tum-tum is kept going continuously, all night long. As the enthusiasm kindles, the older Indians join in, and finally the children. The surging mass of dusty humanity grows hilarious, and shouts and songs ring through the air while the tum-tum beats its savage music until the very lodge poles seem to dance. In the glare of the great fire, the scene grows weird, and the forms look more hideous, the faces grow inhuman and shrieks stab the night air. The demons of the night, as it were, are turned loose, and in their frenzy slaughter the peaceful harmonies that brood in the darkness over the streams and forests. A feast is prepared and when the guests are hungry and weary of the dance they assemble in circles and enjoy the soup and meat that is placed in big bowls before them. Day dawns, but the dance goes on, and the feasting continues, and not until another night does the ceremony end.

One of the Indians is made a medicine man during the jubilee. The secret work of conferring the degree on the candidate has been handed

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down through the ages. After being initiated, the candidate makes a speech, and thereafter is a full-fledged member of the secret society.

When the entertainment breaks up, the person makes each guest a present of a blanket, and keeps the rest for himself.

The buffalo dance is the source of a great deal of amusement among the Winnebago Indians. The place is chosen and the tepee is erected and cov- ered the same as in the medicine dance. Each one who participates is dressed to imitate a buffalo and then they gather on the grounds, build fires and wait for the herd to make its appearance.

A bowl is put in a hole in the ground and filled with maple sugar and syrup. The old buffalo leader comes out and is followed by the herd, con- sisting of calves and young and full grown bisons. The tum-tum begins and the dance is on. Around the maple sugar bowl they swarm and shout and sing and bellow. The old buffalo leader stoops down and sticks his head in the bowl and eats-then he gives way and the rest follow-they keep on dancing and eating until the sugar is all gone. Then the great fun begins. The old buffalo must hook the bowl out of the ground without using his hands. If he is unable to do this he is the laughing stock of the whole crowd the rest of the night, but he generally manages to hook the bowl out after a great deal of hard work on his part and a continuous roar of laughing and shouting from the participants and assembled guests. When his task is accomplished all join in a feast and then smoke, and lie around until morning.

Scotch Settlers of Glasgow and Decorah Prairie. The early Scotch settlers who founded the settlement known as Glasgow-the postoffice so named because the people were mostly Scotch-came as a rule from the mining districts of Scotland to follow the occupation of mining in this country. Wages in Scotland were low and the coal pretty well mined in many of the old localities, so they set out for America to improve their condition, settling in Maryland, Kentucky and other States where coal is mined. After saving money and hearing of homestead lands awaiting settlement in Wisconsin and other Western States, they came farther West and, locating in Trempealeau County, proceeded to open up to civilization a new country, much as others under similar circumstances had done, until success came their way. Their farming methods at first were crude, and for years they suffered the hardships incident to pioneer life, but with Scotch tenacity they stuck to the work until they had established com- fortable homes and were deriving a good living from the soil. The early settlers of Glasgow were James Hardie, Richard Bibby, John Bibby, Joshua Bibby, Peter Faulds, Andrew Gatherer, John McMillan, and also the parents of the McMillans-these with their wives formed the little Scotch settlement of Glasgow at its origin. They were nearly all related, Mrs. James Hardie's maiden name being Margaret Bibby-a sister of the three men named above. Mrs. Richard Bibby was Mary Faulds, a daughter of Peter and Mary Faulds. Mrs. John Bibby was Mary McMillan, a sister of John and Niel McMillan. Mrs. Joshua Bibby had no blood relations in America at that time; all were left in Scotland. It is no wonder she often used to sigh for the old home across the sea, and to sing, "O, why left I

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my hame," when memories proved too strong; but that was just for a time. She loved America the best at last. The Gatherers were related to the Faulds. The McMillans were natives of the Highlands of Scotland, while the others came from Lanarkshire or thereabouts. All were devoted Presbyterians and all worshiped God on the Sabbath. No matter how hard they worked through the week nor how much remained to be done, all work was dropped on Saturday night; the Bible was read and prayers said, as described by Burns in "The Cotter's Saturday Night." Sabbath school was held in the schoolhouse every Sabbath, Richard Bibby or Joshua Bibby taking charge. Before the Presbyterian church at North Bend was built, of which later they were all members, services were held in the schoolhouse, a pastor from Galesville filling the pulpit. Visiting among themselves was practically all the amusement there was in those days. Quiltings were favorite pastimes for the women, and were profitable as well as pleasant, as the quilts were, as a rule, always needed. The late Joshua Bibby, the youngest man in the colony, and a half-brother of Richard and John Bibby -the elder Bibby being married twice-was a lover of music and poetry, and a great reader. He used to read and recite Burns, was a member of the Burns Club, and loved a game of "curling" on the ice-an old Scotch game. He was a genial, winning man, who radiated good cheer wherever he went. The others took little interest in Burns and rarely attended Burns festivals.

Alexander Vallens was another old Scotch settler whose name must not be omitted. He, with his good wife, occupied the farm adjoining Joshua Bibby's. "Sandy" was a hot-tempered, although kindly man, whose "dour" disposition and queer ways led him to leave his farm and go back to Scot -. land, never to return. He refused for some reason to pay his taxes, and the result was too much for his sense of right-hence his decision. All these farms join and form one continuous whole.

The Decorah Prairie settlers were mostly from the mining districts of Scotland, also, having left their native land for the same reasons that influenced those of the Glasgow settlement-to improve their condition as miners, but eventually drifting father West and settling on homesteads. Among the first to settle there were James Sampson, John Davidson, Thomas Hunter, Robert Oliver, William Dick, David Cook, Duncan Grant. Robert Grant, Collins Irving, Robert Sommerville and Robert Oliver, a relative of the one above mentioned. Decorah Prairie is fine farming land, and these hardy Scots waxed prosperous thereon. They built even in the early days handsome homes, and all were, as a rule, well-to-do. They were, as a class, genial and fond of company. Dances amused them often, many being musicians of no mean ability, so an orchestra could be extemporized on the spot. The Scotch songs were sung at all their merry-makings with a vim and heartiness that showed they came from the heart. The good old Scotch brogue was there in abundance, and no one was ashamed of it either, God bless them. The Galesville Burns Club originated with them, and to these good old Scotch folk belongs the honor of it for all time. Of course the years have improved it, as most good things improve with time, but in the midst of it in all its glory let us not forget those old Scots who

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founded it in the early days and did their best to keep alive the memory of Robert Burns, the much loved poet of dear old Scotland .- (By Jemima Bibby.)

Wessel Lowe and his wife, accompanied by their three sons, William, Ira and Rufus, left the State of New York in April, 1853, and migrated to Belvidere, Ill. The following summer was spent in that locality, the two younger sons dying before winter. Before the next spring they moved north to Brooklyn, Green Lake County, Wis., where they lived until the spring of 1856. In company with a friend, Herman Snyder, Wessel Lowe set out afoot for Trempealeau County and reached the town of Preston in April, 1856, his wife and son William following in October with an ox-team, a cow and calf, some meat and flour. The first year the family lived in Preston. They broke ten acres and sowed to wheat, buckwheat, corn and potatoes. This was cut with a cradle, hauled together with an ox-team, and threshed with a flail. A fanning mill from near the east county line was hired to separate the grain from the chaff. William Van Sickle and Cyrus Hine settled in the town of Preston about the same time. The first town meeting was held in Reynold's log house, less than 20 votes being cast. The following is a list of voters: Henry Lake, Chester Beswick, Simon Rice, John Hopkins, Robert Thompson, Henry Sheppard, Jacob and Peter Tenneson, Nels Halvorsen, Burch Olson, Gullick Olson, Knudt Storley, Ed Weeks, Stearns, Wessel Lowe, Cyrus Hine, Ebenezer Thurston and Herman Snyder. Money hired in those days cost 50 per cent in interest. A later reduction to 20 per cent was hailed with great rejoicing, though the debtor was obliged to work it out at the rate of 75 cents per day. After the War of the Rebellion broke out the son William enlisted and from the meager salary of $13 a month paid the debt of $150 and saved the homestead. Galesville, Black River Falls, Squaw Creek and Sechlerville were the nearest milling places. Mail was gotten at Black River Falls. Later a postoffice known as South Bend was located on what is now Paul Thompson's farm. All mail during the Civil War to these parts was directed to South Bend, Trempealeau County, Wis. This postoffice remained here until the building of the Green Bay Railroad in 1873. After the war, in the winter of 1865-66, William Lowe hauled lumber from the sawmill at Merrilan and the East Fork of Black River, called Mead's Mill, with an ox-team, and began preparations for the building of the new home in 1866. This house is still standing on the old farm now owned by Hans C. Johnson of Preston. Game was plentiful in those days and deer were often shot from the windows of the home with- out the exertion or pleasure of "going hunting." Grandfather died in October, 1905. Father Lowe is still living and makes his home with his son Ward near Blair. Grandmother Lowe died in October, 1891 .- (By Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Lowe.)

James N. Hunter, many years connected with the county board, has many an interesting story to relate of life in the vicinity of Independence in the early days.

An especially interesing story is that of tht Indian scare. Little Beaver, one summer in the early seventies, was camped with a large num-

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ber of his Winnebagos near the mouth of Elk Creek, and aside from the carousals which they held among themselves and their habit of begging they gave little trouble.

But one day a well known character of those times came to his home with a companion, both somewhat under the influence of intoxicants, and exhibited a badly cut head, with the story that the Indians had attacked and tried to scalp him.

With the Massacre of 1862 still fresh in their minds, some of the citi- zens wished to attack the camp and exterminate the Indians at once with- out warning. But wiser advice prevailed and it was decided to first inves- tigate the matter.

Little Beaver met the accusation with a request to see the men so savagely attacked, and further inquiry brought to light that the two men had not even seen the Indians, but that the wounded man's cuts were received from falling into a grain cradle.

Another favorite story of Mr. Hunter's has to do with early days at New City. Fugina's tavern was then the gathering place of many a roisterer, and also of many a Polish farmer who came here to take his joys more quietly, and to talk over affairs in their native land.

One day the fun was waxing furious, when the men on mischief bent, took some dry goods that were hanging on a line in Fugina's store. The Polish people informed Mr. Fugina, and a race riot ensued. One of the men even fired shots into the crowd from outside the window, injuring one of the participants in the affair.

Order was finaly restored and wholesale arrests were made. The hearing was held one winter night at the Cripps school house, before George W. Parsons, a justice of the peace. The prisoners were defended by G. Y. Freeman of Galesville, while Edward Lees of Buffalo County looked after Mr. Fugina's interests. A number of the prisoners were bound over, but were later acquitted by the Circuit Court.

So interested had the spectators become in the trial that they had not observed the heavily falling snow, and when they started home after midnight they had to find their way to their distant homes through snow which was above their knees.

George H. Markham is one of the oldest settlers in Trempealeau County. He came to Independence with the Markham party in 1856, and has since continued to take an active part in local affairs. His diary is replete with interesting incidents of the early days, and his memory of those far-distant times is most vivid.

The family, then consisting of John Markham and wife and two sons, George H. and Arthur A., accompanied by Walter Maule, a retainer, and Charles F. D. Lyne, the tutor of the two sons, came to America in 1856, embarking from Southampton. In originally planning their trip they had purposed going to Canada, but had changed their destination upon the advice of Rev. William Davis, whom members of the family had met in France.

They landed in New York, went to Chicago by rail, thence to Mil- waukee by boat, thence to Watertown by train, and from there to Columbus

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by stage. At Columbus they were joined by Mr. Davis. There also they were met by David Wood, who offered to guide them to Trempealeau Valley, where homesteads were awaiting.

Consequently, leaving John Markham and his wife and Arthur A. Markham at Columbus, the remainder of the party, consisting of George H. Markham, Walter Maule, Charles F. D. E. Line, William Davis, Mrs. Davis and two children, started out to seek a new home, guided by David Wood, still a resident of the county. The trip, which was made with an ox team, was filled with interesting adventures. Through Portage, Mauston and Sparta they found their way to Billings Ferry, over the Black River, passing near the present site of the city of Melrose, and thence entering the Trempealeau Valley near the present site of Blair. The first settler encoun- tered in the valley was William Thompson. The first night in the valley was spent at the home of Edmond Reynolds. A short stop was made at the home of Alvah Wood, where David Wood remained. They found a poor bridge across Pigeon Creek, and continued on to Hiram Stratton's, where a short stop was made. Stratton accompanied them down the valley to the mouth of Elk Creek, and assisted them in selecting a location. He also assisted them in procuring some poplar logs near his place, and with these logs they erected a cabin, 24 by 24, a few hundred feet south of what has since been known as the Markham or English castle. A shed for the cattle was built of poles thatched over with marsh grass. Some marsh grass was also cut for the use of the cattle.

The remainder of the month of October soon passed, and before long came the famous winter of the deep snow. Miles from the nearest habita- tion, unaccustomed to the rigors of pioneer life, and with only the crudest of equipment, the little party spent the long hard winter. Both oxen died as a result of the poor food and inclement weather. The people them- selves would have perished had it not been for two trips which George Markham took to Black River Falls with a hand sled. On one of these trips, when the snow was four feet deep, he stopped at the home of Gullick Olson, near the present town of Blair, obtained there a pair of snow shoes, and within a short time learned their use.

Mr. Markham remembers distinctly those settlers living along the Trempealeau River between Independence and the Jackson County line with whom he was acquainted. First came the home of Elder Moses Ingalls and his two sons, Francis W. and Moses D. They were south of the river. North of the river not far away was Hiram Stratton. Above the present village of Whitehall was Alvah Wood south of the river, then came William Van Sickle, Ed. Weeks, Cyrus Hines, John Debow and Wessel Lowe north of the river, and then John Hopkins, Simon S. Rice, Henry Lake, Herman Snyder, Chester Beswick, John B. Dunning, Edmond M. Reynolds, William Welch and Gullick Olson, all south of the river. Ebenezer Thurs- ton was north of the river. Then came Robert Thompson and Severt John- son south of the river. Messrs. Stirling and Culver were north of the river over the line in Jackson County.

To this list David Wood, who accompanied Mr. Markham on his first trip to the county, has made a number of interesting additions. The Ingalls

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family, Hiram Stratton and brother Albert, and Alvah Wood, father of David, settled in what is now Lincoln in 1856.

Of those in what is now Preston Mr. Wood believes Sivert Johnson to have been the first in 1854, followed in 1855 by Gullick Olson, Lars Olson Bjorgo Olson, Sigbjurne Ellickson, Peder Pederson, Gullick A. Storlee, Bengt Danielson, Nels Halverson and Jacob Tenneson.

Ebenezer Thurston, Robert Thompson, Edmond M. Reynolds, John B. Dunning, Henry Lake, Simon S. Rice and John Hopkins, with his sixteen- year-old son James, arrived in 1855, and Wessel Lowe, Herman Snyder, Chester Beswick and probably William Welch came in 1856.

Others who took land in 1855 and became residents here were William A. Conger, Hiram Walker, Isander P. Armstrong, George W. Malory and Richard Porter, the last named of whom died a short time after his arrival.

While the little Markham colony was spending the winter of 1856-57 at Independence, John Markham and his wife and son Arthur A. had moved to Black River Falls. In the spring they hired a team there and started for their new location. They were met at Stirling's, near the county line, by George H. Markham. Near the Culver home, with the assistance of Culver, they built a raft and thus made their way down the Trempealeau River to the mouth of Elk Creek. The next summer was spent in breaking the land, but no crops were raised except vegetables.

Settlers came in but slowly. In the summer of 1857 Giles Cripps and family arrived and settled three miles up Elk Creek, the first settlers in that valley. No more settlers arrived that year.

In 1858, George Hale, accompanied by a friend, arrived at the Mark- ham home on April 30. On their trip up the river they had lost their guns. The Markhams took them ten miles down the river in boats and they recovered the missing firearms. In the fall George Hale brought his mother and located nine miles up the valley, being the first settler in the township which now bears his name. It was this year that George H. Markham and Charles F. D. Lyne blazed the first trail between Indepen- dence and Arcadia along practically the route of the present wagon road, the trip being made for the purpose of allowing Mr. Markham to cast his first vote. The river and creeks were swollen and had to be crossed in several places. In order to accomplish the passage it was necessary to construct temporary bridges across which the oxen were led and across which the wagon was carried after being taken apart.

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 29

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318