USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth County, Wisconsin > Part 87
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PAUL SCHWARTZ, retired; P. O. Troy Center; a native of Bavaria, Germany, born in 1811, and, in 1832, the family emigrated to the United States and settled in the State of New York. In 1838, Paul Schwartz was married to Miss Elizabeth Wagner, and, in 1843, he came to Wisconsin, arriving in the town of Troy with less than $400, but he immediately went to work, purchased 80 acres of land on Section 11, and, as he was a good financier, he purchased more land from time to time until he owned 339 acres, valued at $40 per acre. His wife died May 17, 1881, and, as he was getting pretty well along in years, he sold his farm to his son, John A., and retired from active life. His children are John A .. Paul, Joseph, Caroline (now Mrs. Will- iam Porter, of Spring Prairie), Mary (now Mrs. John A. Gould, of Cherokee, Iowa), Henry and Eliza (now Mrs. John Randall, of East Troy ).
AUGUSTUS SMITH was born in Chester, Mass., Oct. 25. 1801; is the son of William and Sarah Smith; was married in Westfield in 1826, to Miss Almira Stiles. Their children were William A. (Ruth H., Sarah A., deceased): Sarah A .. the second of that name, is now Mrs S. R. Edwards, of Sugar Creek (Mary A. M., deceased); Franklin H., Oliver P. and Austin E. ; the two younger were born in Wisconsin. Mr. Smith and family emigrated to Troy, Wis., in October, 1838, where he resided until July. 1854. when he removed to Beloit, Wis., where he still resides. While a resident of Walworth County, he held many local offices: was one of the first. if not the first, President of the Walworth County Agricultural Society. He was an active member of the Congregational Church, and was much respected.
L. J. SMITH, farmer, Section 15; P. O. Troy Center; one of the prominent business men of Walworth County and a member of the firm of Bunker & Smith; son of Sylvester G. and Diana Smith; was born in the town of La Fayette, Walworth Co., in January, 1840. He was
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left motherless at the age of 12 years. In 1862, he responded to the call of his country by en- listing in Company I, 28th Wisconsin; was chosen First Lieutenant before entering the field. and afterward was promoted to Captain, in which capacity he served until the close of the con- flict, being mustered out of service in September, 1865. He then returned to his home in Troy, took charge of the homestead, and has since lived on the same, as he subsequently purchased it. He now owns 160 acres of well-improved land. valued at $40 per acre. Mr. Smith is a successful farmer, a good business man and a gentleman highly respected by his fellow-citizens. He is a Republican in politics, has held local offices, and was a member of the Assembly in 1881. He was married, in December, 1871, to Miss Helen M. Stewart; they have four children- Rollin, Mary, Clara and Carroll.
JAMES STRATTON (deceased) was born in Wiltshire, England, Feb. 14, 1804. Here he passed his early days, married in 1832, and the next year came to America, settling in Hamil- ton, Madison Co., N. Y. Living as a farmer in the East for over ten years: he came West in the summer of 1843 and settled in Troy with his wife and only child-W. J. Stratton. Mr. Stratton died. Jan. 1. 1849. His widow was married two years later to Jacob Watson. She still resides on Section 20. Their only child -a daughter- E. A. Watson, is now Mrs. Webb), and lives in Durango, Colo.
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
TOWN OF WHITEWATER.
NATURAL FEATURES.
The town of Whitewater is in the extreme northwestern portion of the county. The sur- face varies, the southeastern corner of the town being rolling land or hilly. Fully three-fourths of the town, however, is comparatively flat, of which one-fourth consists of swamp land. West of the village of Whitewater is a prairie covering two sections. With the above exceptions, the town originally consisted of openings, with patches of white and black oak and poplar. Its soil is that usually found in a flat country, but is occasionally of a light sandy variety. Near the village are several limestone quarries. The town is watered by Whitewater Creek, consist- ing of two branches, one rising in the town of Lima, the other in Richmond; they both flow north into the Bark River. Bass, Whitewater and Round Lakes are all in the southeastern part of the town, and abound in pickerel and bass; there is also the pond south and east of the village. Several mineral springs have been discovered in this latter vicinity, but have not been analyzed. Originally, four Indian mounds of quite imposing dimensions existed a short dis- tance from the northeast corner of Section 7: the largest was sixty-five feet long, twenty feet wide and five and a half feet high. When C. R. Gibbs came into possession of the property, the mound was leveled for the site of his residence. Excavations to unearth its contents have never been made. Northeast of this mound, about 120 rods, are three other elevations of cone-like form, twenty feet across at the base and seven feet high. Aside from this locality, no other signs of prehistoric life, within the present limits of the town, have been found. Limestone quarries have been discovered near the village.
AGRICULTURE.
Whitewater is an agricultural town, fully one-quarter of its population following that pur- suit. A quarter of its farms are devoted to dairying, there being several cheese factories in the town. Corn, oats, wheat, barley and buckwheat are the chief grain products. The first land was broken and the first crop raised by Dr. Edward Brewer, who came from Milwaukee in May, 1837, took up a claim in the southwest quarter of Section 7, and then contracted for the tilling of ten acres of land during the coming season. He had been accompanied by William and Leander Birge, the three returning in July with Charles Hamilton, bringing with them seven yoke of cattle, one wagon and two breaking plows. The party was five days coming from Mil- waukee, and gladdened the heart of their host, Samuel Prince, the first permanent settler, by bringing with them all the " solids " of metropolitan fare -- pork, potatoes, tea, coffee, flour, etc., etc. Dr. Brewer and Hamilton then went to work to improve the claim on Section 7. The Birges went on to Cold Spring, but returned, jumped Norman Pratt's claim to the southeast quarter of Section 2, and commenced to till the soil as the second farmers. The expense of living in those times was simply enormous, but, with the advent of new settlers and the raising of abundant crops in 1839, the condition of the pioneers commenced to " look up." The next year, an assessment of property was made, preparatory to raising a tax for a court house and school purposes. The total valuation of the town property was $57,974. From the old books of Benjamin Bosworth, who had opened the first store in Whitewater the previous year, it ap- pears that the farmers were not getting wealthy from the sales of their products: Spring wheat. 36 to 40 cents per bushel: winter wheat, 40 to 46 cents; corn, 30 cents; butter, 16 cents per pound; eggs, 8 cents per dozen. The next four years witnessed unusual growth in the settle ment of Whitewater and in the prosperity of the town. But the Assessors will have to explain the decline in the value of property to $52,863. This figure was based upon 13,540 acres of land, including the village which had been taken up, five-sevenths of which was owned by resi- dents. There were over 10,000 acres of Goverment land yet in the market. The harvest of 1844 was good, and put the early settlers in splendid spirits. During the winter, the farmers hauled
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
their produce principally to Milwaukee, and returned laden with household provisions, goods or cash. The succeeding eight years passed away, and the country became thickly settled with prosperous farmers, who demanded some easier means of getting their grain to market. The erops for 1846 to 1851 were poor- the latter year a total failure. The "pink-eye" years will long be remembered by all the early farmers of the town and county. The Milwaukee & Miss issippi Railroad was completed to Whitewater in September, 1852, and the whole condition of things was changed. Business men and the farmers who had mortgaged their lands, rejoiced with new hope. Only the dozen tavern-keepers between Whitewater and Milwaukee, who, in past time, had reaped such a harvest from the constant and necessary travel only they put on long faces. In October, 1853, winter wheat was selling at Janesville for 80 cents per bushel, and in Milwaukee, during September, for as high as $1.30.
At the elose of 1854. the town was free from debt and " booming." No set-baek occurred during the next year. Prices advanced -then came the hard times of 1857. The season opened well, especially for barley and wheat. But with the stagnation of business, the agricultural element suffered.
The year 1860 made up for all previous disappointments, however. Then the town passed through the war and beyond. It is not necessary to detail its growth up to the present time. It is now prosperous and filled with all that goes to make up comfort. In 1881, there were growing in the town 5,848 acres of grain; 119 of potatoes and root crops; 259 of apples (7,835 trees); 3,037 acres of grazing land and grasses and 2,163 acres of timber. Of milch cows, the town possesses 1,378, valued at $22,374. And it must be remembered that the town is but half of its size when the first assessment was made. In 1880, the following crops were grown and products raised: 17,854 bushels of wheat: 142,280 of corn; 39,57S of oats; 1,791 barley; 891 rye; 10,634 potatoes; 1,200 root erops: 10,950 apples; 1S clover seed; 243 timothy seed; 500 pounds tobacco; 3,029 tons grasses: 45,025 pounds butter; 365,430 pounds cheese.
The assessed valuation of real estate and personal property for 1881 was : 20,520 acres, valued at $386,782: village property, $762,550; total real estate, $1,149,332; personal property, $502,454; grand total, $1,651,786.
POPULATION.
Since, and ineinding 1860, the increase in population of the town has been as follows: 1860, 3,746; 1865, 4,005; 1870, 4.286: 1875, 4,385; 1880, 4,523. This increase has been in the village. the population outside the corporation having decreased from 1,006 to 902.
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
The five original towns of the county, Troy, Spring Prairie. Elkhorn, Delavan and Geneva, were organized by Territorial aet, January 2, 1838. On August 13, 1840, the town of White- water was set off from Elkhorn. comprising Townships 3 and 4, Range 15. The first meeting of the Board was held at the public house in Whitewater the Powers House -which had just been completed on the land donated to Joseph and D. J. Powers by Dr. Tripp. Zerah Mead had been a resident of the town for three years, and it was chiefly through his efforts that a divison was made. The town of Richmond was erected from Whitewater January 12, 1841, and comprised Township 3, Range 15, thus reducing Whitewater to its present dimensions. The name Whitewater was given by the Government surveyors, from Milwaukee, who divided the county into townships, and who noticed the clearness and white color of the creek which waters the territory now embraced by the town. Other authorities have it that Solomon Juneau, who, with his son, spent much of his time hunting in this region. gave the creek the name, which he received from the Indians. The settlement itself was either called " the creek," or nothing, up to the time it was surveyed by Prosper Cravath, in 1840.
An election was held at the Powers House (which was owned by Freeman L. Pratt) on Sep- tember 27, 1841, at which it was decided to adopt the system of town government provided for by the Legislature of the preceding winter. Norman Pratt. Warren Earl and Asad Williams acted as Inspectors of Election. The Legislature of February, 1842, accordingly appointed the annual meeting of the various towns for the first Tuesday of the succeeding April. Upon that day. the election occurred at Whitewater.
I. U. Wheeler was chosen Moderator, and Warren Earl. Clerk. After resolving that $1
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
was sufficient for each day's official service, $30 for the support of schools, $10 for paupers and $50 for contingencies, the first town board was elected. Their names are given in full, as being the "honored first," and succeeding them to 1882 appear the Supervisors, Treasurers and Clerks who have served the town of Whitewater.
1842-13 -Supervisors, James Tripp, Chairman; Dr. Oliver C. Magoon and William Birge; Warner Earl, Clerk: Asad Williams and Azor Kinney, Assessors: William H. Wheeler, Col- lector; Zerah Mead, Oliver C. Magoon and Calvin Pike, Road Commissioners; Dr. J. A. Clark, Harrison Bishop and Oliver C. Magoon, School Commissioners; Isaac U. Wheeler, Treasurer; Leander Birge. Charles Robinson and William H. Wheeler, Constables; Norman Pratt, Samuel Prince and Thomas Van Horne, Fence Viewers, and Sidney S. Workman, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
This long list of officials included most of the "solid " men of the town - those who paid most of the taxes and, as is inevitably the case in new countries, the servants of the people, however small at first their duties, felt themselves bound to stay and develop its untried re- sources. That the majority of these early settlers were industrious men and not mere advent- urers is evident from the fact that the panper fund remained untonched for five years.
1843-44 Supervisors, O. C. Magoon, Azor Kinney and William Birge; Treasurer, J. W. Maynard; Clerk, O. A. Babcock.
1844-45 -Supervisors, O. C. Magoon, John P. Folson and Norman Pratt; Treasurer, J. W. Maynard: Clerk, Robert W. Earl, but William A. Harding appointed to serve.
1845-46-Supervisors, Thomas K. Le Baron, S. C. Hall and Zerah Mead; Treasurer, Fred C. Patterson; Clerk, P. C. Patterson.
1846-47 -Supervisors, Prosper Cravath, Joseph A. Clark and J. W. Maynard; Treasurer, Fred C. Patterson; Clerk, F. C. Patterson.
1847-48 - - Supervisors, F. C. Patterson, George Dann, Warren Cole, J. W. Maynard; Clerk, Prosper Cravath.
1848-19 -Supervisors, I. U. Wheeler, George Dann. Warren Cole; Treasurer, J. W. May- nard; Clerk, Prosper Cravath.
1849-50 Supervisors, George B. Williams, I. B. Decker, George B. Hall; Treasurer, G. W. Lee, but D .C. Tripp served a portion of 1850; Clerk, S. Wakeley.
1850-51 -Supervisors, S. Wakeley, Leander Birge, Asad Williams: Treasurer, L. A. Win- chester: Clerk. P. H. Brady.
1851-52 -- Supervisors, Leander Birge, William H. Wheeler, S. C. Hall; Treasurer, Jacob J. Starin: Clerk, E. Wakeley.
1852-53 - Supervisors, S. Wakeley, William H. Wheeler, George G. Williams; Treasurer, Philetus S. Carver; Clerk, E. Wakeley.
1853-54 Supervisors, S. Wakeley, J. L. Pratt, George G. Williams: Treasurer, William H. Wheeler; Clerk, Prosper Cravath.
1854-55 -Supervisors, S. Wakeley, I. U. Wheeler, William De Wolf; Treasurer, William H. Wheeler: Clerk, Prosper Cravath.
1855-56 -Supervisors, S. Wakeley, G. G. Williams, J. S. Partridge; Treasurer, Seth M. Billings; Clerk, Prosper Cravath.
1856-57-Supervisors, R. O'Conner, S. Clark, Thomas Bassett: Treasurer, Isaac Joslyn; Clerk, E. Wakeley.
1857-58 -- Supervisors, R. O'Conner, S. Clark, J. L. Pratt; Treasurer, Ira C. Day; Clerk, H. J. Curtice.
1858-59 -Supervisors, R. O'Conner, L. A. Winchester, J. L. Pratt; Treasurer, S. Barnes; Clerk, N. S. Murphy.
1859-60-Supervisors. Rufus Cheney, E. S. Redington, George Dann; Treasurer, S. Barnes; Clerk, H. O. Montague.
1860-61 - Supervisors, Rufus Cheney, C. E. Curtice, J. L. Pratt; Treasurer, David Chaffee; Clerk, H. O. Montague.
1861-62 Supervisors, J. L. Pratt, C. E. Curtice, J. C. Cole; Treasurer, Thomas Mount- ford; Clerk, F. C. Kiser.
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
1862-63-Supervisors, George Bunker, George Dann, George H. Foster: Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower; Clerk, E. D. Converse-J. C. M. Mead appointed.
1863-64 Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn. George T. Ferris. George H. Foster; Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower; Clerk, E. D. Converse.
1864-65-Supervisors. N. M. Littlejohn. George H. Smith. O. Gallt: Treasurer, George A. Caswell; Clerk, O. Montague.
1865-66 -- Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn, O. W. Fowler, Ansil Salisbury; Treasurer, George A. Caswell: Clerk, William H. Lull.
1866-67 -- Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn, Zerah Mead, J. L. Pratt: Treasurer, I. U. Wheel er: Clerk, James D. Robinson.
1867-68 - Supervisors, Prosper Cavath, N. H. Allen, O. W. Fowler; Treasurer, Fred Hul- burt; Clerk, W. L. R Stewart.
1868-69 Supervisors, Prosper Cravath, Sylvester Hanson. C. C. Danforth: Treasurer, Fred Hulburt: Clerk, W. L. R. Stewart.
1869-70 -- Supervisors, Prosper Cravath, S. Hanson, John W. Dennison: Treasurer, Duane Starin; Clerk, E. D. Converse.
1870-71 Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn. S. H. Tuttle, R. MeBeath ; Treasurer, Duane Starin: Clerk, E. D. Converse.
1871-72- Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn, S. H. Tuttle, R. MeBeath : Treasurer, George C. Rowed (J. C. Bower appointed); Clerk, E. D. Converse.
1872-73 -Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn, S. H. Tuttle, R. MeBeath; Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower: Clerk, E. D. Converse.
1873-74- Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn, S. H. Tuttle, C. M. Blackman, elected, S. M. Bil- lings appointed; Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower: Clerk, M. De Wolf.
1874-75-Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn, George O. West. Gilbert Anderson: Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower: Clerk, M. De Wolf.
1875-76-Supervisors, William De Wolf, George O. West, C. R. Beach: Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower; Clerk, W. L. R. Stewart.
1876-77 --- Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn, J. J. Starin, John P. Cutler; Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower: Clerk, W. L. R. Stewart.
1877-78 -Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn, J. J. Starin, Andrew Engebretsen: Treasurer, Jo- seph C. Bower: Clerk. W. L. R. Stewart.
1878-79-Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn. J. J. Starin, Andrew Engebretsen; Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower; Clerk, W. L. R. Stewart.
1879-80 -Supervisors, N. M. Littlejohn. H. A. Congar. Andrew Engebretsen: Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower: Clerk, Henry Heady.
1880-81 -- Supervisors, H. M. Littlejohn, H. A. Congar, George A. Ray; Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower: Clerk, H. Heady.
1881-82 -- Supervisors, H. M. Littlejohn, Cyrus Teetshorn, George A. Ray ; Treasurer, Joseph C. Bower; Clerk, Henry Heady.
Zerah Mead, who was appointed the first Justice of the Peace for the village, served almost continuously up to the time of his death, in 1875. I. U. Weeler, who also commeneed to serve in that eapacity, in 1844, held the office nearly every year up to 1867, or three years before his death. Mr. Wheeler died February 9, 1870, in his eighty-fourth year, respected by the entire community. Prosper Cravath, still allve and teeming with local history and reminiscences, also served two terms between 1849 and 1852.
SCHOOLS.
In 1840, before the town of Richmond had been organized from Whitewater, the old log schoolhouse was built in the village. Afterward, in the winter of 1843-44, the town was divided into three school districts No. I comprising the north third thereof, and Nos. 2 and 3, the re- mainder, being known as the " Island " and "Bluff" Districts. A new building was erected in No. 1 --- the village during the summer of 1844, on Lot 5, Block 4, for $240. This was the be- ginning of the present district system, which embraces the public schools of the town. At present, there are five school districts and seven joint districts, in which are 1,456 children of
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school age. Of this number, 751 attend. Fifteen teachers have charge of the schools. Aceord- ing to the latest returns, the valuation of school buildings is $15,950; of sites, $2,725, and of apparatus, $420; total, $19.095. During the year 1881, $8,227.22 was received, and $7,816.27 expended in the maintenance of the public school system in the town.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Previous to 1836, not a single white person had set foot within the present town of White- water for the purpose of settlement. Says Prosper Cravath in his Reminiseences: "Then (1836), no habitation met the traveler's view giving promise of rest and welcome; no track was seen to mark his route, save a little path, seemingly made by the former occupants of the soil. The highway of a nation was but a narrow path, searce fifteen inches broad, and deep-worn by the tread of many feet. It extended in a continuons line between the cities of Milwaukee and Galena, sending off at the present site of this village branches toward the north and west-one in the direction of Fort Atkinson, starting from Birge's Addition: the second from the east side of the creek toward Bark River. A little below the point where Birge's mill now is, it crossed Whitewater Creek, then a silver thread half hidden by its grassy banks, its waters unobstructed by opposing dams, but flowing undisturbed from their fountainhead. On the eastern bank of the stream upon the first rise of ground, there stood among the native oaks, about thirty skele- ton huts, the 'deserted village' of a former tribe. These huts were circular in form, each covering an area of about eighteen feet in diameter. They were formed of poles nearly fifteen feet in length placed at a distance of about five feet apart and bent together at the tops so as to give them a dome-like appearance. On the west side of the creek, the original village, and that part known as Chapman & Ludington's Addition, were then covered with openings, thiekly wooded, as were most of the openings, composed, on the addition, mostly of burr oaks, and in the village proper of about an equal quantity of burr and yellow oaks. The rise of ground on Block 14, between Second and Third streets, extended aeross Bloek 13, and, at the point of its greatest altitude, which was in the vicinity of Bower's Block, it attained an elevation of about three feet greater than the highest point near William Richardson's house. A little distance west of the village, upon the farm of John M. Clark, and on the south side of the street, usually known as the Prairie road, was an oblong mound built upon the summit of a bluff and extending north and south, sixty-five feet in length, twenty in width and at the center nearly five feet in height; 120 rods northeast of this were found three other mounds of a cone-like form, about twenty-five feet in diameter at the base and nearly seven feet high -- records left behind by those rude savages who inhabited these regions before the white man eame, to tell the simple story C*
that here they had lived and died.
* * Sneh was the country as found by the first set-
tlers. *
* They found themselves in possession of a tract of country rich in resources, yet, in some respeets, disadvantageously situated; for toward the east there lay a low piece of land, bounded by a range of bluffs; toward the south and north, wide marshes blocked the way, while toward the west was a country easy of access."
In the fall of that year, or during the succeeding spring. Alvah Foster marked a tree upon the east bank of Whitewater Creek, and passed on to make other like "claims." A colony of stalwart pioneers, guided by the indomitable " Joe Nichols," started from Milwaukee in April. Three of them, Messrs. Nichols, Kelley and Brown, were accompanied by their wives. Benoni Fineh with his four brothers; Calvin West and William Barron came unmarried. The party numbered twenty, and their household goods were loaded onto two wagons. They had no guide but Joseph Nichols, who went in advance and marked the route which afterward became known as "Finch's Track." But if ever there was a box and compass, Joe was both combined. It is said of him by those who knew him best that, after a short study of the surveyor's maps, he would start without guide of any kind, and, after journeying through scores of miles of unbro- ken forests, bring up at any section of a town required. Whatever the trait was-instinct, judg- ment or memory-it was wonderful. Mr. Nichols was also a man of prodigious strength and endurance, and when he set foot in the town it possessed a decided character. Leaving the women and children in camp, after William Barron had jumped the Foster elaim, the party pushed on to explore. Continuing on the east side of the creek, they reached the army trail below Horton's Mills and brought up at a point a few miles beyond Fort Atkinson, where the
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
Finches and Mr. Barron made their claims and settled. In July, Mr. Barron returned and made his title clear to his claim upon Section 4. by felling some trees for a log house. Mr. Foster, in the meantime, having become convinced that on account of the poor water-power the claim was not worth contesting, did not contest his interest. Mr. Foster was a champion of Fort Atkinson. Mr. Barron returned to his home near the latter place, but not before the first permanent settler in the town of Whitewater had both located his claim and built his house, About two weeks after the arrival of the colony from Milwaukee, Samuel Prince journeyed from Waukesha to Fort Atkinson (then a great rendezvous for the early explorers of this region), and then. taking the trail, turned toward Geneva Lake, came upon Whitewater Prairie, west of the present village. Putting his name, with the date of his claim, upon a tree in the southeastern quarter of Section 6, he made a tour of the surrounding country, but "returned to his first love," about July 1, and there built the first permanent residence in the town of Whitewater. The structure was twelve feet square and eight feet high, being built of small logs. Mr. Prince was a widower from Vermont. and no doubt his intention was to keep " bachelor's hall" for awhile on this new and beautiful spot. And so he did; but a jolly kind of a specimen it was. First, as has been stated, came William and Leander Birge. Dr. Brewer and Charles Hamilton, and he took them in and slung them up in bunks, sailor fashion, until they could decide upon a location-and long after. In July, 1837, Norman Pratt came from New York and claimed Section 8 for him- self, the north half and southeast quarter of Section 5 for his brother Freeman L., and the north half of Section 6 for Dean Williams, a neighbor. Having made arrangements at Fort Atkinson to have land broken on each section, in order to protect his claims, he returned, with his brother, accompanied by the two Mrs. Pratts and Dean Williams. The party came on the old steamer " De Witt Clinton." from Buffalo, and were eleven days making the trip. By mistake, the boat ran past Milwaukee to Chicago, laid there awhile and then leisurely returned. At Milwaukee they hired a team, and, after stopping with True Rand and Elijah Worthington, upon Heart Prairie, proceeded to Fort Atkinson. Mrs. F. L. Pratt was then little more than a girl. having married her husband when but seventeen, and her experience in the wilds of the West was something quite new to her and not devoid of terror. They brought with them their infant boy, which fact of itself was not calculated to allay a mother's fears. They were obliged to be carried over the river in canoes, and Dwight Foster Maj. Foster-obtained the safest craft he could, and embarked himself, with the young woman - who had then as she has now, a mortal terror of water. The Major was a very heavy man. and their conveyance was a canoe, hollowed, it is true, from the largest tree that could be found. Those who have had any ex- perience with this kind of craft will not need further detail as to the state of Mrs. Pratt's feel ings, and her joy when she landed safely and came in sight of Fort Atkinson.
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