USA > Wisconsin > Waupaca County > History of Waupaca county, Wisconsin > Part 5
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MATTESON TAKEN IN.
At the annual meeting of the Board at Weyau- wega, in November, 1860, Township 25, Range 15, was declared to be one of the towns of Wau- paca County, and was made a new town, to be called Matteson,-the town having been already organized by that name, while in Shawano County, before the action of the Legislature. Supervisor Matteson was declared a member of the County Board, without further action of the town.
HELVETIA ORGANIZED.
Township 24, Range 12, was taken from the Town of Iola, and Township 25, Range 12, was taken from the Town of Union, and formed into a seperate town by the name of Helvetia; the first
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town meeting to be held at the school house in Township 24, Range 12.
TOWN OF LARRABEE.
Township 25, Range 14, was taken from Bear Creek, and made a seperate town by the name of Larrabee; the first town meeting to be held at the school house in District No. 2, of Bear Creek.
POOR HOUSE AND FARM.
It was decided that the question of the purchase of a Poor Farm, and the erection of a Poor House, would be submitted to the voters at the town meetings in 1861.
SUPERVISOR DISTRICTS.
At the annual meeting of the County Board in November, 1861, the County was divided into three Supervisor Districts, as follows :
First District-The Towns of Dayton, Farming- ton, Scandinavia, St. Lawrence, Waupaca, and Lind.
Second District- Weyauwega, Royalton, Little Wolf, Lebanon, Mukwa, and Caledonia.
Third District-Iola, Helvetia, Union, Larrabee, Matteson, and Bear Creek.
BOARD ADJOURNS TO WAUPACA.
The Board adjourned to meet at Lord's Hall, Waupaca, November 13. Ayes, 13; Noes, 8.
In November, 1862, the resolution passed in
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1858, abolishing the distinction between Town and County Poor was rescinded.
TOWN OF DUPONT.
November 17, 1864, the County Board set off Township 25, Range 13, from the Town of Union, to be a seperate town by the name of Dupont.
COUNTY JAIL.
At a special meeting of the Board, held April 10, 1867, a contract for building a County Jail was let to S. R. Sherwin and R. R. Roberts, for the sum of $7,725.
A new seal was adopted for the Clerk of the Board. It bore the device of a man chopping a pine tree.
At the November meeting, 1869, a vote was ordered taken through the County at the Spring election, on the question of purchasing a Poor Farm.
MUKWA GOES BACK.
May 22, 1871, at a special session of the Board, the village plat of Mukwa was vacated.
The distinction between Town and County Poor was abolished.
A NEW FENCE AROUND COURT HOUSE SQUARE.
June 12, 1873, $400 was appropriated toward a new fence around Court House Square, the Vil- lage of Waupaca to raise an equal amount.
A building committee was appointed to erect
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suitable buildings to accommodate the Poor of the County, said buildings not to cost more than $2,000.
A committee was appointed to locate and pur- chase the grounds, not to cost more than $400. The location was made at Little Wolf.
November 18, 1873, the Poor House Building Committee reported that James Meiklejohn had offered a donation of $1,000 provided the building was completed within two years, according to a plan of Royal Green; and that they had accepted the offer of Mr. Meiklejohn, and had let the work. They further recommended an additional appro- priation of $2,000, to complete the said building. The report was adopted.
By resolution, an appropriation of $50 was made "for the purpose of purchasing a cane for James Meiklejohn, as a testimonial for the gift of $1,000 and forty acres of land to the County." All voted aye, except Taylor.
The Poor House Committee was authorized by the Board to go on with work on the building ac- cording to contract.
In 1875 the Board voted $1,000 towards build- ing a place for insane on the Poor Farm, and $500 for a furnace for the same.
In 1878 the hospital, created and organized by action of the Board in 1875, was reorganized for the purpose of a County Insane Asylum, according to the Revised Statutes.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
A WITTY MEMBER.
In 1879, Supervisor Ratcliff offered the following resolution :
"WHEREAS, The Village of Clintonville incurred considerable indebtedness in perfecting its organi- zation under the General Statutes; and
" WHEREAS, Such indebtedness has been increased by the erection of a pound and lock-up; and
"WHEREAS, The radical inability of the inhabi- tants of said village, and a conspiracy entered into and existing between the City of New London and the Towns of Dupont and Matteson, to monopo- lize all matters of litigation, and to retain all fin- able subjects within the limits of their respective corporations, except when the County Board is in session, thus cutting off all sources of revenue ; therefore,
"Resolved, That $500 be appropriated by this Board to bridge the deficiency existing between the treasury of said village and a liquidation of said indebtedness."
The resolution was laid over under the rules.
In 1880 the Board voted $15,000 to build a Court House, $3,000 of it to be raised by taxation, the balance to come out of funds from the sale of County lands, and out of donations. The City of Waupaca was to raise $7,000, and the Court House was to be completed before January 1, 1882. The building commissioners were J. W. Bingham, W. A. Weisbrod, and A. S. McDonald.
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In 1881 steam heating apparatus was ordered for the Court House.
REWARD OFFERED FOR THE ARREST OF THE MUR- DERERS OF BANKER H. C. MEAD.
In 1882 a reward of $1,000 was offered by the Board for the apprehension of the murderers of Banker H. C. Mead, of Waupaca.
The Chairman and Clerk of the Board were authorized to borrow $10,000 to settle County indebtedness for building the Court House, and to issue bonds bearing 8 per cent. interest. A direct tax was to be levied in 1883 to pay such indebted- ness and interest.
In 1886 the town system of supporting the Poor was restored.
COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM.
An ordinance was passed for the building of a County Insane Asylum; the site to consist of not less than 160 acres, and to be within three miles of the Court House.
The Asylum was to be built during 1887. The County was to issue bonds for the sum required, not to exceed $30,000, the whole to be paid in eight years, with 7 per cent. interest. The ordin- ance passed by a vote of 16 to 15. At a special meeting, April 27, 1887, the said ordinance was repealed, and a committee appointed to take the preliminary steps towards a settlement with the contractors for their damages sustained by reason
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of said repeal. Supervisors F. M. Guernsey, I. M. Deming, and D. Wafler were appointed as such committee. June 11, 1887, at a special meeting of the Board, said ordinance was again repealed.
In November, 1887, doubts being entertained about the legality of the special meetings when action had been had in reference to the County Asylum, the ordinance of 1886 was again repealed.
CHAPTER XII.
TOWN OF MUKWA -FIRST SETTLEMENT - VILLAGE OF MUK- WA - VILLAGE OF NORTHPORT - SMILEY'S ANECDOTES - CITY OF NEW LONDON - THE FIRST SCHOOL.
THE TOWN OF MUKWA.
The Town of Mukwa comprises Township 22, Range 14 east. It is bounded on the north by the Town of Lebanon, on the east by Outagamie County, on the south by Caledonia, and on the west by Royalton.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
In the Spring of 1848, J. G. Nordman made a claim two miles south of New London, and entered the land by a soldier's land warrant, of the Mexican war. The next year he had a little corn patch.
Ira Brown made a claim on the north side of the river in 1850, and Lucius Taft made one the next
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Spring. In 1852, Ira Millerd and Lucius Taft bought out the Johnsons, who were Indian traders. Mr. Reynolds made a claim here in 1852, and Mr. Burnell made a claim at Mosquito Hill the same year. Messrs. Doty and Smith started a portable saw mill in 1854, on the site now occupied by Meiklejohn & Hatten.
The first school taught in the town was in 1852, at Mukwa, by Mrs. Stevens.
The first school house was built in 1852, at Mukwa.
The first church (Catholic) was built at North- port in 1857.
The first marriage was William McDonald and Miss Nichols.
The first death was Mr. McCorrison, in 1851.
The first birth was a child of W. N. Davis, of Mukwa, in 1851.
The first saw mill was built by Robert Grignon, in 1848.
The first grist mill was built at New London, in 1857, by Mr. Hale.
The first postoffice was established at Mukwa, in 1851, with C. E. P. Hobart for postmaster. It was on the route from Green Bay to Stevens Point.
The first store was started at Mukwa, in 1850, by C. E. P. Hobart.
H. Rolph started the first hotel and saloon, at Mukwa, in 1849.
The Town of Mukwa was organized by act of
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the County Board, at a special meeting held in March, 1852; and at the organic election, held April 6, 1852, W. N. Davis was elected Chairman, and James Smiley Town Clerk.
The first apple trees were planted by James Smiley, in 1851.
VILLAGE OF MUKWA.
The Village of Mukwa, which obtained such notoriety during the "County Seat War," was platted in 1851 by B. F. Phillips and August Grig- non. It was formerly a great trading point for the upper Wolf River country. Charles Carron, a half-breed, had his trading post here from 1838 to 1846. It afterwards became the County seat, - and what a wonderful advance in the price of vil- lage lots! But a change came; the County seat was moved elsewhere, and the bubble burst.
VILLAGE OF NORTHPORT.
This village was platted by J. S. Stoddard and S. Burbank in 1855. It was first called Stevens Point, then New Boston, and finally given its present name. Its population is about 350. It is situated in the northern part of the Town of Muk- wa, on the Wolf River, three miles below the City of New London. It has 1 general store, 2 saloons, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 saw mill and lumber yard, 1 planing mill, 2 churches, and 1 hotel.
The first settler was a man named Stevens. William Patrick came early in 1851, and Elijah
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Humes and his son Alden came in the same year. Patrick built a warehouse.
In 1874 a substantial draw bridge was built across the Wolf River at this place.
In 1857 a Catholic Church was built; but it was burned. The present structure was built in 1866. The Methodist Church was built in 1864.
SMILEY'S ANECDOTES.
James Smiley, to whom we are under many obli- gations, is a hale, hospitable gentleman, living quietly in his pleasant home near Northport. He took a prominent part in our County affairs at an early day, and enjoys telling about being taken to jail because he refused to give up the books and papers in his office to those who he thought had no legal right to them.
He was born in Ireland, June 20, 1815. He came to this country in 1837, and has resided in Waupaca County since 1851, having held several important offices.
He is one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the State, having been a member of the order for forty-five years.
Mr. Smiley loves to tell good anecdotes, a few of which we shall try to repeat :
INDIAN DOGS AND SMILEY'S PIGS.
Mr. Smiley had, at considerable trouble and ex- pense, procured some pigs, which were allowed to run at large about the premises. A band of some
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
400 Indians were encamped in the neighborhood, while there were but four or five white families near. One day Mr. Smiley caught the Indians set- ting their dogs on his pigs, and having lots of fun. Upon a repetition of the offense, he took his rifle and started for their camp. A squaw saw him coming, and, divining the cause, made haste to se- cure the safety of her canine pet by hustling it into her tent, and tried to prevent Smiley from pursu- ing it. But the dog, not having the fear of shoot- ing irons before its eyes, darted out to see what the fuss was about. Smiley was a good marks- man, and that dog was soon where dead Indian dogs go, much to the chagrin of the squaw.
Smiley then took a lot of vension, cut it into thin slices, sweetened it with strychnine, and generous- ly fed it to the offending curs. He soon had fifteen where porcine heels would never more have any attractions for them, and their bark was silenced forever.
The next morning fifteen exasperated Indians, late owners of the defunct curs, all dressed in their war paint, made their appearance at the house of Mr. Smiley.
One said, "You kill-um my dog last night; you pay me ten dollar." Another said, "You kill-um my dog, too; you pay me five dollar." And so it went, until all had put in their claims, at the same time threatening to shoot his dog, unless theirs were paid for. Smiley told them that they might
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
kill his dog; but, if they did, some of them would start at once for the "happy hunting grounds." That was enough. Smiley never paid for their dogs, and his own was not killed.
MEIKLEJOHN'S LAW SUIT.
Peter Meiklejohn was a Justice of the Peace, and had a criminal case before him. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury cleared the accused, and fined the Justice half a pound of tobacco for each of their number. The joke was too good for "Pete" to "kick," and the "fine " was paid.
In those primitive times it was quite the fashion at law suits, in Justices' Courts, for the parties in the suit to set jugs of whisky on the table, for the use of the Court, jury and witnesses, and the man who furnished the best liquor and the biggest jug generally won.
A MUKWA DIVORCE.
Mike Bradley married in Chicago, and brought his wife to Mukwa. The couple had the misfortune to quarrel once in a while, and in one of their dif- ferences Mike struck his weaker part with his fist. She applied for redress to Squire Brandy, who had Mike arrested and fined $25. Then Mr. Smiley made out some divorce papers, which both parties signed. Mike then paid his fine, which was used in taking his divorced wife back to Chicago.
AN INDIAN THIEF.
The following anecdote was related to us by a different person, but it is worth repeating :
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
In 1851 a large number of Indians were at Muk- wa. Several whites were stopping at the hotel. One day a woman, in taking in washing, missed a certain article of female apparel, commonly called a "night dress." An effort was at once made to find the thief. After much searching, some one discovered an Indian with a ruffle peeping from under his blanket. Knowing that Indians seldom wore such ornaments, the discoverer made a further investigation, and found the missing gar- ment transformed into an Indian's shirt. The In- dian was at once turned over to the tender mercies of the white women and squaws, who soon man- aged to disrobe the red thief. Then the other In- dians commenced jeering him, pointing their fin- gers at him, and calling him " Winnebago, Winne- bago," meaning "bad Indian."
CITY OF NEW LONDON.
The City of New London is located on Sections 1, 12, and 13, of the Town of Mukwa, and also on a contiguous portion of Outagamie County. Like many Western towns, its growth from an in- significant hamlet to an important city has been truly phenomenal; and we can not think that New London has seen its best days. Its natural and acquired advantages, its capital, its push, all will combine to save it from the fate of so many mush- room prodigies of the West.
In 1853 Ira Millerd started the first store with- in the present limits of New London. In 1856 the
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
first postoffice was established, with William McMillen as postmaster.
The first frame house was erected by Ira Brown in 1851.
The first child born was Elwood Lutsey, in 1851.
The first land claims made within the city limits were by Holcomb, Edwards, and Lutsey, in 1851.
In 1853 George Lutsey kept the first hotel.
The first newspaper was published in 1857 by A. J. Lawson. It was the New London Times. In 1869 John Ogden established the present Times.
CITY ORGANIZATION.
The first city officers, elected in 1877, were as follows :
Mayor-J. C. Hoxie. Aldermen- First Ward, August Kappernick; Second Ward, James Hop- perton ; Third Ward, Theodore Knapstein ; Fourth Ward, I. M. Deming. Clerk, C. M. Taylor; Jus- tices of the Peace, V. Mischock, W. H. Walker, J. W. Bishop, C. Berely; Chief of Police, J. Murray ; Treasurer, A. H. Pape.
New London has 36 stores, 3 saw mills, 1 excel- sior mill, 1 furniture factory, 1 planing mill, 1 grist mill, 2 breweries, 1 bottling works, 4 wagon works, 1 bee-hive factory, 1 grain elevator, 1 hay- pressing establishment, 1 bank, 5 hotels, 6 churches, a good high school and ward and paro- chial schools, and 1 newspaper.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
The professions, of course, are well represented. City officers for 1890: Mayor-R. S. Johnson. Aldermen-John Jagoditsh, August Plath, Henry Knapstein, E. H. Ramm, H. K. Jillson. City Clerk, C. E. Dickinson; Treasurer, John Dengel; Chief of Police, Charles Taggert; City Attorney, L. S. Porter; Assessor, George Freiberger; Supervisors -Fred Radkey, A. W. Jillson, B. Miller, B. A. Weatherby, I. M. Deming.
New London is in the midst of an excellent farm- ing district, at the head of navigation on the Wolf River, and at the junction of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western, and the Green Bay, Wi- nona & St. Paul railroads. It has resources and facilities for making it one of the best markets for farmers in Northern Wisconsin, and of late years has been coming rapidly to the front as an avail- able point for manufacturing. The city has a pop- ulation of 2,130, according to the census of 1890.
THE FIRST SCHOOL.
We have been permitted to copy a well written paper, giving an account of the first school taught in New London. It is from the pen of Mrs. C. L. Allen, formerly Miss Maria Millerd, and first read before the Old Settlers' Society, of New London :
"In the year 1852 we arrived at the Village of New London, known as 'the Mouth of the Embarrass.' The village consisted of two fam- ilies, and in order to draw school money for the ensuing year we were obliged to have three months
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school before a stated time. I was chosen teacher, being the only young lady in town who could de- vote time to the undertaking.
" The next thing to be considered was the certifi- cate. Being quite young, still in the period of short dresses, I looked forward to the examina- tion with fear and trembling. In those days teachers were placed under the supervision of Town Superintendents.
"The Superintendent came on Sunday. The much dreaded examination consisted of the ques- tions, 'Where are the Straits of Behring?' and 'How far have you been in arithmetic?' Gram- mar and all other studies were omitted, I suppose for the sake of brevity. He asked me to give him a sample of my penmanship. I wrote ‘Sabath morning,' leaving out one of the b's in the first word, for the same reason, we will premise, that he left out the other studies.
" The school began the next week, it being then the Spring of 1853. One of my dresses had in the meantime been lengthened, to add dignity to my youthful appearance.
"Our own house was 16 x 22 feet, the front part being occupied as a store, while in the other we lived and kept hotel. As there was no room in which to keep the school, we organized it upon the stairs, and kept it there until the weather be- came warmer, when we migrated to the doorstep.
"On the bank of the river stood a double log
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house. Part of it had been used for a warehouse, and the other part for a stable. As the weather became warmer, it was found necessary to provide a school room for us; so we 'birds of passage' flitted to the old warehouse, which was then obliged to do double duty, for the boat often came in during school hours.
"The other half of the building was still used as a stable, and, as the flies were very thick, the oxen were kept there through the day. With their low- ing and stamping, the unloading of freight, and the occasional visit of an Indian, our school was not a model of order.
"Within an enclosure near the school room was kept an old muley cow, which went crazy at the sight of an Indian. To go and quiet her was one of my duties whenever a noble red man put in an appearance.
" There were seven pupils enrolled, but the aver- age attendance was about two and one-half. One of them in particular I was never sure of. He was always there at roll call, but when it came time for him to read he was generally missing. Being extremely hard to catch, he usually went without instruction in that branch.
"At the end of the year I received $10, which I invested in real estate that eventually brought me $200. I shall leave others to say whether value was received for service rendered."
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIII.
TOWN OF LIND - FIRST SETTLERS - ORGANIZATION - FIRST OFFICERS-FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION ON LONE PINE HILL - A TEMPERANCE LESSON.
The Town of Lind consists of Township 21, Range 12. It is bounded on the north by Wau- paca, on the east by Weyauwega and Fremont, on the south by Waushara County, and on the west by Dayton.
The soil is mostly a clayey or gravelly loam, easily worked, and producing excellent crops. Wheat, corn, and potatoes do well, but the soil appears to be peculiarly adapted to stock raising and dairying. Sheep do well; and probably no town in the County can show better horses than may be found among the farmers of Lind.
The first settlement was made in the Spring of 1849, when Simon C. Dow and Colonel John W. Chandler moved in.
In 1849, Mr. Dow built the first log house. It is still standing on Section 1.
In the Fall of that year came Tyler Caldwell and his son, Captain C. C. Caldwell, George W. Tag- gart, Jarvis Rice, James S. Potter, A. Rice, Charles Coffin, Hiram and James Sexton, Alonzo Vaughn, Moses Selleck, and John Shaw.
The first school was taught by Mrs. Susan Chandler, in the "Chandler Settlement," com- mencing June 5, 1851.
-
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
The same year, Miss Maryetta Caldwell, now Mrs. Bowers, taught in the Pope district.
The first school house (log) was built in the Chandler district in 1851. It is still standing.
The first saw mill (water power) was built in 1853 and 1854, on Section 25, by Mr. Strong. It has been lately torn down.
The first grist mill (water power) was built by C. H. Ritz in 1876. It is now owned by Charles E. Roberts, of Waupaca, and known as the Hat- ten Mills.
The first church (Methodist) was completed in 1865, on Section 28. In 1888 a Wesleyan Metho- dist church was built on Section 21.
The first birth was a child of Hiram Sexton, in the Spring of 1850.
The first death was Mrs. Foster, in 1851.
The first marriage was John M. Dewey and Mary Chandler, November 15, 1852. The cere- mony was performed by Rev. Peter Prink, a Bap- tist.
The first sermon was preached in the shanty of Mr. Caldwell, in 1850, by Elder Baxter.
The first postoffice was established in December, 1850, with George W. Taggart for postmaster. Mr. Taggart named the town in honor of the famous Swedish singer, Jenny Lind.
The mail was carried on foot, once a week, to Berlin and back. John Harris, familiarly known as "Old Zach," was carrier. The name of the
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
mail contractor was S. M. Booth, not "Shear- man."
The first store was started by - Mitchell, in 1859.
The first apple trees were planted by A. Rice in the Spring of 1851, and he raised the first apples.
Hollis Gibson built the first brick chimney, and the first stone cellar wall, in 1853.
Alvin Pope made the first pair of boots.
The town was organized at a special meeting of the County Board, held March 5, 1852. Five other towns were organized at the same meeting; but as Lind stands first on the records we may safely put it down as being the first town organ- ized in the County.
The first town meeting was held April 6, 1852, at the house of Thomas Spencer. The following officers were elected at that meeting :
Chairmam-Lyman Dayton; Supervisors-J. IV. Chandler, Charles Beadleston; Justices of the Peace-J. H. Jones, S. Warner; Town Clerk-J. L. Rice.
Mr. Dayton being unable to attend the annual meeting of the County Board, Supervisor Bead- leston represented the town at that meeting.
The first Fourth of July celebration ever held in the County was in this town, in 1850, on Lone Pine Hill. The Declaration of Independence was read by Simon C. Dow, of Lind, after which national songs were sung, and patriotic toasts
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
were given. Then the party, thirty-three in num- ber, partook of a bounteous repast which was served under the spreading branches of some beau- tiful oaks at the foot of the hill.
In June, 1850, M. A. Stinchfield built a regular frame house on the south bank of Crystal River, in Section 6. It was one of the first frame houses in town, if not the first. The lumber was hauled from Weyauwega.
One day Mr. Stinchfield employed a man at Weyauwega to haul a load of lumber with a yoke of oxen. After getting on the lumber, he finished off by putting on a few supplies that he had got from Oshkosh, among which was a jug of choice liquor, which, he assures us, was purchased "ex- pressly for medicine." He managed to hide the liquor from the man, knowing his propensity for such things. Mr. Stinchfield and another man went ahead to look out the road, and left the teamster to follow. All went well for a long time, when, upon looking back, Stinchfield saw his man slyly transfering the contents of the hidden jug to his stomach. Upon investigation, the jug was found half empty, and the teamster was so "full" that they had to tie him on the load to keep him from falling off.
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