USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 37
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There are no land speculators here, or land companies puffing out their flattering delusions, to get a high price and profit for their land, like they are in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Government office is open daily for the sale of any of the vacant lands, at $5 per acre and no more, title deeds included. I Purchased eighty aeres, and the whole of my taxes do not come to more than seven shillings per year, including
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school tax. No poor rates and none wanted; no tithes, no police- man hirking about your peareable homes, inquiring what you have in your pot for dinner, nor is there any need of them.
I will just state how rapidly this country is settling by emigration from Canada and other states. It is now four years since the Indians left this territory (about the size of England). The capitol, Milwaukee, was then two log huts, now it is a large town with twenty-four taverns, and churches, court house, gaol: many large offices for goverment proffessional men too; many shops of every kind, and three newspapers, printed weekly, and a reading room, with English papers there at present 23 days old. Four steamboats and several large vessels lying in the harbor. Shop goods, take one thing by the other, abont as cheap as in London; mostly American manufactures. Sugar, soap, and candles you can make yourself, only for your labor.
Farming stock is very plentiful, the old settlements are so very near. Good cows $16 cach; horses $30; piggs you may have for almost nothing, they are so plentiful: and almost every kind of fish, too, partienlarly trout, showing that the water is of the best kind.
This is the best watered country I have ever seen - equal to any part in England -so that you can locate in any part, all having water privileges; not like Australia, where you can only locate in certain spots, for want of water; and a healthier country there cannot be. I have seen no sickness these two years I have been here from the effects of the climate (very different to the other parts I have seen), from its being such a fine open hill and dale country; no long levels or stagnant waters which canse every kind of sickness in America. There is winter, it is true, but it is not longer or more severe than it is in Eng- land. and we have plenty of fodder. I have at least three tons of hay per acre in the meadows.
You will probably think I am speaking very flatteringly of this country, but indeed I am not. I declare I have no interest or benefit in the world in giving an umtrue statement. I have no land for sale and am confident that if no person comes here from England, the lands will soon be bought and settled upon.
I am truly thankful to providence, that directed me to this fine country, and I never wish to leave it. It is so adapted to
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an English constitution; and although I have been here so short a time I have all the comforts I could have in a village in England.
There are several places of worship within three miles, one only half a mile from this place, and we muster 300 or 400. Several saw and grist mills within two or three miles, and plenty of society. More than I could have in England, as we are pretty much on an equality, all farmers, having plenty of provisions of every kind and nothing to pay; so we can afford to visit cach other.
You may think we have no market for our produce, but ves we have and always shall, at Racine, three miles from us. We have always vessels waiting to take the produce to New York (via Buffalo), but at present the new settlers take all we can get.
I have been induced to give some account of this country, believing it to be almost unknown in England. The emigrants for the far west have passed it by there having been no landing place until the last six months. I send inclosed in this letter a book written here, giving every particular for the information of an emigrant, should any of your countrymen be inclined to throw by their prejudices in favor of their own colonies, which settle at a snail's pace.
I have a neighbor who has been in Australia and returned here again. He says that one acre here will produce as much as three there, and where he found Englishmen 30 or 40 miles from any human being, for want of water to locate progressively.
You can come from Quebec or New York in 8 days by water at a cost of £3 for an adult.
Extract of a letter from N. Le Prevost, dated November 22, 1841:
The produce is partly bartered or sold for eastern bank notes; but they have no confidence in Ohio, Michigan or Illinois notes. They are seldom received with respect to morals. A newcomer must keep his eyes open with respect to dealing, etc .. etc. The first settlers had little or no money; their moral actions were similar, but they are selling off rapidly and another set of more civilized men are daily increasing. In one year no less than 12 farms have been sold in our neighborhood, within 3 miles on either side of us. Among the newcomers are 6 Welsh
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families direet from Wales; they have bought two farms one mile west of us. They contain together 985 acres with part of the erops and a few head of cattle for the sum of £858.10. They are dividing them between the families and what is remarkable, is that the people traveled through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and lowa and then came to Wisconsin and settled here on account of the market (the lake), good soil and healthy climate. God forbid that I should praise this country more than it deserves, but I must say that this part is healthier than Guernsey. The soil is good if well tilled, and requires no manure for years, if kept from weeds; but unfortunately it is not the case with Americans, neither do they sow seed enough. Many of your countrymen will say that I boast, and perhaps say that I do not say the truth. But as Mr. I. Ozane of the Great Wind Mill of St. Mar- tin's is coming. he will write to Guernsey how he will find this country, as I am persuaded they will like it, provided they come here before harvest. I mean to accompany them on a visit to Messrs. Torrade of Illinois, and to Mr. Le M. of Prairie du Sac. I must say that we are as healthy here as at Guernsey.
In September there will be a great demand for winter wheat at one dollar per bushel; spring wheat 1/ less. In October winter wheat 6 , spring. 5 cash. At present little demand, no exportation. Price for winter wheat 5/ in goods; barley, 3/; spring wheat, 4/6 in goods; oats, 1/6; potatoes, 2/; turnips, 1/ per bushel. Eggs, 1/; butter, 1/6; the above are American shillings at six pence each.
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A letter from N. Le Prevost to a friend in the Isle of Guern- sey, dated Oakland Farm, Racine County, Wisconsin, 14th March, 1841. In part he says:
By a view of the map, the whole territory will be seen at once, and as to the climate it appears to be the healthiest - winters are rather colder than in Europe, but very dry and healthy. Five bushels of good wheat will give 200 pounds of fine flour, of which one eight is given for grinding. In Illinois and Indiana there are farmers who cultivate maize (corn), as it does not cost in laboring and sells for 25 cents the bushel, whereas here it sells for 3716 cents.
Our country (Racine) being a new country, there is not
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much cultivated for the market, which is the consequence of the low price of land - government price $114 an acre. Six years ago the territory was surveyed, measured and divided in ranges, townships and sections. All lands from goverment are to be paid for in gold or silver.
Three lots of land were sold since I purchased mine, as follows: one of 80 acres of prairie and 35 of timber, but no improvements for $250. Another of 160 acres, same quality as what I purchased, but no improvements, for $400. Another, 80 acres of timber and 100 of prairie, no improvements, $500. The two first were offered me but I preferred the first for $500. The advantages here are that vast quantities of land can be purchased for little money, and you improve it and cultivate it at your leisure. But more east the land (wild) is not so cheap and all wood, and the improved land is too dear. There is not a farmer out of ten that has a stable for his cow nor other buildings; some have sheds, open on one side. There is still a great quantity of land to sell in our environs cheap during this year, but later it is supposed the price will change as commerce grows better. There are also parts of large farms to let, pay- able in produce, no money. Here we have the lands prepared from the original state for cultivation for $316 per acre, without touching it yourself. We often see visitors from the different parts. We have also had the visit of two of Mr. N. Tarade's sons, brother to Mr. Tarade at deBourg, in Guernsey. They have been 22 years in the United States, and at present are visiting in Illinois, 66 miles south of us (Chicago). They have remained with us 3 days. They have 406 acres of deeded land and have laid claims on one section and one quarter, or 800 acres, which they expect will come to market this year. They are prepared to buy them, for I have it from a neighbor who told me they had plenty of money loaned out. They are the father, mother and three children; one of them who paid us a visit, named Peter, has been magistrate for four years from the year last, and the other, Charles, had not seen Guernsey for the last 21 years.
We are all well satisfied of our situation. We are not in a palace, our house is of wood, the custom of the country. In our kithchen we have a fire-place at one end and a cooking stove in the middle, and when it is very cold we have a good
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fire in each. Good wheat to make bread and cake; good meat of our rearing; we have fallowed four pigs weighing together net meat 750 pounds. We make our leaven with hops and Hour: we also make our soap and candles. The education of our children does not cost as much with us as with you. We have district schools during winter. There is a certain quantity of land in each township sold for the benefit of the schools, and each pupil furnishes his proportion of wood for fire, and the master boards a certain time at each pupil's house. We have religious societies of all denominations. We have mills for grinding corn and sawing timber, four miles from us on Root river. We carry large logs of timber on sleighs in winter. This goes when there is snow, and goes much better than by roads. The wood for firing is done the same way. A good blacksmith and armorer would do well here. Iron sells at 5 cents a pound; the cost of shoeing a horse anew is $2. A good deal of chain is used but no cordage. There is not much work as yet for carpenters, cabinet makers, tailors, masons and all the other trades, but females, milliners that would be good to make bon- nets in straw and plat could find continual employment and at a good price. Tailors for man and woman have a great deal of work at double the Guernsey prices. There is no dead season here. However, of all the professions the farmer is the most independent here, and as little as 80 acres can be procured of the goverment, or of second hand as little as 40 acres in sort that a man having a little understanding, with a little money and willingness can establish himself here, live and bring up his family with more contentment and ease than he can in Europe. All I write is not to encourage any to come here, but I have traveled here until I found a place to my satisfaction and not too close to Guernseymen. Not that I detest them, but on the contrary. But it would seem that one cannot live unless he is close to the other. If any should come out here to settle or take a visit, trip, we will do to them as we would be done by.
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In a letter written by N. Le Prevost, dated at Oakland Farm, Racine County, Wisconsin Territory, 18th July, 1842, the writer had the following to say :
Mr. James Ozanne and family arrived at Racine the 22nd
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of June, 1842. They numbered 17 as follows: Mr. O., his wife, three sons and a daughter (Louise Carre'), et leur cousin James Ozanne, son of Jolm, formerly of (Deskisle) au Catel, Mr. Alle Bulsh, his wife and four children, Sam Boone, his wife and Mr. Raife and wife, all in perfect health.
As soon as they saw the beautiful prairies in our neighbor- hood they were quite charmed, and Mr. Ozanne informed himself of farms that were to be sold, their price, quality, etc. He saw several. As we were on our departure, my wife and myself, on a visit to friends, Mr. and Mrs. Torrade of Illinois, I asked Mr. Ozanne to accompany us to see that part of the U. S .. and then we should pay Mr. Le Messuries of Prairie du Sac another visit previous to our returning home; but he was so charmed with our country and the proximity of the market, either for New York by the lake, or for New Orelans by the Illinois canal and down the Mississippi!
He informed me that he had spoken to several persons on his passage to New York here and they were all against Illinois, and to take it all together it is an unhealthy place. He also spoke to them about Wisconsin River and Prarie du Sac; they told him there was no better market than New York and other eastern ports and New Orleans, and all were of opinion that east of Wisconsin bordering Lake Michigan was preferable to rivers that were not navigable only in spring and autumn. Con- sequently, he told me he was decided to purchase as he desired to have a farm containing half a section, which is 320 acres, viz: two quarters side by side, which makes one mile long and half a mile in width. There were only 3 for sale in our neighborhood of this size. If it had been two quarters cornering he might have found twenty farms. Of the three above half sections one was offered for $2,000. Another for $3,500, and the third, which contains 15 acres more, that is to say, 325 acres, for $4,000.
I accompanied Mr. O. to see the farms and compared the advantages with the disadvantages of the whole of them, and finally the balance was in favor of C. Marsh, Esq., meaning 325 acres, of woodland of which there are 115 acres, and of the re- maining 220 acres of prairie 130 acres are cleared but without erop. Therefore Mr. Ozanne purchased without erop for the sum of $4,000, and takes possession of the land as fast as the crops shall be removed from off it.
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Mr. Ozanne and family, the 14th inst., proceeded to inhabit a farm house on the estate until the latter end of September, until the other house would be empty. The above mentioned farm house is not comprised in the purchase and will be trans- ported. The above estate is four miles S. W. of us, which makes it 8 miles from Racine town, and 5 miles from that of Southport.
Mr. O. has also purchased a half section of land from gov- erment at three miles distance of his estate, and his cousin, James, son of John, has purchased of the government 80 acres joining the other. Mr. O.'s estate cost about $12 per acre, which is dear, considering the prices which they have been sold during the last year; but he has the finest estate in Racine county, and after all it only cost £1 per bergie.
Alexander Burch, to his Aunt and Cousin at Guernsey:
Pike Grove, Southport, 19 Dec. 1842.
In my last letter to my mother and friends I promised to write to you the next packet and let you know how we got on in this country; I now fulfil my promises and hope they will find you all in good health as it leaves all at present, thank God for it. Yon have, I make no doubt, by this time seen my letters concerning this country and our voyage; we still continue to like this place, and find it much easier to maintain om family in this than the old country.
My last letters will give you a faithful description of this part of Wisconsin, which I can assure you is not more highly colored than the reality will warrant. When I wrote last in November we had very fine weather; the week following we had a fall of snow which has continued on the ground ever since. We have had 2 or 3 very cold days indeed; much colder than I over found in Guernsey; our milk, water, bread, beef, and indeed everything was frozen at night in the house. Now ] fancy I see you pitying and saving, "poor Jane" and the chil- dren," but I can assure you they are all safe and comfortable; we have got a good warm house, and plenty in it; we have got a good stove in the middle of the room, which I take care to provide with firewood; as for Jane and the children - they do not feel the cold as much as they did in Guernsey.
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I have worked ever since I have been here, so far; carpen- ters keep stoves in their shops, and they are more comfortable than in Guernsey. This is most beautiful weather; the sun shines bright all the day long. This is the time for visiting, and I am now writing at 6 o'clock in the evening, and the Misses LePrevost have just called to invite us all to spend our Christ- mas holidays with them. They have come more than three miles in a sleigh; almost every person has got his sleigh out drawn by horses, decorated with bells ringing away so merrily. On the whole we like this winter much better than in Guernsey; we have had but two days of rain this winter.
There is plenty of game to shoot; there are deer and sand- hill eranes - a bird that stands 4 feet high - & praire hens, and quails and a great many more: the prairie hen is as big as a common hen. There are pigeons in thousands, and every person is free to shoot if he has an inclination to do so.
My business now lays with Peter; I must say that I wish him very much to come out to me. I am sure that he could do much better here than in Guernsey. This is a new place and yours is an old one; you have every thing built, and we have everything to build. When I look over the innnense extent of country west of us, and see how fast it is settling, and at the lake, where the whole of the produce of these immense prairies has to be shipped down to the sea, I feel confident that these rising towns, that seven years ago were forests, and now contain from 1,200 to 1,400 souls, will rise quickly to be places of great importance. Now many chances offer to us if I could embrace them, but situated as I am with Mr. O. I cannot do a thing as vet; I could have taken many jobs if he had been here: the towns offer us fine chances; we can buy building lots of ground cheap, and we can build the whole of the houses ourselves; no masons or plasterers are wanted with us. The house I live in I built myself, from the foundation to the ridge, plastering and all; there is not a house nor a room to let in either town.
I should like when I leave Mr. O. for us to take jobs together: the wages are four shillings per day; or if he engages by the month, about $160 and board per year; if not boarded the wages are from 5 to 6 shillings per day. I do not say that he would be sure to get this on landing, but I tell him what others get:
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they do not always get all in money, but sometimes they get goods or land which is as good as money. Neither do I advise any other person to come here unless he has money, as it takes some time to get acquainted with the country. But Peter must come to our house; never mind if he has not a penny in his pocket: I will maintain him free of cost until we get something to do: he shall be welcome, and we will treat him as one of our own. there is not a house painter in either town; do not let him stay in Guernsey, as I am sure that if he comes here, that we shall be enabled to do something to our mutual advantage.
The next thing is the expense of coming here; now, if I had not to pay Mr. O the whole of my expense from New York, I could already have assisted him out, as I have paid him a considerable sum on account, but my hands are tied for one year at least: it will cost from $10 to $12 to come here: Mr. O's cousin who came with us, told me it cost him £10, and we stopped 10 days in New York, - provisions and all.
Now I think that you, aunt, could raise that sum amongst your friends: consider what a thing it is to see a young man losing his young days in such a place as Guernsey, with nothing but the prospect of the poor-house before him; exert yourselves, and do not rest until you have collected that sum: it will be an opening likewise for Charley hereafter; his trade is very good here: 1 am sure you can collect the money if you like; he will be very different when he comes to ns; when he arrives he will have a home to come to.
To Peter I would say, - come by Portsmouth; you will find some beautiful ships which I have seen; it will cost $5; you must find a chaff bed; take plenty of potatoes, cheese, ham, coffee, tea, a little jelly, and a few nice things, -apples &c. and medicine; keep yourself clean and you will do very well.
When you arrive at N. Y., enquire for the quay where the lake boats stop, and enquire for Capt. James Bright; he belongs to the lake boats; try and make a bargain with him or the agents to take you to Buffalo; if you fail, put your baggage in the steamboat for Albany, where you will find many boats going up the canal For Buffalo; keep the remainder of your brisket of provisions to make use of on the canal; the bread along the canal is not very good. Find yourself when you arrive at Buf-
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falo; seek for a steamboat going to Southport, put your baggage on board, and bargain with the captain to take you; try and have not too much luggage; put your clothes in your tool-chest, if you can, - you are allowed about 100 lbs. in weight - the rest you mmst pay for. In case you run short of money, you can get your passage for helping to wood the ship, but it is hard work, and I would not recommend it, only as a last resource. Find your- self on the lakes; it will take yon one week to ascend the canal, and four or five days the lakes, and you will be delighted with your passage.
When you arrive at Southport, enquire for Mr. Marsh, butcher, and he will inform you where we live; we live five miles from him; leave your baggage there and come to me. I would rather that you came withont a tool or anything else than to remain in Guernsey: I have seen many in America that have been assisted out, doing well; do not mind that, or hearken to the many stories you hear.
We have no Guernsey mechanies within perhaps 1,000 miles of ns, so their stories cannot affect us. All I can say is that we have plenty of everything that we can wish for except fruit. as the country is too new to grow any vet, except wild; but the old settlers have planted trees, and four or five years will make a great difference in that respect.
Mr. Bone, Mr. Roissey and ourselves, have got a good quar- ter of beef hung up to freeze, from which we ent beef-steaks every morning for breakfast, and we have paid 8 shillings Br't'sh. per ewt .: (can any mechanic in Guernsey do that?) If you have not many clothes, do not let that trouble yon, as the difference in price is not as much as you would think. It you have any old warm coats, bring them, as they will be useful to you on your passage and here. Ask William Wells to get you some hay seed from some good hay, and bring them to me.
I should like you to ask some of my friends to send me some of Redstone's views of Guernsey to show the Yankees, and some needles. Be sure to pay attention to this letter, and bring it with you. Take care of your money, and try and rebate on the prices they will ask you; you ought to have 3 pounds left when you arrive at Buffalo. Do not stay at New York more than a day, as it is very expensive. Always enquire what it will cost
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you before you engage in anything, as they are very apt to take in strangers if they can. I do not think I can say any more on this subject. If you make up your mind, do it quickly. You will receive this about the beginning of February, and will have plenty of time to get ready by the month of March. I would advise in that month or April; however if you cannot so early, come later.
CHAPTER XXIII MILITARY HISTORY
BY E. W. LEACH
SLAVERY IN WISCONSIN - FIRST UNDERGROUND PASSENGER - THE GLOVER CASE -FIRST LINCOLN CAMPAIGN - RACINE WAKES UP- RACINE'S FIRST COMPANY -FLAG RAISINGS -FIRST MEETINGS - WAR PREPARATIONS-IN THE COUNTY -CAMP UTLEY -FOURTH OF JULY, '61 - UTLEY GUARDS LEAVE FOR THE FRONT - SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETIES - BEN BUTLER'S CONTRABAND OF WAR -COLONEL UTLEY AND RUNAWAY SLAVES-TESTING THEIR METTLE - YOUNG- EST SOLDIER IN THE UNION ARMY - RACINE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT - SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-COMPANY F OFF FOR THE WAR - HOME AGAIN -IN THE PHILIPPINES - RACINE COUNTY'S FIRST MILITIA - FIRST STATE MILITIA -BELLE CITY GUARD - RACINE LIGHT GUARDS-GARFIELD GUARDS-SPANISH WAR MONUMENT.
If ever a people was justified in making war, the North, in the Rebellion, had a righteous cause. A small minority arro- gantly demanded the right to dominate the whole, and to fasten permanently on the country an institution abhorrent to the great majority of its people. That war was the meeting of two antagonistie civilizations under one government, in battle for mastery: an aristocracy based on slavery and slave labor, and a democracy founded on liberty and universal labor. The con- ditions bred an "irrepressible conflict," which could not have been settled until settled aright. Years before it transpired, statesmen saw the inevitable, and after the event anybody could see the steps by which the country approached the catastrophe.
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