The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 53

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899

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For a chimney, any contrivance that would convey the, smoke out of the building would do. Some were made of sods. plastered upon the inside with clay ; others-the more common. perhaps-were of the kind we occasionally see in use now, clay and sticks. or " cat in clay," as they were sometimes called. Imagine, of a winter's night. when the storm was having its own wild way over this almost uninhabited land, and when the wind was roaring like a cataract of cold over the broad wilderness. and the settler had to do his best to keep warm, what a royal fire this double back-log and well-filled fire-place would hold ! It was a cozy place to smoke, provided the settler had any tobacco; or for the wife to sit knitting before, provided she had any needles and yarn. At any rate, it gave something of cheer to the conversation, which very likely was upon the home and friends they had left behind when they started out on this bold venture of seeking fortunes in a new land.

For doors and windows, the most simple contrivances that would serve the purposes were brought into requisition. The door was not always immediately provided with a shutter, and a blanket often did duty in guarding the entrance. But, as soon as convenient, some boards were split and put together, hung upon wooden hinges and held shut by a wooden pin inserted in an anger-bole. As a substitute for window-glass, greased paper, pasted over sticks crossed in the shape of sash, was sometimes used. This admitted the light and excluded the air, but, of course, lacked transparency.

In regard to the furniture of such a cabin, it varied in proportion to the ingenuity of the occupants, unless it was where settlers brought with them their old household supply, which. owing to the distance most of them had come, was very seldom. It was easy enough to improvise tables and chairs : the former could be made of split logs-and there were instances where the door would be taken from its hinges and used at meals, after which it would be rehung; the latter were designed after the three-legged stool pattern, or benches served their purposes. A bedstead was a very important item in the domestic comfort of the family, and this was the fashion of improvising them : A forked stake was driven into the ground diagonally from the corner of the room, and at a proper distance, upon which poles reaching from each were laid. The wall ends of the pole either rested in the openings between the logs, or were driven into auger-holes. Barks or boards were used as a substitute for cords. Upon this the tidy house- wife spread her straw tick, and, if she had a home-made feather-bed, she piled it up into a lux- urious mound, and covered it with her whitest drapery. Some sheets hung behind it for tapestry added to the coziness of the resting-place. This was generally called a " prairie bedstead," and by some the "prairie rascal."

The house thus far along, it was left to the deft devices of the wife to complete its comforts, and the father of the family was free to superintend cut-of-door affairs. If it was in season, his first important duty was to prepare some ground for planting, and to plant what he could. This was generally done in the edge of the timber, where most of the very earliest settlers located. Here the sod was easily broken, not requiring the heavy teams and plows needed to break the prairie sod. Moreover, the nearness of timber offered greater conveniences for fuel and build- ing ; and still another reason for this was that the groves afforded protection from the terrible conflagrations that occasionally swept across the prairies. Though they passed through the patches of timber, yet it was not with the same destructive force with which they rushed over the prairies ; though. from these fires much of the young timber was killed from time to time, and the forest kept thin and shrubless.

The first year's farming consisted mainly of a "truck patch," planted in corn, potatoes, turnips and other vegetables. Generally, the first year's crop fell far short of supplying even the most rigid economy of food. Many of the settlers brought with them small stores of such things as seemed indispensable to frugal living, such as flour, bacon, coffee and tea. But these supplies were not inexhaustible, and once used were not easily replaced. A long winter must come and go before another crop could be raised. If game was plentiful, it helped to eke out their limited supplies.

But even when corn was plentiful, the preparation of it was the next difficulty in the way. The mills for grinding it were at such long distances that every other device was resorted to for

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

reducing it to meal. Some grated it on an implement made by punching small holes through a piece of tin or sheet-iron. and fastening it upon a board in concave shape, with the rough side out. Upon this the ear was rubbed to produce the meal. But grating could not be done when the corn become so dry as to shell off when rubbed. Some used a coffee-mill for grinding it : and a very common substitute for bread was hominy-a palatable and wholesome diet-made by boiling corn in a weak lye till the hull or bran peeled off, after which it was well washed to cleanse it of the lye. It was then boiled again to soften it. when it was ready for use, as occa- sion required, by frying and seasoning it to the taste. Another mode of preparing hominy was by pestling. A mortar was made by burning a bowl-shaped cavity in the end of an upright block of wood. After thoroughly cleaning it of the charcoal. the corn could be put in, hot water turned upon it, when it was subjected to a severe pestling by a club of sufficient length and thickness, in the large end of which was inserted an iron wedge, banded to keep it there. The hot water would soften the corn and loosen the hull. while the pestle would crush it.

When breadstuffs were needed. they had to be obtained from long distances. Owing to the lack of proper means for threshing and cleaning wheat, it was more or less mixed with foreign substances. such as smut. dirt and oats. And as the time when the settlers' methods of thresh- ing and cleaning may be forgotten. it may be well to preserve a brief account of them here. The plan was to clean off a space of ground of sufficient size, and, if the earth was dry, to dampen it, and beat it to render it somewhat compact. Then the sheaves were unbound and spread in a circle. so that the heads would be uppermost, leaving room in the center for the per- son whose business it was to turn and stir the straw in the process of threshing. Then. as many horses or oxen were brought as could conveniently swing around the circle, and these were kept moving until the wheat was well trodden out. After several "floorings " or layers were threshed, the straw was carefully raked off and the wheat shoveled into a heap to be cleaned. This cleaning was sometimes done by waving a sheet up and down to fan out the chaff as the grain was dropped before it : but this trouble was frequently obviated when the strong winds of autumn were all that was needed to blow out the chaff from the grain. This mode of preparing the grain for flouring was so imperfect that it is not to be wondered at that a considerable amount of black soil got mixed with it, and unavoidably got into the bread. This, with an addition of smut, often rendered it so dark as to have less the appearance of bread than mud : vet upon anch diet the people were compelled to subsist for want of a better.

Not the least among the pioneers' tribulations. during the first few years of the settlement, was the going to mill. The slow mode of travel by ox teams was made still slower by the almost total absence of roads and bridges. while such a thing as a ferry was hardly even dreamed of. The distance to he traversed was often as far as sixty or ninety miles. In dry weather, com- mon sloughs and creeks offered little impediment to the teamsters; but during floods and the breaking.un of winter. they proved exceedingly troublesome and dangerous. To get stuck in a slough, and thus be delayed for many hours, was no uncommon occurrence, and that, too, when time was an item of grave import to the comfort and sometimes even to the lives of the settlers' families. Often a swollen stream would blockade the way. seeming to threaten destruction to whoever would attempt to ford it.

With regard to roads. there was nothing of the kind worthy of the name. Indian trails were common, but they were unfit to travel on with vehicles. They were mere paths about two feet wide-all that was required to accommodate the single-file manner of Indian traveling.

When the early settlers were compelled to make these long and difficult trips to mill, if the country was prairie over which they passed. they found it comparatively easy to do in summer when grass was plentiful. By traveling until night, and then camping out to feed the teams, they got along without much difficulty. But in winter such a journey was attended with no little danger. The utmost economy of time was, of course, necessary. When the goal was reached, after a week or more of toilsome travel. with many exposures and risks, and the poor man was impatient to immediately return with the desired staff of life, he was often shocked and dis- heartened with the information that his turn would come in a week. Then he must look about

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

for some means to pay expenses, and he was lucky who could find employment by the day or job. Then, when his turn came, he had to be on hand to bolt his own flour, as, in those days, the bolting machine was not an attached part of the other mill machinery. This done, the. anxious soul was ready to endure the trials of a return trip, his heart more or less concerned about the affairs of home.

Those milling trips often occupied from three weeks to more than a month each, and were attended with an expense, in one way or another, that rendered the cost of breadstuffs extremely high. If made in the winter, when more or less grain-feed was required for the team, the load would be found to be so considerably reduced on reaching home that the cost of what was left, adding other expenses, would make their grain reach the high cash figure of from $3 to $5 per bushel. And these trips could not always be made at the most favorable season for traveling. In spring and summer, so much time could hardly be spared from other essential labor ; yet, for a large family, it was almost impossible to avoid making three or four trips during the year.

Among other things calculated to annoy and distress the pioneer was the prevalence of wild beasts of prey, the most numerous and troublesome of which was the wolf. While it was true, in a figurative sense, that it required the utmost care and exertion to "keep the wolf from the door," it was almost as true in a literal sense. There were two species of these animals-the large, black, timber wolf, and the smaller gray wolf that usually inhabited the prairie .. At first, it was next to impossible for a settler to keep small stock of any kind that would serve as & prey to these ravenous beasts. Sheep were not deemed safe property until years after, when their enemies were supposed to be nearly exterminated. Large numbers of wolves were destroyed during the early years of settlement. When they were hungry, which was not uncommon, par- ticularly during the winter, they were too indiscreet for their own safety, and would often approach within easy shot of the settlers' dwellings. At certain seasons their wild, plaintive yelp or bark could be heard in all directions at all hours of the night, creating intense excitement t among the dogs, whose howling would add to the dismal melody. It has been found by experi- -1. ment that but one of the canine species-the hound-has both the fleetness and courage to cope with his savage cousin, the wolf. Attempts were often made to capture him with the common cur, but this animal, as a rule, proved himself wholly unreliable for such a service. So long as 18 the wolf would run the cur would follow ; but the wolf, being apparently acquainted withh the character of his pursuer, would either turn and place himself in a combative attitude, or elseJe act upon the principle that " discretion is the better part of valor," and throw himself upon his s back in token of surrender. This strategic performance would make instant peace between thesee two scions of the same house; and not infrequently dogs and wolves have been seen playing -g together like puppies. But the hound was never known to recognize a flag of truce; his baying -g seemed to signify "no quarters ;" or, at least, so the terrified wolf understood it.

Smaller animals, such as panthers, lynxes, wildcats, catamounts and polecats, were also suff- - ciently numerous to be troublesome. And an exceeding source of annoyance were the swarms of @of mosquitoes which aggravated the trials of the settler in the most exasperating degree. Persons 8 have been driven from the labors of the field by their unmerciful assaults.

The trials of the pioneer were innumerable, and the cases of actual suffering might fill a & volume of no ordinary size. Timid women became brave through combats with real dangers, and and patient mothers grew sick at heart with the sight of beloved children failing in health from lack of commonest necessaries of life. The struggle was not for ease or luxury, but was a constan" one for the sustaining means of life itself.

SQUATTERS " AND THEIR "CLAIMS."

When the actual settlement of Rock County was first begun in 1835 and 1836, the pioneers were confronted with a twofold difficulty in selecting the land upon which they designed to 0 make their future homes. The lands west of the river had been regularly subdivided, and dis posed of by the Government to non-resident purchasers, who had secured it for the purpose o -1 exacting from bona-fide settlers an advance upon the minimum Government price-$1.25

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per acre. The early actual settlers were not only indisposed to submit to this exaction of speculative greed, but, being in the large majority of instances men of slender means, were absolutely unable to do so had they been ever so willing. While the lands west of the river were thus effectually barred against occupation by the hardy adventurers who had sought this fertile valley to carve out a new empire by the development of its extraordinary agricultural and industrial resources, the condition of those lying along the eastern bank was but little more promising. Not one acre was open to entry. The settler taking possession of any portion of this territory was, in the eye of the law, a trespasser, liable to ejectment if the Government should, subsequently, either decide to use the land for any purpose of its own, or, by sale or otherwise, convey it to any person other than himself, in which event, not only the land itself, but all the labor expended and all the improvements made would be lost.

In this dilemma the settlers had to choose between trespassing upon the property of indi- viduals, with the certainty of ultimate ejectment and consequent loss of time and labor, and appropriating to their own use Government lands to which they might probably obtain an inde- feasible title in the future; or, being unwilling to accept the risk involved in either of these courses, they must seek other localities in which they might avoid the difficulties encountered here. To have adopted the first of these courses would have been folly, and the last involved the possibility of protracted journeyings through an entirely new country without roads or bridges, ending in bitter disappointment and utter failure. As the only alternative, therefore, the settlers determined, with absolute unanimity, to encounter the risks of trespassing on Govern- ment land, and became "squatters "-that is, the occupants of land to which they had no title.

As the entire community held their land by the same uncertain tenure, and all were menaced by the same possible danger, they naturally and necessarily combined for the protection and preservation of their mutual interests and irregularly acquired rights. As the result of this combination, the " squatters" gradually adopted a series of rules governing the acquirement and occupation of " claims," which were, in the process of time, developed into a recognized, though unwritten system of "border law," to which universal obedience was expected, and, when necessary, was unhesitatingly enforced. By this "law," every actual settler, capable of perform- ing a day's work, was entitled to "claim," occupy and cultivate a certain amount of land-one half-section (320 acres) being the maximum, and " a half-quarter " section (80 acres) the minimum. An unmarried man's right was limited to the smallest quantity ; a married man, without children, could " claim " a quarter-section (160 acres), and the head of a family was entitled to "take up" the largest allotment, one-half section (320 acres). Though inflexible in its main features, this " law " was susceptible of enormous expansion, as a settler with a number of sons between twelve and twenty years of age could " claim " " a half-quarter " for each of them, and the like amount for each hand he might employ, and could even extend the right to the " stranger within his gates," provided only the requirement of ability to do a day's work was met. It was in this manner that some of the earliest settlers acquired a recognized, though purely nominal, title to the large tracts which they subsequently traded off, or sold to later comers.

The manner of establishing these "squatter " titles to "claims," though uniform in its general features, differed somewhat in its details in different localities in the territory which now constitutes Rock County. The essential requirements were first to establish definitely the limits or boundaries of the tract " claimed," and then to do some work upon the land so claimed, as an earnest or guarantee of the claimant's intention to occupy and cultivate it as a home. The method of " marking off claims " differed according to circumstances. Where the Government surveys had been completed, and the corners and section lines were clearly indicated by the posts put up by the surveyors, the task was simple enough. The " squatter " had only to follow up the lines established in the Government's subdivision, cut his name or initials on the posts found upon the boundaries of the tract " claimed," and his work was done. Where "claims" were made prior to the surveys, however, the task was not only more difficult, but necessarily much less accurate. In such cases, the " squatter " first established a corner for himself, and then, guided by a compass, if he had one, or by the sun where he had not, "stepped off" his claim,

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

as nearly in a right line as possible, to the next corner, which was marked by a stake bearing his name or initials ; another line was then run at right angles with the first, another stake driven ; the third line was then "stepped off" at right angles with the second and parallel with the first, and the fourth by returning to the point whence he started. In this sys- tem of measurement, so many "steps" were universally accepted as constituting the limits of a half-section, half that number a quarter, and half that again a half-quarter.

This primitive method of measurement presented certain insuperable difficulties to the squatter, and subjected him to no inconsiderable uneasiness, lest he might ultimately lose not only a part of his claim, but his labor and improvements as well. This will be evident when it is remembered that all these " claims " were made with the view of eventually obtaining a title from the Government, after the surveys and subdivisions had been made. The squatter's corner might or might not be in the exact spot it should have occupied ; the lines "stepped off" would almost inevitably deviate from those run by a theodolite, and the distances would quite as cer- tainly exceed those measured by chains and links. It might easily happen, therefore, that the Government survey would demonstrate that he had claimed and had been working and impror- ing upon two or three, or even four, different half-sections. quarter-sections or half-quarter sec- tions, as the case might be, and that he would find it difficult, if not impossible. to secure the benefits of his time and labor when the Government placed the lands in market.

Having marked off or staked out his claim. the squatter's next step was to do the work upon it necessary to secure recognition of his title under the " border law." To do this in the case of the smaller claims, it was necessary to run a furrow along the four lines marking the boundary of the claim, and erect a shanty or cabin anywhere on the tract thus plowed around. Where larger tracts were claimed, it was permissible to do some breaking, more or less, upon each of the quarter-sections, and erect a single cabin to serve as the home of the squatter's entire family, including employes and visitors. As this " border law" or usage permitted a squatter to claim and hold a fixed number of acres, it followed, as a matter of course, that if he disposed of a half-quarter or quarter-section to a new-comer. he was at liberty to take up as much more, and to repeat the operation as often as a sale was effected ; provided, of course, no existing claim was infringed upon.

As the settlements filled up. the lands naturally increased in value, and attracted others anxious to secure claims to land, which it was easy to foresee would be worth much more than the Government price when it should be placed in the market. Many of these adventurers, more anxious to promote their interests than scrupulous as to the means employed. attempted to take possession of claims already taken up, insisting that, as they were neither occupied nor cultivated, the simple furrow plowed around them did not protect them from occupation. This was termed by squatters "jumping a claim," and they immediately took measures to protect themselves against these unscrupulous interlopers. In each settlement, a Register was appointed to keep a record of the names of the individual squatters, and of the extent and boundaries of their respective claims, which record was to be received as prima facie evidence of ownership of any specified claim. To still further protect their individual and collective interests, they appointed a committee of arbitration, to which all disputes as to land title should be submitted. its decision to be final and without appeal. To enforce its decree, this irregular court was authorized to call upon the entire community. Thus, a "jumper" was complained of by the squatter to the committee.' He was waited upon and notified that he was an intruder and must establish his claim before the committee, or vacate. The Register's records were then examined, and evidence heard, and if. after investigation, the committee or court decided adversely to the "jumper," it was optional with him to submit with the best grace he could, or to be summarily and forcibly ejected. possibly with broken bones or a cracked skull. So perfect was the organi- zation of the " squatters." however, and so universal the obedience to the behests of their court. that violence was necessary only in very few instances. The defeated "jumper" knew he could expect no sympathy and but little mercy, and was therefore disposed to take the least possible amount of risk.

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY. 357

When the lands east of Rock River were at length brought into the market by the public sale at Milwaukee, in 1839, the squatters were menaced with the loss of their lands by the readi- ness of non-resident speculators to buy them up at a much higher price than the minimum fixed by the Government. But the former were a determined class of men, ready to maintain their rights, or what they deemed their rights, even though their defense involved a technical violation of the law and some degree of personal danger. In addition to this, they had for years protected themselves, and success had given them confidence in their organization. When informed of this new danger, therefore, they became boldly defiant, called meetings in the several · settle- ments, and selected one individual in each, who should attend the sale as the representative of the several committees, and make a bid for each tract of land, as it was offered, at its minimum price, in the name of the squatter who had claimed it. This done, they caused the speculators to be notified that they would not be permitted to run up the price of the lands they had squat- ted on, and that, if they insisted upon bidding in spite of this notification, the bidder would bring a fight upon his hands certainly, whether he secured the coveted piece of land or not. Nor did they content themselves with this precautionary notification. They attended the sale in large bodies, with arms in their hands, and. by force of numbers and their manifest deter- mination, so overawed their competitors that but little opposition was made to their purchasing their claims at the lowest Government price.

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 53

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 899

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899