The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 106

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 106

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one time in command at Chequamegon, on Lake Superior. France till the battle of Waterloo, when, not wishing to live under the rule of Louis XVIII, he came to Canada with all his family, and became a partner in the Northwest Company. He died at Montreal in 1818. The son received a good education in French and English ; he seems to have been in the College of Montreal at a very early age, and to have studied medicine under Dr. Robert Nelson V. Smith, but never practiced it as a profession. In 1819, he became a clerk in the Northwest Company, with which he remained seven years, during which time he went to London, England, as a witness in a dispute between his company and the Hudson Bay Company. A settlement having been effected between these companies, he was transferred to the Hudson Bay Company, with which company he remained till 1828, at which time he came to Fort Winnebago, now Portage. This was the year in which Old Fort Winnebago was built. Here Mr. De La Ronde engaged as clerk of the American Fur Company, under the noted Peter Pauquette, who was then, and for some time thereafter, agent of that company. Here Mr. De La Ronde married an Indian woman of the De Kau-ry tribe of Winnebagoes, but who had been brought up mainly among the whites, and had never worn a blanket. To him was born from this wife one child, a daughter, who was left motherless at the age of two years, and who was married at the age of sixteen to Antoine Grignon, a decendant of the Grignon who formerly lived at Portage, and later about Green Bay. Mr. De La Ronde brought up this child with great care, sending her to Prairie du Chien and other places for school privileges.

Her husband was a well-educated farmer, and she is an accomplished woman. They have long resided at Trompealeau, in this State. When this daughter was five years of age, her father married another Indian woman of the De Kaury band, who survives him at his late resi- dence in Caledonia, near Portage. She is now totally blind. He also leaves one son and two daughters, who are now grown and live with their mother. Mr. La Ronde, from the time he came to Portage, spent his time trading with the Indians, assisting and accompanying them on their journeys to their reservations, to Washington, and wherever they needed his services as interpreter. He acquired their language thoroughly, and at one time spent considerable labor on a dictionary and grammar of it, but he never completed the work. His business and his

Joseph Martinau HARTMAN

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domestic relations brought him almost constantly in contact with the Winnebagoes, and he became much like them in his ways of life and in his principles. He had a very strong sympa- thy with them and looked on their side of the question. He was a soldier under Col. Dodge in the Sauk war. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence ; loved reading of every kind, especially history and accounts of travel. He held the office of Justice of the Peace in the town of Caledonia at one time. He died on the 2d day of March, 1879, at his resi- dence in the town of Caledonia, and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Portage.

One of the oldest residents of the town of Caledonia was John Pate, who died on the 19th of December, 1879. He was one of those pioneers who buffeted the hardships of a new country in the day when a man had to sacrifice all the comforts of civilization in order to start a home in the Far West. Mr. Pate was born Feb. 17, 1802, at Browncastle Parish, East Cal- bride, Lanarkshire, Scotland; was married to Agnes Stewart, April 29, 1839, and emigrated to this country April 26, 1842; sailing from Glasgow in the ship Perthshire, Capt. Simpson, being seven weeks in making the voyage across the Atlantic to New York. Thence he took steamboat to Albany and canal boat to Buffalo, and again steamboat to Chicago; for, in those days, there were no boats landing regularly at Milwaukee for want of suitable harbor and pier. From Chicago the remainder of the journey was made to Dekorra, the most important point in this region, by team, reaching there July 14, 1842. Those were not the days of fast travel and conveniences. As compagnons du voyage were the families of Thomas Robertson and James Wilson both lately deceased. Their first settlements were made in the now Caledonia, formerly Portage County, Territory of Wisconsin, on unsurveyed lands; roads and bridges were then unknown, and ferries were few and far between. In order to get a grist to mill they had to go to Sugar River, ten miles west of Madison; later to Columbus or Beaver Dam, when Dekorra mills were out of repair. The market for farm produce was at Milwaukee, or in the pineries, but all transportation was carried on by means of teams. Little produce was raised except so much as would satisfy their immediate wants, which were few and frugal, and supply also the needs of new comers.

Splitting fence rails and making hay were the chief occupations; but it is the concurrent testimony of all that those were happier days than now. When the town of Caledonia was organized from Dekorra, Mr. Pate was its first Chairman and represented the town in the County Board of Supervisors in the year 1852; afterward, he was elected Assessor, Town Clerk, and to many other offices of trust in the town and community. On the same farm of 200 acres he lived since 1845, and his generous and open hospitality made his house a synonym of kindness and welcome to all. He took an especial delight in music, and was never more himself than in singing or playing on the violin. Deeply religious in his nature, he loved to dis- cuss religious topics, and sing the sacred tunes of the old psalmody. For entertainment or edification might be heard, at any time, "Dundee's wild warbling measures rise, or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the name."

There are many original pieces of his own composing still extant, one of which, entitled " Caledonia," is worthy of mention, as it is frequently sung in the Presbyterian Church of Caledonia. Aside from musical and religious subjects, he was much interested in the scientific progress of the day ; and being a great reader and deep thinker, he always had sensible and liberal views on such subjects as he gave his attention to. His latch string was always out, night and day, and everybody was welcome and enjoyed a " crack wi' auld John Pate."

His time since coming to this country was mainly occupied in managing his farm; but since his family grew up, the cares devolved upon them, and he gave his time to reading and music which he enjoyed so much. For the last six or seven years of his life he was afflicted with erysipelas or an irritation of the blood which finally resulted in a cancer of the face and was the cause of his death. Throughout his long suffering he was always hopeful and con- tented, enduring his trials with Christian fortitude.

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He left a family of four sons and one daughter, all of whom were present at his funeral. He was buried in Crawford Cemetery, Caledonia, beside the remains of his son Andrew, the only son of his family who preceded him to the grave.

" Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys and destiny obscure ;

Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile

The short and simple annals of the poor."

The only children of the somewhat famous Peter Pauquette are residents of this town. Theresa Pauquette was born in 1826 at the old agency near Fort Winnebago. She has been twice married ; first, to M. J. Brisbois, in 1849, who died some years later in California ; sec- ond, to Mr. Prescott, of Caledonia, Columbia County. Mrs. Prescott received a thorough edu- cation in English and French in a convent in St. Louis. Moses Pauquette was born at the agency in 1828.

A post office was established near the central part of the town in 1863, to which was given the name of Alloa. James Stewart was the first Postmaster. It has been suspended once, but was re-established in 1879.

The first couple married in the town was a soldier from the fort, named Powers, and a daughter of Henry Lewis. The second was Clark M. Young and Miss Jeanette Wilson, who were married in 1844.

The first death was Aaron, son of Absalom Chalfant.

There is no village in the town of Caledonia, it being an exclusively agricultural town. Three nationalities are pretty equally divided-Scotch, Welsh and Germans. Very few Amer- ican-born have ever settled here.

The following is a list of town officers from the organization of the town to the present time :

1851-John Pate (Chairman), John Turner, Oscar T. Wagoner, Supervisors ; Alexander Prentice, Clerk.

1852-John Pate (Chairman), Oscar T. Wagoner, William H. Hill, Supervisors ; Quintin Smith, Clerk ; Robert Howey, Assessor ; Alexander Prentice, Treasurer ; John Tibbits, Super- intendent of Schools.

1853-John S. Richmond (Chairman), David Owen, John Jones, No. 4, Supervisors ; Quintin Smith, Clerk ; William Stevenson, Assessor; Alexander Prentice, Treasurer ; John Jones, No. 4, School Superintendent.

1854-John S. Richmond (Chairman), John Jones, No. 4, Charles W. Gunther, Super- visors ; John Turner, Clerk ; John Pate, Assessor ; Alexander Prentice, Treasurer ; Thomas Phillips, Superintendent of Schools.

1855-Thomas Robertson (Chairman), David Owen, John Tibbets, Supervisors ; John Turner, Clerk ; John Pate, Assessor ; William Stevenson, Treasurer ; Thomas Phillips, Superin- tendent of Schools.

1856-Thomas Robertson (Chairman), Michael Cochran, Richard Jones, Supervisors ; John Pate, Clerk ; John Pate, Assessor ; David Owen, Treasurer ; N. T. Jennings, Superintend- ent of Schools.

1857-Alexander McDonald (Chairman), Michael Cochran, Owen F. Owens, Supervisors ; Milton Jennings, Clerk ; John Capner, Assessor ; David Owen, Treasurer ; Charles McLeish, Superintendent of Schools.

1858-Thomas Robertson (Chairman), William McLeish, John Jones, No. 4, Supervisors ; Thomas H. Spencer, Clerk; Andrew Robertson and Alexander Prentice, Assessors ; Hugh Muir, Treasurer ; William Stevenson, Superintendent of Schools.

1859-Thomas Robertson (Chairman), John G. Staudenmayer, Thomas Morris, Supervi- sors ; Thomas H. Spencer, Clerk ; William Ireland, Assessor; Hugh Muir, Treasurer; N. T. Jennings, Superintendent of Schools.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

1860-William Stevenson (Chairman), James Wilson, Owen F. Owens, Supervisors ; John G. Staudenmayer, Clerk : James Baird, Assessor; Alexander Prentice, Treasurer; Thomas H. Spencer, Superintendent of Schools.

1861-William Stevenson (Chairman), Owen F. Owens, James Wilson, Supervisors ; John G. Staudenmayer, Clerk; William Black, Assessor; Alexander Prentice, Treasurer; Peter Longwell. Superintendent of Schools.

1862-James Wilson (Chairman), James Baird, David J. Williams, Supervisors ; John G. Staudenmayer, Clerk ; James Robertson, Assessor ; Alexander Prentice, Treasurer.

1863-James Wilson* (Chairman), John Lockhart, Thomas Walker, Supervisors ; John G. Staudenmayer, Clerk ; James Robertson, Assessor ; Allen Bogue, Treasurer.

1864-William Stevenson (Chairman), John Lockhart, Thomas Walker, Supervisors ; John G. Staudenmayer, Clerk ; James Robertson, Assessor and Treasurer.

1865-Michael Cochrane (Chairman), John Gibson, David Owen, Supervisors ; John G. Staudenmayer, Clerk ; James Robertson, Treasurer and Assessor.

1866-Michael Cochrane (Chairman), John Gibson, David Owen, Supervisors ; John G. Staudenmayer, Clerk ; James Robertson, Treasurer and Assessor.

1867-John S. Richmond (Chairman), John O'Shaughnessy, Charles McLeish, Supervi- sors : John G. Staudenmayer, Clerk ; James Robertson, Assessor and Treasurer.

1868-William Caldow (Chairman), F. T. Ruman, Owen F. Owens, Supervisors ; Griffith J. Owen, Clerk ; James Robertson, Assessor and Treasurer.

1869-William Caldow (Chairman), F. T. Ruman, Owen F. Owens, Supervisors ; Griffith J. Owen, Clerk ; James Robertson, Assessor and Treasurer.

1870-Alexander Prentice (Chairman), James Baird, Owen F. Owens, Supervisors ; G. J. Owens, Clerk ; David Owen, Assessor ; James Robertson, Treasurer.

1871-John G. Staudenmayer (Chairman), Hugh Roberts, James Stewart, Supervisors ; G. J. Owens, Clerk ; James Robertson, Treasurer ; David Owen, Assessor.

1872-John G. Staudenmayer (Chairman), Hugh Roberts, Henry Hamilton, Supervisors ; William Black, Clerk ; James Robertson, Treasurer and Assessor.

1873-John G. Staudenmayer (Chairman), Henry Hamilton, Thomas Walker, Supervi- sors ; William Black, Clerk ; David Owen, Assessor ; James Robertson, Treasurer.

1874-John G. Staudenmever (Chairman), Owen F. Owens, William M. Shanks, Super- visors ; Robert S. Marshall, Clerk ; F. T. Ruman, Treasurer ; John Towers, Assessor.

1875-John G. Staudenmayer (Chairman), Hugh Roberts, W. M. Shanks, Supervisors ; Robert S. Marshall, Clerk ; F. T. Ruman, Treasurer ; John Towers, Assessor.

1876-William Black (Chairman), Henry Hamilton, W. W. Owens, Supervisors ; R. S. Marshall, Clerk ; F. T. Ruman, Treasurer ; James Robertson, Assessor.

1877-Charles McLeish (Chairman), Henry Racek, George Geyman, Supervisors ; C. F. Mohr, Clerk ; F. T. Ruman, Treasurer ; John Towers, Assessor.

1878-Robert Whitelaw (Chairman), Hugh Roberts, John Staudenmayer, Supervisors ; C. F. Mohr, Clerk ; John Towers, D. J. Williams, Assessors ; Thomas Robertson, Treasurer.

1879-R. Whitelaw (Chairman), W. W. Owen, John Dunigan, Supervisors ; F. T. Ruman, Clerk ; James Robertson, Assessor ; Samuel J. Pate, Treasurer.

1880-C. F. Mohr (Chairman), John Lockhart, John Dunigan, Supervisors ; J. B. Mar- shall, Clerk ; James Robertson, Assessor ; S. J. Pate, Treasurer.

TOWN OF COLUMBUS.

The incipient steps toward the formation of a town, to be called Columbus, were taken by the County Commissioners on the 16th day of July, 1846, when they organized a voting pre- cinct by that name out of Townships 10 and 11, in Range 12 east. This precinct remained the same at the revision of voting precincts, April 3, 1848, but the territory afterward became the

* In this year, James Wilson resigned the office of Chairman, and the Board appointed William Stevenson to serve the rest of the term, from November 3 until April 5, 1864.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

towns of Columbus and Fountain Prairie. On the 9th of January, 1849, the Board of County Commissioners organized Township 10, in Range 12 east, into a town, to which they gave the name of Columbus, and the house of A. P. Birdscy was designated as the place for holding the first election.

The town of Columbus is mostly low and level, lying farther down the Rock River slope than the town of Fountain Prairie. A little prairie extends into the northwestern sections, and marsh belts occur along the streams in the northern half of the town, where the general altitude is from two hundred and fifty to two hundred and eighty feet. The southern and south- western parts of the county lie higher, reaching from three hundred to four hundred feet. Four small, northeast-trending branches of Crawfish River cross the town.

The first lands entered in this town was on the 18th day of February, 1839, by Lewis Ludington and John Hustis, as follows :

The west half of the southeast quarter of Section 12, cighty acres; east half of the south- east quarter of Section 12, eighty acres, Lewis Ludington.

West half of the southwest quarter of Section 12, eighty acres ; east half of the south- west quarter of Section 12, eighty acres, John Hustis.

East half of the northeast quarter of Section 13, eighty acres ; west half of the northeast quarter of Section 13, cighty acres, Lewis Ludington.

West half of the northwest quarter of Section 13, eighty acres; east half of the north- west quarter of Section 13, eighty acres, Lewis Ludington.

East half of the northeast quarter of Section 24, eighty acres ; west half of the northeast · quarter of Section 24, eighty acres ; west half of the southeast quarter of Section 24, eighty acres ; east half of the southeast quarter of Section 24, eighty acres, Lewis Ludington.

The whole number of acres entered was 960, making three half-sections-the north half of Section 13, the south half of Section 12 and the east half of Section 24.

In the summer of 1843, T. C. Smith's cabin was the only house northwest of what was then the incipient village of Columbus, until Fort Winnebago was reached. Mr. Bushnell, however, was living in a shanty in a grove outside of what is now the city of Columbus.

W. B. Dyer built a small log house on the Baker farm, which was the first house ever built in what is now the town of Fountain Prairie. He lived in the building until May, 1844, when he sold out to E. J. Smith his pre-emption claim of 160 acres, and moved to where the village of Otsego now sits, on the creek.

Among those who were residents of the town of Columbus in 1845 and 1846, the follow -. ing arc remembered :

T. C. Smith, J. Smith, J. C. Axtell, J. T. Lewis, H. A. Whitney, D. E. Bassett, Josiah Arnold, M. G. St. John, H. W. McCafferty, S. Corbin, Jesse Rowell, J. Swarthout, R. Mills, B. F. Hart, S. Wright, U. Davies, A. Silsbee, E. Silsbee, Erastus Silsbee, W. Thompson, John Adler, James McConnell, W. Clark, J. Brown, W. W. Drake, J. Drake, O. R. Luey, Noah Dickason, W. H. Hamilton, T. Swarthout, R. Larned, E. Thayer, H. Cady, E. Lyons, S. St. John, Warren Loomis, John McConnell, J. P. Atwood, J. Barrows, T. Barrows, T. Jones, H. Swift, Jacob Swarthout, G. Aldrich, David Langdon, N. Richards, A. P. Birdsey, George Rob- inson, A. Lashier, J. Edwards, Andrew McConnell, A. E. Houghton, L. Smith, Z. Robbins, T. Bendure, D. Blanchard, Joseph Mathews, J. Miller, W. Haight, F. F. Farnham, W. Mc- Intyre.

A. P. Birdsey was among the pioneers of Columbus, and more than a mere passing men- tion is due him. He was born at Middlefield, Middlesex Co., Conn., May 7, 1813, where he remained until 1831, and where he married his wife, whose native place was only five miles from his own. There was a trifle of romance associated with his marriage ; and it is a fact not generally known, even among the more intimate friends of the deceased, that he was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Jenette Bell. He was joined in wedlock to her when he was but eighteen years of age. Within a year, she became the mother of a child and immediately after died. Her offspring survived her only three months. On the 1st of December, 1832, Mr.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Birdsey was again married. He had known his second wife since she was twelve years of age. His oldest boy, Walter, was born before his father's twenty-first birthday.

In 1837, Mr. Birdsey removed to Leyden, Lewis Co., N. Y., where he cleared a new farm with his own hands. In 1839, he removed to Boonsville, a town five miles distant, where he assumed the management of a hotel, where he remained until May, 1840. He came to Wis- consin in the spring of 1840, and went first to live at Prairieville, now known as Waukesha, having previously made a rapid tour of observation through the State.

On the 4th of July, 1840, Mr. Birdsey removed to the town of Jefferson, and purchased forty acres of land, two and a half miles from the village, on which was erected a small log house, and where only three acres had been broken. He worked steadily and energetically in putting more land under the plow, and as rapidly as any money was accumulated, invested it in more acres, until he was the owner of eight forties.

He built what everybody knew in those days as the old yellow tavern, and most old resi- dents remember the entertainments that were given there, to the life and enjoyment of which the landlord contributed greatly. In the spring of 1844, he sold his farm and moved to the town of Columbus.

About that time he went South and purchased fifty head of cows, which were all sold before the following spring. This was his first speculation in Columbus. In 1845, he sold his farm and moved to the village of Columbus, buying the hotel of Mr. Thomas, which had formerly been managed by Mr. Whitney. This was the building, a portion of which was afterward removed across the street ; it was subsequently burned. At that time, Mr. Birdsey erected the old square hotel, known as the Columbus Exchange, which was afterward sold to Mr. Ingalsbee. He purchased what is known as the corner store, with its stock, but soon sold it. He then bonght a farm, and there erected the tavern known as the Mountain House. This farm was afterward sold to Michael Cromer, Hawley and others, for upward of $23,000. Immediately after this he built the Birdsey House. This tavern he conducted for two years, and then exchanged it for a farm in Fountain Prairie, where he erected a residence and made many improvements. In the fall of 1860, he returned to the hotel, and was its landlord until the spring of 1861, when he again returned to his farm, and lived upon it nntil 1865. He then removed to Iowa, near McGregor, where he was engaged in farming until his death. He died on Friday evening, August 6, 1869, and was brought to Columbus, where he was buried with Masonic honors. His life was a varied one; impetuous and erratic in his nature, he was full of generous impulses, and the history of his life would include a record of many good and not a few noble actions.

TOWN OF COURTLAND.

At a meeting of the County Commissioners, held at the house of Elbert Dickason, on the 16th day of July, 1846, Township 12, Range 12, together with much other territory, was made a voting precinct, under the name of Leroy Precinct, and Nathan Griffin, James Buoy and Erwin McCall were appointed Judges of Election, and the house of Oliver Langdon designated as the place for holding elections. On the organization of the county into towns, in 1849, Township 12, Range 12, was organized into a town, and the name of Portage Prairie given to it. The house of Horace Rust was designated as the place for holding the first election. By resolution of the Board of Supervisors, November 19, 1852, the name of the town was changed to Courtland.

Patrick Chestnut emigrated from Ireland when about thirty years of age ; settled in Penn- sylvania, from which State he emigrated to Wisconsin, and on the 29th day of July, 1844, entered the county and located his claim upon Section 3, Township 12, Range 12, being the first to settle in the town. Mr. Chestnut soon had erected a comfortable house, and here spent the remainder of his days, departing this life, November, 1878, in his ninetieth year. He was a type of the old-style gentleman, being held in respect by all with whom he was acquainted. When Mr. Chestnut came to this country, he was ignorant of backwoods life, and had never seen a tree felled. Desiring one day to cut down a tree, he shouldered his ax and proceeded to the

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timber. He began his work, cutting completely around the tree an equal distance, but was afraid to push it over for fear of accident, and did not understand that if he cut enough upon one side it would fall by its own weight. Cautioning his son, who was with him, to leave the tree alone, he went two miles to a neighbor to come and fell the tree. The neighbor came, and, with a few well-directed blows with the ax, the tree lay upon the ground.

In the fall of 1844, J. Jess and Mr. Hooker came in, and in the summer of 1845, William Bump, James Buoy, Nathaniel Wilkins, Jonathan Moulton, Horace Rust and William Toby made a settlement here. From this time on, for a number of years, the land was rapidly taken up by actual settlers.

In the summer of 1847, William Bump and Sarah Griffith were united in marriage, by M. W. Patton, Esq., this being the first ceremony of the kind performed in the town.

The event took place about one mile south of Cambria. This was the first appearance of the Squire in official duty. He then lived in Centerville, about three miles northwest of Cam- bria, but at that time there was no Cambria, nor houses betweenhis place and the house of the bride, but he passed a piece of fencing divided by a small gap. Mr. Patton could get no form for marriage, but his legal knowledge came to his rescue, and after considerable hard study he drafted a service that he was confident would survive the wreck of time and hold them "for better or for worse." It was a legal document, interlarded with quotations from Holy Writ and some poetry. Armed with this document which he had committed to momory, he started out on his holy mission to make " two hearts beat as one." IIalting at the gap in the fence referred to, he united the two detachments of fence by repeating his marriage service, without a skip or blunder, and then pursued his way on foot. When he arrived there, he found the party waiting for him, and as a casual guest T. Clark Smith, of Columbus, was present. The bridal party were duly arranged on the floor and the Squire proceeded with the ceremony. But alas ! for human weakness! He forgot his oration ; "his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth." In vain he straightened up his spinal column, "smote his knees together, gnashied his teeth," rolled his eyes, brushed back his front hair and mopped up the perspiration on his face, his tongue refused to give utterance to the chaos that raged in his brain. Smith grinned and the bridal party blushed, while other members looked on with pity. The Squire had completely for- gotten himself, but his mind at length wandered back to the rail fence, and then the floodgates of memory were thrown open, and he went on with the ceremony and clinched it with an clo- quent quotation from Scripture, " What God has joined together let no man put asunder : " received a five-franc piece for his fee, and with a light heart bent his steps homeward.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 106

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104