The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 74

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 74

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John Baptist Dubay came to Portage at an early day, and for some time traded with the Indians, the American Fur Company furnishing him with goods, but he finally moved up the Wisconsin, at a trading-post above Stevens Point. When the canal at Portage was made, Nel- son McNeil leased from the State the water power, and built a mill, and, when the military reserve (on which Fort Winnebago was built), was sold out, about thirty acres were reserved by the Government to go with the water-power to the State, or rather to the Fox River Company, as the State had turned over the improvement to them. Dubay was made to believe he had a claim there, having lived on the same land. The fur company had, through their agents, lived upon it for several years, and some men standing high in the State contended that Dubay had a claim upon the land, and tried hard to get Congress and, it is believed, the Legislature to recog- nize it, which appeared strange to those who knew there was not any legitimate claim there, for the fur company could not preempt. McNeil sold out his mill and lease to Reynolds & Craigh, and they went to putting up a house for the millers. Dubay had a small house on the land not far from where they commenced building. They had had the studding put up and a part of the roof boards on, when Dubay went over there and took an ax and chopped it down. Afterward, Reynolds went over to look at it, and as he passed the house some words passed between them, when Dubay went into his house and got his gun and shot, killing Reynolds immediately. This tragical event took place August 15, 1857.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

"I was standing in the street in front of my house," says Henry Merrell, " perhaps half a mile from the mill, when McNeil came past, his horse on a run ; as he passed me he said, 'Dubay has shot Reynolds.' I immediately went down to the mill, and found several men there watch- ing the house, but none dared go near it. I inquired if any one was watching to see if he escaped into the woods, and was informed there was. Soon a wagon drove up, filled with men, who jumped out, and called for a rope ; while they were going into the mill, Sheriff Edward F. Lewis drove up in a buggy, and crossed over the other side of the canal to the house and hur- ried Dubay into the buggy and drove up the north bank of the canal. When the men saw that move, they jumped into the wagon and drove back the way they came. I, knowing Lewis could not get over on that bank, concluded the men would catch him ; but Lewis drove as far as he could, and left the buggy and horse, and hurried Dubay on foot, getting to the jail before the men got around, as they had some distance farther to go to get the wagon through. Quite a crowd assembled, determined to lynch Dubay; but Lewis foiled them. One man by the name of Mason cried, 'Come on, boys,' but as he made a rush for the door, Lewis stood there with a pair of iron shackles in his hand, and, as Mason rushed at him, he hit him over the head, knock- ing him down. So no others backed him up, and the mob dispersed. The wildest excitement ensued. An attempt was made to lynch the murderer; but Sheriff Lewis, by diligent effort, secured him as a prisoner, and took him to Madison, where he was tried twice, the jury not agreeing. So he was discharged."

On the afternoon of the 16th of September, 1869, the city of Portage witnessed a revolt- ing double tragedy-the shooting of Barney Britt, on one of the most public thoroughfares, by William H. Spain, and the subsequent lynching of the murderer by a mob within a stone's throw of the spot where Britt fell. Both Britt and Spain were Irishmen, and former members of Company D, Nineteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, Spain succeeding to the captaincy of the company on the promotion of Col. Vanghan, Britt being a private. During their service, bitter feelings were engendered between them, and they scarcely ever met without some hard words ensuing. On the day of the tragedy, Britt, who lived in the town of Fort Winnebago, came to the city, and, meeting Spain, the old feud was revived. During the afternoon, Spain went to his house, and procured a loaded revolver ; upon his return, he perceived Britt following after him. He stopped and informed Britt that he must not follow him. Britt replied that he was not following him, but was going about his business. Spain repeated his admonition, and was replied to as before, whereupon he raised his weapon, and, muttering an oath, fired, shooting Britt through the heart, killing him instantly. The shooting was witnessed by a large number of people, and the news, spreading rapidly, created an excitement and consternation. The cry of " Hang him !" "Hang him !" was soon raised, and Spain started for Justice Haskell's office, with the intention of surrendering himself. He was overtaken at the head of the stairs by Marshal Hickey and Deputy Sheriff Pool, who arrested him, and started for the jail. When near Heartel's saloon they were met by a crowd of excited people, who violently took the pris- oner from them, and, forcing him into the express office, detailed a posse to guard the door. In a few moments, surging crowds of people came, seemingly, from every quarter. The door of the express office was forced open, a rope thrown about Spain's neck, and, within a few minutes, he had been dragged through the street and hanged to the limb of a tree. Spain's body, having been cut down by Sheriff Pool soon afterward, was removed to the home of his brother's in the town of Fort Winnebago. Spain was at one time Register of Deeds in Adams County, but for six months previous to the tragedy, he had practiced law in Columbia County. Britt left a wife and eight children. Spain was also a man of family, having a wife and four children.

About 1 o'clock of the morning of Saturday, September 18, not quite two days after the shooting of Britt, and the lynching of Spain, Pat Wildrick, a notorious desperado, was taken from the Columbia County Jail and hanged to a tree near by. This was done by a mob of unknown men, who came into the city during the night. Wildrick was probably one of the worst men that ever trod upon Wisconsin soil. Ile had served two years at Waupun for highway robbery, and soon after his release, Schuyler S. Gates, who, with his wife and household goods, was moving down

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

the Wisconsin River from Kilbourn City on two boats lashed together, was robbed, while encamped on the bank of the river at night, of about $2,400, Mrs. Gates being outraged by one of the robbers, whom the people had every reason to believe was none other than Pat. Wildrick. At any rate, Wildrick was arrested and lodged in jail, being taken to Sauk County, where he was indicted, and, having his case continued, he broke jail, but was recaptured. Pending his trial, which was set for October 9, Wildrick was released on bail. He then came to Portage, where, almost immediately afterward, he was caught in the act of perpetrating a highway robbery. During his examination for this latter offense, Mr. Gates was murdered near Kilbourn City, and it was generally believed Wildrick's accomplices in the robbery were the perpetrators of the deed, as Gates would have been an important witness in the case.

The lynching of Wildrick was conducted shrewdly. Two men, with a third one between them, went to the jail and knocked upon the door. Deputy Korner, upon answering the knock, was informed by one of the outsiders that they were officers in charge of a criminal whom they wished to lock up. The door was opened and they were admitted, whereupon Korner was seized and others of the party immediately entered the jail. Sheriff Sorrenson, coming upon the scene, was also secured, his hands being tied behind him and a handkerchief being placed over his mouth. The key to Wildrick's cell was then taken from Kærner's pocket. What followed need not be repeated, but Wildrick's dead body was found hanging to a tree the next morning.

In December the grand jury returned indictments against eleven of the supposed lynchers, but it was subsequently shown that one-third of the members of that jury were disqualified on account of being aliens. It also appeared that one of the eleven men indicted was many miles away when the tragedy was enacted. The whole matter was finally dropped.

" State of Wisconsin vs. John Maloney." On the 4th day of August, 1875, John Maloney, of Doylestown, shot and killed his wife, for which crime he was arrested, and on the 18th day of December, of the same year was tried, convicted of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to the State prison for life.

ABSTRACT OFFICE.

Absolutely certain knowledge in regard to the title of land is important to every owner or prospective owner of a home or of any parcel of real estate. In this country, the records of conveyance in the office of Register of Deeds govern as to the ownership of real property, and every transfer or mortgage is supposed to be recorded therein. There are, however, other facts which may be of consequence as affecting the condition of title, which the law does not require to be registered in that office. Moreover, it is a frequently a tedious and difficult task to obtain at the Register's office the statement of a long chain of title. For these and other reasons, abstract offices, as they are called, have been established throughout the country. They con- tain a complete and perfect history, so far as it is possible to obtain it, of every piece of land in the counties where they are located, so arranged as to be accessible with the least possible delay or difficulty.

The abstract office for Columbia County is regarded as one of the most perfect in Wiscon- sin. It was started by A. B. Alden, who issued his first abstract in 1859. He recorded 58,320 conveyances, No. 1 of which, was, of course, the first conveyance ever of record in this county.

The foundation of the abstract office required an immense amount of attention and labor, much of which was bestowed in the early stages of the enterprise by A. B. Alden and his brother-in-law, M. P. Wing, Charles Holden, Charles J. Randall, O. C. Dibble and Ambrose Hoffman. Mr. Alden was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors when he founded the abstract office, and, his time being occupied by his official duties, it was managed successively by the individuals mentioned above. In September, 1872, he sold the business to M. T. Alverson and Thomas Yule. Both of the latter were real-estate men and very accurate, and they did much to perfect the records of the office and more thoroughly systematize its methods. During their

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

time, the number of conveyances reached 70,169, 11,849 of which were made while they were in the office.

On the 1st of November, 1878, S. M. Smith and C. L. Dering assumed the management of the business, which they had purchased from Alverson & Yule, and to which they now devote every requisite attention. Mr. Dering is an attorney and real-estate conveyancer of long expe- rience, and Mr. Smith is well known as a careful, methodical man, abundantly qualified to con- duct the affairs of the office. Up to and including the 31st day of March, 1880, and after November 1, 1878, they recorded 3,104 transfers, which made the whole number in Columbia County 73,273 at the close of the day first mentioned.

The Columbia County Abstract Office now contains eleven volumes of abstracts, so called, three index books, a volume each of abstracts of Government and State entries, one volume of powers of attorney, a volume of judgment, as liens on real estate, a volume of mechanics' liens, etc., etc.

Already there are in Columbia County parcels of realty which have changed owners from one hundred and fifty to two hundred times, and there are but very few pieces of land that have not been repeatedly sold. Suppose, now, that A wants to buy of B certain land, almost the first detail about which the former will desire information will be in reference to the title; and it is the vendor's business to show him that his right to the property is complete, to do which he must obtain an abstract of title. As already stated, the abstract office contains the history of every piece of land in Columbia County, embodying every legal detail which can in any way affect its title. Now, for the purpose of illustrating the methods of the abstract office, suppose that, on the morning of Ist of April, 1880, Messrs. Smith & Dering, in making their daily visit to the Register of Deeds' Office, found that another conveyance has been recorded there. They at once make a virtual copy of the deed, and on their return to the abstract office they transfer it to what they call the book of abstracts. Each conveyance in this volume is desig- nated by a number, and in the case we have supposed the number would be 73,274. Opposite this number, they will note volume and page on which the instrument is recorded with the Reg- ister ; names of grantor and grantee ; date of the deed, date of acknowledgment; date, hour and minute of record ; nature of the instrument ; description of the property ; consideration, etc. The next step is what is termed posting on the index-book, which is arranged for reference by descrip- tion of lands, and which contains a printed description of every forty and of every city and village lot in this county, and opposite it is simply placed that number, which completes the record there so far as this transfer is concerned. Of course, all previous transfers have previously been similarly indicated by recording their numbers from the abstract-book ; so that the index- book consists merely of descriptions of forties and lots, with the numbers indicating each con- veyance set opposite them. When an abstract of title is desired, the land described is readily found by reference to the index-book, and there, opposite the description, are found numbers indicating all the transfers of that property that have ever been made. Those numbers are readily found by reference to the abstract-book, where, opposite each number, are set forth all the details of that conveyance. Thus it will be seen that an abstract may be obtained for any piece of land by simply sending a description of it, and without even mentioning the name of the present owner. Of course, the utmost care is required in these entries, and every record is subjected to a double comparison before it is relinquished as accurate. Thus far, all the information alluded to as regarding land has been obtained from the Register's office, but there are legal facts other than those which the law requires the Register to spread upon his books that may, to some extent, affect the right to realty. For instance, a judgment become a lien on real estate, a record of which is to be found in the Clerk of the Court's office. And there is a large amount of other information which it is essential that a perfect abstract office should possess, and which is obtained from the General Land Office at Washington, the State Land Office, the County Treasurer's office, and elsewhere. Indeed, the abstract business requires the constant exercise of vigilance and the utmost care, and is a constant source of outlay, so that the occasional expensiveness of abstracts need not surprise the applicant for it.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

The Columbia County Abstract Office is located in the bank building in Portage, on the corner of Cook and Wisconsin streets, and in the rear of the office is a stone vault, absolutely fire-proof, within which is a fire-proof safe, where all the books and papers belonging to the business are nightly secured. Many of the business men of this city have availed themselves of this certain protection against fire by placing their valuable papers in the custody of Smith & Dering; and as there is never any money deposited there, nor any papers of value except to the owners, there is nothing to excite the cupidity of burglars.

THE WELSH LITERARY MOVEMENT IN COLUMBIA COUNTY.

The Welsh commenced to settle in Columbia County in the summer of 1845. They were' almost without exception, from the northern part of Wales-most of them from the counties of Carnarvon, Anglesea and Denbigh-from the neighborhood of Snowdon, Moel Siabod and other glorious mountains.

Eminent writers maintain that the general aspect of nature has a decided influence on the habits, thoughts and characteristics of the human mind. They further assert that mountain scenery and air nourish poetical and musical tendencies, and encourage moral feelings.

If this is so, the Welsh emigrants who first settled in Columbia County, nurtured in that part of Europe described by one of their bards as

" Rude, rugged and romantic land of e'erlasting hills, Where echo sounds terrific, 'midst cataracts and rills- Mountains of ancient glory adorned with lovely vales- Creation in its beauty, my HOME, my dearest Wales,"

should have imaginative, religious and industrious minds. The above theory proved true in the case of the first settlers as shown in the particular attention paid to public religious worship, even before houses were secured for the families. Music was cultivated from the very first ; but not until the year 1848 did the different settlements organize and form into a musical union.

It was then decided that the inhabitants of the different settlements in Columbia County should join in a grove about eight miles north of the present village of Cambria, to celebrate the Fourth of July in a manner worthy of the day. Music was furnished by a large and well- trained choir. E. B. Williams delivered a philosophical lecture on music. Several speeches on different subjects were made by many who were present from different settlements.

It is worthy of mention that this manner of celebrating the Fourth of July became popu- lar and much good came out of it. Every year brought some new celebrity to the platform and more cultivation to the choir. This musical union continued to gain ground steadily for about fifteen years, when religious revivalists claimed the privilege to hold a prayer-meeting on the same day. The prayer-meeting was held but once, but that was enough to break up the musical union. Were it not for that fact. it is probable that the Fourth would have continued, to this day, to be celebrated in the same manner as of old.

Still, nothing was done to encourage and cultivate the literary tastes of the people until Dr. J. Ll. Williams returned from Pennsylvania and settled in Cambria in the year 1853. He was the founder, first teacher and patron of literature among the Welsh in this part of Colum- bia County. He organized literary societies in every schoolhouse, aroused and held regular weekly or two-weekly meetings, which were well attended, especially by the young people. Different subjects were given for competitory compositions in prose and verse ; lectures and speeches were delivered, and music in its various forms was taught and encouraged.

In the month of April, 1856, the first grand EISTEDFOD was held in the old church or chapel, called Zion, on Welsh Prairie. This was well attended by musicians, poets, lecturers and other literary characters, from all parts of the State, and was a decided success. Not only that that particular congress of bards and literati was a success in itself; but, by drawing out talents not previously known to the public, it proved that there was material enough among the Welsh population for holding such meetings in future.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

The Eistedfod is an ancient institution, and was probably peculiar to the Celts. Now it is peculiar to that small branch of the Celts inhabiting Wales and their children in foreign countries. First established by the Druids, and being then of much more importance than at present-all public matters in law, religion and literature being settled in those meetings in presence of the public therein assembled-it was deemed necessary, or at least beneficial, to keep up this Bardic assembly, after the overthrow of Druidism by Christianity, in order to fos- ter learning and especially poetry. For ages, each Eistedfod was held under the auspices and protection of some Welsh prince ; afterward they were under the patronage of the Barons, and, last of all, they were licensed by the English sovereigns. The last royal license was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1567 or 1568. Since that time, the Welsh have felt independent enough to hold an Eistedfod when and wherever they choose, without asking any one's consent.

The Welsh in Columbia County have held an Eistedfod (sometimes on rather a small scale) at home, or have joined with others to hold one in some other part of the State almost every year since 1856. Money is sometimes contributed beforehand ; sometimes the sale of tickets to the meetings is depended upon and rewards are offered for the best compositions in prose, verse and music, and sometimes for works of art. Umpires are usually chosen from a distance. to determine upon the merits of the competitors. Everything is arranged as well as can be to secure justice. Each of these occasions brings out a great number of competitors, and it does much to stimulate and encourage the youths to labor hard for excellency, and it has contributed not a little to the education of those who must educate themselves or remain uneducated.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER VIII. .

SOME OF COLUMBIA COUNTY'S ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD-PETER PAUQUETTE, ELBERT DICKASON, LA FAY- ETTE HILL, JOHN A. BROWN, JEREMIAH DRAKE, JOSEPH M. DOTY, BARON STEUBEN DOTY, WILLIAM T. WIIIRRY, EMMONS TAYLOR, JACOB LOW, CARL HAERTEL, WILLIAM WIER, SQUIRE SHERWOOD CASE, JOHN CONVERSE, ALFRED TOPLIFF, HARRISON S. HASKELL, SAMUEL STEPHEN BRANNAN, ANDREW DUNN, THOMAS J. EMERTON, JOSEPH BAILEY, HENRY MERRELL, JULIUS CONVERSE CHANDLER, SAMUEL K. VAUGHAN, JOSEP11 KERR, JOIIN PARDEE, ANDREW SWEANY.

PETER PAUQUETTE

was the son of a French father and a Winnebago mother. He was born in the year 1796, and was married in St. Louis in 1818 to Theresa Crelie, whose father, "old Crelie," was a Canadian half-breed, and whose mother was a half-breed Sac. At the date of his marriage, which event took place at Prairie du Chien, he was in the employ of the American Fur Company. Pau- quette was the interpreter at the treaties with the Winnebagoes at Green Bay, in 1828; at Prairie du Chien, in 1825; and at Rock Island in 1832. In the year last mentioned, he was active in raising a party of Winnebagoes to unite with the Americans against Black Hawk. After this war, he was engaged as a trader, on the west side of the Wisconsin, at Portage. He had two children-Therese J., the eldest, was born at the portage in 1826; she has been twice married, and is a resident of Columbia County. Her brother, Moses Pauquette, was born in 1828, also at the portage; and he, too, is still a resident of the county.

Pauquette was always reputed to be one of the best friends and counselors of the Winne- bagoes. No man who knew him ever suspected his honesty or patriotism. In October, 1836, he was shot and killed at the portage, by an Indian.

On the 17th of October, [1836], says John de La Ronde, " Gov. Dodge came to Portage to hold a council with the Indians ; H. L. Dousman and Joseph Brisbois came also ; Peter Pau- quette acted as interpreter. The result of the council was advising the Winnebagoes to sell their lands east of the Mississippi. The Indians could not agree, and the matter was postponed until the next year, and a treaty for the sale of the land was abandoned, they preferring an annuity, and Peter Pauquette demanded for them twenty-one boxes of money-$21,000-declar- ing that that was the amount due him from the Indians for goods and provisions advanced to thein.

" Man-ze-mon-e-ka, a son of one of the chiefs of the Rock River band, residing a mile or two above the present locality of Watertown, named Wau-kon-ge-we-ka, or Whirling Thunder, or One-who-walks-on-the-iron, objected on the ground that he belonged to the Rock River band, and had received no provisions or goods from Pauquette, desiring that the money should be divided between the several bands; then those who were indebted to Pauquette, might pay him if they chose, as for himself, or his band, they had their own debts to pay to the traders at Rock River. The result was that the council dissolved without coming to a decision.

" Pauquette crossed the Wisconsin, going to a saloon where Carpenter's house now stands, and there indulged in drinking. Man-ze-mon-e-ka, who had spoken so frankly in the council, also happened there, when Pauquette whipped him. I came there at the time, and with the help of others rescued the Indian from Pauquette. The chief retired to the other end of the portage, near where the house of Henry Merrell once stood, on Fox River ; Pauquette followed him there and whipped him again. Satterlee Clark and I took the Indian away from him again, who was by this time badly bruised. He went home, which was near where Armstrong's brickyard now is ; and Pauquette went to the old post of the American Fur Company near the grist-mill ; and while on his way home, between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning, he stopped at my place.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 74

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