USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches > Part 50
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After staying in Milwaukee one day, they came west as far as Prairieville. This was a desolate-looking place, with only one house to checr the traveler on his lonely way. Nothing but trees was visible on all sides, and to any one not accustomed to traveling through forests, progress in any direction seemed almost impracticable. From Prairieville, they went a short distance south on the Fox River, where they made a elaim and built a shanty. Here they lived during the summer of 1836, spending a good portion of their time in hunting and fishing. There was a large number of Indians living in this section, as wigwams were the only tenements on both sides of Fox River. Mr. Wolcott recollected distinctly that one old Indian had his wigwam pitched very close to where their shanty was situated. This old Indian had a boy about his age (seven years) and size. To please the old folks, the boys were called out on numerous occasions to run races and wrestle together. The Indian boy would generally beat Sylvester in the chase, but in wrestling they stood about even. These sports delighted the old people immensely, and they gave to the relator the health, nerve and muscle necessary to endure the hardships, in his youthful days, of a wild and uncultivated country. The Indians, although numerous in this section, were always friendly, and the few white settlers who found an abode among them dealt and traded, without fear of being molested.
After living on the Fox River during the summer, they left this place late in the fall of 1836, on a visit to Indiana. They remained away some six months, but, on returning, they found, to their great astonishment. that a stranger had come to Prairieville, and had jumped their elaim. Ile occupied their shanty, and, although they protested against his holding it, they were obliged to seek " fresh fields and pastures new." From there they went farther west, until they reached Rock River at Johnson's Rapids, now known as Watertown. On reaching
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their destination, they found one double log house standing where the late Peter Kelly's build- ing is now situated on First street. They reached Johnson's Rapids on the 12th day of May, 1837. About this time, Mr. George Goodhue built the first saw-mill that was used in the set- tlement. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting provisions to keep the men at work, as the nearest market place where these supplies could be had was Beloit. Finding it difficult to carry on any traffic between the new settlement and the then village of Beloit, Mr. Lnther A. Cole, at the head of a number of industrious men, began the work of laying out a roadway to Milwaukee. After this road was opened. obtaining provisions was not so difficult an under- taking as it had been.
Before leaving Prairieville, however, in the spring of 1837, a little incident happened that Mr. Wolcott related. A horse belonging to his father had suddenly disappeared and was lost in the woods. He went to look for it, leaving Mr. W. in the care of one of the settlers. As he remained away longer than he expected, and fearing that he had met with some accident, Mr. W. started to look for him. In following a track that led to a river, it was impossible for him to continue the search without crossing it, so he went into the water thinking to ford across, but the current was running so rapidly at the time that he, in search of his father, was carried down the stream at a furious rate. Being able to swim, he managed to keep his head above the water until he got hold of a cluster of willows and crawled ont.
When Mr. Wolcott and his father reached the old log hut on Johnson's Rapids, the men that occupied it were in a most pitiable condition. Starvation for several days was staring them in the face. All they had to eat was the fish they could catch below the dam, and these were eaten without salt. Pork and potatoes in those days were considered luxuries. The former was usually eut up in slices and placed on the stove to roast. After remaining at the Rapids a short time, they went a few miles south along the river, until they reached an old Indian clear- ing by the side of a beautiful lake. This lake at that time was clear and limpid. They made a claim at this point and ever since this sheet of water has been known as Wolcott's Lake. In getting provisions from Milwaukee. they encountered great difficulty. The roads, as a general rule, were almost impassable. No single team would dare go to Milwaukee unattended by con- siderable help. The settlers used to go in groups, so that whenever any of the wagons hap- pened to get mired, all hands would unite to extricate it. If a team starting from Johnson's Rapids could go to Milwaukee and bring back two barrels of flour and one of pork and a few other light articles in a week's time, it was considered doing well. In 1838, a great many set- tlers came and located on Rock River. It was thought then that the river would soon become navigable and be a great water-course. It was expected that a canal would be constructed to connect Lake Michigan with the head-waters of the river a few miles below the Rapids. The Government appropriated a traet of land for the purpose, but the project was soon abandoned, and, in 1842, the land was placed in the market. Among the first settlers along the river were Mr. Chadwick, A. Boomer, David Temple, Oliver Bennett, John Fitzgerald, Mr. Cushman, Mr. Grey, Samuel Harmison, Marks Doestrander, Dudley Little, Timothy Powell, Isaac Har- mison, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Bushnel.
In 1839, the settlers began to raise some grain, consisting chiefly of corn and wheat. They were quite successful in this pursuit, but to get it ground was a hard task, as they were obliged to go to Beloit. There was not a board or shingle used to build the settlers' houses. Some of them had no floors, but instead, pieces of timber called puncheon were placed on the ground to answer in place of floors. Roofs were made of bark peeled from trees, with chimneys running up from them made of sticks plastered together with clay. Forty years ago, mails were carried on horseback, traveling done by stage, and shipping done by water. There has also been a marvelous change in agricultural and mechanical pursuits. The pioneers of this county were made up, generally, of young, healthy and robust men, who were not afraid to face danger or to endure hardships to obtain free and good homes. But they are fast passing away. and in a short time it will be difficult to find any of the old pioneers that settled here in 1837 or in 1838.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
In the spring of 1837, the family of James Rogan was added to the population of the set- tlement, also several young bachelors. Among the latter were Amasa Hyland, Luther A. Cole, John W. Cole, John Richards, Silas W. Newcomb, Calvin M. Bonghton, William M. Dennis and Peter V. Brown. In the month of May, of that year, George J. Goodhne built a double saw-mill and put a dam across Rock River, the first ever built on that stream, either in Wiscon- sin or Illinois. The mill was ready for work in December following and began to turn out lum- ber. In 1841, James Rogan erected another saw-mill on the west side of the river, which was. in the fall of 1842, purchased by Cole, Bailey & Co., who, in 1843, built what was long known as the " old yellow grist-mill." The population at that time numbered about two hundred, and the site of the present city of Watertown was laid ont in blocks and lots, Milo Jones, still living, a resident of Fort Atkinson, being the surveyor. It might be stated here, the claim is made in Watertown that the first death in the county occurred near that place, in January, 1837, being that of Thomas Bass, thus contradicting the generally accepted belief that E. Foster, Sr., who died near Fort Atkinson, October 10, 1837, was the first to depart this life in Jefferson County, It seems that Bass, together with Charles Seaton and Ezra Doliver, while on a "lark," took refuge in a log house which stood near the present site of Doering's Mill. While there, Bass acci- dentally fell into the fire, receiving injuries which caused his death in a short time. This, unless successfully contradicted, disposes of the question finally. A coffin from hewn pieces of bass- wood was prepared and the remains interred a short distance from where the old schoolhouse stood in 1853, the prayer on that occasion being offered by William Brayton, of Aztalan. Rumors that his death was caused by violence being circulated. a Coroner from Milwaukee caused the remains to be disinterred and an inquest to be held. At its conclusion, Doliver and Seaton were arrested and taken to Milwaukee, where they were tried and acquitted.
FORT ATKINSON.
The settlement of Hebron and Fort Atkinson are intimately associated, that of the latter following the former only by a few months. According to one account, the first settlement was not made there until about October, 1836, when Dwight Foster, brother of Alvin Foster, upon the solicitation of the " Rock River Claim Company," came from Milwaukee, accompanied by David Bartlett and William Pritchard, and selected a spot eight miles west of Bark River Mill, near the old fort-Pritchard and Bartlett remaining to build a cabin while Foster returned to Milwaukee for his family.
Mr. Foster, in his account, places the arrival of himself and companions at the fort at an earlier date, for he states that the erection of the cabin was commenced on the 2d of September, 1836. Ile was formerly from Madison County, N. Y., whence he departed in May, 1836, and proceeded to Oswego. where he embarked on a schooner for Milwaukee, arriving at his destination in June. Having secured comfortable quarters for his family at that point, he can- vassed the country for a place to locate, and, after spending considerable time in viewing lands, decided to settle at Fort Atkinson. At the date above mentioned (September 2), he commenced building a log cabin on the east side of Rock River, a short distance above the fort. When the work on the cabin was well under way, he returned to Milwaukee for his family, which consisted of his wife and a child three years old (now Mrs. C. Southwell, of Milwaukee). He left that city on the 2d of November, 1836, accompanied by Aaron Rankin, for his home in the wilder- ness. Their progress was slow, however. The first night out the company lodged near Prairie- ville (now Waukesha) in a shanty owned and occupied by Mr. Walton : the second day Muck- awanago was reached and Mr. Ranus, a resident of that settlement, officiated as host ; the third day they arrived at Troy, and on the fourth day night overtook them on Rock Prairie, where they were obliged to encamp, supperless and without shelter. Mr. Foster was taken sick that night and the outlook was decidedly gloomy. The following morning, they resumed their journey, and during the day arrived at Janesville, where Mr. Foster was compelled by sickness to take to his bed. He recovered, however, sufficiently to continue the trip on the next day,
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but. in attempting to strike the army trail, became bewildered in the prairie fog and wandered about until noon. The day was dark and gloomy. and at night they halted at Otter Creek, where one of their horses fell down in the harness completely exhausted. That evening, Rankin shot a prairie chicken, which, with some potatoes purchased at Janesville, constituted their supper. It soon commenced raining in torrents, and, to add to their discomfort, the horses wandered off, and considerable time was lost in searching for their whereabouts. They were secured and the company kept on, reaching their cabin at 2 o'clock the same day, which had been completed and was then occupied by Pritchard and Bartlett. On reaching home, Mr. Foster learned that two yoke of oxen belonging to him had strayed and were not to be found. Flour and pork began to be scarce and he dispatched Bartlett to Milwaukee for supplies, which he failed to obtain. Luckily. he had a barrel of flour at Prairieville, which Bartlett went for and obtained, freighting the same to Rock River, three miles above the fort. on a crotched stick of timber drawn by oxen. The river at that time was covered by ice not sufficiently strong to bear any considerable weight, and Bartlett followed the stream down to its junction with Bark River, where, by felling a trec and the help of a canoe. he succeeded in getting over, leaving the flour and oxen on the opposite side. The next day, Mr. Foster, with the assistance of Bartlett and Rankin, drew the barrel on the ice, which had become stronger, and, after getting it into the river a number of times, at last got it housed in the cabin. His wife and daughter were the first white women and the first white family domiciled in the county of Jefferson.
The excitement produced in the Eastern States by the settlements in Wisconsin was great, and many, hearing of the success of their former neighbors and others, hastened to avail them- selves of the opportunities afforded for fortune and distinction in the Northwest. Fort Atkin- son received accessions at intervals during the years immediately succeeding its settlement, and among those who came were the families of Edwin N. and Alvin Foster, Rufus C. Dodge and family. the Winslows, the Finches, the Crane boys, E. Foster, Sr., and wife, Calvin West, E. Kinney. Charles Rockwell, and Aaron Allen and family, with numerous others who have left no record of their experiences.
E. Foster, Sr., died October 10, 1837, and was buried on the hill to the east of the settle- ment, Charles Rockwell reading the funeral service of the Episcopal Church at his interment. Ilis death is recorded as the first to take place in the county, but, as has been stated. that of Thomas Bass, near Watertown. in January. 1837, claims precedence.
The first birth in the county occurred at Fort Atkinson, as also did the first marriage, the former being E. J., a son of E. N. Foster, and the latter the marriage of William Pritchard.
Mrs. Mary Turner, a pioneer lady, relates her experiences and observations in Jefferson County about Fort Atkinson, during the days when modes of life were rude and the surround- ings anything but pleasant. Her contribution was published in the Jefferson Banner of June 10. 1875, in which she says: "We came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1845; stayed in Bark River woods, now called Hebron, through the winter, and then, one bright morning in 1846, we took our few household goods on one wagon, and two yoke of oxen. started for our farm at Oakland Center, purchased the fall before, but which I had never seen. As the wagon went trundling on through the woods, I remember the road was very rough, and so. with my babe in my arms, I preferred walking most of the way. And here let me say I was not unmindful of the grandeur and beauty of the forest of that early time. The old trees that had swung their naked branches in the wintry winds, were then putting out their garments of loving green ; and then there were sudden scamperings among the dry leaves, and squirrels bounded past and darted up the trees and chattered from the boughs as if they expected us in hot pursuit. The songs of the birds had that peculiar musical melody known only to the woods. And then, for the first time. I saw the spring flowers of Wisconsin. They looked so fresh, peeping from their beds of dry leaves, that I often turned aside to pluck them ; and, as I did so. I was reminded of Eastern friends that had hunted with me the first spring flowers of York State, in my girlhood. Taking it altogether, that walk was not an unpleasant one. After some three or four hours' travel. we came to a marsh-I know I could not find that path to-day-and as I saw the feet of the cattle
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sink deep into the mire, I gave one look over that marsh, and it seemed almost as dangerous as voyage across the ocean. We had gone but a few rods when down went our wagon clear to the hubs in mud on one side; I was quickly off on the other, and stood by the cattle while my hus- band ran back to the nearest house for assistance. He soon made his appearance with a man- I think his name was Huzzy-and never shall I forget the broad, honest faces of his cattle and their sinewy limbs ; with their united strength, our wagon was soon out. I did not dare trust myself on a seat so dangerous again, so, with my babe in my arms, I skipped from log to log, crossed the marsh, and took a seat on the hard land on the other side. As I sat there, watch- ng the team slowly coming up, I was not at all discouraged with the prospects of coming West, for I thought we should go back in a few years, rolling in wealth. Such is the illusion of youth.
" There was a beautiful haze liung over Wisconsin that day, and, as I sat there, a band of ittle gophers came and played around me. I had never seen one of these animals before, and their peculiar striped and spotted backs excited my curiosity ; I remember thinking they were a kind of calico chipmunk, and could almost touch them with my hand. I thought, at the time, they were not familiar with the human face and knew no fear; and I think so still, for I have never seen any so tame since. At length my husband drew up, and said there was a little village ust beyond, where we would stop and refresh the cattle. I told him the hot sun had made me a little sick and faint and I did not care for a very substantial meal, but he might purchase a few crackers ind a little cheese, if they had them. I again took a seat upon the wagon, and it seemed an ncredible short space of time when lo! the little village burst upon our view. And it was a ittle village in every sense of the word, I can tell you-the present village of Fort Atkinson. Our team drew up in front of Uncle Dwight Foster's tavern, and, though I had never seen im, his name had become a household word in Bark River woods, and a stranger at that time would have thought every one had an " Uncle Dwight," as he was familiarly called, all the coun- ry round. I went in, and I never shall forget how clean Mrs. Foster's kitchen was. And here et it be known, that it is my mission to tell everything that happened that day, just as I remem- er it now. Mrs. Foster was making dried-apple pies and seasoning them with nutmeg, and the roma was very pleasant. She was flitting back and forth from her pantry to her oven, as busy . s a bee. There was a man and his wife boarding there, and their eldest child, a little girl, eemed to be a privileged character. She was hopping and jumping, and running hither and on, all over the house. I took a seat in the dining-room, and presently Uncle Dwight appeared with the crackers and cheese, which he handed to me with a kindly word. I remember thinking t the time I had never seen so genial a countenance before, and I know I never have since. IIe Vent. and I was left alone, when, all at once, that little girl came bounding up, and, child-like, with one sweep of her little hand, deposited almost all of my crackers and cheese into her little pron, and off she went into the bar-room. Here, then, was a dilemma. I did not like to rise and ollow, so I was about consoling myself with my loss, when Uncle Dwight saw them in her apron. Ie opened the door again and his genial countenance beamed in upon me. He seemed to com- rehend the situation at once, and he said, " Here, my young lady, you are a little out of your phere," and he immediately brought in another plate of crackers and cheese. As I sat there, enjoying my lunch, I cast my eyes out into the kitchen, where Uncle Dwight's daughter, Celestia, vas seated rather lazily in her chair, and, with scissors, thimble, needle and thread, preparing to Iress a doll for this same little girl. She measured for waist and sleeves and then for a skirt, ont she somehow seemed to think the task of putting them together too laborious when once cut. All at once a bright thought seemed to strike her. She cut a piece of cloth perfectly round, hen she clipped two little holes for arms and one for the head, then drew the piece on over the lead of the doll, poked the arms through, tied a string around the waist, and that doll was dressed n a jiffy. She took it by the head and handed it to the little girl, saying, " IIere, I have worked ll I am going to for you to-day." How many, many times since that day, when my own little girls have been playing around the floor with their dolls, have I dressed them after Celestia's eamless method-and never have I so dressed one but I thought of her. She seemed a child of
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some seven or eight summers, at that time. She wore the same countenance then that she wears to-day, and the same good heart was beating in her bosom. She is now the wife of Mr. South- well, of Fort Atkinson.
" At length the cattle were brought around and I again took a seat in the wagon. Unele Dwight came out and gave me a kind word of cheer, and we soon found ourselves nearing Rock River bridge. I remember thinking it a very frail and flimsy concern. It had no railing on either side ; it was not much like the noble structure that spans that river to-day. I remember thinking as we neared it, 'now we must drive exactly in the center or those boards will tip up,' and when the feet of the cattle struck the bridge I thought, . now if they should crowd as cattle sometimes do, there will be no room for either ox, and off we shall go.' But notwith- standing all my foolish fears, we crossed that bridge in safety, and there was nothing happened worthy of note until we had gone about five miles on our journey, and were nearing the farms of James and Jerod Crane. The shades of night were gathering around ns, and the cattle that had started out so spry and willing in the morning, now seemed weary and worn, as they moved with a slow and measured tread. We were congratulating ourselves that we were almost at the end of our journey, when down went the wagon again up to the hubs in mnad. Presently James and Jerod appeared upon the scene with their cattle. There are many of the old settlers of to-day who will remember that gay, laughing. fun-loving Jerod. It took them some time to get the wagon out of that monstrous mud-hole. Jerod laughingly said, 'there is no sense in a man that will settle in the road when the land is so cheap in Wisconsin.' I thought I would walk along and let the team overtake me, but in passing the house of Mrs. James Crane, she stood in the door and hailed me with a polite . good morning.' It looked so inviting there, and she seemed so friendly with all, that I turned aside and for the first time entered her house. She seemed overjoyed with the prospect of a new neighbor. She brought new milk for my babe, and she and James offered us the hospitality of their house for the night, but we were young and ambitious then and determined to reach our destination that night. So I again took a seat upon the wagon, and when our team drew up in front of our log house at Oakland Center, the people that were stopping there for a few days were all in bed and sound asleep. Shades of Robert Bonner! think of that, ye fast ones. From Hebron to Oakland Center, from dewy morn 'till pitch-black night, a distance of about fifteen miles. They soon roused themselves from their slumbers, however, and we were kindly received, and I think our dreams were pleasant.
" And here I would like to tell something of our seven years in Oakland. I could tell of the foot-paths running through the meadows, where we went to and fro in getting acquainted with our new neighbors. I could tell of sickness, sorrow and death ; for troubles we had, and severe ones. I could tell how our kind neighbors came from over the fields, and closed the eyes and fohled the hands (so kindly and so lovingly) over the bosoms of our dead ones. I could tell of a spring of pure cold water that boiled and bubbled near our door, and from it ran a tiny brook. and all day long the little waves danced and sung, and I thought they had such a joyous flow. But the summer after our great sorrow, as I sat in my low cabin door, the little waves seemed to sigh, and sob, and gurgle, and murmur as they bounded on over the pebbles, and every night there would come a mourning dove and set himself down by the little brook and seem to sing to us of our lost ones. In speaking of my neighbors of that early day. I cannot forbear mentioning one name-Levi Franciscoe's wife of Oakland, and I think it is not saying too inneh when I say no better woman lives. Yes, Ester, 'We have been friends together, in sunshine and in shade.'"
AZTALAN
was first visited for a place of settlement by Timothy Johnson and Thomas Brayton, on the 31st of October, 1836. The latter left his home in the State of New York for the Far West, as it was then called, September 2, 1836. After attending to the shipping of his household effects, from Saekett's Harbor and Lewiston, he came overland to Michigan City, where himself and family took passage on the schooner Martin Van Buren for Milwaukee. A
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