Darlington City (part 2 of 7)

The First Winter

Through the long and inhospitable winter, as has already been observed, there was nothing to encourage the hearts of those who remained, or give token of the prosperity which was reserved for La Fayette County in the future. The inclemency of the weather, coupled with an undefined apprehension of the Indians' return, had the effect of checking improvements and suspending operations in the mines and fields. Those who had fled upon the approach of danger, hesitated to return, and those who remained to accept the gauge of battle offered by the savage hosts, were weakened by the prospect and refused to be comforted. The old year floated away into the past, carrying with it the remembrance of sorrows, and the new year dawned upon the scene, birnging little of hope or encouragement. The past was written ineffaceably, never to be forgotten ; the future was hidden behind clouds that bore no silvery lining, obscuring days unborn. Indeed, the parting knell of days long gone had been rung, and the advent of what in the future proved happier hours, had been chimed by the hand of old Father Time. The visitor to the country comprehended within the geographical limits of La Fayette County as he bowls over the avenues that intersect each other in all directions, or gazes upon the fields of ripening grain, ready for the sickle, or views the evidences of skill, industry and taste which greet his gaze, must not be unmindful of the labors, the trials and the education which has been employed to accomplish these excellences.

Churches and schools have brought the fullest fruition of their objects to the county, and the founders of these agencies for the amelioration and improvement of the race of which they were prominent exponents. To the leading spirits who revived the discouraged hearts and checked the fading hopes born of disappointments and apprehensions that were the most prominent figures in the days that passed away half a century ago, are the present conditions of affairs wholly due. Long may they survive the foundations of their works laid when the heart of man was almost stilled by the then almost hopeless prospect.

The winter dragged its weary days tardily as if to mock at the calamities which seemed impending with the rising of each day's sun. Immigrants occasionally came into the territory only to retrace their steps to neighboring towns and settlements, there to wait until the unsettled condition of affairs should be reversed and the promise of trouble yield precedence to the realizations of peace and good will. The one encouraging feature of this dismal outlook was to be found in the character of those who composed the inhabitants. Nearly all were young, but few had passed on life's highway the stone that marks the highest point, and all were fitted by the rough experience to which they had been subjected, to work for the " golden dawning of a grander day," long delayed, 'tis true, but coming even before the older men had fallen by the wayside and sunk into that dreamless sleep, the warp and woof of which is woven into the mystery of death.

The condition of affairs as regarded by those immediately affected thereby was indeed discouraging, when the first streaks of light announcing the dawn of 1828 broke over the eastern horizon. As the year advanced, and the spring, which was early, unfolded the wealth and attractions of La Fayette County, it had the effect of attracting settlers, who no longer were regarded as transient, but came to stay, bringing with them their families, in some cases, in addition to the means of gaining a livelihood either by tilling the .soil or mining. At the date of which mention is made, the apprehensions arising from impending diflSculties with the Indians had been generally dissipated. The power of the savage tribes had been materially diminished, and the treaty which was concluded at the Portage, held them in check through fear of the consequences should its provisions be violated. Many of the Winnebagoes removed to the vicinity of the present city of Fond du Lac, also settling along the west shore of Lake Winnebago, in the neighborhood of what is now the city of Menasha. Those who remained in La Fayette County were rendered incapable of offensive utterance by the respected presence of the military, as also that of the inhabitants, and, when the season of 1828 had well advanced, the influx of population was numerically large.

A Glimpse Of Pioneer Chivalry

Among those who appeared upon the scene, and contributed by his enterprise and worth, was John Ames, who came almost before the forests renewed their foliage or the earth had been released from winter's icy grasp. He was a Kentuckian, it is said, and a fair embodiment of the most chivalrous type of those who first saw light within the limits of that section of the country. While passing through St. Louis, en route to his distant abiding-place of the future, he became the transient guest of a Gallic Boniface, who kept open house for travelers on the levee in that city. His capacity for entertainment, limited at best, was materially increased by the presence of his wife, a genial, chirrupy, fascinating little French woman, who ministered to the comfort of his guests, and was subjected to the unvarying abuse of her legal protector. The host, possessed of an irascible disposition, frequently levied upon the devotion of his wife and inflicted punishment upon the defenseless woman as unchivalrous as it was undeserved. Neither time nor occasion found him remiss in his attentions in this behalf, and frequently his abuse was manifested in the presence of travelers, who, while they severely condemned the conduct, studiously refrained from interference. One day his ungovernable temper found expression in a severe beating, and the poor woman, wearied of this constant discipline, appealed to the by-standers for protection. No one seemed disposed to resent the assault or defend the victim from his blows, until the cries for help assailed the hearing of Ames, who hurried to ascertain the cause. Upon reaching the scene of her brutal castigation, and without waiting to be informed in the premises, he threw himself into the midst of the fray, and, hurling the cowardly Frenchman from his point of vantage, rescued the woman and tendered her his protection. This she willingly accepted, and, with words of womanly scorn for the graceless vagabond who had exercised his cowardly privilege, shook oiFthe " protection " he had pledged in happier days, and left the house. Ames, conscious of having vindicated his manhood according to the most approved methods, retired from the stage of action and began preparations to resume his journey to the lead mines. While thus occupied, the Frenchman's wife emerged from her hiding-place, and, seeking out the whereabouts of Ames, besought him to permit her to become his wife, with an eloquence and success that only attends the petitions of lovely women. But he was averse to disturbing the household and advised her to remain and seek a remedy through the uncertain channel of the law. This was not heeded, however, but had the effect of only increasing the volume and conviction of her oratory. She is represented to have been a woman of pronounced attractions and intelligence, and it would seem strange in the young Kentuckian, but recently from a land where the opposite sex are regarded with a deference bordering upon the reverent, had he been able to resist the fascination of her charms or sympathy for her afflictions. Scarcely any but an anchorite would have declined the trust, and Ames proved no exception to the rule. He renewed his endeavors to persuade her to a conclusion adverse to the plan she had projected, and, failing to accomplish this object, consented to accept her defense. This conclusion reached, the woman who subsequently became Mrs. Ames, dejure^ as she then regarded herself c?e /ac^o, quietly got herself in readiness and became, with her protector, a passenger on the first boat to Galena.

One bright morning the twain disappeared from the scenes that had witnessed her trials and subsequent triumph, and, sailing out of the port of St. Louis, left the brutal Gaul in ignorance of the turn affairs had taken. They reached Galena in due course, and, continuing their journey, finally halted at a point on what is now known as Ames' Branch, about three miles from Darlington, near the present farm of John Mathews, where a home was erected and she became one of two women who first settled in the county north of Gratiot's Grove.

The boat containing the subjects of this romantic episode had scarcely reached the middle of the river opposite St. Louis when the husband was brought to a full knowledge of the state of affairs as they then existed, by an officious friend. When he realized the misfortune that had befallen his house, he hurried to the river bank, and, by gestulations and actions expressive of his chagrin, sought to recall the woman who had been driven from his care ; but she was deaf to entreaty, and continued her trip without dropping a tear at the memory of what might have been, compensated for her life of troubles and abuse in the knowledge that her affinity had materialized, and her happiness had been consulted by a special dispensation. One would think that, thus rebuked, the fractious Frenchman would have become resigned to his lot. and, securing another spouse, endeavor to supply the absence of his unforgiving Traviata. Not so, however, but, placins: his affairs in a condition that enabled him to obtain a temporary leave of absence, he started in pursuit of the departed pair, in the hope that he might secure her return. Upon reaching their domicile, all possible means were employed to quicken her old love into renewed life, and the blandishments he submitted to intensify that fading affection must have been convincing. She finally consented to forgive and forget, and, preparing herself for the trip, began the voyage home. Upon reaching Galena, either her heart failed or he was guilty of a repetition of that which caused her to fly him in the first instance, and, relenting of her expressed determination, revoked the consent then given, and went back to her modest home on Ames Branch. The sequel attending his visitation was as unexpected as it was humiliating, and but emphasized his disappointment in being unable to enforce his legal demands or obtain redress for his alleged wrongs. He returned to St. Louis. He remained there only a brief period, and, disposing of his interest, once more became a resident of La Fayette County, remaining there until the Indians put a period to his life temporal, and released his wife from subjection to his annoyances. He was buried on the banks of the Branch, and his mortal remains, after slumbering in undisturbed serenity for nearly half a century, were resurrected in the spring of 1880 and re-interred in a neighboring churchyard.

During 1828, Charles Gear, Moses Eastman, Benoni R. Gillett, Ahab Bean and Col. Moore came into the Territory, locating in Belmont ; Noah De Vee, James Collins, the Hulings family,

Hugh R. Colter, Ephraim F. Ogden and others settled in White Oak Springs ; Mr. Duke began mining in Fayette ; Thomas Kendle settled in Kendall, where he subsequently built a mill on what was called Bonor Branch - one of the first in the county ; Benjamin Funk and Thomas Wiley made their homes in Monticello; Col. D. M. Parkinson prepared for farming at the mouth of Wood's Branch, in Willow Springs, and was followed into the same township, during the same year, by James Smith, William Tate, John Tate, John Ray and S. F. M. Fretwell, all of whom farmed or mined. Here, too, came, in 1828, George Carroll, who opened the first farm in the township. He was from Maryland, and a nephew of the distinguished Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, and for many years aided in the efforts universally employed to procure the settlement and development of the country. Col. Moore opened the Prairie Springs Hotel, in this township - one of the three hotels then maintained in the county, these being that of Fretwell's, that of Berry & Ransom and Col. John P. Moore's, at Prairie Springs. Elias Shook, Samuel Paxton, Robert Paxton and wife, John Fowler and wife, Benjamin Million and wife, Aaron Hawley and wife, Ezra Lamb, James McKnight and some others came into Wiota, where they began to break up ground for farms, and, by 1830, had become prosperous husbandmen. In all the townships, lead having been once more taken in the direction of the mines, settlements were made this year. The apparent determination of the authorities to enforce the provisions of the Portage treaty gave confidence that settlers would be protected from attack, and, as soon as this was assured, the wealth that lay hidden beneath the surface ef La Fayette County was eagerly sought. The tide of emigration thus flowing into the county was made up of miners generally, whose permanence was measured by the quality of success which greeted their efforts, and, as a rule, the improvements they made were of the most primitive character, consisting of comfortless cabins, and, in some instances, "burrowing" in the ground. If success attended their efforts, it was not always the case that they remained ; if, however, they did, they increased their facilities for securing permanent and pronounced comfort. Farmers, on the contrary, came into the territory to become fixtures. The cultivation of the soil was an art to which they paid undivided attention, mining being an incident of their lives, not a necessity. The result of all this seems to be, that, while comparatively few of the miners amassed wealth or even the means of enjoyment for old age, the farmers, almost without exception, are the owners of a broad domain, on which the decline of life is passed amid ease and comfort, not to say luxury, that is justly their portion.

The Hardships Of Pioneer Life

Pioneer life in these wilds is represented to have been attended with unlimited hardships and privations, but possessing a compensating number of blessings and privileges. The record of days passed in recreating the country is not without interest and instruction. One can see the pioneer surrounded by labors and trials in his conversion of the wilderness into fields that blossomed with the harvest. One can in imagination sit by his cabin fire and partake of the cheerfully granted hospitality, or listen to accounts of the embargoes he encountered and disposed of in the effort inaugurated for the establishment of homes in regions remote from civilization and unsought theretofore save by wandering Indians and ferocious beasts. From small beginnings, the historian traces the progress made through mighty achievements of industry, daring enterprises and untiring energy, to the results that are visible to-day. The waste places are seen rejoicing under the kindly care of the husbandmen, fruitful farms are to be seen at every point of the compass, villages and cities have arisen and " civilization on her luminous wings sails Phoenix-like to Jove." The marts of trade and traffic, and the workshops of the artisan are thronged ; a common-school system that increases in value with each year has sprung up as if by magic, and children of the rich and poor press forward to participate in the benefits thereby afforded. Churches have been built and a Christian ministry established for the cultivation of a religious reverent, life, the promotion of piety, morals and virtue. The press, the Archimedean lever which moves the world, sends forth floods of light to illuminate the land and benefit the sons of men. Railroads are completed to facilitate the acquisition of independence, and the electric telegraph bridges broad intervals of space for the convenience of mankind.

The first important act of the settler upon his arrival was to build a home for the protection of his family. Until this was accomplished they lived upon the ground in tents, or sought protection from the elements beneath an inverted wagon-box. But the prospect of a home was one that lightened toil and encouraged the most exacting of labors. The style of the house to be erected did not partake of the essence of the contract ; what was attempted to be guarded against was exposure from the weather for themselves and their families. Without money or the mechanical appliances to aid in its construction, he was content with a cabin of the most unpretentious dimensions or luxuries. It was often little more than a " wike-up " composed of rude log>; about fourteen feet square, roofed with bark or boards split out by hand, and, in some instances, with sod, and floored with puncheons or mother earth. For a tire-place, a wall of stone or earth was fashioned into shape in one corner of the building, extending outward, and planked on the exterior with bolts of wood fastened together. For a chimney, any contrivance that would answer the purpose was improvised. Some were made of sod, cemented into place with clay ; others were made of clay and sticks, and met reasonable expectations. Upon a winter's night, when the wind howled with delight across the barren prairie, or through the leafless trees, even these rude cabins were cozy homes.

For doors and windows, contrivances that were recommended by reason of their simplicity were impressed into service. The furniture varied in proportion to the skill of the occupant, unless the settler brought with him a little of the conveniencies he enjoyed at home, and this, owing to distance and the absence of facilities of transportation, were extremely rare. Chairs and tables were improvised from huge logs, which were fashioned into stools; sometimes benches served the purpose. A bedstead was of exceptional occurrence, and this indispensable article of domestic economy was often " hewn out " on the ground. A stake was driven into the earth diagonally from the corner of the room, and at a proper distance supplied with " forks " upon which poles were laid, the opposite ends resting between the openings in the logs or driven into auger holes. Barks or boards were used as a substitute for cords, upon which the straw tick or feather bed was laid and covered with the whitest drapery. In this ''prairie schooner" the settler slept as comfortably as does the wealthy sybarite upon his couch of down.

The first year's farming consisted of the " garden-patch," planted with vegetables, and often the year's crop required an exercise of the closest economy to supply the demand. Flour, bacon, tea, coffee and other domestic luxuries were difficult to obtain, when the invoices the settlers brought with them had became exhausted. During the long winters that were experienced, these supplies were often disposed of, and the plentifulness of game aided in driving absolute want from the door. Even when corn was abundant, great difficulty attended its preparation for food. The mills were so few and far between that almost any expedient was availed of for reducing it to meal. Some grated it on what was known as a " grater," made by punching small holes through a piece of tin or iron and fastening it upon a board in concave shape, with the rough side out. Upon this the ear was rubbed, and a very coarse quality of meal resulted. A very common substitute for meal was hominy, a palatable and wholesome diet, made by boiling corn in a weak solution of lye until the hull was separated from the kernel, when it was again boiled, and fried as needed. Another mode of preparing this staple was by pestling. A mortar was made of a block of wood which was hollowed out, into which the corn was thrown, where it was pounded by a pestle, fashioned from a club, one end of which was tipped with iron.

When bread-stuffs were needed, they could only be obtained at a great distance. Owing to the lack of proper means for threshing and winnowing wheat, it was always mixed with smut, dirt and other foreign substances. With this hotch-potch, a trip to mill to Galena, Wiota or Benton, was necessary, and was by no means the least hardship to which the heads of families were subjected. The slow mode of travel by ox teams was rendered still more diflficult by the total absence of roads and bridges, while a ferry was an unknown quantity in the system of improvements in the country. The distance to be traveled was long, though in dry weather by no means difficult, was exceedingly troublesome and dangerous during the floods incident to the breaking-up of winter. To be stranded in a " slough " and suffer a delay of many hours, was an incident of common occurrence, and that, too, when time was an item of great import to the comfort, and at intervals, to the lives of settlers' families. Often a swollen stream would permanently blockade the way, and those who endeavored to cross it, did so at the risk of their lives. There were no roads, Indian trails being the only avenues of communication, and these impassable for vehicles. When the settlers found it necessary to take these trips to mill, they doubtless experienced a most serious distaste to the undertaking. In summer, by traveling during the day and camping at night, they progressed without encountering diflBculties that were vital to the enterprise ; but in winter the journey was in the midst of dangers. The utmost economy in time was absolutely indispensable. When the objective point was reached, after one or more days of toilsome travel, attended with exposures and risks, and the weary settler was yearning to return to his home and family, he was not unfrequently informed that his turn would come after many days, and, discouraged and anxious though he was, the cheerful acceptance of the situation was all that remained. He must then look about for the means to pay expenses, and was fortunate indeed, if he was able to procure work. When his turn came, he must be promptly on hand, bolt his own flour and experience other vicissitudes, which having been endured and disposed of, his thoughts were tortured by the apprehensions concerning home, and were not dissipated until he arrived at that sacred spot.

Added to these was the presence of beasts of prey, the most annoying of which was the wolf. While it was true, in a general sense, that the greatest care, industry and diligence were necessary to " keep the wolf from the door," it was also in a measure true in a literal sense. In brief, the trials to which the pioneers of La Fayette County, in common with the great Northwest, were subject to, could scarcely be enumerated, much less exaggerated, and the cases of suffering, affliction and disappointments would crowd a volume and leave much remaining to be told. Through all of these, the hearts of men never quailed, and timid women become brave.

As has already been observed, the abandonment of the country in the summer of 1827, during the Indian alarms and disturbances, was not prolonged beyond a year. In the fall, a number of the more venturesome began to return, and by the first days of summer, 1828, the flow of emigration was large. Mining and smelting were engaged in upon quite an extensive scale, quoting from the memory of Col. D. M. Parkinson, and, while many amassed fortunes, many lost their available assets. The country in the vicinity of the mines presented an appearance both thriving and primitive. The inhabitants in these portions of the county were "miscellanies," so to speak, thrown together from all parts of the world, of all conditions and nationalities ; but all were prompted by one object and directed their efforts to the accomplishment of one end, and the whole characterized by some leading or general feature. Honesty, hospitality, generosity and kindly sympathy were the prominent characteristics of the community, though in some they might have been alloyed with indolence and recklessness. Instead of houses, they usually lived in dens or caves, a large hole or excavation being made in the side of a hill or bluff, the top being covered over with poles, grass or sod. So intent were the new-comers on making money by mining that they could not take time to erect for themselves even comfortable dwelling-places. A level way from the edge of the hole at the bottom was dug out some ten or twelve feet, and this gangway, being closed up on either side, was covered over on top, thus forming a sheltered entrance to the residence. In these, families lived in apparent comfort and the most perfect satisfaction for years, buoyed up by the constant expectation of soon striking a big lead. To these miserable places of abode, men were compelled to carry upon their backs every article required for food and fuel.

The general business of the miners was prospecting. This consisted of digging " sucker holes " in all imaginable places and depths. When a lead was struck, all would flock to that vicinity to mine, and hence, in the course of a few years, mining was concentrated, to some considerable extent, in certain localities, such as New Diggings, Hard Scrabble, Coon Branch, Fair Play, Shullsburg, Black Leg, and at other points still of considerable note. During these early years, the mines were worked chiefly by men from the Southern and Western States, who possessed and practiced many of the noblest traits of the race. As an illustration of their innate integrity of character, it may be said that locks and keys were unknown in the country, and places of abode were left open to the reception of the public, who received a cordial welcome and free invitation to partake of such hospitality as the "cabin " afforded. Upon the return of the lone miner to his " sod-banked hut " after a hard day's work, he would frequently be cheered with the sight of some weary prospector, who had there, in his absence, taken up lodgings for the night. They would separate in the morning, perhaps, never to meet again. Mining tools were left out and remained undisturbed. Debts were contracted without reserve at the first interview with the new-comer, and he seldom failed to promptly meet his obligations. A miner would enter a store, or go to a smelter who usually kept miners' supplies, and would say, " Sir, I have just arrived in the mines, am out of money, and wish to go to mining ; if you will let me have some tools and provisions, I will pay you in a few days, or weeks at the most." The prompt and friendly reply would be, "Yes, sir, you can have them," and the pay, sooner or later, was almost sure to come. This custom was so universally prevalent that business men have been heard to declare that they never knew debts so promptly paid even in States where there existed stringent laws to enforce their collection. The inhabitants had come together as a band of brothers, and extended the right hand of fellowship to each other, pledging mutual assistance in times of danger and in times of need.

As illustrating the spirit which then prevailed among farmers and miners, the following instances are cited. They are from the address of Peter Parkinson, Jr., one of the oldest and most hospitable of the survivors of a regime rapidly passing away :

" The first occurred at the head of Apple River, in the present town of Monticello : An old settler resided there, engaged in farming and smelting, raising a crop of wheat among other products. To prepare the wheat for flour, he was obliged to thresh it out with an old-fashioned flail. After this had been done, in order to separate the kernels from the chaff", the old gentleman was obliged to trickle it down out of a backet, standing, the meantime, upon a three-legged stool, while two of his boys stood by, each one having hold of a strong sheet with which a current of air was created to blow out the chaff". In the succeeding year, a man settled in the neighborhood who owned a fanning-mill. The old settler expressed his gratification, and remarked to his sons : ' Now, boys, we can borrow neighbor Jones' fanning-mill, and you won't have to clean wheat with the sheet any more.' Accordingly, when the crop was ready for cleaning, one of the boys went over to borrow neighbor Jones' fanning-mill, but that individual declined to negotiate for its temporary transfer, on the ground that it cost too much money to loan. The boy returned indignant and disposed to criticise neighbor Jones in an austere manner, but the old gentleman rebuked his son's inclination. ' Don't say anything,' he observed, ' I will cure him.' Soon after the wife of Jones sickened and died, and, although he was the opposite of a good neighbor, he felt a tender regard for the dead wife, and, overwhelmed with grief at his bereavement, made a most supplicating appeal to the old settler for the loan of his buggy, the only one there was in the country, to visit Galena to procure necessaries for the funeral. The buggy was accordingly sent, accompanied by kind messages, and the man was told to keep it as long as he wanted its use, the old settler going over with his family and rendering such assistance and consolation as was in his power.

" When the funeral was over, Jones, being unwilling to trust the expression of his appreciation to another, went himself to the settler's residence, and, after returning his thanks in the most pathetic manner for the buggy's use, took out his wallet and said :

" ' No,' responded Jones, ' I will not be satisfied at all to let it go in that way. You must certainly take something for breaking the buggy, at least.'

"If Jones had been sentenced to be hanged," continues the chronicler, "he could not have looked more humiliated. For a moment he was speechless ; at length, laying his hand upon the mean trick. If I am ever guilty of another as mean, I hope you and the rest of the neighbors will tar and feather and ride me out of this neighborhood on a rail.' After that, there never was a more obliging neighbor than Jones."

The other instance was located in the town of Fayette. An old settler in that township had opened a farm, which extended out into the prairie, on which, at the back of the farm, some diggings had attracted a miner, who had erected a cabin. He was surrounded by a large family of small children, and, during the winter, it was difficult to obtain wood in sufficient quantities to warm his cabin. A portion of the fiirm was under fence, and, in an emergency, the miner was accustomed to supply his necessities with the rails from this source. Another miner, cognizant of this fact, communicated the depredations to the farmer, which was also overheard by one his sons.

Pleased with the generous ideas of his son, the farmer directed him to hitch up the big team, go into the grove and haul the miner as large a load as could be piled on the wagon, at the same time to inform the miner that when it was gone, if he would let them know, they would haul him more.

This proceeding brought the culprit to a realizing sense of his disgraceful conduct. He visited the farmer and made a thousand apologies, offering to pay for what had been taken and to compensate for the injury by any service he could render. The old settler took it coolly, however, told him it was all right, that he would have no occasion to repeat the levy ; when he got out of wood to let him know and he would send him some more. This generous act cured the miner of his propensity to steal and resolved him into a respectable man.

The Pioneer Women

If the men were of a superior type, their counterparts, increased and multiplied a thousand times over, were to be found in the pioneer women. Reference to them has already been made, but only superficially, and the writer cannot refrain from appropriating the syllabus of an address made in that behalf years ago by Peter Parkinson, Jr., to whom it may be said, not alone the pioneers of La Fayette County are indebted for perpetuating the history of those times, but whose facile pen and eloquent voice have always been employed as occasion demanded, in preserving for the emulation of posterity the virtues and inestimable worth of those who laid the foundation for that prosperity which is to-day visible whithersoever the eye may turn or the feet may wander.

They are justly entitled to the highest praise, observes Mr. Parkinson, that language can express, justly entitled to the appellation of " second pilgrim mothers." All that was noble, womanly, magnanimous, intellectual and self-sacrificing was fitly expressed in the characters of Wisconsin's pioneer women, especially so of those who resided in and contributed to the development of La'^ Fayette County. Prior to emigrating to the West, they had enjoyed the comforts of a good home and social surroundings, but, impelled by a noble spirit of enterprise and independence, they accompanied their husbands to an unbroken wilderness, inhabited by savage Indians, and endured with fortitude and resignation, the untold hardships, privations, toils and dangers incident to the settlement of a new country, with the resignation and courage of heroic souls. They lived in camps, sheds, cabins and " dug-outs," such as would to-day be considered unfit to furnish a precarious shelter to farmers' stock. To meetings of a public character which called the people together, they journeyed on foot and horseback, behind the husband, or went thither by the uncomfortable means of transportation afforded in ox-carts. The spectacle has frequently been witnessed, a man escorting his wife to meeting in a large ox-wagon that would bear up six thousand pounds of mineral, himself walking. What would the girl of the period think of this mode of going to church or any other resort of public gathering to-day ? What would they think of this mode of going to parties ? Upon one occasion, when the night was cold and stormy and the ladies could not walk, a ball was given, and the means of conveyance used was a large ox-sled, upon which the guests were huddled, and went to the ball.

Among those who were prominent in their day and generation, was Mrs. Henry Dodge, wife of the old Indian fighter, a woman of high Christian virtues, amiable disposition, and overflowing with benevolence and charity for all. Mrs. John R. Coons bore a similar relation to this period, as is reported of Mrs. Gen. Knox, during the Washington administration in the Federal capital. Mrs. Henry Gratiot and Mrs. Fortunatus Berry, of Gratiot's Grove, were veritable ministering angels to the homes of the sick and afflicted. Many a poor, sick and disconsolate miner, in his dark, gloomy hut, has breathed a prayer of thanksgiving to these noble women for timely aid in dark days of sickness and destitution. Mrs. John Ray, of Willow Springs, the gay and fashionable lady of early times, the belle of social gatherings ; Mrs. Elias Pilling, Mrs. Joseph Bailey, Mrs. John P. Sheldon, Mrs. D. W. Parkinson, Mrs. Carroll, Mrs. Lamb and many others were women of most excellent qualities, both of head and heart, who would have honored any community in any land wherein fortune might have cast their lives. Mrs. Col. Moore, of Prairie Springs, Mrs. A. C. Ransom, and Mrs. David Southwick, of Gratiot's Grove, were the popular and esteemed ladies of early times, at whose hospitable homes the weary traveler received bounteous fare and a generous welcome. Many is the old man of to-day who came into Wisconsin a stranger, and was received by these noble women as though he had been one of their own sons, and was comforted and sustained on his lonely pilgrimage through distress and darkness that knew no limit. They were indeed women of noble hearts, of kindly impulses, tender sensibilities, sympathizing with the sorrows and ills of life, and ready upon all occasions to mitigate the distresses that were not of occasional occurrence.

As these pages are read, bright memories will blossom out of the shadowy past, glorifying and beautifying its dimness and tinting the vanished years with colors of never-ending fascination. Many herein mentioned have long since gone, like visions of the beautiful, to be seen no more. Many yet remain who have almost reached the Biblical limits of human life, and are waiting to say " Now let thy servant depart in peace," leaving as a heritage to their descendants in long years hence, the ripe and perfect glory of a domain of which they laid the foundations.

The great mass of those who participated in the foundation of the county sleep after their labors and their works do follow them. A numbered few remain who have survived the rush of matter and the wreck of worlds, contemplating the scene as a Rock of Ages cleft for the good and faithful servant. .. ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ,^^ ^^^^

The year 1828, while replete with trials and hardships, against which no soul rebelled and no voice was raised, also shone with promises in rainbow tints, that have long since attained the most complete fruition. Out of the darkness there shone a light ; out of the sorrow came an exceeding joy. Much was done this year which resulted in untold benefits to generations yet unborn. The arable land was prepared for farming ; houses were erected and other improve- ments projected; a school was established, and religious services became a portion of the most defined character in the weekly lives of the inhabitants, and the mines, which have long since become celebrated as sources of inexhaustible wealth, were first brought into prominence. In this connection, a history of the Irish and Elevator Diggings, from the pen of a ready writer, is appropriated :

Early History Of The Mines

About one mile north of Shullsburg is a large tract of mineral land, which, on account of the nationality of the first discoverers of lead ore therein, was called the "Irish Diggings," by which name it is still known. The "Irish Diggings" includes all the land lying between Shullsburg Branch and South Ames Branch, and embraces nearly four thousand acres of land, of various degrees of richness.

In the year 1826, mineral or lead ore was first discovered on this tract, and more or less mininty done' until 1832, when the Black Hawk war interrupted all mining operations in this neighborhood, and work was not regularly resumed until 1834, when, by treaty made with the Indians, all the country lying south of Winnebago Ridge was opened to the whites for mining purposes. During this year, an Irishman by the name of Doyle discovered what is still known as the " Doyle Range," from which, in the short space of two years, and with none but the primitive means of mining, he raised about ^vg million pounds of lead ore, which, at a former price of lead, would net the snug sum of three hundred thousand dollars.

During Jackson's administration, Doyle, who was the most successful, or rather " fortunate," miner of his day, made a visit to Washington, and gave a public dinner to the President and a number of the most distinguished men of the time, who were then assembled, the President occupying the first position at the table, and Doyle the second. A general good feeling pervaded the occasion, and Doyle was highly complimented on his prosperity as a miner. After his return from the capitol of the nation, Doyle became dissipated, and the good nature and liberality which his good fortune engendered was the means of leading him into excessive indulgence in liquor, and connected him with those who are ever ready to share the fortune of the successful, so that, in a few years, his entire wealth had been squandered, and, after a number of years of poverty and suffering, Doyle, once the wealthiest man in this part of the country, died, neglected and alone, in his cabin, situated on the same ground from which he had dug his fortune.

When, in 1848, the land came into market, a large portion of the "Irish Diggings " was purchased by John McNulty. No active mining operations have been conducted on this tract for years, with the exception of the Mount Hope Company's Works, which are located on what is called the " Hawthorne Range," and the " McCoskee Cave Range."

This company has been in operation some time, though they have not worked continuously. Their present operations were confined to the Cave range, where they sunk a shaft to the depth of eighty feet, and removed the water by means of a horse-pump. Their mineral was mostly under water, and the work done proved the ground to contain very rich deposits of ore.

Some time after, they drilled a six-inch hole in the bottom of their pump-shaft, and at the depth of about one hundred and twenty feet from the surface, bored through one sheet of mineral about fourteen inches in thickness, and also one about ten inches.

On striking the opening containing those sheets, the water rushed upward with such force as to carry up the heavy borings of lead and rock at the bottom of the pump-shaft to the surface.

The "cave" proper is situated about one hundred and fifty feet south of the pump-shaft. Some years ago, about one hundred thousand pounds of mineral was taken from this cave, mostly above water, and the company sank two shafts on the old works, and, at the depth of about forty feet, struck heavy deposits of lead ore, which, however, was mostly submerged in water.

Some splendid specimens have been taken from these works, some of which weigh in the neighborhood of three hundred pounds, and the public was assured by Mr. J. H, Wicker,

Lying easterly from the Mount Hope Company were the mines of Meloy, Kelly & Pulis, the Dr. Lee Diggings and the Stump Grove or Bull Pump Diggings, and also Henry's Diggings.

It is estimated that the entire tract of land known as the " Irish Diggings," including the subdivisions mentioned in this article, has, altogether, produced since its first discovery the enormous amount oi fifty million pounds of lead ore, which would be worth about Three Million Dollars.

Almost the entire amount of mineral raised from this tract of ground was taken from the upper opening, above water, and what united wealth lies yet hidden in the openings beneath, where, experience teaches us, the richest and most extensive deposits exist, is a problem which can only be solved by time, energy and capital.

The east half of Section 9 and west half of Section 10, being on the west side and concontiguous to the corporation of the village of Shullsburg, is what is known as the *' Deep Clay Diggings." In all the lead-mining region the overlying clay is from two to ten feet deep, except in this particular locality, where it assumes a depth of forty feet, forming what might be termed a basin of clay. Between the clay and rock was deposited the lead ore, and in some instances running down a few feet into the rock where there were gash crevices. The largest veins, or rather those that were the most profitable to the first workers of these mines, with the primitive means then in use, were the north-and-south sheets. These would often be thirty and forty feet in depth and from one to six inches in thickness, yielding ore of surpassing richness and purity in large quantities with but little labor.

The east-and-west veins were in junk form lying over crevices in the rock; and, being from five to fifteen feet in width, and immediately under the clay, were more difficult to work on account of the danger of caving and burying the miners alive.

Accidents were frequent, though but few persons lost their lives, and those that did, through gross carelessness. These mmes were first discovered in 1828, by two men named Height and Blenick. They took a compass, and getting the bearings of the celebrated " Black Leg " range, followed the course some four miles, and discovered what has since been known as the " Willow Range," so called from the large amount of willows that grew up through the old workings. During the years 1828 and 1829, other parties coming in, new discoveries were made and a large amount of lead ore was raised.

The "Black Hawk war," having caused a suspension of operations for several years, and after its close the low price of lead not justifying the working of these mines, nothing further was done until the summer of 1841.

The winter previous having been unusually dry, it enabled some Suckers, who at this time were flocking to the mines in large numbers from Southern Illinois, to sink deeper than ever had been done before, and resulted in the discovery of large deposits of ore underneath the old working. This caused a general stampede among the miners to the new discovery.

The village of Shullsburg, which the year before consisted of one "Bull Pump." and some dozen miners' cabins, sprung up with the rapidity of Jonah's Gourd. Balloon frame hotels, boarding houses, stores and those sure attendants upon all excitements where men are supposed to become suddenly rich, the dram shop and gaming table, were here with all their blandishments. Faro, seven-up, euchre and poker were the order of the day and night too.

Many a poor Sucker that had just received his sovereign for a hunch worked out in the clay, enough to have started him well in life, would come to the village in the evening, and, going into the Slide, a famous resort, and getting excited over the "faro bank," would pull out his purse, shake out a sovereign, get it exchanged for checks and commence chuhhing in. After a few cJiuhs, finding it gone, to retrieve his fortune, he would try another and another, until his last cent would be gone, then thrusting his hands into his empty pockets, and whistling " The Girl I Left Behind Me," turn and leave the house, ready to again begin in the morning to seek for another hunch in the deep clay.

Men of nearly all the nationalities being thus suddenly gathered together, did not tend to produce that feeling of brotherly love that should pervade in communities of sober habits and strict Sunday piety. Strife and discord often prevailed, ending in broken heads or bloody noses. Parties feeling themselves aggrieved at the encroachments of others upon their claims, and not considering themselves strong enough to drive away the other parties by force, would call in the aid of some noted bully, giving him a fighting interest if he succeeded in driving the other parties ofi". Often Mr. Bully got his match and fled the field.

The following incidents are related by an old settler: " Passing a grocery one evening, we heard loud voices and very strong language denouncing some person in peculiar set phrases not very complimentary. We soon discovered that a party of men, headed by a noted bully, were freely hnhihing forti/-7-od whisky, and arranging a plan for driving a man off a certain piece of ground, supposed to contain a rich deposit of lead ore. Bully was demonstrating in strong and forcible language, if not eloquent, that he felt himself competent to send all or any person to the regions of Pluto, who should oppose his entering in and quietly enjoying peaceable possession of the premises. It having been whispered about that said bully was more of a man of bluster than of deeds, and knowing that the other party was no coward and possessed of a good deal of mettle, the meeting promised some rich sport, and we made up our minds to be there. Next morning, repairing to the place, we found about fifty men on the ground, to witness the affray, and the possessor of the ground taking the sod off preparatory to sinking a hole down to the supposed mineral wealth beneath. In a few minutes, bully put in his appearance, followed by his backers. It was apparent that he had not forgotten to fortify himself with his morning dram, and in doing so had 'taken a long pull, a strong pull and a pull all together, boys,' of a large amount of fighting whisky. Upon coming on the ground, his first salutation was, ' What are you doing there ? You get out of that ! ' The other replied, ' Sinking a hole on m^ range.' Bully answered, ' You git off of our range ; we don't want any hole sunk there, and if we did we can sink it ourselves.'

" The other party now laid down his spade, and stepping out of the hole and going toward bully, said, ' You have come out here to take a fighting interest with these men who have no right here, and drive me off my diggings. Now, as this is not the first time you have tried your hand at this game with other men, I am willing, if you can whip me, to give you full possession of the ground, so shuck yourself andi wade in.'

" This was rather a poser to bully, the thing looked fight, and that, too, with a determined man. Bully looked to one backer and another, and finding all his party on the hack-out^ after a few hurried whispers, turned and left the field, followed by the hoots and jeers of the crowd. Next morning there was one bully less in town than the day before.

" Going out to work one day after dinner, we saw a crowd of men gathered about a shaft, and, hearing angry voices, went up to ascertain'the cause. We found two men in an angry dispute about the right to a certain piece of ground, which both claimed with equal pertinacity. Angry words soon brought on more active demonstrations. One party drew an old pepper-hox pistol and commenced firing on the other. He replied with a volley of rocks, so they had it turn about, first pistol and then rock, until the pistol was emptied of its contents, when the holder threw it down and turned and fled, in the full belief that he had riddled his antagonist. He rushed to town, and, finding a horse ready saddled and bridled hitched to a post, without stopping to ask the owner's leave, unloosed it, and, mounting, made the best possible speed for ten miles to Frink & Walker's barn, on the stage route between Galena and Chicago, left the horse by the side of the road, and, taking passage East, left the country. The last that was heard of him, he was following at the tail of a plow near Rome, N. Y., pondering on the mutability of all earthly things, and sinking sucker holes on the deep clay, in particular. The man of rocks got one ball hole through the rim of his hat, the old pistol as the spoils of war and full possession of the diggings.

" Collisions over the rights to ranges were of frequent occurrence, and did not always assume such ridiculous phases. Broken heads and ugly wounds from knife or pistol would be the consequence.

" In the years of 1846 and 1847, there were over five hundred men working on the one mile square that constituted the deep clay digi^ings. The Mexican war drew off many of the wild and restless spirits that were mining here; and when the California fever broke out in 1849, it became nearly deserted, and there has been but little work done here since.

All the ore raised here was above water, being only float, or surface mineral, as it is called. There have been over forty million pounds of lead ore raised on this piece of ground ; and if the same principle holds good here that has proved true in other parts of the lead mines, that the largest deposits of ore are beneath the water level, there is untold wealth in this piece of ground."

Running along the south part of the southeast quarter of Section 10, and being within the incorporated limits of the village of Shullsburg, is a range or lode of lead ore, known as the "Elevator Range." This has been one of the best-defined lodes that has yet been discovered in the lead region, and the most extensively worked. Assuming different names along its course, according to the whims of the discoverers, it stretches along in one continuous course north 72° west, for three-fourths of a mile in length, in one continuous vein. The first of these was the Elevator Range. Two men, father and son, by the name of Olmsted, in the spring of 1826, being out on a prospecting tour, discovered this very valuable range of mineral. fn passing over the then almost unbroken surface of the prairie, they noticed a very remarkable growth of vegetation running in one direction, and this induced them to sink a hole in it, and the result was the discovery of the range. In some parts of the vein worked by them, the ore lay almost at the surface of the earth, and they took out masses of ore from the soil, or black earth, that would weigh from 300 to 500 pounds. Large quantities were thrown out upon the surface by hand, not being sufficiently deep to require the use of a windlass and tub, as in ordinary cases. In working down to the rock, it proved to be a gash vein, or, in mining parlance, an open clay crevice, filled with clay and ore to the width of four feet, and sometimes even more than that. There were parts of the crevice worked by them where there would be vertical sheets of ore eighteen inches in thickness, and filled in by side junks that had to be broken to raise them to the surface of the earth. The range runs along near the summit of a wide and flat ridge, and consequently it was no great depth to water, not more than twenty-five or thirty feet, and very strong at that. Here was a difficulty that no miner had as yet attempted to contend with, and it was supposed that there was no way of successfully mining in this country below the Avater level. They therefore contented themselves by working along the surface of the water, and avoiding any hard rock, as that was an equal barrier to any further progress to them as the water. They were not very enterprising men, and, after working for two or three years, spending their money as fast as it was tnken from the mines, for whisky, or at the gaming table, they found themselves as poor as they were at the beginning. The ordy title to land here at that time was a permit granted from the War Department of the United States Government to those who should discover mines, upon their agreeing to pay the Government one-sixteenth of all ores raised and sold. Under promises from a designing man to put on a pump that would drain the ground, they suffered him to get the pertnit. After promising and delaying for a year or two, without affecting anything, the Black Hawk war drove all parties from the field - the Olmsteds to return no more.

After the close of the Black Hawk war, and when the miners again returned, a man by the name of Sam Bateman, in 1836, got possession of this range, and after taking out some ore at the sides and along the top of the water, concluded to try a horse pump. This was a very primitive affair. The horse had to walk a circle of twenty-four feet in diameter, to make one stroke of four feet in a six-inch working-pump. It would be difiicult to calculate the number of g^illona it would throw to the minute, as the motion would be too slow for calculation. But the man persevered and raised some ore, though not enough in the two years he worked it to pay his expenses. Finding it unprofitable business, he abandoned it. But he proved one thing - that mineral went into the water, and was better there than above it.

put on a steam engine for the purpose of raising the water. This also proved a failure in a pecuniary point of view. There were no persons here at this time who thoroughly understood mining below water ; and none especially understood working a steam engine for mining purposes. Fuel was scarce and dear ; and the engine was of near twice the capacity for the work it had to perform, consequently, it took double the amount of fuel to raise the power that was needed for working the barrel pump. After working about eighteen months, a dispute arising about the rents belonging to the ground, they abandoned the working and took off the engine.

In the summer of 1841, James Irvin & Co., put into the mine what they called an Elevator Pump, which gave the range its name. This was a contrivance to raise water by means of buckets similar to those used in mills to elevate grain, the power being supplied by horses. This was a profitable venture to the parties interested, some of whom were well-skilled miners from Cornwall, England. But at the end of that summer, they had worked as low as their pump would exhaust the water. In all this time, with all the parties that had worked the mine, they had succeeded in getting only about twenty feet under the level of the water, where it was first discovered. William Hempsted, previous to this, in 1836, had erected an inclined wheel on some ranges that run parallel to this, about one thousand feet north of it, and was successfully raising the water from his mines with the pump attached to this wheel, which was known as the Bull Pump. These mines being about sixty feet deeper than the workings of the Elevator, Curry & Co., successors to James Irvin & Co., conceived the idea of going into the Bull Pump range and driving a drift into their range so that the Bull Pump could raise the water for them. They commenced operations accordingly, in the summer of 1844. This was a hard undertaking ; one thousand feet, and, for anything they knew, through a hard rock, with water pouring in on them through the rock overhead, and every foot to be blasted out with powder ; but they persevered until the spring of 1849, and, although they were more than half way through, they abandoned the work and went to California. In the fall of 1849, Edward Weatherby & Co. took possession of the mine, and the next spring started the first multiplying horse-power pump that had ever been erected in the mines. This pump would make four four-and-a-half-feet strokes to one round of the horses, discharging through a ten-inch working barrel, an immense amount of water. This enabled them to sink deeper than any one supposed it possible to drain the ground by means of horsepower pumps. It opened up rich deposits of ore of great purity. This pump drained the ground for seven years, making the enterprising owners very wealthy. In 1857, the diggings being worked out as deep as it was possible to drain them with the pump then in use, they were abandoned by a part of the company, Mr. Weatherby, retaining his interest. Capt. E. H. Beebe, of Galena, became a partner with him, and they commenced the continuation of the drift begun by Curry & Co., in 1844. This work took six men about two years to complete, again opening the ground still deeper for working, the water running off through the level, saving the immense expense of pumping, giving the owners a rich reward for their perseverance and enterprise, and proving conclusively that the only successful way of mining is by running adits into the ridges that indicate they contain deposits of lead ore.

Farther west, the range is known as the " Miller Diggings," and subsequently owned by Dr. George W. Lee and partners. There has been a large amount of ore raised here, but, as all the ore dips deeper going west, this part of the range is now under water.

The west end of the range known as the "Nick Walsh," or Sand range, has, on account of the water, been abandoned for many years. Being situated where the range dips into the deep clay basin, the mineral lies deeper and the water is very strong. There was a large quantity of mineral taken out of this range above water, and was left going down into it, indicating that there are large deposits deeper down, awaiting the working of some active company to bring in an adit that will unwater the range.

The east part of the range known as " Davenport's North Range " has been worked since the year 1852, and has yielded large amounts of ore, paying a large per cent on the capital invested, and making several parties very wealthy. It is estimated that over fifteen million pounds of lead ore has been raised on this range since its first discovery ; and it is not at all probable that the largest deposits of ore have been reached yet.

There is ore going down all along the range into water. Mr. Weatherby has said that in one place, by the aid of a hand-pump, he sunk a hole four feet by eight, and fourteen feet deep, and took out one hundred thousand pounds of ore, leaving it going down better than at the top.

Upon the land being brought into market by the United States Government, upon which this range is located, it was purchased by William Hempstead, of Galena, 111., and is now owned by his heirs.

The geological chapter of the lead region contains detailed mention of mines now in operation. Reference is made thereto for a statement of the present condition of the interest in this and the other counties in the district.

First Marriage, Birth And Death

In addition to these mines, the Black-Leg, the Badger, and other mines were either discovered or prospected for in 1828, and the year was noted for some of the most important events in the early history ; being the year, it is believed, of the first birth, marriage and death in the county, and the season during which the first school and church were opened.

In January or February, 1828, Rosanna J. Parkinson was married to Thomas P. Conners, of Bond County, 111. The event was duly celebrated at New Diggings, though there was an absence of the forms and ceremonies which elegant life, as to-day existing, deems indispensable in that connection.

In 1829, occurred one of the first births in the county, though the truth of history necessitates the statement that this is mildly disputed. During the winter mentioned, Alphonso W. Moore, son to Col. John T. Moore, was born at the Parkinson place, near Prairie Springs. But the claim is made that Mary Ann O'Leary, daughter to Peter O'Leary, who lived half a mile east of the village of Benton, was born about the same time. She is now Mrs. Conway, residing near Fort Dodge, Iowa.

The first death is believed to have been Fowler St. Vrain, who was killed at the head of Yellow River by the Indians in a massacre. He never was seen subsequent to that event, and his scalp was one day discovered in the hands of a Winnebago Indian.

In June of this year, Beulah Lamb opened a school on the prairie, in sight of Gratiot's Grove, which was attended by the children of settlers for miles around, and continued until fall. This was the first school taught in the county. In the fall of the same year Miss Lamb was married to George Skillinger, and still lives a resident of the village of Wiota.

In 1828, a Methodist Class-Leader, named Aaron Hawley, visited Wiota and held services in cabins and huts, the first of a religious character observed in the county.

A Gentleman From Missouri

The accessions to the population this year being large, contained the complement of miscellany usual to a community, the composition of which was chiefly of miners. True, the morality of those who constituted the settlements was far fro.n gilt-edged, yet, as has been noted, they were men whose integrity, hospitality and sympathetic natures were never appealed to in vain. As can be readily inferred, the condition of affairs was mercurial, so to speak, constantly changing. There were no courts for the enforcement of rights or the redress of grievances. With the exceptions mentioned, neither schools nor churches. Every individual and interest was measured by the merit, not claimed, but deserved, and violations either of person or property were redressed summarily and effectually. The days were occupied with labors in the field or mine ; the nights in the amusements only accessible at that early day before public sentiment found outward expression of opposition to their presence. These included gambling, horseracing and sports indigenous to or growing out of their indulgence. No sooner had the mines become objective points for all orders and conditions of men, than sporting characters began to tend in their direction. Games of chance found lodgment when the industrious miner was often without the necessaries of life, ani, sustained by the patronage extended became wealthy and proportionally powerful as the industrious miner besame impoverished and dependent. The class of men who made up the army of adventurers of whom mention is here made, were, the truth of history compels the admission, superior to those who came during subsequent years and worked their schemes on the scenes which were "placed" by the first arrivals. They are represented to have been strictly honorable in their dealings, profuse in their expenditures and liberal in their support of public improvements. Nearly all were men who, though fairly educated and generously reared, being without honor in their own land, as the Biblical prophet, had sought in fields of action, distant from the surroundings of birth and education, the honor that follows the acquisition of wealth. In nearly every instance their modest ambitions were realized, while in some cases the "spirits" succeeded in amassing fortunes that have survived the extravagance of succeeding generations. They are said to have been open-handed, brave, and, though not reckless, unusually careless in their expenditures. Quick to resent an affront, true to friends and uncompromising to those from whom injuries had been received, they were a mighty factor in the days in which they lived for developing resources and creating influences that have served to build up the country, enrich the inhabitants and civilize the State.

Upon one occasion, a sport from Missouri, who frequented the resorts open at that day, became involved in a dispute with a prominent operator in the fields then opened for individual and corporate invasion, which resulted so ludicrously that no apology is offered for its recital. Upon several occasions previous to the occurrence here related, the operator had been prompted to intervene his advice and suggestions to the Missouri emigrant, without solicitation on the latter's part, and generally concluding with assurances of consideration the opposite of very distinguished." The contentions between them had become a subject of frequent discussion among the miners, measured in its complexion by the quality of intimacy which existed between the factions and the individual factors.

One evening, the twain met at a faro bank, where and when the trouble was resumed, with intense aggressiveness on the one side and apparently cowardly timidity on the other, the crowd being attracted or disgusted as the war of words waxed interestingly bellicose. At last, the trouble culminated in the Missourian's resenting the volley of words directed toward him, and, with a threat to shoot his adversary the following morning, the contestants separated.

The encounter was forgotten amid the scenes of "sport" visible in the place, and little was thought of the threat promulgated by the injured innocent. But not so with the sport from Missouri. On the morning succeeding the events narrated, he appeared in the village, armed with an antique but effective army-musket, and proceeded to hunt for the whereabouts of the Colonel. After diligent search, that individual was found, and, having lost the drop, so to speak, sought safety in flight, pursued by the man who had undertaken a gunning expedition. He was driven furiously, rivaling in his speed the gait of Nimshi's steeds, and, anticipating the early following of his assailant, took refuge upon the roof of a building in the village of White Oak Springs, now occupied as the post office. Stationing himself astride the ridge of the roof, he began a treaty of peace, meanwhile accommodating his position to shield himself from the shots of his pursuer by leaning in an opposite direction from that party, who hurried to the opposite side, whence he was immediately followed, only to disappoint the crowd, which witnessed the ridiculous by-play, by extending himself across the thither beam. And so on the comedy continued, until the Missourian, wearied of his pursuit, halted and began a treaty of peace. This was concluded upon terms acceptable to the latter, when the Colonel descended from his perch, stood treat, and, smoking the pipe of peace, became a fast friend of the bloodthirsty sport, who was long after an object of special interest to the residents of the surrounding country.

Claim Troubles

This culmination, however, was far from being the rule in disputes arising out of the troubles that were engendered by claim litigations. No one possessed an irrefutable title to the lands, and he who came first and staked out his ownership was regarded as the lord of that portion of the Territory. It often happened, however, that the title thus acquired was trespassed upon through ignorance or otherwise during the absence of the legitimate owner, and, upon the latter's return, trouble was born. Occasionally, such trouble was decided by arbitrators, there being then no legal tribunal in the Territory, and, if this means failed, recourse was had to force. Sometimes partners became involved in discussions as to the integrity of each in the management of the mine, which were also arbitrated, fought out, or concluded by the submission of one of them.

Upon one occasion, a miner in the ShuUsburg district had opened a lead in conjunction with his partner, which promised abundant results. Suddenly, according to the report of him who had charge of the operations, it was declared the lead was superficial, and not worth working. This was not the case, but, being in need of money, he had gone to a saloon-keeper in the village, and, confidentially imparting its richness, disposed of the joint claim for an insignificant consideration, and left the country. His fraudulent proceeding was evidenced soon after the departure of the unjust steward, and, upon its being made known to the miners, a terrible fuss arose, which was not subsided until the vendee of the claim disappeared.

Indeed, troubles peculiar to the times, the people and the opportunities presented by the unsettled condition of affairs were of frequent occurrence, and multiplied as the inhabitants increased in number, until legal remedies were aff"orded by constituted tribunals. Added to these varieties of an unsettled condition of aff"airs, were the disputes consequent upon dissipation and its attendant concomitant - horse-racing. Drinking was universal, and testing the mettle of high-spirited racers the most frequent amusement save " playing against the bank." An old resident related to the writer that as late as early in the forties he was wont to sit on his doorstep in the village of ShuUsburg and watch patrons of the turf engaged in sport across the ravine, while the notes of sacred melody and the voice of the minister ascended up to heaven in praise and thanksgiving to Him for His goodness and mercy to the children of men.

These incidents of pioneer life were gradually lessened with each year, and finally became obsolete when the golden fields of California beckoned to the miners, gamblers and outlaws, who, for a season, at least, seemed indigenous to the county of La Fayette.

The year 1829 began with prosperity and good fellowship throughout the mines. Settlements were distributed at frequent intervals, and at most of the available points. Rude, it is true, but still existing and holding out inducements for new-comers. This was notably the case at White Oak Springs, ShuUsburg, Benton, New Diggings and Hamilton's Fort, now known as Wiota. Mineral Point was, however, the great center of attraction to a majority of the miners; some of the largest leads Avere there struck and extensively worked, and quite a number of mining and smelting establishments were erected, both at the Point and in that vicinity. Merchandising, too, was largely engaged in, and business became of the most animated character.

This year Col. D. M. Parkinson opened a hotel in La Fayette County, near Mineral Point, the first in that section. He was one of the most prominent and enterprising of the early settlers, and has left a good name and a reputation for energy and integrity to his descendants. He was born in Custer County, East Tennessee, August 1, 1790, where he resided until 1818, when he moved to Madison County, 111., settling near St. Louis. Remaining there about two years, at the expiration of that period he removed to Sangamon County, and established a home near Springfield. In 1833, he entered a quarter-section of land five miles southeast of Mineral Point, where he subsequently erected the home wherein he eventually died. The place was known as Prairie Springs Hotel prior to its occupation by Mr. Parkinson, being then kept by Col. John Moore, and where were often congregated such congenial spirits as Gen. Henry Dodge, Col. Ebenezer Brigham, Col. William S. Hamilton, Gen. Charles Bracken, Judge J. W. Blackstone, Col. A. Nichols, Maj. J. P. Cox, Col. J. Morrison, Col. L. Sterling, Maj. J. B. Terry and others, scarcely any of them surviving the array of men who laid the foundation of empire and progress in Southwestern Wisconsin. Differing in politics, they nevertheless contracted the warmest personal friendships.

Col. Parkinson was a member of the first Territorial Legislature, which convened at Belmont, in La Fayette County, in 1836-37. His district was a kingdom in extent, embracing what is now Iowa, La Fayette, Richland and Grant Counties, now represented by ten members. Serving in several Territorial Legislatures succeeding, always as a man of mark and power, when the time arrived to elect delegates to a Constitutional Convention, Col. Parkinson was elected to represent La Fayette County. Among the anti-bankites he was prominent, and, when it was ascertained that the people had withheld their indorsement of that instrument, he shared, in a large degree, the regrets of its friends. In the first State Legislature he held a seat, and took an active part in the deliberations of that body. He was married three times, his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Hyder, a native of Tennessee, and first-cousin of Gen. Wade Hampton, of South Carolina. He died October 1, 1868, at his residence in La Fayette County, universally esteemed.

During this period, the country grew in strength and influence. In those earlier days, even when the lines of life were wrinkled and distorted by adversities and disappointments, hope lingered like a fruit in reach, sweet before the eyes.

The mines were often bare of results, and starving cattle lowed over fields and prairies that were brown with the rust of drought and aridness. Yet, day after day, the citadels of success were stormed, and the advancing columns of the army of civilization and progress never faltered, dazed with fear. But faces were lighted up with smiles, when reflecting upon the prospect of victory, and sustained by the hope of a time in the near future when their troubles would be past.

The prosperity that came in with the advent of 1829, as will be inferred, was not long lived, and, before old Father Time had run the race set before him in that year, declined most sensibly. This was carried into the winter, and much suff'ering was experienced, even by those who had become familiar with suff'erings and afflictions. In short, the inhabitants encountered the severest times they were ever subjected to. Lead and mineral, states one familiar with the fact, depreciated in value from a fair price to comparatively nothing, the former bringing but |3 a thousand. While the exclusive product of the county was thus depressed in price and hardly marketable, provisions increased in a corresponding ratio. Flour commanded from $15 to $18 per barrel ; pork was $30 a barrel ; coffee 50, and sugar 30, cents per pound. At these ruinous rates for lead and mineral, and high prices for provisions, it required a desperate effort on the part of tbe miner to secure even a scanty living. From four to five thousand pounds of mineral was necessary to pay for one barrel of flour, and other commodities were held proportionately. In consequence of this depression, many persons became discouraged and left the country. Many more gave up business but remained, and the present county of La Fayette, during the period intervening between 1829 and 1831, presented a gloomy and unpromising appearance.

Their afflictions were largely aggravated, in addition to those they were compelled to endure, by the necessity incumbent upon them of pursuing the uncertain and precarious fortune of mining as a means of livelihood. A limited number of farms had been opened, as already cited, but the cultivation of the soil, as a rule, was expressly prohibited by the laws and regulations governing the mines. This was prolonged until the spring of 1832, at which date the Superintendent of the mining country, seeing the absolute necessity for a change, signified to the inhabitants that he would take no measures to prevent them from cultivating the soil, though he was unable, under his instructions from the Government, to permit them to do so. Up to that date it was necessary to procure a permit to mine, and the regulations of the mines were rigidly enforced.

This state of affairs lasted, as stated, for a continued period, and was but partially dissipated by the permits issued in 1832 to cultivate the soil. When this was promulgated and operations thereunder began, there was an evident appearance of increasing improvement and prosperity throughout the country, and settlers everywhere anticipated a season of comfort and plenty. Then the country once more began to hold out inducements to immigration, and the population commenced to add to its numbers, to again drop off when the sudden outbreak of the Indians, under Black Hawk, appalled even the most hardy and adventurous pioneer from seeking the fields and mines of La Fayette County.

During 1829 and the years preceding this event, the Indians had become reconciled to the presence of the whites, and no outward appearance of hostility had bee.i manifested since the close of the Winnebago war. In fact, the savages, in a measure, disappeared from Southwestern Wisconsin and rambled about the country contiguous, as, for instance, Stephenson and Jo Daviess Counties, 111., also about portions of Wisconsin less generally settled than Iowa County then was. Those who remained in the neighborhood of the mines, were lazy, thriftless, trifling, harddrinking, characterless epitomes of the noble red man, with no idea of the difference between meum a,nd tuuni, or appreciation of the rights of individuals, when the latter were the weaker party or in the vocative and helpless. The Indians who had waged a war of conquest or defense against the advance of the white man into their territory years before, had gone to other points le-s accessible to intrusion; those who remained were, as a rule, unworthy the character their nationality bore; the sparkle had long since disappeared and these were the lees that remained. They were not of the band that accompanied Black Hawk in his march through Michigan Territory, or accepted defeat with that brave campaigner at the battle of the Bad Ax, but, like the army of Falstaff, "a scurvy crew." Close the coffin lid over the hideous dust, and recall not deficiencies that were born of the troublous times in which they lived.

During 1829, some of the first improvements of a public character undertaken in the county were completed and others begun. The hard times, of which mention has been made, came not until the sear and yellow leaf of fall had tinted the forests with prismatic colors, and not particularly oppressive did they become until Winter, with his aged locks, had clothed the landscape in robes of fleecy white.

The spring was one of charming temperature, and the hospitality of the climate was prolonged far into the months of summer The toiler in the lines of life cast in La Fayette County saw in his mind's eye the pastures folded in beauty and the vales burdened with a teeming abundance. Walking under dream-curtained skies, he contemplated the picture of a father content with his plenty, and generous to the world ; of a mother, whose patient watch and vigil long had been rewarded with a fruition of bloom and crowning happinesses. There are to-day old brown farmhouses resting snugly in the hollows among the La Fayette County hills, that were planned in those days of almost primeval bliss - quaint old affairs, with great chimneys, sloping roofs and dormer windows, over which for decades sweeping trees have swayed, sweet vines have clambered, and clustering berries, under the touches of the winter's frost, have opened up their scarlet hearts. Long walks lead off from these ancient homes, within whose sacred walls so much of sorrow and rejoicing have been sheltered, pass down through the shade of trees to end in the garden landscaped by these hardy pioneers when the future glistened with promise, and the hand of affliction was not yet reached forth. Pass out from the old home, sacred spot, standing amid the clustering trees to the wide-open meadows, afar from the drowsy stir of the country road, with the heights of blue, mountainous hills in the distance, and a glimpse of the narrow valleys severing these huge antiques in twain, through which the gurgling brook may be heard pursuing its way impatiently to the ocean, in the stillness of a summer's night. Beyond this can be seen the corn-field, surveyed before the country was overrun with settlers, and planted by the hand that was long since palsied in death. Beyond this the orchard, with interlacing arches of gnarled old trees, from among whose juice-gathering roots bubbles a clear spring that trickles down across the lane into a moss-covered trough, where the horses are led to water and the kine love to linger on their way to the milking yard. It is an old-fashioned home ; its surroundings belong to an age and generation that came in when the country was young, but it still carries the impress of times it has survived and of hardships it has endured. Modern citizens, boys and girls of days more enlightened, it is claimed, may not see its beauties ; but their fathers hold it sacred as the scene of the happiest years of their lives, before the cares of the world and the world's inhospitality had been allotel them. They recall its generous protection before they wandered away from its threshold to encounter opposition as a wintry day, when the atmosphere is cold and grayly clear, with a thin, pale sunshine lighting up the way and grimly smiling upon the soft, brown fields and russet woods, where the leaves of the oak and the beech cling with dying gasps to the parent stem.

Yes, they remember it, and the old brown house is entwined with the most sacred associations and treasures of years. They remember the home of their childhood, where only silence now and vacant places have succeeded stir and glad bustle, and where, perhaps, the pale-faced widow sighs, as she goes about her simple morning duties, for a ''clasp of the vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is dead" - yes, they remember it, when, as children no longer, they went forth from that home sanctified by a mother's care, some to the tumults of life, some to the hush of the grave. Yes, they remember life there, when the great square room was lighted up with fires of cheerful holidays, and gay voices and laughter filled up the space that now is vacant, and, looking from the wmdow of this great square room across the hills, they can see the white stones gleaming in the little burying-place, where the autumn leaves are drifting over the grave of him or her who, in the shadowy past, began the voyage of life with high hopes and pleasurable anticipations. Indeed, they remember it, and the mother, too, who was its light - she who wafted them to rest with the lullabys of infancy or folded the hands of baby sister or brother who has gone before. Think you, reader, they can forget these sacred associations ? that they neglect to visit the old home after buffeting with the world? No; they come in the strength that is born of trial and the contentedness of a heart that here has found its rest. God bless that old home, and may his choicest gifts come to that white-faced, white-haired parent, who, having lived to see these perfect days, has nothing more to ask, and waits the winding-up of life in the old home and among old friends.

Among those who came into the present county, in 1829, were Joshua, Joseph and Isaac Bailey, William Field, Ami Dodge, James McKnight, R. H. Champion, William S. Bering, James Neagle, an Irish lawyer, very eccentric and audacious, and later, but prior to 1835, Henry Potwin, James H. Earnest, Phillip R. Earnest, Jesse Williams, Jefierson Crawford, Thomas K. Gibson, John Gray, Daniel S. Harris, Scribe Harris, Orrin Smith, Solon Langworthy, Jamos Langworthy, Lucius H. Langworthy, T. L. Shaw, Cuthbert Burrell, Peter Carr, Lot Dimmick, " Pony " Fletcher, Capt. De Selhorst, the Dodge family, a man named Collet, Oliver Holtzhouser, Isaac Hodges, William I. Madden, John Dunn, Alexander Willard, D. J. Seeley, H. C. Barretto, Horace Curtis, Henry Curtis, B. C. Townsend, "Devil" John Armstrong. Father Samuel Mazzuchelli came upon the stage first about this period, and began his labors in the cause of religion, supplementing the efforts made by pious priests from St. Louis who had preceded him into the lead mines. Joseph Currey, Robert Allison, Wdliam Hogle, Thomas Swinbank, William Hempstead, Stevens, the pioneer McNultys, Alexander Mack, a family by the name of Vansickle, a man named Lisle, John Ankeney and family, Henry Smith (brother-in-law of Col. Scales), the Scofield families, the Woods family, the Mason and Hawkins brothers, Samuel Warner, Sylvanus Bush, James S. Woodcock, George Cubbage, who, during the Indian troubles of a subsequent date, was taken prisoner with Henry Gratiot. When the savages learned, however, from personal examination, that the capillary integuments of neither afforded scope for the scalping-knife, both were sold to a trader for one plug of tobacco per capita. The fact that they were bald seems to have been a dispensation of Providence in behalf of each, as it was the means of reserving them to a better fate in the future. Warren Johnson is said to have come in between kins, Thomas Bray, William Berryman, Edward Treganza, James Treganza, James Wright, Nathan Goddell, Henry Rablin (who, in 1836, erected the first Brewery in the county, in the present town of Elk Grove), James Wiswell and many others, whose names, grade in life and the roles essayed by them on the stage of the times have been forgotten. Of course, the list above mentioned is not submitted as complete - far from it - nor as specifically correct as to dates. The only effort made has been to furnish the names of those who came into the county in its infancy and aided in its settlement and improvement - the colporteurs, as it were, in the army of civilization, who made their advent into the unknown land and sowed the seeds that be harvested "after many days," in the golden time when clouds and tears should be passed ; and it was after many days, indeed, before the sunlight of prosperity came stealing through the cloudy rifts. Day after day, these heroic men marked the fitful gleaming of its rays ; day after day, they watched and prayed for the falling of better times, for some small green sign of a crop, as the farmer watches for the sprouts of wheat crowding through the soft, brown earth.

Yes, it was after many days, indeed, before hope crowned with its gentle influence the promises held out for many, many years. During these gloomy days, the hearts of the settlers were chilled and saddened by disappointments and failures ; the landscape of the future was sicklied o'er with clouds, and the fields of expectation were chilled by the snows of discouragements. Full many days came and went before the sparkling showers of success began to fall, cheering the doubting souls of those who regarded them as the forerunner of a more perfect period than that to which they had been committed. Finally, the sky was cleared of clouds, the sun began to shine, the soil to teem with springing green. The repiners gained courage at the outlook which greeted their vision, and those who had waited in peace for things unseen, rejoiced their souls with praise and thanksgiving, that the doubts repressed and abandoned had been wrecked, as was promised after many days.

During the early mining days about White Oak Springs, as also at other points where mining was the chief end of man, while many who came were men of brain and toil, it must not be inferred that visitations from men of education and professional excellence, as also men whose object in life was a superior personal appearance, were unfrequent. This was not the fact. Representatives of both factors in the sum of life and happiness were frequently to be seen consorting with miners, or accepting their hospitalities. Both classes were treated with consideration due their presence.

TJpon one occasion, two pompous young men, severally named William Singer and Henry E. Van Osdel, made their appearance, rich in purple and fine linen. They wore rings on their fingers, relates the author of the incident, gloves on their hands, and, so appareled from top to toe, in addition to bell-crowned beaver hats so universal in those days among the select, became more than objective points of attraction to the general public, especially to the miners. This latter class determined to cultivate their acquaintance and initiate them into the mysteries, not less than the miseries, of the locum in tenens underneath the ground. Acting upon this conclusion, one day they were invited to inspect the labors of operating a " lead," the hardships and subsequent triumphs of which were elaborated in language convincing, if not select. Thus persuaded, they consented, and, upon a day specially appointed for the purpose, preparations were made for lowering them into one of the "Black Leg" tunnels. The ceremony was published, and miners in the vicinity gathered to witness the descent into this modern Avernus, many of them assisting in the carrying out of the preliminary and subsequent arrangements. All things being in readiness, with safety lamps firmly attached to their bell-crowned "tablets," they were lowered into the regions of lead, the ropes withdrawn and the victims left to dream the happy hours away in vainly endeavoring to devise ways and means of escape. Meanwhile the miners hoisted pieces of mineral through convenient apertures into their abiding-place, which fell into the water, which, .mixed with clay and refuse lime, was of the consistency of thin mortar, plastered them from head to foot and left them so entirely " broke up " that one could scarcely tell them, as the narrator expressed it, from a "last year's corpse." After some hours of torment, during which their clothes, jewelry, bell-crowned hats and the attendant concomitants were rendered forever useless, they were withdrawn from their perilous position, and sent on their wav, presumably rejoicing, with admonitions and warnings that doubtless proved of future value.

Among the prospectors who came into the mines, a limited number worked diligently and husbanded their profits rather than expending them in riotous living, or at the tables of the gamester. Some were attended with the extreme of luck, but the majority "jogged " along without the happening of anything remarkable to change the current of their respective lives, at best, in numberless instances, "over shallows and full of bitterness."

Upon a hot, dusty day in July, about this year, when the earth was parched with thirst, and the very atmosphere, laden with sirocco blasts, oppressed the inhabitants as also the beasts of the field with its sultry gusts, a stranger made his appearance at one of the places of resort with which the old village of White Oak Springs then abounded, and at once became the cynosure of public observation. He was lank and lean, and hungry-looking, rawboned and angular, thrown together, as it were, to define the most intricate of geometrical devices that was ever originated to puzzle the wit and provoke the ire of an ametuer mathematician. He was attired in jeans, built after the most primitive fashion, and his entirety surmounted by a broad brown felt hat, duplicated in modern times by the peripatetic editions of " Col. Sellers," who roam the country at large, presented an appearance not more peculiar than persuasive.