Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-06-06
EARLY History Of the Lead Mines.

Early HISIOfy Oh the Asdu VA
| The Dubuque mines were discovered by
Catholic Missionaries and traders, though
1.-The Indians had been aware OF the exis-
ltence of lead from time immemorlaL-
lSixty-fye years ago, one Julian dubuque
Ia Canadian trader. commenced mining al
Dnbuaue. About the same time the
IDodgeville, Mineral Point and Galena
mines were also discovered and being work
ed upon small scale. The principal
miners were Canadians aud traders up to
about 1926. when large numbers OF MIS-
sourians came up and commenced work.
MANY soon became discouraged and lett,
but others came; times were hard; there
vera no laws but the laws of nature and
such as border society adopts for securing
private rights. Personal rights and prop
erty were tolerably secure, and you'd have
remained 50 but for the U. S. Army which
came and undertook to regulate matters
but failed. They undertook to enforce an
old Indian treaty by which the Indians
were made aware that they owned all the
country. The army claimed for while
the exclusive right to dig for mineral, but
the settlers also claimed q right. x de-
taclnnent of soldiers under General Taylor
was stationed at Dubuque about 1880,
with orders to prevent any further working
of the Dubuque mines. The Indians were
well furnished by the traders and proceed
ed to work upon lands from which the
Lapgworthys Vosburgs, Lemons and OH
ers had be,h driven. The troops, having
defended the Indians till 1882, the Indians
became hostile, and the army had to fight
against the very ones they had long de
Tended. The army called on the settlers,
whom the, had driven away, to come and
help fight the Indians. At first the set
tiers refused, and sent the army word to
save themselves from their Indian allies.
Finally, the settlers volunteered to aid the
private understanding it is
said, that the whites should never be driv-
en- off, aud that the settlers should be pro
tectetl in their right to dig above and under
ground. The Black Hawk war then com
menced furiorsly and old offences between
the army and settlers ceased to be remem-
bered. Peace was soon restored.
oldest Postmaster i'm wisconsin.
A Postoffice was established at Potosi
in the fall of 1897 and P. CoYLE, Esq,
was appointed Postmaster Mr.. CoYLE
resigning, Mr.. CELEsTING KAtTENBAcH
was appointed in the spring Of 1858, and
has held the Office ever since, through sue
cessiye administrations, democratic and
wing. No serious attempt has ever been
made to remove him, though the Office is
U1C VI JtlG iloob OtiSo III biO W Ice
part of the State. Judge CoLE, wing
member of Congress representing our
Congressional district during the admins
tration of Fillmore, was censured by some
of the ultra wings for refusing his influence
in removing Mr. KALTENBAcH, but CoLE
said, s'imasmuch AS Potosi has an honest
Postmaster,-b to leave we'll enough
alone; he could never lend bis influence to-
wards turning an honest man out Of office,
no difference about his politics. so the
matter ended. No charge Of improper
conduct, official medlling in political af-
fairs or official negligence has ever been
urged against Mr., KALrENBAoH, and prob
ably Nc administration, save Stewards
Higher Laao Maker, will ever think of re-
moving him.
Mr.. KALrENBAcH is no doubt the Oldest
Postmaster in Wisconsin.
CAssvILLE.-A letter from Cassyille
L,t q, -