Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-02-25

preliminary arrangements tor LAYING ou
a town, but were disposed to sell aou
? their claims. The committee finally en-
tered into an agreement with Captain
4 Knapp, by which they were to pay 81,
j 700 for the claim to the lands on which
the principal part of the city of Racine
now stands. A misunderstanding how
ever, occurred before the bargain wa:
legally consummated; much unpleasant
g feeling too,was subsequently manifested
between the parties 10 the contract; diff
I ficulties also arose between the individ.
ual members of the committee, which
were afterwards a source of much en-
barrassment to the Company opera
/ tons. A rendering of the money to
Capt. Knapp for the Root river claim,
was put into the hands of Judge p. ID.
Hugunin, who, after holding it for some
4 time, and seeing no prospect of its be-
ing accepted, deposited it in bank at
Chicago. The committee being unable
to perfect the agreement with Captain
/ Knapp, two of their number (Towslee
and Roberts) returned home to consult
with the Company as to further proceed
ings, while Turner remained at Racine,
to look after the unsettled purchase
The Company called meeting of the
stockholders at Hannibal, to hear the
report of the exploring committee, and
to determine upon action. Dissatisfac-
ton, real or pretended, led the meeting
to resolve upon the removal of the ex-
Eploring committee, and the appointment
tof John Bullen, jr., sole agent of the
Company. An attempt was subsequent
lymadetohold Capt. Knapp to his agree
ment to sell to the Company, but this
having failed, all idea of location at
Root river, Racine was ofcourse aban-
doned. Di "a oasV
After the failure to effect a purchase
for the Company at Racine, an exami-
nation Of the country farther south, was
made under the direction of Bullen.-
On the 9Th of June, 1885, the exploring
party came to Pike creeks Although
this locality had been partially noticed
before, by some of the party in the en-
tploy of the Company, yet its advantages,
especially for the construction of a har-
Dor, had been almost entirely overlook
|
when Nature puts on her lovliest attire;
the wild flowers appeared every where
in profusion, and filled the air with de-
hghtful fragrance The Island lying
between the two branches of Pike creek,
(since called Washington Island, was
clothed in richest verdure and seemed
to invite the traveller to its shady repose
Pike creek, which at this period spread
out to the width of a large river, with
channel Of sufficient depth to float a
ship, at once suggested the idea of n
commodious harbor for the prospective
commerce of Lake Michigan. III short,
everything at this point seemed favor
able for the location of n town, and it
yx i, JesiGalsyeaa htaa Law sR FG aa dis
were made for the Company by John
Bullen, Hudson Bacon, and j. q. Will
son, all on the north side Of Pike creek.
The land on the south side of the creek
was subsequently claimed by, David
| Crosit
Pike Creek.
Before proceeding further with the
history OF the Emigration Company,
and its movements at Pike creek, it is
necessary to proper understanding
of succeeding events, to give brief
history of the settlement at Pike river.
The village of Pike River has long ceas-
ed to exist; every vestige of the place
has disappeared, and nothing remains
to mark the spot where this boastful lit
tie town once stood. But it must not
be forgotten, that there was once q
town one mile notrh of the present har-
Dor of Kenosha, and which, during a
period of three or four years, was 4
formidable and troublesome rival oil
Southport. Pike River once had dwell.
lings, stores, mechanic shops, ware
houses, &c. Among the buildings il
the place, was one erected by VIM. n.
Seymour, one hundred and twenty feet
: in length; this building was taken down
in the year 1912, and removed to South.
port, where its materials were used il
the construction of several dwellings,
Most of the other buildings at Pike
4 River were, during the same and the
following year, taken apart and moved
or were moved standing, to Southport
The town of Pike River had its or.
igin in consequence of difficulty
among the members of the Western EN-
4 igration Company. Charles w. Tur.
ner who was one of the exploring com
mittee originally selected by the Com
pany, and who was superseded by the
appointment of Bullen, became dis
satisfied with the turn of affairs, and re-
solved to have no further connection
with the Company. He concluded to
make an exploring tour on his own &C.
count, and henceforward to look after
his personal interests. Accordingly he
crossed over the country westward from
Milwaukee, to Rock river; he followed
down that stream to Dixon's Ferry, now
village of Dixon. During his journey
thus far, he met with only few white
4 persons, until his arrival at Dixon
From Dixon, he crossed over the coun.
try eastward to Chicago. Having made
no discoveries, on his route, to suit hi:
purpose, he concluded once more to ex
plore the western shore of Lake Michi
gan. On his way northward, along tho
shore of the Lake, and while attemp
ting to cross Pike river, at Its mouth
on the bar, his horse mired In the quick
sand, by which accident ne was thrown
into the water Afterconsiderable strug
gle of horse and rider, in the miry pool
both fortunately succeeded in getting
on to the dry land Turner had intend
ed to reach Racine that day, but as Il
was now nearly sunset, and as he wai
dripping wet, he determined to camI
down for the night Having turned
out his horse to feed on the wild lux
uriant grass, he kindled his fire, prepar
ed his evening meal, and made his bi