Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-02-25
rounding country, became members Of

g. The residents at Pike creek were |
not, however, permitted to enjoy quiet
in their wilderness home; scarcely were
. the FIRST settlers comfortably lodged in
g their cabins, before they were annoyed
85by intruders upon their rights. The
o country, at that period, was trayersed,
- y III almost every direction, by adyentur-
30 srs, some seeking homes for their FAM
lilies, others intent on money making.-
Is Only a few of the many exciting Incl
dents of those times, can be related
i, The controversy known as thes' Resi-
ssiiique JVay,n which began in August,
Il 1885, and ended in the summer of 1886,
was source Of much disturbance
: The origin Of the Resique scar was as
al follows: ag!it6ei aiRo.iol 93i 10 3.
7aag In the month of July, 1885, two adj
81 Nenturers, Samuel Resique and John
d3fNoble, left Chicago ION All expedition
otto make claims in advantageous loca-
1tions, with the view of selling them on
speculation. 70 They follwed the Lake
ss1shore north from Chicago, until they UNI
10 expectedly came upon the settlement OF
1.-THE Emigration Company ,atPike Greek.
- The usual marks, such as burrows made
although the woods and openings by q
plough, indicated that the lands in the
vicinity of, Pike Greek were already
baclaimed. The prospect for making any
.aispeeulation here, at first appeared rath-
Ger dubious; still they fingered around a
v couple of days, to enjoy the quiet see
-anery. Washington Island was then in
its primitive glory; the groves of young
saoak upon it had never ct been disturb
led by the Woodlands axe. Attracted
q by its inviting beauty, they passed over
ngto spend an hour in this primeyal for
slest. Resique and Noble were expert
-oenced squatters; their quick perceptions
soon discovered, that if the Island had
aia reputed claimant, he was not in fact
IA legal one, according to the squatter
4 code; several important particulars had
aevidentlynot been comphedwith. There
was no shanty on the land, and no resi-
dent squatters on the Island. Resique
and Noble at once came to the conclu-
sion to lay claim to the entire Island,
rand for this purpose, Immediately pro-
.sceeded, by the help of ahatchet, to erect
can encampment, and otherwise make a
proper claim demonstration. Having
completed their cabin, RESIDUE returned
to Chicago, to procure supply OF pro-
afVlBlOUb nilu Quiet llGCSSoaA NhAlC NV
BILE remained to keep possession of the
Island. As soon as 1T was ascertalned
by the Pike Greek squatters, that the
two strangers seriously intended to take
possession OF the Island, Noble was or
dered to leave the premises without de-
lay; this he resolutely refused to do. 1t
was next proposed to eject him forcibly;
but the more discreet rejected this prop
osition, Us not being compatible with
the squatter law. 1t was finally conclu-
ded to proceed against Noble by u sort
of technical movement. Accordingly,
on the morning of the 25th of July, SIX
men, armed with axes, were seen cross
ing over in boat towards the Island.
Noble saw this formidable force ad
vance, and was overwhelmed in conjec-
ture az to its probable intent. Upon
landing on the Island, instead Of offer
ing him any molestation, the men i'm
mediately began cutting down trees and
brush, and commenced building fence
they continued their labors, until they
had entirely enclosed one acre, or more
leaving Noble and his domicil in the
centre thereof Noble nerved his cour-
age, and maintained his position. In .
few days, RESIDUE returned from Chi
cago, with some laboring men, and a
good supply of provisions. The fence
aforesaid, which at first looked so for
midable, soon began to disappear by
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in the night
time, until it was altogether missing.
RESIDUE and Noble kept possession
Of the Island, with only occasional
skirmishing, until the summer of 1886,
u 10 rarayua1 itb
manifestations of hostility, which for .
time, threatened the most serious con
sequences. Judge William Bullen at
tempted to take possession of that por
ton of the Island lying within the linn
its of the n. Z. quarter OF section 81
by virtue Of claim originally made by
an agent of the Western Emigration
Company. RESIDUE marshaled a force
to maintain his position; for scvera
days armed men were employed, and the
most warhke demonstrations were ex
hibited on both sides. The disputes be
tween the hostile parties were FINAL!
compromised, by allowing Judge Bul
len to come into peaceable possession
of part of the Island.
1t is proper to remark, that durin!
some two or three years after the frs
locations were maze at Pike Creel
Washington Island, which covers al
area of some thirty acres, was regarded
the most valuable portion of the project
ed town site. 1t was believed it wa
destined to become the chief CONNER
cial point of business, and that ever.
foot of its surface would eventually b.
as precious as gold. 1t is said that Mr.
Garrett wealthy capitalist OF Chicago
IN the fall of 1885, offered $500 for
claim to the Island. Other capitalist
and spectators made liberal offers TO
portions of this now almost deserted
spot. Next to the Island, that portion
ofthe town lying north ofthe creek, WA
held to be the most valuable. For sew
eral years, the lands on the south sid,
of the creek, now comprising the frs
ward of the city of Kenosha, were no
esteemed very desirable.
The difficulty known by the early set
tiers as the Woodbridge quarrel" wa
also source of many unpleasant dis
turbances in the fall otl835. The prog
ress Of this dispute, and the many ex
citing incidents attending it, would &c
require too much space to be here. mar
rated This quarrel ORIGINATED in