Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-05-26


will be followed by such radical notions as
old Tom Jefferson taught in bis day.
Grant County.
We have twice made a lecturing tour
through this county recently and year
ago-and have become pretty well acquaint-
ed with its resources and the character OF
its people. Lying in the southwest corner
Of the State. hundred miles of its border,
on the north, west and south, is bounded
by the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers,
while the Milwaukee and Prairie du Chen
Rail Road runs through its Northern part
The portions bordering on the Wisconsin
Valley, and on the Mississippi, Grant and
Platte Rivers, are broken with high bluffs,
narrow valleys and table land, some of it
excellent fer wheat and corn, but more of
it admirably adapted for sheep raising.
From Wingyille, in the northwest, there is
sweep of magnificent rolling prairie
stretching southwark TO Hazel Green, and
westward through Fennimore and Mill
vile to Patch Grove, thence southwark
through Tafton to Cassyille, making in
fact the circle of the county inside the
Wisconsin and Mississippi bluffs, save
where it is broken on the south by the
Grant and Platte Rivers. The soil of this
prairie region is very fertile, and, Ike the
timber land-which is chiefly covered with
oak-produces large crops Of excellent
wheat; of the broken portion, various
good, BAD and Indifferent.
| POPULATION.
Grant county contains about thirty-four
thousand inhabitants, divided nationally
about as follows: From one fifth to one
fourth English, nearly one-fourh Ger
mans, about one-sixth Irish. few Nor
wegians III the north pant Of the county
the rest Americans. Of the Americans,
nearly one-haf are from New York, Il
goodly prnber from Vermont, the balance
from the South AMI the various States of
the Union.
SETTLEMENT.
Grant county was settled by Nilsson
rians III 1925. In 1886 mining mania
occurred, like that which afterward carried
so many thousands to California, and
thousands focked to cd Grant from the
South and East intent on making their
fortunes. Another mining fever in l845
brought another large accession to the pop
uIation, but since then the emigration to
California and elsewhere has prevented
much increase OF the mining population.
MINING.
The chief business of The people up to
1851 was mining. In tie spring of 1852
some eie BIT hundred men-chi fly miners
-emierated from Grant to California,
since which agriculture has been the lead
ing pursuit and mining secondary. Per-
haps one-fourth Of the people are occupied
the whole or part of their time in mining
many of them farming 10 summer and mi
ming in winter. The chief mines Of the
county are IN jamestown, Hazel Green,
Potosi, Beetown, South Lancaster, Platte
vile and Smeltzer-the largest and most
productive in jamestown and Hazel Green.
THE LEAD PRODUCT.
About one-third of the entire lead pro-
duct of Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois was
formerly raised in Grant county. But OF
late years Lafayette county has probably
produced as much lead as Grant, while
the yield of Iowa county is now quite
small. The annual value of lead raised
in Grant county was formerly $700,000;
latterly about 100000, though owing to
the present high price-ranging from $50
TO sos for 1000 pounds of ore--it may
reach this year nearly 100000.
The mines are apparently inexhaustible
and there is no danger that the next gen
Grafton will not find employment in mining
| in old Grant. At present most Of the old
miners are engaged in working over the
old diggings, prefcrring sure wages 10 the
risks Of prospecting and proving new
grounds. Those who prospect strike the
heavy iodes, though miners often work
weeks, months ana even years before ma
king new discoveries.
AGRICULTURE.
The chief occupation c, the people is ag-
ricnlture. and large surplus of wheat Is
produced in good seasons. Boscobel is the
chief market town for large part of Grant
county, but new town is opening up on
the Prairie du Chem Road, few miles
west Of Boscobel. which is nearer and east
er Of access to the western half OF Grant
County. There is lack of good roads in
this county. The soil is loose and washes
readily, and there has been a niggsrdly
economy On the part of her public officers
which has retarded the progress of the peo-
pie. There is a promise of reform in this
respect, and for the best interests of the
county It cannot come too soon. Several
new roads are about to be laid from Lam
caster to various prominent points. which,
when constructed, will add greatly 10 the
convenience ofihe people in getting TO mark
ct, aud REORGANIZATION with each 9TH
err.
The county is well timbere ard water
ed and healthy. and the noonie in "A pros