Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-13
TRIP TO THE BRULE.
A Canoe Ride of IS Miles
SPORTING IN n. ". WISCONSIN
Iron the Polk County Press


Filled was the air with dreamy and
magical light, and the landscape array
ed in its robes of russell scarlet and gold
en- yellow, bright with the glistening
dew of fair September morning, as we
took up our line of march from the
beautiful rock bound village of Taylor's
Falls and filed noIthward, in search of
pleasure among the wiIds of the Upper
st. Croix River, and the Brule-the
great Trout stream of the Northwest
Happy were the faces of all in our band,
and high the hopes and bright the an
tcIpatlons or each individual men Der,
as he cast parting glance towards home,
and assumed the air of campaigner
snd tourIst,-thrusIiug the thoughts OF
business and the every day scenes of
life behind, and entering into the pleas
ures and hardships of the trip before
him with earnest purpose. Such was
the start-harmonious anl suspicious.
And now to partieularize, it is neces
sary to tell you who soar band" was,
and the following, organized somewhat
after the style of Artemus Wards reg
iment of " Brigadier Generals" is the
Company roll /:
DR.. E. d. WHITING, Capt and Treas'r.
CHARLES B. WHITING. Camp Director.
SILAs HUNPHREY, Lieutenant and @. NJ.
GILBERT j. SHAW, Commissary of Sub.
DIR. G. III. SHOLEs. Surgeon and Cook.
SAN. 5. FIFIELD. Jr., High Private.
Certainly rs well organized and well
drilled company, as ever advanced on
the enemy of mankind, dull care"
and gained a victory over cold yictuas.
Our horses fresh and filed with spirit
distilled from their morning feed of oats
trot briskly over the rough road beyond
Saint Croix Falls and noon finds US ut
WOLF CREEK,
whore the order is, "halt for dinner
Sundry packages are brought forth from
our loaded wagons, and hasty meal is
dispatched, after which short call is
made upon our friend James L. Cragin
and DR.. Deneen, who reside near by
They report that prosperity and health
abiieth with them, and that their har-
vest b as been abundant. The new Grist
and Saw Mil of Deneen d. Co. is loca
ted here, and is doing good business
grinding feed for the pineries. But short
visits make short stories, and hasty
good bye cuts off the warm Inequalities
of our friends and we are again under
way. Three hours over good roads, in
Guiding short halt at Trade River, where
good friend S. d. Rice keeps en- excellent
. stopping place" for the weary traveller,
brings us to Wood Riyer, and We 90 in
to our first camp, which we unanimous
" called Camp Fairchild, in honor of
our gallant Governor. We are now in
BURNETT COUNTY,
the land of the Hickersons and the stur.
dy Norwegians. Burnett has popula-
ton of about six hundred souls. and the
number is increasing very rapidly. The
new corners are mostly from Norway and
Sweden, and bring with them eturdy
aims and brave hearts to battle with the
wilderness and carve out for themselves
and their children freemen's homes
The soil of the county is yaried-some
very poor and some very rich. The
south east portion of the county is the
best for agricultural purposes, and is be-
ing rapidly improved. The face of the
country IS generally level, abounds in
hard wood timber and large meadows,
and is well watered by lakes aud streams.
There are already several good farms
opened. among the largest of which we
may mention that of Mr.. N. III, Kicker
son, who has one hundred and twenty
acres under improvement, including for
ty acres of meadow, from which he this
year cut seventy tons of good hay. He
also raised fine crop of corn, potatoes.
wheat and oats-his wheat Welding
twenty-five bushels per acre. Mr.. Hick-
erson settled at Wood River in 1856, and
and opened stopping place" which
has since become quite noted among
our lumbermen. He is hospitable and
generous, and has met with the success
he so richly deserves. The next farm in
size is that of Charles Hagan, who has
forty acres improved.
Grantsburg is the County Seat, and is
beautifully located on Wood River, one
mile and half above Hickerson's. The
village plat is owned by Canute Ander-
son, Esq, an old and well known citizen.