Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-26
Plum City.

ceDLiy, AM llieH fcSOiNOu az O"NS -
hunt out its location, and have an actual
view of the place. All other places of
note in the county, have visited, but
Plum City, never. So | hitched the
pony before one of those " inevitable"
cutters, and "made "a break" for the
woods, expecting to break-the cutter, of
course--aLd perhaps my neck, on the
expedition. That the place must be
Southeast" was certain, for all other
parts knew like book Then leis-
urely logged along into the goodly
town of Martell, and at twelve O'Clock,
noon, 1 halted at Mr.. Stornlies's, where
l was bountifully entertained by " mine
iost.' l was highly interested for an
hour in the recital Of his history for the
last seventeen years, commencing With
the first stroke of the axe on this, his
pre- emption. He was the fourth perma-
nent 81 t.ler in the town, and he recount
ed the events of these years with as
much interest rs the historian does those
Of nation.
Next l made six miles South, and
vas net little surprised 70 witness the
improvements there made within the
last three years. The bowling wilder
ness had been transformed into cultivated
farms, and on nearly every " eighty"
through which the road passed, is found
n comfortable house and out buildings.
with cattle aud sheep surrounding
Here / called upon Andrew Johnson
mot Andy Jonsing) the present treas
urer Of the town, from whom | gained
much practical information, but could
learn nothing of Plum City. Next
easterIy to the village of FL Paso, where
l was agreeably surprised to witness tie
late substantial improvements. Our
friend, Ed. Walsh, still holds forth here,
having grown in grace and grcenbacks.
and in a complete knowledge Of the
wants and necessities Of his constantly
increasing list of customers. But Ed,
with all his knowledge, knew nothing of
Plum City. My stay in the village was
brie, and among the things forgot, was
to inquire what circumstance, person, or
event gave this place the i'll balanced
name Of Ell Paso.
And next | was on my winding way
to Rock Elm. The snow was falling
thick and fast, and night was approach
ing. 1 was constantly looking for that
Line" not eighty rods from which that
four thousand dollars road appropriation
was to be expended, and when founl
Cave Creek, found the spot wheth-
CIR on the line" or not, where that
amount could readily be sunk, and sunk
again to rise no more. The settlements
through this section are more sparse,
bat much heavy work has been done in
some places. A few miles through the
dense forest, and found myself at vii
kins', whose barn floor my borse had
fairly pre-empted even before l had seen
the generous proprietor. Bat an inter
view made all things right, and here
both self and " beast" were beautifully
supplied. While at the evening meal l
thought | discerned in the kindly coun-
tenance of the good housewife traces of
features familiar ten years since, in the
person of fair German girl. Then |
looked at the group" five small chill
dren and babe at the breast ~ Was it
possible +! All bright and CHEEKY, and
the eldest--well, about eight, think
1t may be-such things do happen. 1t
was so once with my own Mother. But
now, alas And where is she /? And
where am | I? Is this dream (? Nay
this is real life. will anticipate. But
Wilkins is posted. He knows Pierce
county-he knows Plum City. From
him and his good wife l learned a deal
of histOry-famiy history. Ten years
ago they met at River Falls, exchanged
civlities, greetings, loves, and vows, and
married. And here was their household
and who has done better 4?
The morning breaks, and l make an
other "break" for Rock Elm Post Of
fee, for Plum Creek-not the city-and
for Condt's. And Condit is furious
Yankee, who goes it by storm-storms
your castle at once, "would vote for the
devil 10 beat River Falls" and then set
ties down as placid as lake Pepin in
mild midsummer day, grows more rea-
sonable as he reasons, and finally reveals
a vein of good bumor, good sense and
sincerity. Here, too, we find Milton G.
Guest genial fellow, whose wounds,
received in the service of his country,
incapacitate him for hard labor ana