Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-10-03
Correspondence of the HERALD
GRANT COUNTY IN 1916.
Aauarter OF Century Ago-Personal RecOl-
lectiOns OF an Old setter-TOwus In
BmbryO-Grand Prairie-Etc.

ton or tho Old Settlers OF Gran
county, which awakens vivid recol
lections of tho past and calls fortl
my heartiest approval. My acquaint
ance with Wisconsin began in 1916
stopping briefly in the present city
of Milwaukee, then small town o.
some three or four thousand inhabit
ants; after which, for nearly ten
years, l became identified with Wal.
worth, Rock, Crawford and Grant
counties, At that early day, the
country was comparatively unset
tied, and friendships and acqaintanc-
es were dearer on account of the
scattered population and the Difficult.
ties the early settlers experienced in
meeting often with each other. AT
the time of which | speak (1846)
there was any amount of government
land in the Western counties of Wis.,
consin, especially in Grant, sub ject
to public entry, and but few farms
opened on the extensive prairies of
Wisconsin and Illinois along the
State line. My first trip over the
grand prairie from Galena TO Beloit,
was marked with a great deal of SOL
ltdry romance; for but few stopping
places were found along the whole
route, and the vast uncultivated ex-
panse reminded me of the great ilIim-
liable ocean.
Being in company with three cler-
gymen, on our way to the Galena
Conference of the NJ. K. Church, in
the beautiful month of August, on
coming in sight of the magnificent
Sinsinawa Mound, we halted upon
the ridge of prairie along which the
main road then ran, and each Of US,
hat in hand, waved them in token of
our appreciation of the enchanting
vision, and gave three long and loud
huzzahs for "Grand Prairie" against
the world.
Those were palmy days, when
ministers and people shared alike
with accomplishing hearts the vicis-
STUDIES of pioneer life. Shullsburg,
Hazel Green, Plattevile and Lancas-
ter were the only towns of any i'm
portance throughout the lead mines,
though there we're other little points
like Montfort, Black Jack, Pigeon
and some smaller places which have
since become quite important as GEN.
tres of business enterprise and pow
err.
My first visit to Lancaster was in
1852, when succeeded the Rev. Eli
G. Jones as pastor of the NJ. L.
Church in that place. At that ear
ly period the new church building
was just completed through the per-
sonal efforts of my worthy predeces-
or, who knew we'll both how to de.
liver polished gospel sermon, and
work with edge tools equal to the most
scientific mechanic. My field of mis-
sionary labor embraced Lancaster,
Boice Prairie, Little Grant, Shan
ley's, Waterloo, and a part of Fenni-
more. At all of these points, save
the home appointments, we had no
church buildings, and held our regu-
lar services in log and frame school
houses, which would often be filled
to overlooking with rustic settlers,
gathered from half a score of miles
around. Such home-like welcomes
as we then had in our regular visits
will never be forgotten F; and the
names of such men as Kilby, Quin-
cy, Mckinney, Kits, Loney, GULL
ford and others can never be recall
ed without emotions of pleasure.
During 1915 my field of labor
was Patch Grove, where our regular
preaching places were Patch Grove,
Melville, Blake's Prairie, Mt. Hope,
then known as Whitesde's, and Wy
abusing. Henry Patch then kept
the Patch Grove House, and was a
most genial and accommodating ho-
tel keeper. The Methodist Parson-
age, DR.. Chambers. Col. Finn, l. &
Try, Osbornes, Brunsons, and one
or two other families, constituted
what was then called Patch Grove
village.
Bloomington was not then heard
of, with numerous other villages
since then springing into thriving
existence.
At Montfort, where | spent two
happy years, one found a vast terri'
tory of country, uninhabited, but {
region of southern Wisconsin unsur
passed for beauty and lovelinss; {
very paradise among the desirable
places this side of heaven. At tha
time there was no farm house direct
ly on the national road from Wing
Vile west to Fennimore Grove, tho
on either side the Dinsdales and 9th
ers had settled and were openin.
farms, which to-day must amply
reoompense them for years of hard
ships and privation. South of Wing
vile, midway between it and Clifton
stood the house of e. Bunker, visi
BILE for many miles around, and en-
sconsed in beautiful valley wer
the residences of Keiths, Tay lOr
and others.
Clifton, at that time, was consider
ed the "Goshen" of the whole SUI
rounding country, Ministers an
others found a welcome at sue
homes as ]. +. Browns, Claytons
Cliftons, Shipieys, Howdels, an
Bayses.
The cid Rock Church, one of th
first crested in Grant county, was
fine structure for the times. Miner
al was found in considerable abund
ance near the church, but the mos
extensive mining was done in an
near Wingville, which consisted OF
dilauidated church on the hill,
small parsonage; stores kept b
Clayborne Chandler, S. d. Greer
jerks, Bell & Thomas, and one Q
1 IKE lfaunpai Hnna