Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-05
On the st. Croix River ThIrty-Four
Years Ago.
NUMBER THREE.

\ Ou tt0 dIkeT our hTFlNat AT tUd
Dalles, a number of US crossed over to
make the acquaintance of our neighhurs
at the ''claim cabin" at TAyIors Falls,
which was occupied by French family
named Robbinelt and presid i over hy
Jesse B. TAYLOR, all being in the employ
of B. F. Baker, who owned alrl kept the
Trading Post inst above Fort Smelling,
who was intending to erect mill here,
amt made commencement but Mr. Bs-
ker wing the next year. death blow
was given to the improvements. and the
! unfinished mill was moved away.
About the time we arrived at the cab
10, party Of stricken and terrified men,
some ten or twelve in number, cnme in
and related their adventure. They proved
TO be company of men headed by one
Boyce or Boise, who had preceded us a
f's@ weeks from Galena, Ill., They had
taken supplies and gone up on the Sun
rise rIver to cut and drive out a raft of
pine logs; but, tie Indians coming upon
them they took 10 tieir Loaf and left in
haste, leaving their supplies behind them,
and in their small Mackinaw boat had
come over the st. Croix Falls unframed
otherwise than badly terrified. AS we
saw them and Tom Guthrie, as they
came over, the latter cried out, '.thers
goes my new silk hat, which cost 81 in
Galena" Tom remained with Us, while
balance Of the party took Decline for
Galena, having seen enough of frontier
life. The above saying was thrown back
on Tom MANY times, much to his annoy
anee. Blu! Tom was man of the pc
Rod; be had in the year before, in the
employ Of Steele and others. helped to
make all the former improvements at tile
Falls. He never could be induced to
go the run of Tayiors Falls aud the DIAL
les in birch canoe; but well soaked IN
whisky he would go it like lark.
No improvements were going on ut
Taylors Falls during our first year at St.
Croix, bur Wss presided over by the gen.
ial Jesse b, who, like Robinson Crusoe,
WAS Lord of all be surveyed rs
al arrow. with silk hat, blue swallow
tailed coat, gilt buttons, buff vest. shining
boot. and an everlasting pipe, he was
pIeaSAuL, aHaOIo ana al leisure.
Three or four of our company were
picked up on the spur of the moment,
just as the boat was leaving port, to
make up the number. Some hatIess and
shoeless. just as they had been spewed
out Of dens of infamy. and the trip and
residence up here, proved to be God
send to them, at the Company's expense,
for they were no benefit to US, being un-
able TO do anything; but the climate aud
forced temperance brought them out all
right in three months. One of them,
Tom Classy. Laa been reduced SO low by
dissipation that we expected to bury him,
but he disappointed us in that, and came
out all right. So much for climate aud
temperance, without Doctors.
Another, Phineas Lawrence, fine
genial son Of Massachusetts, who in an
evil hour had eIoped with bis wfe's sis
ter, (when such things were not SO fash
ionabIe as now, to! me, remOrse for tho
&C. drove him TO drink. al d nearly used
him up; but like The other one be came
out all right. and became the first Sheriff
of St. Croix County. when it was form.
ed, but return to Old habits took him
off.
10 the winter our blacksmith burn:
pit of coal, made Of soft maple, just be-
low the Dalles, on tie eastern bank of
the river, few rods from it, and CLASSY
proved himself good mechanic BY maxi
ing frame sled and rack, to which he
attached large dog, and in gunny sacks
removed the coal over the ice 10 the shop,
some five hundred bushels, fifteen bushels
to the load.
The Indian traders, using large birch
canoes to take their goods To the interior
had to unload here, and pack their boat
and cargo across the portage. around thu
Falls. One day as they were engaged
in this work, they had left part on the
shore. with no one TO guard it and We
noticed an Indian youth, seeming to
amuse US by skipping fiat stones on the
water. which was very neatly done; but
we soon discovered the Indian trick, fpF
while he amused US by skipping With
one hand, the other was engaged in RI.
moving the corn'from gunny sack on
hlltCH no odtg WlhtA tutOWU OFCE
ii to conceal and GIVE The corn. He
made several remov., Of the corn TO the
Tepee, near by, before discovered in the
trick of legerdemain. and being caught
in the act, had no apology to make, but
restored the corn very reluctantly and
chopfaIlen.
Experience has demonstrated that OF