Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-04-30
Correspondence OF The HERALD.)
Another Old Settler Conc.

EDITOR HERALD Henry L.. Mas.
sey died at his residence in Potosi on
the llth inst, at 2 o'clock p. NJ, after
a painful illness of more than one
year. He was born at Waterloo, N.
T., August, 1909. In the Summer OF
1919 lis father emigrated with his
family to Illinois and settled in Ed
wardsvilie, Madison County. Here
the subject of our sketch resided un.,
til the Summer of 1920, when, with
his two older brothers, he went to
Wisconsin, being obliged TO do so on
account of bilious fever which then
ragedwith unwonted fatality in many
parts of Illinois. Henry was sois
dier in the Black Hawk war, servin q
under General Dodge and assisting
in the capture of the old Chief at the
battle of Bad Axe, the final engage.
ment of that memorable and sanguin,
airy campaign. In September, 1892,
Henry l.. Massey and James l.. Lang
worthy bore from Gen Dodge to Gen.
Scott, then in command of the West
ern division of the U. S. Army, the
dispatches that brought about the
treaty concluding the Black Hawk
war.
After the restoration of peace be-.
tween the whites and Indians Mr..
Massey opened harness shop at Ga
lena, continuing in the business sew
eral years. Finding the pursuit un-
satisfactory, he went to Santa Fe,
New Mexico, on q trading expedi-
ton. In 1887 be. opened dry goods
and grocery store in Snake Hollow,
Grant County, his partner being Mr..
S. NJ. Langwor:hy.
Mr.. Willis st. John, one OF the first
settlers at Galena and miner of
many years experience, while hunt
ing in the woods of Wisconsin, dis
covered, at point Just opposite the
present &. Il. depot at Specht's Fer
ry, somewhat remarkable cave
He catered and found therein an en-
couraging abundance Of mineral and
a dlscouraging superabundance OF
rattle-snakes. The adventurer with
drew very abruptly, but returned
soon after to give the reptiles fumi-
CATION, and then take out the ore In
peace and with out the fear of ven .
omous faugs. This discovery drew
hundreds of miners to the hollow.
and many lodes were found on all
the adjacent hills. Countless cabins
were built, bringing Lafayette, Van
Buren,, and Head of-the- Hollow into
existence. In 1889 meeting was
held at Van Buren, for the purpose of
consolidating the three hamlets un
der one name with view to its ins
corporation as village. After con.
siderable discussion the name Potosi
was proposed by the writer and
adopted by the meeting. At this pc.
Rod La Fayette was the landing
place for steamboats,, and all the lead
from the neighboring mines was
thence shipped TO market. Van Bu-
rem had the post-office and enjoyed
good business prosperity. Mr.. Mass
sey and bis partner were doing ex.
ceedingly well in their store at the
head of the hollow, continuing in
trade until AZ, when they dissolved,
Mr.. Nj. exchanging the merchants
life for that of the miner.
While going to his diggings one
morning in July, 1847, Mr.. Massey
was accidentally shot by boy who
was bunting in the woods hard by
The wound confined him to the
honse several months, and was cons
planned of by him ever afterward.
Ia '49 he went to California andre
NAMED three years. In 1861 he was
elected a member of the General AS
sembly and discharged the duties OF
that office with marked fidelity and
zeal, voting always in support OF
measures for raising men and money
to suppress the Rebellion. He was
a thorough Republican and rejoiced
in the emancipation of the Southern
slaves.
La 1866 Mr. M. married the widow
of VIM. EnDor, of Potosi, and lived
on one of the beautiful hills overlook.
ing that village, where be had erect
ed good brick house and conven.
lent out>buildipgs. He devoted mos
of his time in attention to his apples
and grapes and the cultivation of biz
garden.
Surrounded with all the comforts
of life, and blessed with an estimable
wife and an exemplary family of
children, his later years were joyous
and happy. His memory will ever
be cherished by those who knew him
best, and the countless number that
followed his remains to the cemetery
at British Hollow on Sunday, Apri
14th, fully attests the estimation il
which he was held by his acquaint
ances and neighbors.
s. NJ. LANGwoRTHY.
DUBUQUE, April, 1872.