Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-09-17
LANCASTER.
It's Past and Present-Re Review of our
Prominent Business Interests.

Its Past and Present-Review of our
Prominent Business Interests.
Forty years ago the spirit of en-
terprise and speculation was as ac-
tive as now, but the results were not
quite as rapid or abundant, owing in
the main to the lack Of ready modes
of intercommunication between dis
tant points. Men were very much
the same then as now, and undoubt-
eddy the pioneer was in 1897 animal.
ed by nearly the same motive as
prompts the Spectator in towns OF
the present day that is, the ends to
be accomplished were the same.
FORTY YEARS AGO.
Forty years ago, what is now the
beautiful and enterprising village OF
Lancaster, was an unimproved waste,
inhabited only by the beasts of the
forest, and roaming bands of red men.
Forest trees stood upon the sites OF
residences of to-day, and there was
nothing here per sc to create or sus-
tain town, unless it was its beauti-
ful and romantic situation. The
ground upon which the village
stands was in the year 1886 owned
by one G. M. Price of Cassville and
as this was the year in which the
Territorial government (for it was
not yet admitted as a state) of Wis
consin erected the county Of Grant,
Mr.. Price, with a view of securing
the location of the county seat, con-
ceived the idea of laying out an
embryo village. Mr.. P. could not
have chosen more beautiful loca-
ton in all Grant County for his pros
pective town, and it was not long un-
til it began to populate. The first
house built in what is now the cor
porate limits of Lancaster, was erect.
ed by Mr.. Boyce who was the first
actual settler of the town. This was
in the year 1886 or 81. Some time
after several other families took up
their residence here, among whom
were H. r. Coulter. Harvey Pepper,
J NJ Otis, a Mr.. Forbes, Capt. Reed,
and DIR. Hill.
LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT.
Commissioners appointed by the
government, had been, in 1887, dele
gated to select a suitable site for the
seat of justice of the newly created
county Of Grant Mr. Price request
ed attention to be paid to his preten-
sionF, and the desirsbility of his land.
The commissioners, prompted perhaps
partly by the central and beautiful
situation, and partly by numerous
donations, made by Mr. Price in the
way of lands and otherwise for pub
lie purposes, decided upon this Local
ton. Herein is the primal origin of
Lancaster In law town had been
created In fact there were few
diminutive cabins, a few acres of
ground had been deprived Of natures
endowment. the rest was a waste of
unboundcd wilderness
IMPROVEMENTS.
Among the first improvements of
the place was q Hotel opened by
Captain Reed. Not one Of the mod
ern concerns where the UdSe guest
sits down to dozen courses, but a
humble log cabin, in which the fare
was of a primitive character; where
corn rones and venison were the
staple diet. About this time several
other houses were erected, and Mr..
&. NJ. Price started small store,
and to him belongs. not only the
honor of founding the town. but also
of inauguratiDg mercantile pursuits
therein. Soon after another store
was opened by J. M. Oils, and here
was the first competition in trade in
Lancaster, and from these two insig-
nificant establishments have sprung
the forty odd business houses of to-
day. Verify their progeny has been
prolific. ln the few years following
the location of the county seat, the
acccssions to the population were
few and infrequent. There was
nothing here at this early day to at
tract immigration, except the bare
scat. The country was almost o will
derness there were no milling priv
iIeges and there were few comforts
of any kind TO be obtained. Many
came and stayed short time, and
becoming discouraged, either return
ed to their old homes in the east, or
sought some more favorable locality
in some OF the older towns. But
still, though It's growth was very
slow, it moved steadily and substan-
TALLY onward. Churches were or
ganized, the Methodist being the
first, and these drdnt cOurierS of the
faith were followed by others. Mer-
chants were attracted, mechanics and
all the various classes composing the
elements oftowns. To be sure many
aunoyauces and Inconvenience were
submitted to. The mail for instan &c
put in an appearance quite unfre-
quently there we're no markets for
surplus products yet, notwithstand,
ing all these draw backs the town
grew and ten years after its origin
numbered q population of several
hundred inhabitants.
COURT HOUSE.
The first court held in Grant Coun
ty convened at Cassville after that
they were held in private residence:
at this place until the building of 6
court house was completed which
was in the latter part of the year
1897. 1t was log structure but
served the purpose until a small
brick building was erected some
three or four years later. The main
part of the present building was erect
ed in 1867 or about five years ago
at cost of over eleven thousand dol.
lars. 1t is brick structure. aDC
presents an elegant appearance, be-
ing in fact one of the best court hous
es in the state.
LANCASTER OF TODAY
Is beautiful and pleasant village OF
about 200 inhabitants, place who's,
appearance has nothing OF the specu'
lative or ephemeral, q substantial