Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-11-12
EARLY "REMINISCENCES.
Some Scraps OF Early History In Southern
Grant.

The following paper was read be
tore the Oid Settlers Association o
Grant County, by Mr.. James A
Jones, formerly of Hazel Green, at it
last meeting in October:
In 1874 | found the country bu
very sparseIy settled. That vas
prairie embraced 10 the towns o
Hazel Green, jamestown and Smel.
ser was, a. it were, an ocean of IN
broken meadow of natures own
seeding-with scarce tree or shrut
to break the monotonous view
whilst at the end of Is years there
was scarce ly a forty unconverteo
into garden.
In 1874 mining was the main bust
ness of that section, and | might say
our only export was pig-led, with
gold aud silver as our only currency.
These conditions remained the same
up TO 1859, except that the develop
ment of agriculture added greatly to
commerce by uniting her products
with that of our mineral resources.
When | first came few houses
composed the village of Hazel Green
out very few more that OF FairpIay,
u less number that of jamestown,
while Georgetown was yet in the
future, The buildings in these viii
lagos were generally an evidence of
necessity rather than Of elegance.
Most of them were attractions more
from their novelty than from their
architecture; were built for the oc-
casion more than for durability. It
was not uncommon to find a con-
struction of posts and poles for u
frame which was weathor-boarded
and shingled with prairie sod. And
yet, Notwithstanding these rude out
side appearances, cleanliness, COM
fort and well spread table, together
with kind and generous hearts of
welcome, greeted yoa within and
babe you partake of their hospitali-
ties. These were days of frankness
and simplicity, instead of fashion
and formality. | have often thought
that men in those days were valued
more from their intrinsic worth
than for the dollars and cents they
we're supposed TO control. In that
day there seemed TO be but little of
W hat is now termed aristOcracy.
Nobility was then regarded as the
fruit OF generous acts, instead of be-
.ng an accident of fortune or of birth,
A prevailing opinion seemed to be
hat God made all men out of the
same kind Of clay describing the
dea OF His having used the best ma,
,erial in making lords, nd then hav-
ng run up the refuse into peasants.
But to return The villages re-
If trade and traffic with the miners,
lud few farmers settled near these
metropolitan ceDters.
Ia these primitive villages might
wen then have been found those
)aneful accomplishments Of civillza-
ion which always precedes and for
,ver counteracts the healthtul influ-
snces of the common school, the
Sabbath school and the gospel. viz
inc social glass, the card table aud
alley, headed of course by
professional gamblers and unprinci-
pied men. | regret to add, as a
part in our history, hat there were
ew of the citizens in those days who
did not give aid ard comfort to these
vices and deceptive pleasures. The
counteracting Influences were few
and far between. | believe that
only could then boast of a
small churt b buildings small Or
ganized church and sabbath school;
and thus showed the only tangible
gospel fortress south of Pl4tteville.
A few self-denying itinerants, acting
as sentinels upon this desolate Held,
stood 0s ensibly alone, in the con-
of the blightiDg and blast
ing influences of the before mention
ed organizations of vice. A great
conflict between virtue on the one
hand, and vice on the other, goes on
among US to-day, and from the very
nature of things must continue to
go on until the conquest of the form
or leads up to a greatness not yet
dreamed of; or until the conquest
of the latter leads US down, as peo-
pie and a nation 70 an unwarra1ted
and eneracy, if not to
an utter oblivion.
Great changes have taken place in
the section which l assume to des-
cribe. 1t has evidently changed
socially, politically and morally, but
perhaps in no way has it 80 greatly
changed as in its population and the
deveopment of its resources. A
barron waste has become garden
a few in number, great multitude.
The old sod cabins have changed to
new and substantial mansions; and
a poverty-ridden people, to one roll
ing in ease and luxury.
This great change, We infer, has
been brought about by the industry
energy and perseverance OF its citi-
Ems. And if SO, it is natural TO en-
ouire who were the men who con
tributed TO SO great resultf
1t is impossible for me to give you
the names of al, but rust you will
permit me to enumerate few OF the
more prominent and active men
whom / found when ! became resi-
dent.
In the town of Hazel Green |
would name: Jefferson Crawford,
John Edwards, Ezra Dorman, Dor
In B. Dorman, Lewis Rood, John
n Chandler, Henry D. York. 0 B
Cottle, Chas. Mccoy, Hiram Wither-
bee. Oliver Rice, IL. E. Rice, Joseph
Harris, Alden Adams, jonathan
Cham berlin, r R. Young and Allen
Preston.
La the town of JAMESTOWN: james
Gilmore, Warren Hannum, Rufus
Hannum, Allen Taylor, G W Bruce
Geo. Liddle. j. B. Johnson. Alfred
n II Il