Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-27
Sketches Of The Mines.
WILLIS ST. JOHN.

WILLIS ST. JOHN.
Another patriarch of the Potosi
mines whom it was my good fortune
to know, was Willis ST. JOHN. He
came of the best New England blood
| and stood out from the common race
OF mortals like the inscription over
the door of John Knox's residence in
Netherbow. He was man of ath
letic build. of fine form and though
advanced in years and broken in
health at the time | knew him the in
domitable energy of his nature was
unquenched and would show itself in
the strong sententious language that
expressed the independence of his
thoughts and the energy of that will
which laughed ct the difficulties that
snbdue and conquer weaker minds.
VI his early fe and personal history
previous to his entrance to the mines.
am uniformed He was among the
very first that reached "Snake Hol-
low" as the Potosi mines were then
called: and, by lucky turn in for
times wheel, he was one that she first
smiled upon, and the place where she
opened up her glitterIng treasures to
his wondering gaze, is still known as
"St. Johns cave" 1t is said to have
turned ont million of mineral, but
that is "big pile" and some allow
ance must be made for the authority
OF the story and the number of times
1t has been told. At all events. il
proved valuable lode, and has been
proftably worked down to recent
date. Its site is near the summit of
The bluff opposite the place where the
Catholic church now stands. On the
opposite side of the road. he built
what was known as an cash Furnace
and did his own smelling. He was
soon enabled to purchase real estate
and other valuable property, and wae
long esteemed for his great generosity,
kindness and manly traits Of charac,
ter. The Methodist preachers who
follow in the wake of civilization, soon
found him out and they never lacked
tor their "favoritc yellow.leg-
ged chiCken-while his roost was full.
They taught him, too, their favorite
texts-"God loveth the cheerful giver'
-"Freely We have received, freely
give "-"Cast your bread upon the
water" &C., and st. John was the
man ever ready to practice all good
precepts. Through his Instrumental
ity the M. 4. church at Van Barren
was built and the quarterly dues of |
the local preachers and elders were
promptly met; and. all went smoothly
on till there came crisis in the mon
etary affairs Of the State Bank of Hi.
nois. This, with other reverses of |
fortune, crushed the old man with it's |
accumulated weight Of trouble and he
never rose again. l have often list
ened to his sad story which he would |
repeat with thrilling effect, and won
asFed doa 81 tthe s p9aX stt p s
keenly the loss of the property that
once gave him influence and position,
but more keenly the cold shoulder
and averted looks, of those whom he
had once befriended Poverty, with
oA 40 UGpIlfdllOuSs nc SOuIU CuAuhCs
but the neglect of those who should
have given him succor in the hour of
need, CALLED his high spirit and made
and made him curse the race Of man.
He was warm and genial in his friend
ships but bitter in his hates and scath-
ing in his imprecations. Bor years |
the shadow Of his once strong frame |
might have been seen moving slowly |
and sadly about our streets--a wronged
and ruined man--emaclated by dis
ease and only awaiting the end he
knew was drawing nigh.
some morn missed him on the 'customd hill, |
Nor up the lawn nor at the wood was he"
St. John was at rest. The spirit of
a good and just man had returned to
God who gave it.
His amiable widow who is still liv-
ing, is widely and favorabIy known in
the county. She is a pure-minded
lady, devoted friend, and true chris
tian. The exigencies of her pioneer
life would furnish chapter fertile 10
events and strange yicissitudes, worthy
of conspicuous place in these
"Sketches of the Mines" and may
some Gay be written.