The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-04-21

Only woke the sIumDcring ecnoes
That upon her waters float
Here roamed wild bears, black and shaggy.
Undisturbed lived deer and doe;
Timorous beasts knew scarce terror,
For they scarcely knew foe.
Fen tn, indians stealthy football
Was an unknown, unfeared sound,
For these warllte tribes ne err venturei
Upon this, their neutral ground"
Now these waters gliding seward,
| Wealth If freight do yearly bear,
From the forests, stretching northward,
III Grown for ages, strong and fair.
Undeveoped springs Of power,
Sealed within the mystic pages
Which the m wing years unfold.
Vast improvements yet arc waiting,
Yet will bless this valley fair;
And eacn year will add new beauties
To my city-grand Eau Claire.
NUMBERING.
Wisconsin and Northern Minnesota DOS
sessed rich numbering regions which were
worked many years before actual settlers
took up their abode and made homes
there. The woods swarmed with men
during the winter season, but were de-
serted by all save Indian hunters during
the summer. Supplies were hauled two
to three hundred miles to furnish these
numbering camps. Logs were at first
foated down the Mississippi or other
points far below the pineries to mills for
manufacture, but in time, mills were built
farther north, and rude, rough settle
ments, composed principally Of men,
sprung up around them. To supply these
numbering camps, and also the settlements
around the mills. much farm produce was
required, and it invariably brought a
good price, and for this reason, farmers
penetrated farther into the northern soil
tutles, and at an earlier date than they
would otherwise have done. In these
northern parts numbering may be said to
have paved the way for settlements and
for agriculture.
A scrap or two Of history with regard
to numbering may be Of interest here:--
The earliest mill in the present State Of
Wisconsin. and probably in the whole
Northwest, was erected by Jacob Franz,
about the year 1909. ''He first built
saw-mill and then grist-mill. They
were located on D"vi River, two or three
miles east Of Do pcre. in the present couu.
ty Of Brown, and were erected for Mr.
Franks by an American named Bradley.
In 1913 brother of Mr.. Grignen erected
grist and saw-mill on the west side OF
Fox River about four miles above Green
Bay: in 1916, after the Americans had
taken possession Of that place, the Gov
eminent having use for large quantity
of lumber for buildings in the garrison
and other Fort purposes, caused saw
mill to be built on the Fox River at the
Little Kankakee."
From that time up to the year 1880, the
history of numbering recounts various at
tempts to erect and run mills in the pine
woods. Some were successful, but the
greatest difficulties were encountered-
Here are one or two instances, given
merely as samples.
Wilfred Owens Of Prairie du Chen, as
sociated with two other men named An
drews and Dixon. built saw mill on the
Black River, and commenced saving lum-
Der, but before they had done much bust
ness, the mill was burnt. supposed to have
been set on fire by the Winnebagos. The
mill was not rebuilt owing to the declared
occurred about the year 1919.
In 1922 three men, Hardin Perkins, Jo-
seph Rolette and j. +. Lockwood contract
ed with Wabashaw's band Of Sioux, who
claimed the Chippewa country, for the
privilege Of erecting a mill and cutting
timber for it, and paying them about
one thousand dollars per year in goods
M a., sotr ha
nomonie about twenty miles above its
mouth this mill was erected, and was SO
near completion that the owners expected
to commence saving in few days, when
one of those sudden freshets to which billy
countries are subject, came upon them and
swept away the dam. mill and appendages
and the owners returned to Prairie du
Chen with families and hands. The mill
was not rebuilt owing to the hostile feel
ing that was manifested to the owners by
the military powers "that were"
In nearly all accounts Of attempts at
numbering, given up to this time are men,
toned serious difficulties with Indians,
and with employees. 1t is greatly to be
feared that in many Of these troubles in
early times, whisky played too promi-
nent part.
Here is a scrap that will be read with
interest, principally on account of the two
names which have afterwards held so
prominent place in our nations history,
being in connection Herewith. Who
would think of President of the United
States, or of the noted, or rather notorious
Rebel President, acting as pioneers in the
numbering business of Wisconsin,
"In 1929, Col. Zachary Taylor, then COM
mandant at Prairie du Chen, sent body
of men to the pineries of the Menomonie
river, to cut logs, hew square timber, and
make plank and shingles to be used in the
construction Of the fort and its defenses.
The party left in seven Mackinaw boats
with ten men in each boat. y The
party returned with the timber to Prairie
du Chen, after enduring much suffering
from cold weather and want of suitable
provisions. Another party in 1929, under
the charge of Lieut.. Jefferson Davis was