The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-08-14
EARLY HISTORY OF KENoSHA

continuation OF the early history OF
the city and county of Kenosha,
written by Rev. III. M. Simmons, in
consecutive numbers, for the press in
the summer Of 1876:
AUTUMN OF 1885.
During the fall several new settlers
came. Some time in September
Chauncey Davis arrived. October 5th
came David Crossit and family. Mr..
Crossit soon opened the first black
smith shop mot far from z. G.. Sim
mons present tannery), where he and
Amos Grattan had plenty to do shoe
ing oxen at three dollars the yoke.
Mrs. Crossit was enthroned the rest of
the fall as hostess in Mr.. Lathrop's
boarding house, where among the
boarders we see Nathan r. Allen,
Chauncey Davis and Jesse Sherwood.
In November came L. w. and 2. w.
Dodge, walking all the way from De-
troit. David Doolittle soon appeared,
and succeeded DR.. Cary in the Turner
house up by the river DR.. Cary hav-
ing moved ON to Root River, where he
was nearly killed one night by rifle
ball from jumper who had taken
possession Of his cabin in his absence.
Nelson Allen also came in the fall and
will "team it" to Chicago through the
winter. John Bullen went east for the
winter, but Walter Towslee, of stately
and dignified bearing, occupied the
house which Mr.. Bullen had built at
the mouth oe Pike river.
JULY A, 1936.-GENERAL REVIEW.
Ask any old settler what was the
great event of 1886 at Pike River, and
he at once replies, "The celebration on
the 4th." 1t was not only Indepen-
dence Day, but the inauguration day of
Wisconsin Territory. Let us then
picture to ourselves the condition of
our county that famous morning, just
forty years ago.
The western half of the county could
not then, I suppose, claim resident
settler. Claims had indeed been made
IN Salem by Alfred Bullen and the
Dodge brothers; and soon after we
find Jason Lothrop surveying on Fox
River, and making several maps of
something he calls city" there. But
the city never went beyond Mr.. 10th.
rop's maps, and up to the end of 1886
I cannot learn that Salem had an actu-
al settler. Paris may have had already
on the ground Patrick Malarky and a
few others, though the date of their
arrival is uncertain. In Bristol we
should have found on certain trees
the names of S. S. Fowler and w. r.
| Higgins, where they cut them late in
the previous fall to make their claims.
Other claims had, Of course, been
made, bat the only resident settler of
Bristol seems to have been Rollin Tut
tie, who came that spring with his
family, and built near G. A. Vincent's
present house. But Mr.. futile was
doing what he could for the settlement
of the town, and we soon hear of a
new boy in his house the first birth
in Bristol.
But the two shore towns could mus.
ter quite population that July morn
ing of 1886. Let us make a hasty tour
through them. Going south from
Pike River we find, down on the creek
that was to preserve his name Orrin
Jerome; who we will hope has new
pigs growing to more fairness than
those of last winter. Further south,
on Miller Creek, we find Henry and
Reuben Miller. Adjoining them is
Mr.. Boughton, rough in his manner
and famous for his grim jokes, but
kind-hearted, and general favorite
with the country people. With Mr..
Boughton is associated his son-in-law,
Capt. Robinson, who has built ware
house at the mouth of the creek, Where
he unloads his vessel, and supplies the
settlers for miles around. Here, too, |
at the mouth of Miller Creek, might be |
seen growing this independence morn
ing that famous field of potatoes
which the old settlers still talk of. and |
which the legend says turned out in
the fall eight hundred bushels to the
acre--a full peck to every hill.
Further south, at State Line, is Levi |
Hanks, who also hoped for potatoes,
but the load he brought for seed last
fall had frozen through the winter,
though they were buried well. West
OF Mr.. Hanks, on the State Line, is
Newton Bacon, with his cooper shop.
him is Darius Nichols, while
on the north are Peter Bacon and
Alonzo Burroughs. Further west
along the State Line we come to Harry
where the passing pioneer
may buy glass Of whi5key provided
the jovial host has not drunk it all him.
self. Here is the famous Milwaukee
road, which Judge Doty laid out the
previous, and along which the
mail IS carried to Green Bay on horse
back.
Passing northward through the
county along this road we find many
settlers. Soon after leaving Mr.. Wind
snr,s wa might get a glimpse to the