The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-07-31


Ting place to bury the nations greatest
hero. A great army of dead soldiers
Of all ranks and grades are inferred at
Arlington; it is the largest national
in the Union, and is kept
with scrupulous neatness and taste.
While differences of opinion are ex-
pressed as to the proper burial place of
Gen. Grant, the people will cheerfully
acquiesce in the decision of his more
immediate friends, whose wishes
should be respected.
EARLY HISTORY OF KENOSHA.
We notice a disposition among the
older settlers to revive the incidents
of the early history of our city. Prob
ably no town or city in the state has
been at greater pains to preserve the
history of it's first settlement than this.
There were published many years ago
three histories of the early settlement
of Kenosha; they are found in the
volumes of the Wisconsin Historical
Society. These were by Rev. Lathrop,
w. Mygatt and Col. Frank. The
volumes of the Historical Society are
kept in the fire-proof capitol at Madi-
son, and it is reasonable to presume
they will remain secure through COM
ing generations, if the state survives
revolution. Since the writing of these
early histories, other histories of the
city and county have appeared in
newspaper form. Rev. H. M. Sim
mons, formerly a clergyman of this
city, was at great pains to write a
history of this city and surrounding
country, which was published in the
papers in consecutive numbers, with
the design to be put in book form, but
he failed to meet the encouragement
he deserved. Below will be found a
chapter of Mr.. Simmons article on
Kenosha, published in 1876; perhaps
more may be given hereafter:
"Early in 1885 there had been organ.
lied in Hannibal. N. Y, the Western
Emigration Company, joint stock as.
ISOLATION for making a settlement in
the West. -Four hundred shares, Of
$40 each, had been issued and sold, and
a committee sent west to explore and
locate. The committee. after visiting
Milwaukee, had gone to Root river,
and negotiated with Capt. Knapp for
part of the ground on which Racine
now stands. The committee, except
G. w. Turner, then returned to report,
and John Bullen, Jr., was sent west
as sole agent for the company. But
the intended purchase at Root river
failed for some reason, and Mr.. Bullen
and Mr.. Turner proceeded to explore
further.
They came to the mouth of Pike
river Sunday, June Ia, 1885. Mr.. Bull
len (now living in Elba, Minn.) writes
me that they encamped near the lake
shore, in what is now the second ward,
and the next day proceeded to mark
off their claims on the trees. They
were not, indeed, the first corners. Alb
ner Barlow. as we saw, had been here
to dine earlier in the month. e. B.
Pierce informs me that his father and
brother, Jonathan and Washington
Pierce, had passed through early in
June, and washed their feet in the
mouth OF Pike river. But even In the
sanctity of squatter law. dining and
foot-washing did not establish claim.
So Mr.. Bullen and Mr.. Turner proper
ly made one for the company, j une IS.
A few days later, we find Hudson
Bacon and Jonathan Pierce have ar
rived. Sunday, June 81, came the first
wagon, and in it Mr.. and Mrs. Gardner
Wilson and Cephus Weed. Mrs. Will
son was the first woman within the
city limits, is still living in Hannibal,
N. Y, and writes me that they were
nineteen days driving to Chicago. No
shanty was here ON her arrival, and
she used the wagon for a sleeping
apartment for two weeks, while the
others slept under 1t and on the lake
beach. With an Old-fashioned tin
oven, and kettle hung on pole she
set up her kitchen in the open road,
and, royalty serving dozen hungry
men, remained for five weeks the only
woman here. Immediately after came
Nelson Gatliff, who now lives in Ra-
cine county, who writes me that he
drove the second wagon into the place.
Orrin Jerome and the Caldwell family
seem to have come about the same
time.
FIRST HOUSES.
/ cannot reconcile the conflicting
statements about the first house. But
it seems that early in July four were
built, all north of Pike creek. Near
the present bend in north Main street.
was set up mere pole and bark shanty,
occupied by Hudson Bacon for few
weeks till he built better house near
by. Right on the lake shore opposite
the north end of the island, on that
square which has with becoming yene-
ration been left vacant ever since (un-
til occupied by the late transient saw
mill there), Mr.. Wilson built his house.
Further north on the shore, in front
of Col. Howe's present place. Mr.. Bull
len built another. While further up
on the river bluff, northwest of Mr..
Brande's present residence, G. w. Turn. |
er put up his. A little later in July.
the first house south of the creek was
built by Mr.. Bullen for the company. |
near the rear of Mr.. Simmons insuIa-
tor factory. Such were the beginnings
of our city.
The other parties we have named |
located in the adjacent country. Jona-
than Pierce, in Somers, where he built
a little north of Capt. MaRning's pres
ent house; Washington Pierce Just be- I
You'd; Cephas Weed on section Is.
building his house little to the south /
Of Mr.. Pennoyer's greenhouse; the
CaldwelIs further northeast. Nelson
Gatliff, after remaining here for
time. made his claim up in Pike wood
md Orrin Jerome located on the creek
named after him, and built near the
present slaughter houses.