Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-07-02
WATERFOWL, WIS.
JOHN H. ROUNTREE DEAD.
The Well-KnOwn Wisconsin Pioneer
Passes Away.

n
Passes Away.
P~LATTEv1LLE, Wis, June 29.-John II.
Rountree, one of the most prominent
pioneer settlers of Wisconsin, a man
known from state border to state bor-
der for more than sixty years, is dead.
The end came last evening at the family
homestead in this village.
One of the first settlers of the state, a
leader in the development of the lead
regions of Wisconsin and Illinois, n
of the organizers of the Grand Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons, of the state
prominent in politics of county and
state for many years-few men were
better known in Wisccnsn than John
Hawkins Rountree. Born in Kentucky
on March "A, 1906, he spent his youth
and boyhood until 1924 in his
native state. In 1924, however,
he saddled his horse and rode across
the country to Montgomery County,
H., a distance of 800 miles, and two
years later, at the age of Il, was elected
sheriff of the county. Early in 1927,
hearing asgreat deal about the lead
uuiu0S DIT duO uCdI Ndl0IId, l0 sldIlOu
northward with an OK team, and arriv-
ing at the mines on the oath of May he
commenced digging for lead. The
country, however, was then overrun bv
hostile Indians. But before the end of
the year he had made a permanent set
Element where now stands this thriving
little city. He built a cabin of logs and
sOds, and commenced mining opera
tons In earnest; two years later building
q smelling furnace, the first in that sec
ton. Foreseeing a future for Platte
vile, Mr.. Rountree in 1884 purchased
the entire site of the present village at
the first land sale of the United States
land office, then located at Mineral
Point.
In October, 1929, Mr.. Rountree was
County, the appointment being by Gov.
Cass. On May 10, the same year, he
was appointed postmaster. In 1882,
however, the Black Hawk war breaking
out, he laid down his mailing stamp, or
ganized a mounted cavalry
and became captain of it. In 1884, the
war being over, he was appointed chief
justice of the court of Iowa County.
From 1887 to 1867 Mr.. Rountree served
much of the time in the territorial
Council and the state Legislature. He
was eight years in the Council, four
year in the state Senate, one year a
member of the Constitutional Conven-
ton, and one year in the Assembly.
Mr.. Rountree was one of the organizers
of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insur-
ance Company, and was a director of
the company from the time of its found
alton to the time of his death. No man
in the state has spent SO many years at
Madison among the lawmakers as Mr..
Rountree, and no man connected with
the legislative history of Wisconsin has
a purer record.
In politics Mr.. Rountree was origin
ally a Wing, and later a Republican.
He was connected with the Methodist
Church from 1886, and was active in Ie-
ligious, benevolent and literary enter
prises. He became a Mason when a
young man, and passed all the chairs;
was high priest of the chapter and
grand high priest Of the Grand Chap
ter.
Mr.. Rountree was twice married, the
fruits Of the first marriage being five
children, and of the second ten. OF
his sons, George H. Rountree,
who has long been connected
with the Northwestern Mutual Life In
surance Company, is the best known.
Phil. became a newspaper man, and
JOnn NJ. ana harry became lawyers.
Even in his old age Mr.. Rountree
stood perfectly erect. He was fully six
feet tall, an exceedingly well-preserved
man, and a mar of good habits. In
striking contrast with the humble
cabin of fifty years ago is the elegant
house where he spent his declining
years and where he died.
Mr.. Rountree's death was not unex-
pected. He has been failing in health
for some months, the decline of old age
setting in, that could have but one re-
suit. He passed away peacefully.