Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-30
A Venerable Illinois Woman RecOuntS
Her Early Experiences in
the West.
She Well Remembers the Famous In
dian Chieftain and Relates Some
Anecdotes About Him.
Her Husband Helped to Bury the
Whites Killed at Kellc g's
Grove.
Freeport, ILL.,, Democrat.


| Ill. Her life has been one crowded with
experiences of an early day and now in her
| old age she loves to gather her children
and grandchildren about her and tell them
stories of the past, These same listeners,
| from hearing the stories over and over
again have felt at times as though they
were participants in the events, and in
| their hearts have been planted flower of
patriotism, which will bloom and blossom
| long after she has gone to that brighter
land.
1t was the pleasure of a Democrat repre-
sentative to call on Mrs. Shull at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. Charles Rodebaugh.
Mrs. Shull is one of the old school. Few
wrinkles have come to mar her pleasant
countenance and the silver among the
gold is hardly noticeable. Very good
health has fallen to her lot and bravely
has she borne up under the weight of in
creasing years.
Melissa Van Marie was the daughter of
Morgan Van Marie and the "baby' of a
family of eleven children. She was born
Aug. II, 1914, and is now in her 18th
year. The family lived in Morgan,
Highland county, Ohio. Her father was a
farmer. And when Melissa reached the
age of two years her father died and to her
mother was left the one support of the
large family. Some time later one of her
brothers, A. P. Van Marie, pushed out in
to the great west, where after conducting
a trading post at Prairie du CHEN and
Dubuque, he returned to tell his people of
the wonderful country along the Missis-
sippi.
| Melissa has reached the age of fifteen
when she and her five brothers embarked on
steamboat for the new land.
They tarried at st. Louis for a while
and then steamed up the mighty father of
waters, until they came to Galena, arriv-
ing there June 20, 1927. There was no
town except two houses, one store and a
little tavern kept by Abbott & Swan. The
boys at once began mining and Melissa
remained at the tavern and amused her
self as best she could. One Of the princi-
pal amusements was falling in love with
Jesse w Shull, and on August 20, of the
same year, they plighted VOWS. Mr.. Shull
had been one Of the earliest traders i'll the
northwest and was partner with his
brides brother. The marriage took place
at ShUllsburg, and was the first event of
the kind in Lafayette county.
The newly married couple went to
house keeping in their log cabin on the
present site Of Shullsburg, Wis, the place
being named after Mr.. Shull. They had
received a section of land from the gov
eminent and a fourshing trading post
was conducted. The Winnebago Indians
owned all the land around them
and they would bring in furs
and trade them for blankets.
other trinkets. The Indians were not
troublesome at that time but soon after a
war broke out between them and the
whites. The war was caused by the crew
of keel boats in proceeding up the the
river o,Fort Smelling carrying with them
several of the squaws, after having made
their liege lords helpless with fire water.
The dusky females were returned to their
homes upon the return trip but the braves
were very much incensed and nothing but
blood would wipe out the blot upon their
honor. They followed the Winnebago
war which ranged for brief period. Other
causes for this war are given and other
versions of the KIDNAPPING story are extant.
Two forts were built for protection,
one at Shulsburg and another at Dublin
Mr.. Shull was captain of q company chat
he raised. His senior commanders were
Colonel Whitheside and General Dodge
There were no battle to speak of The
Indians were afraid of the whites and the
whites were afraid of the red skins and so
they never came together in deadly COM
bat.
Mr. Shul and some other men went to
an Indian village one day to make treaty
but when they arrived there they could
not find an inhap;tant around. Upon
their return they came across q little Win
nebago Indian boy, who was riding a
pony and carrying a gun. They
wanted to get him to find out where the
! Indians had gone, but he would not be
taken and when they made any advance
he pointed his weapon threateningly. Mr.
Shull could talk the Winnebago language
and told him that they were his friends
and had come to make peace. He finally
gave himself up, but would not allow them
to have the gun. Mr.. ShuIl rode behind
him on his pony and in that way he was
brought into the fort where he remained
three or four weeks. One day four In
dians came into their fort with white
flag and when of the men saw them he
rushed out, yelling: Lord, there comes
more than ten thousand Indians" Peace
was soon afterwards declared.
Mrs Shull saw Black Hawk on a keel
boat as he was going down to St. Louis
|
their way to see the big father at Wash
ington When Mr.. Shull had his trading
boat at Galena the chieftain did good
deal of business with him. One day he
had been drinking too much red LIQUOR
and came in with lot of his squaws and
wanted the trader to give each of them a
dress and some jewelry. Mr.. Shuli refus-
ed to do so whereupon Black Hawk be-
came enraged, called for some of his war
rlors who were on the shore, and ordered
them to take the goods. Before they could
reach the spot, however, Mr.. Shull knocked
the chieftain down and he tumbled out of
the boat into the river. He was so drunk
: that he came within one of drowning, but
finally reached the land and the whole
band Of them filed off into the forest AT
ter that Mr.. Shull was not molested as
none of the others cared to come within
range of his good right arm.
: Mrs. Shull remembers the incidents OF
the Black Hawk war; in which her husband
and brothers served, as though they had
occurred but yesterday. She saw both the
Hall girls when they were brought into
the fort at Gaiena. and was in the fort the
night of the false alarm. Her hus-
band helped to bury the whites that
were killed at Kellogg's grove. He also
, took very prominent part In the war OF
, 1912. and his widow receives a pension for
his services there.
"One great man | saw in early times, y
says Mrs. Shull, twas General Scott. He
took dinner at our house when we lived
at Gelena. He was very pleasant gen
{ tleman and the conversation during the
dinner hour was very interesting. | was
in Freeport when there YVES only one house
there