Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-01
CORRESPONDENCE.
LA JUNTA, 7--24-92.
Friend Fontaine:-

LA JUNIA, I--Zt--J-.
Friend Fontaine:-
The REPORTER of July
14th says Louie Leyonnais has bought
the Filiatreau farm, this being the
oldest farm in Rudolph. When l read
this item it took me back to early boy
hood days in the sos. Please allow me
to make this correction through the
columns of the REPORTER:
In the Fall of 1854, about the 1st of
October, father landed bis family at
Grand Rapids and shortly afterwards
moved up into the woods into a small
log shanty built by a. B. Sampson, the
same being used by him as sugar
shanty in the Spring of the year This
was near Frank Hardness place on the
banks of the Mosquito Creek. A little
farther up the creek lived Billy
Millenbach, who had just moved into
the woods. Still little farther up lived
Elmer Eighme on what was then
known as the Clark place Mr.. Clark
was the first white settler in the woods
and had a crop in SO. These were the
only settlers in the woods at that time
The Spring of SO father took up piece
of land on the east side of the creek on
what was then known as the Mill Creek
Road, built log house and raised a
small crop that year. VIM. Mclean,
Lafayette Briggs were our only neigh
bo1s and they also had crops that year.
The Briggs farm is now occupied by
Paul Juneau, the Mclean farm was
occupied by Peter Morrell when left
there. Tim Hurley cleared off piece
of land and put in crop the same
year; this place is snow owned by Daniel
Rein. These were the only farmers
that raised crops in 80 on the east side
of the creek. That Fall, Joe and Bat
Sharkey, Joe Wolf and st. Amour
moved into our neighborhood and
settled north of our place on what was
always known afterwards as Sharkey
Hill. Isaac Reed and Ruel Austin were
also new corners that fall and settled
one mile north of Sharkey Hill. These
forties all raised crops in '56. Ruel
Austin put out a crop in Reeds place
now known as the Clark & Scott farm.
In the Hardness neighborhood that
year the newcomers were P. A. Nelson,
Swens and John Lindahl, Peter Lin
guist, John Phil, Soalsbery, Patrick and
James Roughan. The Spring of '57
VIM. Turner settled on piece of land
Northeast of Reeds farm and put out a
small crop that year. This farm after
wards became the property of c.
Filiatreau and the statement in the
REPORTER at is said to be the oldest
farm in Rudolph was mistake. The
same year that Turner moved on his
place Maxim and Oliver Dufrane and a
number of others settled near him and
all had crops that same year. Eighme
sold out to Lyman Parkhurst, which is
the oldest farm in Rudolph to-day
This farm was occupied by Fred
Parkhurst when [ left there. So you
see there are a number of farms that
come in ahead of the Filiatreau farm.
Lyman Parkhurst built the first frame
house in the town, and also owned the
first wagon. He built our first School
House, which was located on the
Hardness farm. Father was our first
school teacher Mrs. S. r. Matthews,
the first lady teacher, and our mother
organized the first Sunday School.
James and Patrick Roughan planted
the first fruit trees in the town. Bro.
Frederick Rudolph was the first white
boy born in the town and 1t was named
after him. Anna Garrison, nee Hark-
ness, of Centralia, was the first white
girl born in the town. The first
wedding was Mary Mclean and Loan
Paddock, of Minnesota, the ceremony
being performed by L. NJ. Hawley, of
Grand Rapids, Justice of the Peace.
Elmer Eighme owned the first horse
team. Delevan d. Parkhurst was the
first one to respond to his country s
call and father enlisted the same day in
the same Company.
p 7 HECOX