Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-12-27
MRS. RHopA klLRY.

Mrs. Rboda Kllby was horn in Nir-
ginia, Daa County, near Riet inond al
place c4ll,d Danville, in 1901, and
was nearly 92 years of sge when she
died Her mothers name was Par
sons. Her Esther died in Virginia
when Mrs. Kilby was little grl and
she afterward went TO Missouri with
her mother about 1918 and settled
there near Ashley. The nearest land
ing on the Mississippi river at that time
WAS Louisiana. In 1881 she was mar
ried to Abraham + Kilby. Two child
rep. Elizabeth. now Mrs. Grant Bon
ham, and John j. Kilby, were born in
Missouri, which state they left ABOUT
1885 and came up the Mississippi river
IN keel boat as far as Dubuque, and
then came up the Mississippi aud Grant
rivers in flat boat TO the place where
r tosi. then Snake Hollow. now stands.
Mrs Kilby and her FAM Y stopped all
night with "a son OF Black Hawk, the
Tan Gus WinneOago chiet in his wig
wan. The next day they came to
Boice Prairie to the home OF Thomas
Shanley. who was married 10 Mr..
Abraham Kiloy's sister and was then
hfing on the farm which nov belongs
10 MIR VIM. Kerr Tie family lived
with Mr. Shanley until they had their
house built, v hen THEY made home of
lhelr own. Mrs. Kilby and Mrs. Jo-
-pph Bonf am were the first two white
women who ever lived in the Hurricane
iimter. The woods at that tine were
full OF Winnebago Indians, one of
whom, Cut Nose John. afterward be-
came quite noted for having taken a
prominent part in the Indian depreda-
lions in Minnesota, and was either
killed or driven out from that state by
the soldiers about 1868. After few
years, the Morrels, Martows. some
more n embers of the Bonham
family. Mr.. Coombs. carpenter,
Sgmuel Keene. a black smith, MIR.
Darius cambridge, hard she'll Baptist
preacher, who preached fer these peo-
pie. and also Methodist minis'e
named McMurter Of whom it was said
that be cut his way through Potosi,
came TO make their homes in the Hur-
ricaue woods. Jefferson Groshongs
moved in also shortly after this time.
Mir Kilby end his wife commenced
farming and of course the first thing 10
he done was TO clear a piece OF land
The timber was very heavy and it took
great deal of very hard work To get
even a small piece of land ready for
planting. Mr. kilby had one horse,
but his first team was Yoke Of oxen,
u hough the horse had sometimes to
do duty rs an off OK. The harness
was made partly of hickory bark which
he pee ed from the young hirkoties in
the woods. The collars for the horse
were made of corn Shucks plated into
flat bands and made thicker in some
parts than in others They were not
such bad substitutes after ail. but our
harness makers would soon quit the
business il this primitive kind of bar
ness were to come into general use
again Deer. bear and turkey were
very common and the old fashioned
rifle could easily be made u keep the
family well supplied with fresh meat
The streams we're also filled with fine
fish which were easily caught when oe-
cssion demanded. To the people Of %
day the life hastily sketehed here and
which was The fortune of the eariv set
tiers of this country, seems flu Of
hardships; but there was freedom. an
Independence and future in it that
gave enjoyment and heartiness that
esn not be appreciated except 5v those
who have lived it.
Mrs kilby lived on the old farm un.
I'll Mr.. John kilhy took her Ia his home
about one year before she died Her
husband died in 1882, ana The place
was r, rted after that, sn as farm and