Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-01-05

AMONG the most sturdy and reputable.
II is now over fifty-two years since a
settlement was made at Cambria. in
central Wisconsin. They are great sing
ers and love simple things. There are
Ten distinct settlements about Cambria
ard Randolph--S,000 descendants of
those who came to Wisconsin about
1886. Some of the colonies have Welsh
names-words spelled, as It were, by
dropping lot of consonants in a heap.
Those who came over as pioneers came
for cause" There were rent troubles
In the old country, and they didn't like
the 1.-THE laws nor the compulsory sup
port of the Church Of England. The
party made the Atlantic journey in less
than a month, and they landed, not in
New York, but in Albany on the Fourth
OF July. One can imagine their early
Impressions of the new America, for
they did not understand what the noise
was all about. They were also able to
reach Racine by water, but then began
search to find their fellow country
men who had come over four years be-
fore. A long snd perilous journey was
undertaken by two - the men to the
vicinity of Fox lake, where IL was ru-
mored three families lived who spoke a
language that more therabouts UNDER
stood At length the weary and starry
ing prospectors came upon the cabins
at dusk. The meeting was an amusing
illustration of the Observation-Disclosures
| OF the Welsh people. Remember they
had known each other years before in
the mother land.
How are YEP" inquired the home
steader TRANQUILITY. Must a hunted a
| good bit to find US out"
How are YEP" was the reply, Lucky
we got here afore dark. All well?"
"All. Wife's round the corner milkin'."
But the newly arrived Welshmen took
| UP homes nearby and then began the
drama of hardship and courage so
often enacted in the new northwest.
Some of the people lived in dug-outs-
| holes five or six feet deep, covered with
logs and matched with earth and
branches. The men walked seven miles
| a day to split rails for 70 cents a hun
dred. The first -four mill was at Fox
| Lake, forty miles away from some of
the families. Their butter brought s
cents pound and eggs cents a dozen
In trade. The Sunday school is a
strong feature of Welsh life, encroach-
ing on the functions of the public
school, as other nations know 1t. The
Welsh are Presbyterians, as a rule.
There are many Welsh scattered over
Wisconsin, though they are grouped
generally. and splendid citizens they
vaaka
Raising $4,000.
Wisconsins big celebration is only
five months away, to begin with the
county rallies for which history-Ioving
people are making great preparations.
May 20 is the date. Secretary Stickney
plans to raise $4,000, of which Madison
is expected to raise one-half Milwau.
kee will put up $4,000 and the remain
ing $4,000 is to be subscribed by the rest
OF the state. The Madison committee
is made up of financial men, including
Frank X. Falk, the treasurer of the
Pabst Brewing company Nothing
goes in the big city until that CO.
lossal industry is interviewed. An in
creaSing number Of associations are
making plans to hold their big con-
ventions in Madison on June 80, when
the state celebration will be held in this
city. The editorial association has SO
arranged; the teachers association ex-
poets to hold Special at that time;
the women's clubs will have a grand
time; the Third and Fourth regiments.
and probably others will do the same.
Young Mr.. Stickney is busy collecting
money for the semi-centennial fund. IT
10 probable that ex-senator Sawyer and
ex-Congressman Stevenson are good for
$500 each. There is growing interest in
the latter gentleman by reason of the
mention Of his name in connection with
the next senatorship. He came to Wis
consin early and is naturally proud of
his boyish experiences. He broke 1870
acres near GAINESVILLE and put in AGO
bushels of wheat the next spring. Ste
phenson worked with his hands. When
he went into the logging camp he drove
six yoke Of oxen, and later he was pro-
NOTED to the charge Of the camps But
II there were giants in those days"
there were opportunities as WELL
At the age of 81, when the modern boy
IL just beginning to shave and WON
dering whether he'll be cabinet officer
or devote his life to African explora-
tons, young Stephenson went In bust
ness for himself. The land office for up
per Michigan was first opened at this
time and the boy proved a good Judge
of pine lands and he put his savings
into them. But as has often been said
these Wisconsin fortunes made in pine
lands reflect no especial credit on the
early buyers. The value went up with
the years, until land that In some in
stances cost $1.25 an acre netted $780,
Such appreciation-the unearned incre-
ment as Henry George would phrase it
would make anybody rich. In 1852 an
interesting contract came Stephenson's
way-to furnish the logs for the Chica-
go breakwater.
Since 1SS3he has been president of the
North Luddington company, capitalized
at 100000, and one of his early asso-
ciates was w, B. Ogden, who was Chi
Cages first mayor. In 1871 Mr.. Ste
phenson and is associates were rich
enough to sustain fire loss of $1,000
900 in one day-in Peshtigo, in the for
est, the largest woodenware factory in the
world; and in Chicago, the distributing
store. Truly, a remarkable coincidence!
Mr. Stephenson has been a man of ideas
all along the way; for instance, he was
the first to tow barges on Lake Michi-
gan. He started some tugs and from
this an enormously rich transportation
company sprung up. he was in the
Sturgeon Bay canal enterprise; and for
the Green Bay turnpike-on which his RI
walls said contemptuousiy Rocky noun
tain goat could not Pick its way-Mr
Stephenson received a handsome land
grant.
The Welsh made the wilderness bios
som and others have done it, too.
A SoI.s
trip through New Hampshire. He
was appalled, at the barren hills and
wondered how it was possible to ex-
tract a living from the soil. At length
he saw a cheap looking old farmer
and addressed him:
Say, old man, what under the sun
are you farming 1t on such a rocky
desert as this for? Why don't you go
fo Kansas where land iS phaap apd