Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-03-30
f MILL, FIT ARTHUR
The Mills, the Bulls. the
Indians, and Other
CrankS of 1890.


ed to our mind last Thursday on
hearing the first whistle of our new
feed mill and carried our thoughts
backward so years to the starting of
the first mill at this place. At that
time any unusual noise was far reach
ing and alarming and suggestive of
Indians, especially to the young, for
it was not unusual to see ten Indians
to one white, although they were
peaceful and harmless, yet we child
rem could not readily grasp the fact.
Another terror to the young was
the wild bulls which roamed the
prairies, from one of which the writer
one day received two or three uncom-
Portable elevations, which might have
forestalled this article had it not been
his immediate rescue by his brothers.
At the starting of the first mill here,
the writer, small lad, was playing
with his sisters in the yard, when
they were suddenly alarmed by to
what seemed an neutrality-suspicious.
which at once suggested Indians and
so frightened that we Immediately in
modern parlance skedaddled for the
house. Just as we approached the
house our father emerged and casting
his eyes heavenward and elevating his
hands he shouted, GLORY to God we
have cot a MILL This explanation
allayed all our fears and we awoke
the denizens of the wilds with shouts
and laughter. This mill was built by
John Newman, founder of the village,
and was constructed principally of
wood with wooden cogs, hence like a
Young infant terrible, 1t heralded its
existence to all the inhabitants round
about. Our father brought a large
cast iron mill from St. Louis in 1886,
rugged with a crank and large bala nee
wheel, which served for ALL grinding
grinding for many miles around.
Cornmeal was the main staple and
grists were brought on horseback and
the mill like the gods was nearly con-
stantly grinding. Flour was shipped
from St Louis was expensive and
hard to obtain and flour bread became
a luxury and was only INDUCED in
when quality came or upon special
occasions.
Referring to Indians and bulls my
sisters and myself were in wild plum
thicket, about three hundred yards
from the house gathering plums, when
we heard a umbIing sound sugges-
tive of bulls, | stepped out into a lit
tie path which ran through the ticket,
when | Immediately discovered three
Indian bucks advancing down the
path towards us, | gave an Indian
- III a
house, the Indians manifesting enjoy
ment at our fright with hearty grunts
and frequent ki yis. On reaching
the house we sought conceal ourselves
in the folds of the scant skirt of our
older sisters dress, she was only IA
years of age, and the only person at
home and was baking CON pone at
log fire out of doors The Indians
soon arrived and expressed great
amusement at our fright and after
enjoying our discomforture to their
full, they manifested desire to sati-
ate their hunger by signs to my sister
and pointing to her bread whereupon
she gave them large pone with some
meat, when they laughingly departed
pointing backward patting their bread
altering .good squaw papoose.
Later in the fall band of two or
three hundred Indians camped at the
present spring of A. v Wells one
half mile northwest and held grand
pow-wow. their orgies continuing
} through the night. While our family
were preparing the evening meal by
the inevitable log fire we were visited
bv delegation while they were strik-
ing camp; our father had a number
of men in his employ who were pres
ent and some could talk little Choc-
taw and understood more which en-
abled them to properly entertain their
guests. Although no danger was
imminent, vet we kids nestled close to
papa and mamma. and the sister who
rave the bread previously mentioned.
was very nervous having recognized
the recipients of her bounty in the
delegation, some of whom cast admir-
ing chances toward her, finally one
vonng brave drew forth a handful of
Spanish dollars and rendering them
to father. hepointed to sisterutteTing,
good suuaw'' which tended to in
crease her alarm. Our father on
looking up noticed her alarmed de-
meanor and seeming a little fun he
mischeviously drew the young In
dian on By signs until he exhausted
his coin and finally rendered his gun
gun and pony in. exchange. At this
point her father took compassion up
on the poor girls distress and by
signs closed negotiations negatively.
and the Indians took their departure
to the relief of all. Next morning
after they had broken camp. we kids
repaired to the scene of their encamp-
ment and found various relics left be-
- .-nn,- .rhink -ras an ennn tE