The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-12-25

| joy came to the heart of the pioneer as
he received the patent which gave
him indisputable title to the land he
had claimed and watched over. Early
settlers sources of income were
meagre in the first years and every
dollar that conld be spared from their
living was boarded for the land sale.
Some borrowed money at exorbitant
rates of interest and never could pay
1t and had to sell out, which they could
do at an advance and go to a newer
country. In this way many farms
passed into the hands of SPECTATORS.
The pioneers were not long in pro.
ducing crops of wheat. The great
prairies we're already for the plow.
The first breaking plows were secured
from Illinois but they were soon
manufactured here. From land
broken in the early part. of one
summer crop of wheat scould be
harvested the next summer. Beyond
supplying the wants of the settlers
there was no market for the grain and
It had little money value until way
was provided for shipping it to- New
York.
Who Are Pioneers?
Some of our newspapers persist in
writing Of people who came here
after 1850 as pioneers. AS nearly as
can learn every desirable quarter sec
ton of land in Racine was claimed and
occupied before the Hand sales of
March 1889. The men and women
who did this-settled this county
settled the land and they and only
they are pioneers. Those who came
IN the first ten years after, from 1889
to 184o in the early history of the
county could be appropriately called
early settlers and now old settlers.
Those who came after 1850 may have
settled themselves here but they found
the country as well settled and fur
nished with the appliances of civiliza-
ton as Eastern communities more
than a hundred years old. Our schools
and school houses we're superior to
those Of any of the older states. Much
has been appropriately said and
printed about our grand free school
system and the justly honored men
whose labors and influence gave it to
us. | want to give here honorable
mention of the Elder Jason Lothrop
and Rev. Mr.. Hatch who gave large
| time, labor and thought to the work of
influencing public opinion in favor of
the free school system of Wisconsin.
There were preachers among the
pioneers and they took the field early
and staid notsin their abors of build
ing up and maintaining the moral
stamina of the people Abner Barlow,
Elder Jason Lothrop, Reuben H.
| Demrning and Rev. Mr.. Hatch were
among the very first. Mr.. Hatch
founded in Southport a Protestant
Episcopal Mission which eventuated
IN the fourishing church of that de-
nomination which embel1ishes this
city. The log houses, the homes of
the pioneers were the first places used
for preaching services and afterward
the school houses. There is a mass of
interesting incidents and reminis-
censes of personal nature still living
in the recollections of few remain
ing pioneers bat it would require a
large book to contain them all. When
the last pioneer has passed away these
"reminiscences will exist as legends in
the recollections of the generations
who follow them and who heard them
oft repeated.
have made no attempt to give a
connected logical history of Kenosha
consecutive as to dates. My object
has been to secure the genuine facts in
the early settlement of Kenosha
county and present to you incidents
and "reminiscences, that would be of
interest and value.
I am we'll aware that have left un-
said, unwritten more material than
have space to utilize. Referring again
to school matters in pioneer days I
have recently learned that Elder Jason
Lothrop established day school Just
North of the state line on farm now
owned by c. Reilly on section 81.
Henry Williams an aged pioneer and
a widely known resident of Kenosha
was one Of his pupils and Mr..
Williams informs me that two others
of the pupils are still living.
L