Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-02-15
.s1. 3 - 8 -s's : -
THE EARLY
History of WauwatOSa.

on the straw in the bottom. The first
carry-all had in this country was
stone-boat. Arriving at the appointed
place, when the meeting was in the
woods, the chairs were taken from the
wagon for the same old ladies. The rest
sat where it was the most convenient,
on logs, on the ground, or perhaps
standing by the trees. On one occas-
sion they celebrated The Lord Supper
in the woods. The furniture consisted
Of small stand, white pitcher, a
plate and glass tumbler for the ele-
ments. No doubt you have all heard of
the man who took his wife home on a
wheelbarrow, but what do you think
of man going to church with his COW
hides drawn over his pants, having
never seen the luxury of grease, bend
ing forward with his hands on his
knees, fording the river with his wife
on his back?-quite a usual custom. :"
| have heard it said that the first time
Mr. Warren attended the log school
house church, he wore shining calf
skins; the second time he neglected to
black them; the third time he wore
cow-hides to be in the fashion. Report
has it that the Sunday when the shin
ing calf-skins appeared at meeting,
Mr.. Underwood remarked that that
fellow-the wearer-would never get
along in this country; but we see that
his abundant common sense led him to
do as the Romans did.
ut was not uncommon when we
reached there before the minister came,
to find one of the laymen holding forth
in the school house, much to his own
satisfaction; while some of them were
standing around a stump discussing
the beauties of Mormonism; others were
seated on Il log talking of their claims
or clearings; besides there was plenty
of gossip in those DAYS.
1t is somewhat difficult to photo
graph the appearance of the early set
tiers as they came together So varied
were the styles of the ladies--one re-
marked; They had the most fashion
of any audience | ever saw" Their
wardrobes consisted of articles brought
FROM the east, while others were manu-
factured from remnants Of worn out
gowns. The girls wore embroidered
pantalcttes extending to the ankle.
For everyday wear, nanl1een, or calico
like the dress were substituted. Con-
spicuous on many occasions was large
| poke bonnet which came originally
from Ireland. But in after years, no
bonnet was more striking, than dear
Grandma Hills green calash.
/ Mr.. n. j Swan has related how they
would sometimes see man coming in
/ to church with red cotton handker-
chief tied around his knee; some would
suppose that he had met with some Sc
we're accident to his person, but it was
only rip in his pants, that the pride
of the natural heart was trying &c
shield. ASK Mr.. Swan who the man
was) Many wore coats made of Indian
blankets of all colors, 1t is thought
they were procured by selling liquor
to the Indians. Mn Warren thus dc
scribes one tall man. who had q
coat that was green. with black
border; that is the blanket had a black
border and the border had to take its
chances when it was made into coat.
The sun had long since discarded it,
and it absolutely refused to reflect its
glory or beauty. 1t was made single
breasted. buttoned from top to bottom,
until 1t was minus button-holes, or any
place to put button. He wore it in
the warmest weather; and what was
the matter? will state it in mathe-
NAUTICAL terms; He was plus coat minus
shirt.
Clothing would wear out, patch as
much as one would; turn the
pants foreside behind, hall-stitch the
old hats with store strings, yet after
awhile they would absolutely refuse
to receives another stitch We could
get only money enough to buy one
thing at time. How it would look to
see a nice new clean coat with those
old patched pants and hat; or a new
vest with the old coat DO You not
think he felt better in the old clothes?
Remember, VIC had but one suit for
all occasions.
In summer nearly all the children
went bare-footed, and it was not an
unusual thing for the men to do like
wise As for the children, they liked
It, and were just as merry and happy
AS the Youngsters Of today. as they
trudged along through the dusty
or muddy road to the log school house.
Going barefoot, however, has disad-
yantages as well as pleasures, The
pioneer youth was always stepping on