The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-01-29
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PIONEER FAMILIES OF EDGERTON
The Hadsps Endured by Those Who Raced the Forests and Sudued the Country
That Coming Generations Might Enjoy the Comforts of Life
Paper Of K Bentley December 1st 1903

daughter resides here. Mrs. Waite,
Crandall, also five grandchildren Mrs
Morti ner Carrier OF the Culture Club is
one of these. Mr.. and Mrs. Finney we're
English people, as were Mr.. and Mrs
Hntson, who moved to Edgerton from
Indian Ford in 1854 and built the red
brick part of the building we have long
known as the y. S. House. Mr.. Hutson
did not expect to keep a hotel, but the
pressing need of accommodations in that
line was the reason for his entering that
business which. he followed until his
death. Mr.. and Mrs. Illusions family
were young people when chey came to
Edgerton. The r. r. House us their
hotel was called was built the same year
that Gilbert Randolph built the Amerl-
can House. He was from New Jersey,
an uncle Of our citizen 4. FL. Bowen.
Gilbert Randolph came in February, "a
built the American House the following
summer and fall and sold it to Samuel
Coon, who was the first occupant, and
returned to his native state New Jersey.
Mr.. Ell. Swift of Waite River, Vermont
came to Edgerton in the spring of 1854
with his wife and children. They had
lived in New York city just previous to
the move to Wisconsin. Mr.. and Mrs.
Swift thought it was not good place to
bring up family of boys SO they came
to this new country. Nine of Mr. Swifts
children attended Albion Academy.
Henry graduated from that school, then
went to Albany, N. Y, where took law
course. On his return home In June lie
was asked to give an Grafton on the
Fourth of July, which he did. In few
weeks he went south as first lieutenant,
to engage in the civil war. In his very
first engagement, while acting as cap
tain, his captain being absent, he was
shot through the heart, dying in about
twenty minutes. His remains were laid
in Fassett cemetery and monument
erected to his memory. Our &. A. r.
Post is named for him. This family was
bright, witty, genial, musical, gOod-heart-
ed and enterprising.
The spring of 1854, Mr.. Stiles Hakes,
''The Village Blacksmith" of Fulton,
moved to Fulton Depot. His wife, a
fine cultured woman, was daughter of
Deacon West. There we're two sons.
David, the elder, had fine tenor voice.
He composed music and gave instruc.
tons in vo .al culture. Oscar, the young
er, was in later years a prominent attor.
ney on the Pacific coast where he became
circuit Judge. Mr.. Hakes kept the first
general store here and for clerk hired the
pioneer German, Christian Geisret by
name. This store has often been referred
to by the pioneers One old lady told
me she paid Mr.. Hakes 80 cents yard
for unbleached sheeting yard wide and
as much for calico. But often this was
thought good enough for Sunday
gown. AS to style, they were SO plain
that we're never out of style. One old
lady whom 1 called upon in the morning
arose from her chair so that [ could see
the cut of her gown and said, '"Hhis is
the way that they made them in '55 and
I have made mine the same way ever
SINCE" She told me of the first lamp
she ever bought. It was at Mr.. Crofts
store. He said: 'Take one of these new
lights home and try it." She did so, but
fearing TO put the glass chimney on the
blaze, she did not think the new light
much of an improvement over the can.
die. But that was long after our pic.
neers had used arag in saucer of grease
for light, after which came the candle
and little fluid lamp in which they
burned camphine. When kerosene came
into market it sold for $1.20 per gallon
This year DR.. Siccum, the first resident
physician came with his wife. He was a
good doctor but returned to the east af
ter few years residence here. Previous
to his coming the sople had called DR..
Head of Albion or DR.. Landers of Fulton
when in need of physician.
There were many whom I have not
time to so much as mention, but there
was young boy who attended the vii
lage school, cIerked il his fathers store
and conducted himself in such manner
that the people were proud of him and
prouder now that he is man. L refer
to Mr.. Albert Robinson, the son of Mrs
Alba Child. When a young man be
studied civil engineering, went west
with surveying party for the Santa Fe
r. r., vas elected Third Vice President,
then second and first, finally general
manager of the road, which position he
resigned few years ago to take the
presidency of the Mexican Central Rail.
road, which position he holds today.
am indebted to Mr.. @. H. Dickinson
for an account of his interesting journey
from Lowville, n. Y, to Wisconsin.
Time does not permit ne to give you
but sketch. Mr.. Dickinson had a
perilous ride by stage from his home
town to Rome where he took the cars
and arrived in GAINESVILLE on the 10Th of
November, 1854; coming by rail to Al
ton, the terminus, he finished his jour
ney by stage. Not being satisfied with
GAINESVILLE he started for Watertovn and
arrived at 'Forest House Station" now
Wauwatosa, which was as far as he
could go by rail. He had engaged his
seat in the stage for the next day, when
he found an old friend and room mate,
Mr.. Searles, who was going to Fulton
depot. Mr.. Dickinson decided to join
his friend; they arrived here at IL o'clock
a. NJ, took dinner at the Finney House,
decided to go to Red Wing, MINI But
Mr.. Swift in need OF workmen to finish
his house, prevailed upon them to re-
main and work for him, which they did
that winter, formed partnership in the
spring known as Dickinson & Searlee,
which continued for three years. Mr..
and Mrs. Searles returned to the East
Mr.. Dickinson married here and has
"a -