Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-12-27
BLOOMINGTON NEWS
Gathered by Our Hustling West
Grant Correspondent.
DEFENDED trough AND READY"

DEFENDED ROUGH AND READY"
Our former neighbor, John Law
less, of Bridgeport, called on friends
here last Wednesday. Mr.. Lawless
is enjoying good health, and at the
age of IS a robust man, native of
Fort GRAY ord, Prairie du Chen.
His father, }hn ST., was a soldier
at Fort q ford under Zachary
Taylor and fferson Davis, and
John Jr. enju recounting his faith
er's stories OF soldier life in this
country, and also in England, where
he saw some military life, being sta
toned for time in the British is
land of st. Helena, where the gre 1T
Napoleon faded away in captivity.
Mr.. Lawless said that at one time
his father saved Col Taylor from a
threatened thrashing by a negro.
The negro was free man, and whe1
Col. Taylor, in the vernacular of
SoUthrons addressing ''niggers", or
dered the cOlored man to get him
drink of water, the negro objected,
whereupon Rough and Ready"
slapped him on the side of the heal
with his scabbard. Black man
feathered into white man and floor
ed him; when Lawless Sr. happened
on the scene, and with mighty fist,
developed on the "ould sod', he
knocked that darky about twenty
feet. The future president told Law
less that he would always remember
the timely assistance,
Uncle Zach. shortly after this
episode redeemed his promise, when
Lawless and DR.. 0. P Martin asked
for leave of absence to come over
the Wisconsin river and enter
quarter section each OF. the beautiful
prairie land, at that time an unde-
veloped wilderness. The boys got
their leave and marched with their
guns from Prairie du Chen to Min
eral Point, about 20 miles, along
Military ridge, where there were
very few homesteaders. On this
trip they called on Uncle Nose Hick-
lin. who had come up from Cassville
in '33, after the government survey
had been made, and entered land.
Uncle Nose had a pretentious double
log cabin, which was known to all
travellers.
Mr.. Lawless entered the place now
owned by Thomas and Lizzie Law
less and DR.. Martin took up the Bent
Key farm. That winter Mr.. Law
less built a cabin and made some
other improvements, and in the fol-
lowing spring he got his discharge
from the army and took possession
one of the prOudest pioneers of the
glorious new and undeveloped coun-
try. Mother Lawless always loved
to speak good word for Jeff Davis,
who was then a lieutenant at the
fort. She said that he was very
courteous and thoughtful gentle
man, rewarding her literally for the
work she did in keeping his linen
clean and in good repair.
Theirs was the tread of pioneers of
nations yet to be,
The first low wash of waves where
soon would roll human sea"
SIxTIETH BIRTHDAY.
There we're lively times at the
residence Cf DR., O. P. Sala last. Fri
day, whep his four sons and daugh-
ter came home to help him celebrate
his sixtieth birthday. These chill
dren are: DR.. E. M. and Frank, of
Rock Island, DR.. o. P. Jr. of Daven-
port, Iowa, William O., of Detroit,
and Miss Nellie, of Davenport, Iowa.
During the evening there was an in
formal reception when about sixty
old friends and neighbors enjoyed
the visiting, music and feasting in
plenty. The boys are all busy men
now, and so they had to return to
their homes on Saturday via the
Burlington.
WEDDING PARTY.
DIR. Everett H. Brooks and bride.
of Appleton, are passing few days
at the old home here. They expect
to leave today for a trip to Kansas
City and Denver, for short visit
with relatives of his wife. Dr.
Brooks enjoys a lucrative practice ct
Appleton.
HOLIDAY VISITORS.
Those home from abroad to par
take of the Yuletide cheer in the
happy home circle are as follows:
Miss Olive Hope, teacher, Salem;
Wis; Prof. L. W. Brooks, teacher,
Necedah, Wis; Miss Emma Glasier,
teacher, Madison, Wis; Vern Ed.