The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-01-27
Death of a Pioneer.

in this city Jan. 18th, another OF the
early pior GERS of Rock county has passed
to his reward The subject of this
sketch was born in Alfred n. Y, Dec.
26, 1917, whose parents we're natives of
Rhode Island, settling in Alleghaney
county when it was a wilderness. His
educational advantages were such as
were found in a primitive country school
and few text books ON higher mathe-
mates. Securing set of instruments
he began to familiarize himself with
practical surveying that later proved of
great value when he pushed out into the
great unknown West. When 81 years of
age he hired out to Joseph Goodrich
who afterwards was the founder of Mil
ton, and on the Goth day of June, 1885,
they started for Ohio. 1t was Mr.. Good
rich's intention to secure a home and
business in the newer parts of that state
and had loaded three teams with gen
eral assortment of merchandise, such as
would stock country store. Before
reaching Buffalo they met Mr.. Good
rich's brother who had travelled in the
West and he advised them to abandon
the idea of going to Ohio and go to
southern Michigan instead. Arriving at
Buffalo they found they would have to
wait six days for steamboat to take
them to Detroit, and in the meantime
interviewed travellers who told such
glowing descriptions of southern Wis
consin as to induce them to again change
their minds and strike out for the Rock
River valley. They arrived in Milwau-
kee July 18th and with packs on their
backs set out to discover a location for a
trading post On the 10th they reached
what was called Little Prairie. The
beauty of the landscape and richness of
the soil charmed them and it was decid-
ed it was the land they had sought.
They found pioneer named Storrs To-
Gated on what is now Section e. town of
Milton, with whom they boarded while
they erected frame house on the pres
ent location of Milton village. The tim
bers of the house were heWn from the
woods while the boards for the shelves
of the store were brought from saw.
mill located at Mukwanago, Waukesha
county, fifty miles away That fall Mr..
Goodrich left the store in charge of Mr..
Pierce and went East for his family and
more goods, returning in March, 1889.
In June of that year Mr.. Pierce took
800 of his earnings from Goodrich and
purchased his first 80 acres of Wisconsin
land in the town of Harmony. Sept. IA,
1910, he was married to Miss Olive Hall
of the town of Johnstown, who had
taught the first private school in that
neighborhood. In 1916 he sold out his
holdings and bought al acres on Sec. 7,
town of Milton, at the foot of Lake
Koshkonong, which he continued to own
until 1884, when he retired from farm
ing and removed to Milton, where he
continued to reside until the death of
his wife, when he came to live with his
son, Clark Pierce, his only surviving
child, in this city.
The deceased was man prominent in
all enterprises that effected the growth
and development of his town and coun-
ty in the pioneer years He was deputy
surveyor 184l 1874, assessor 1847 8 and
chairman of the town board of supervis-
ors for many years, and held the office of
justice of the peace for long series of
terms During his later years he was
secretary of the Town of Harmony In
surance Co., and always a man whose
Judgment and counsel was sought after
and carried weight with his neighbors.
He was a man whose honesty and integ.
rity were never questioned, and enjoyed
until his death the full respect and con
tidence of the community, which is the
highest tribute to be paid any citizen.
All honor to these early day pioneers
whose privations and denials made DOS
sible the enjoyments of life for the gen
erations that come after them.
TRIBUTE BY EZRA GOODRICH.
James Pierce was one of the primitive
pioneers of this state, nearly all of whom
are now gone. He struck out from his
parental home in Alfred, N. Y, June rs,
1888, at the age of 20 years and months
to day. He had nothing but a resolute
heart and his hands to help himself with.
He came to Wisconsin with Joseph
Goodrich. They landed in Milwaukee
the 18th day of July. From there they
came to the Rock River valley without
the luxury of a lumber wagon and team.
They struck out through the dense for
est and over the wild prairies on foot
with packs on their backs. The wealth
er was dry and hot and were soon weary
and thirsty and hungry, with no habita-
ton in sight. 1t was difficult to find
those who had anything to spare to eat
or place to shelter them over night
Thus they toiled and trudged for five
days and arrived where Milton now
stands July 18th. They were pleased
with the place and Goodrich bought
claim there, and out on the open prairie
with no roads yet laid out he built his
pioneer house. The frame they hewed
out of oak trees for rafters and studs
they used tamarack, and the shingles
and clapboards were oak. The chimney
they made with unburned brick, which
they filed in around between the studs
to keep out the cold and the Indians too.
The building was 16x20, one and half
stories high, with 7x9 window for each
floor. It was painted red the red is
still there and it stands we'll preserved
on its original site
Goodrich left Pierce in charge of his
claim and home, including Millions first
stock of goods, through the winter while
he went east for his family. The dry
goods occupied five short shelves in one
gable and up stairs, with groceries be-
meath, and boards on wooden horses for