Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-08-08
SOME BYPATHS AND
FORGOTTEN LANDMARKS

If you will inspan and go west on the
main-travelled road that will lead you
by the farm of the pioneer Smith, who
still holds the reins after these four
score and four years, and having passed
the mound will note our neighbor Baker
has bought scythe, moved the weeds
and cleared the highway of an inhar~
monious scene. The landscape is too
pleasing for some of the roadside nox-
iousness, But Baker was driven away
by bumblebees and hung up his scythe
to return and finish. Dune" Cade is
small farming opposite G. ]. Smith has
muchly improved his new possession,
while the opposite side is foul of weeds
We turn on the by-path by the hopse of
Alonzo May. A quarter century ago
Alonzo and his helpmate built house,
planted pine saplings which now are
stalwart trees, making the home an ideal
place to live. But short distance is the
new home of our former townsman and
smith, Ben Williams With his wife,
two years ago, to seek health and rest
railroaded to New York and steamed
away to Wales, their nativity. They
longed for the scenes Of the new world
and the friends in the west; returning,
located on a ten'acre tract and here they
will live. Across the way Wesley Cade
has his hands busy to keep the farm 60
ing
Just Off the highway leading south, in
copse of trees, ls the home of Ole Mo-
seng The farm we'll cultivated and
home surroundings good. Then we turn
west on the ridge past John Moseng,
Samuel Hendon and John Fortney
farms. They are all we'll housed and
prosperity is visible in the fields of
grain, meadows and pastures Here was
the home of the pioneer, De Lap, who
grubbed and cleared farm, then when
we'll along in years, packed his belong
ings, travelled on to Oregon and now In
peaceful sleep in the valley. A short
distance ahead we halt by some mighty
willows marking the home of Benjamin
Pierce who lived here for fifty years
then the gates were sjar when their
spirit passed through To another place
provided for them Close by is the home
of Milton Pierce. Many years ago he
lost an arm, but having a will to do,
aided by willing wife who gave him
nine children, he is housed in good
new home, splendid barn, well cultivat-
ed farm and fine herd of cows
We journey back to the school house
and ride past the pleasant home Of Mar
| tin Root, with well-kept grounds free
from noxious weeds. Tip" Pulver haE
well-cultivated land but lives on
/ Chase Heights. We enter the ancient
village of Springville. A house Of some
pretensions fifty years and more ago,
| where one ranch of the Palver family
| lived, now unoccupied and much out OF
repair, calls up old memories Of 10. Pull
yer who came to Viroqua to labor in his
chosen trade Suddenly the Call came
and Jo. Welt peacefully away and left
us. We ncte ancient land marks which
archeologists would be delighted to
search and find the Springville of 1852.
/, " hen Springville was contesting for the
county seat of Badax county, it lad q
spring with water flowing sufficient tc
| turn the burrs of Graham's III III. post
office, three houses and smith shop,
Viroqua had beautiful site, one store
| six houses, two hotels, q public well. on
7, the highway from Prairie du Chen tc
Back River Falls, with a weekly stage
on wheels when roads were good, on
horse when roads were bad, but no post
Office. The discussion as to location was
passionate and persolal encounters were
hard to a,Gid. Spricgville seemed to be
in the lead on 2ccnunr of a grist mill
and spring, claim Icing made people
could go to the county seat % transact
business, take grist to the mill and wa.
ter oxen at the brook. Viroqua claimed
there was not water sufficient for oxen
to drink and grind grain at the same
time. Viroqua would also build a court
house free OF expense to the county. a
proclamation named the 25th day OF
May, 1852, as the time to vote for the
county seat site. The people had been
urged to turn ont and it was reported
every elector went to the polls and vot'
ed. The result was canvassed by Nc
Michael, Lang and Strang election
commissioners. The vote resulted Vi