The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1907-02-06

Written SUunty Historical Society by Mrs c. Remington
of Olympia, Washington. Read Before the Society by
Miss Emma Gdttiker of Bardboo.

In the Spring of 1850, l was one of a
class of three, who received the first
diplomas granted by the Milwaukee
Female college. Being anxious to be-
gin what / considered my life's work,
I was pleased to receive a letter from
my uncle's brother, retired metho-
dist minister in BarabOo, Mr.. James
Flanders, saying there was good open
ing for private school III that place,
and advising me to come Immediately
AS there was no railroad in WiscOn-
sin, and no way of ftravel except by pri-
vate conveyance, Arthur Flanders, who
later lived in Portage, procured a horse
and open buggy, and we started for
Baraboo, guided by few general di-
rections. Neither of us had ever before
been west of Milwaukee. D We lost our
way several times, and the people OF
whom we made inquiries could tell us
nothing about the location of Baraboo,
but they could direct us to Fort Win
nebago, now Portage.
The first night we stopped at fair
ly good hotel, but after that we passed
through no cities, and were forced to
trust to luck for resting places. The
second night fortune favored us. En-
tering a small village at dusk, we
drove up to the most hospitable look
ing house, and requested a nights
lodging. The owner inquired our
names and destination, and the answer
insured al hearty welcome. He had
known and often entertained Mr..
James Flanders when he was a circuit
preacher in Southern Wisconsin. He
took us in with pleasure, gave us OF
his best, and bade us good speed in the
morning He said the village was
Astalan, and that some ruins, the ma
.ture of which I have forgotten, had
made it famous.
A Night of Horror.
The third night was one of horror,
and though groundless, none the less
real. We had been driving for hours
through a desolate country, without
sign of human habitation, when we
came upon low, lonesome looking
cabin. Impelled by necessity, we re-
quested shelter, and were grudgingly
admitted. The distance from civiliZa-
ton, the gloomy surroundings, the
miserable buildings, and the forbid
ding aspect of our hostess, prevented
sleep or rest. Through the long sleep
less hours, started at every sound
Imagine my feelings when the door OF
my room softly opened, and stealthy
steps approached my bed. [ lay speech
less with terror, until recognized in
the intruder, my hostess, who drew
from the larder, under my bed, piece
of bacon and withdrew to prepare oul
early breakfast. dressed hurriedly in
the grey light of dawn, and went out
doors to find my driver already har-
Messing his horse, as anxious as tc
leave the desolate place.
The country was varied and inte-
resting, but the roads left much to be
desired. For four days we journeyed
over long stretches of level prairie, ul
and down rough wooded hills, through
sleepy villages, through bogs and over
corduroy roads. Such were the condi'
tions of travel from Milwaukee to Bar
aboo in 1850. We crossed the cole
Wisconse" by ferry at Dekorra, sc
named from an Indian chief; and or
the evening of the fourth day, came
into Baraboo on the Portage road
rounded Camps corner Fourth and
East streets and with tired bodies
and thankful hearts, reached the home
J of Mr.. Flanders.
/ 1t was a low, story and half house
on the corner of Sixth and Birch streets
/ think the road was not opened farth
er west, ,as there were no houses west o
it, and thick woods lay between it an'
Lyons. Opposite was small cottag
occupied by Ed. Hart; near by was Dl
Cowles' house, not yet completed an,
opposite this was the home of AS
Wood, the Methodist preacher.
think those were the only houses i
that immediate neighborhood. Short
| " after / came, Mr.. Flanders sold ou
to Mr.. Taylor, who enlarged the hous
some what, and later Mrs. Daniels use
| it for boarding house. Mr.. Taylo
built Taylor's Hall and other building
south of the Square. His two son
married the two daughters of Co
Sumner and moved to California,
/ Church OF Logs.
The only church in Baraboo was til
4 49, ~