Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-07-29
MYSTERIES OF
GRAND RAPIDS
A Paper Read by Capt. J. L.
COtey Before the Old Settlers.

An incident which happened on the
first day of the New Year of 1847, in
which the writer was victim:
AS | had only been a short time
at Grand Rapids at the time of the
incident in question, having arrived
on the II of November, 1916, and
being yet in my fifteenth year, and
so short a time since leaving home,
having left home September 15, 1916.
Everything appeared very strange
to me, the looks of the country, the
manners of the people, the men es-
pecially appeared very odd to me.
1t must be remembered that all of
the enterprising pioneers were not ali
saints, although there were many
good men among them.
| felt like a cat in a strange gar
ret and so homesick When think
ing of home, which was especially
on the first day of the year, when
all relatives and friends assembled
and shook hands and kissed good
friends for the coming year and any
III feeling that had existed during
the last year was to be forgiven, and
all, old and young, the handsome and
the plain, kissed and wished each
other a Happy New Year. But not
so at Grand Rapids, at least not at
that time anyway. So you can form
an idea in what dilema | consider
ed myself when comparing my form
er enjoyments on New Years Day at
home and that at Grand Rapids in
1S47. Although there were at that
time at Grand Rapids young, beauti-
full and enterprising ladies that |
should have visited but being new
conner and SO very bashful that |
had to forbear it, and it is now with
pleasure that | can state that there
are here present on this occasion
some of those ladies whom | hope
to have the pleasure to meet time
and again; a pleasure which l know
| will have, for good people always
live to a great age.
And so | had to content myself by
remaining in the store on that day.
But | received three kisses just the
same on that memorable day, hence
the incident in question.
In the afternoon l had to go to
Mr.. Minors store, located where at
present Mrs. J. Hamm's store is, and
on my way when. opposite to where
the First National Bank now stands,
| met a giant of an Indian drunk, by
the name of Mosinee, the terror of
the neighborhOOd, for he had killed
many Indians and also attempted tc
kill many whites.
Well, Mr.. Indian on seeing me ran
up to me and put his long arms
around ny neck and before | could
free myself from his husSing embrace
he had kissed me three times. Now,
if this Osculation had been a squaW
| would not have kicked, while at the
same time | would not have Dragged
about it. To still add to my predic-
ament the Indian had a very severe
cold in his head and as the Indians
very seldom carry a handkerchief,
they generally use the corner of
their blankets, but in this case Mr..
Mosinee used neither. So now think
of me: | did not like it but to cap
the climax the Indian did not re-
,i-I,l IL o1I e Il al
with his left hand by the lapel of
my coat and kept on pushing me in
all directions and saying Ho no
money, and at the same time hold
ing his right hand with three fin
gers pointing and saying three, three,
ten cents | finally cOmprehended
that he wanted ten cents per kiss
Just think of the impudence. OF
course | objected to foot the bill and
when he saw that | repudiated he
passed his right hand to his belt for
his knife and | at once made my
greatest effort to free myself, which
| did by a quick jerk with all my
strength, but l left him in posses
sion Of one of my coat sleeves, and
as Mr. Indian was picking up his
blanket that had dropped during the
melle / started and ran-yes, l say
ran, for if ever a black headed
Frenchman ran for dear life, it was
the writer On arriving at Mr.. Min
or's store [ did not turn the knob of
the door, l pushed the door right in
and ran through the store and out
of the back door through woods and
stumps, which was about where the
Opera House is now located, to Mr..
Biron's place of business, which was
situated about 100 feet south of the
present City Hall.
When | entered the store with my
coat torn and very much excited, Mr..