Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-06-19

tragis death, but the sight of Mr..
Mosher as he paced up and down the
platform during the entire service
to the last word, the tears flowing
like rain requiring the constant use
/ Of his handk chief and his body shak
ing with sobs, for he loved Frank as
a son Those that had known him
for many years said they never saw
old Ike Mosher so excited and stirred
up as he was during all those mourn
full days. The note found in his poe
ket said, please notify certain
firm in Chicago and another in Cali
fornia. There is money enough in
the bank to pay my funeral expenses
| (oold deliberation). Thus ended my
last day in dear old Grand Rapids.
the memory of which haunted me foT
| years; perhaps there is someone there
yet that remem bers the occur ence.
| Have read and Te-read the paper,
but find very few names of long ago
A man l met seven years ago said
one or two of Mr.. Brundage's sons
were running The Reporter. l re-
membered only two of the boys Ar
| thur and Eddie. Wonder if the Mrs.
E. B. Brundage spoken of in the pa
per is Eddie's wife? The man said
also that Joe Hasbrouck was dead
but that his sons Henry and Amos
| were continuing the business, but find
no business card / know except Geo.
Baker. Can it be possible my old ac-
quaintances are nearly all, dead or
have moved away? Was somewhat
acquainted in Rudolph and Sigel but
not one of the old settlers names do
1 find | think in 1852 or Scotch,
man by name of Francis Hardness
settled in Sigel, the only white faIni-
ly in all that region. Later they
We're joined by two Others Elmer Ell
ghme and Pete, Frederick, William
Millenbach.. In 1854. two more fami-
lies came, La Fayette Briggs and Ho-
race Hecox became neighborsl; all
the rest were Indians. In Jan. 20,
1856 a son was born to Horace Hecoc
the first white child born in all that
region. In Feb. Is, girl was born
to Francis Hardness. Later Mr..
,ho oE UonHad fhn
Frederick after him which the par
ents did adding the name Rudolph.
In the month of April (23rdD the fam
lily moved over that side of the creek
on jumper sled, there being snow
and ice on the road nearly all the way
(two miles)- Afterwards when the
townships were laid out, the one
where their home was, was called Ru
dolph in honor of the first white
boy. His birthday was also McKin-
Iey's so you see he is quite a histori-
cal character. The country was not
long in settling. The Swedes pretty
well filled Sd. GEL and the French form
ed a large settleme emit around the hills
Through which was the road that led
to Reeds Mill. I only remember the
names of Sharkey and Wolfe. 1t
would not be so disappointing to see
so many strange names if they were
not such iaw4breakers; for the life of
me I cannot make out what Nation
aIty they are, must be a good many
Bohemians. The widow Hardness
lived ON her s 40 acre farm in Sigel
with Frank, her only son and three
daughters, Jean, Maggie, and Elite,
Mr. Hardness enlisted in August 1861
in Co. G., 18th Regiment, and died in
the hospital in 1863 His discharge
was made out ready to be signed two
days before he died. but was neglect
ed till too late, and was buried in an
unknown grave. Left wife and nine
children. In February 1852 a baby
girl 10 months died; June 1st, 1869,
the oldest girl, and child (26) died;
in November, same year, Billy (16)
youngest son died; in April, g, 1879
Is died with smallpox. Anna the
first white girl married Llewellym Ga
rison, a son of OFestes Garrison,
former mill owner in Centralia A
Mr.. Parkhurst OF SigeI was buried
next day after Mr.. Foster. His son
iEOnH oh Of hIo hnnnncfaad h11f
I find none of their names in the pa
pers. Did see the name Of Palmatier
Charley Garrison married Ella Palma
tier. I feel as if I would be among
total strangers, SO great has been
the changes. You certainly did your
part by kindly taking the trouble
to do up so many papers and sending
| them with the letter, and I assure
you have enjoyed poring over the
columns time after time till not a
word shall be missed. 1 sincerely
hope l have not annoyed you by this
! long letter or taken too much of youl
valuable time to read it, but it seem
| ed as II must tell you just what L
have to show you how strongly we
cling to old homes and friends Their.
is one thing more l must tell you.
In 1865, was trading with a French
merchant whose store was between
the street and the river, was quite
tall, spare and limped quite badly;
paid him $17.00 one day; he handed
me a box Of cheap thimbles to Sc
lect one from as a gift; fitted my
finger and handed the rest back; it
did not wear off like others but prov
ed to be German silver. have it now
In my possession, a relic of the last
year of the war. Have sewed Spools
and spools of thread with it but there