Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-07-03

long, and We raised a good crop of
potatoes. 1t took 50 much time to
clear land for larger crop next year
did not get the fireplace built in the
main room, and we had to move tht
cookStoye out OF the summer kitchen
which lett our potatoes down cellar
to the mercy of Jack Frost They
were Just like rocks, and the only wa
We could eat them was to put them
in boiling water good and bad, cooked
til done then select, peel, and put
On the table. A very little handling
before cooking ruined them, but We
were such potato lovers, We chose
the least of two wells and Jared very
well.
everyone knew One woman had a
brass warming pan with a long hand
le; would fill it with live GOALS from
the fire place and run it around in eae
OF the beds in a room where there
was no fire. For six weeks she could
ut make one bed without going to the
other room to warm her hands One
morning she made all the beds, and
nearly all the things were hung up,
whtl she happened to think she had
not needed to go to the fire. Rush
ed cut the south door expecting to
see water running ON the steps, but
net drop was to be seen, though
the sun was shining bright. What
must 1t have been before, if it did
mt thaw with all that change? Have
often seen it referred to, by different
papens, in the years that are past,
as thee old winter, but We lived thru
It, and no doubt they are healthier
than the warm slushy ones of Iowa;
and such fuss as they make over
few misquitoes here, why I'd just
like to get a wagon load from Old
Wisconsin s woods, and turn them
loose so they'd have plenty of COM
pany, and enjoy their serenade.
The next summer we had our first
school, in log building with desks
fastened to the wall, and tops next
the aisle We're sharp and square cor
nered One day when playing, one
Of the scholars got hold of the hand
Of the oldest boy and giving him
a sudden jerk caused him to be hit
on the collar bone by one of them. He
complained considerable for a while
but finally got over it, Five years
afterward in 1861, he enlisted in Co.
D. 5th Regiment, Wisconsin Vohun-
teers, but in a few months carrying
the gun so initiated that place he
had to be discharged. l think in
the winter of 62 he re-enlisted dn
the 10TH Came home again in March
a hard hony lump had formed there
about the size Of a goose egg, all
covered withfTeins. Died the End of
July near sundown. The next morning
w.ben We ent two see him, bloody
froth was coming out OF eyes, nos
tmls and mouth, and a stream of
blood was running the whole length
Of floor, the lump was gone, but body
SO bloated had to get an extra sdz-
ed coffin. DR.. said breaking inside
was what caused his death. Thus
ended the life of one of the children
of the sixth family that came into the
wilderness What began in innocent
play, ended in painful death. Was
the first funeral. There was always
one thing l loved Wisconsin and
particularly Wood county for; it's
political princi pies and lyoalty to our
government Our second year, 1886,
was campaign year between Fremont
and Buchanan. Remember well the
anxiety that was generally felt for
the victory of our first Republ cam
Nominee; but it was not to be. Did
not understand all that was said, but
enough to know the disappointment
was keen, and fears and doubts were
expressed in a way that l felt our
country was threatened with danger.
Then the panic of 81; then the ex
element over the debates between
Lincoln and Douglass i'm '58. Later
the contemplated raid by John Brown.
How tense was the hope that he
might succeed. Was almost sure he
would, but hope fled when he was
sentenced to be hung. Will never
forget that day, December End, 18-
So Cold, cloudy, splitting SNOW, and
dull and gloomy all day. So sad was
/, could not put my mind on any
thing else ,and Pa was gloomy and
dOwn+cast, saying little to anyone.
Would the day ever end? Was af-
terward acquainted with the family
MI VIM. Maxson) of West Liberty,
that boarded John and his men, whil1
showed me three letters written by
the boys while they were in Jail wait
ing to be hung. Another acquain-
taHee told me one Of them was her
beau They were not sorry they had
taken that fatal step. Then came
1860. How great the excitement, |
mean in Wood county, when the con-
yention met in the WigWm at Chi
cago. All Wood county was enthuset
During every campaign Pa always tool
from three to five extra papers; al
mong them the Chicago Tribune and
New York Tribune edited by Horace
Greely, whom at that time he ad
mired very much Was so oVerjoyed
with the prevailing sentiment and
hopeful prospect, would read aloud to
us, in the evening, after We got our
work done up, and We too soon join