Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-01-07
HARDSHIPS OF OLD DAYS
PRODUCED BY IN
DUSTRY AND ECONOMY
A Foreigner Who Made Success in a
Strange Land-A Life and Record
Well to Emulate

A final departure, a few days since,
of William NJ. Bouffieur, for his newly
acquired home in he state of Oregon,
removes from Vernon county the last
member of the family OF the late Hon.
Philip B0ufileur, one OF the foremost
during nearly six decades. Mr.. Bout
fleur was known as one of the most
successful men in civil life this com
mun.ty has produced. ard his activities
ceased with his death a year since.
His example may well be emulated.
To demonstrate the privations and hard
ships OF pioneer days, and the success
es brought by industry and economy,
we herewith subjoin the article below,
which was read by ME Bouffisur at an
old settlers reunion ns.d here in 1902:
In 1857 in company with ADAM Doerr. his
wife and two little Girls. now Mrs. Joseph and
Neal McLecs. the steamer Key City landed US
at O'Clock a. m, April 9th. bitter cold night.
at Bad Axe City. now Genoa The only hotel
was not even pinstered We stored away our
wives and children. took on our coats TO keep
them warm, while Adam and ! walked the
floor looking for morning to come. for which
We were glad After paying 81 90 each hotel
bill John Greenman took us to our destination
at Springville, with his horse team, which were
rather scarce in those days. We were well
cared for by John Graham and his wife Lam
ech Graham and James Barry were keeping
store at that time and hired out for 81 per
day as shoemaker. and remember veil while
an my way TO Dubuque for leather, a man on
the John Hayes farm gave me $50 to buy him a
barrel OF pork Another man at Genoa gave
me money To buy him two sacks of corn meal.
| ! worked for Graham & Barry only short
time as they failed and left me without cenj
of money. no work no friends In a new coun-
try. not able even TO talk English and in debt
ss5 for part of a house built for me to live in.
Then It was that began working for farmers:
my wife worked for folks for whatever they
were willing TO pay Us; We actually suffered
| for the necessities of life Finally we got $50
| from the east and few dollars from the sale
Of pair OF shoes had made for my wife but
she insisted on turning them into money. that
/ She could 80 bdrcfooteda while longer James
/ Lowrie had been working for Graham Barry
and was IN about the same tx, financially. that
| / was and lis wife. like mine had been bare
footed for some tme. Mr. Bausman former
shoemaker of Viroqua let me have leather
enough for pair of shoes for my wife which
4 ! sold 70 Jim Lowrie for *, Mrs. B0niiieur be-
/ ing willing 10 so barefoot while longer and
1 insisted that make the shoes tDr Mrs Lowric
| With this same S23 went TO Ia Crosse on foot
aud carried home roll OF leather on H. back.
/ This did quite number of times. / worked
with determination TO get start. Many
times worked clear through the night. as
had plenty To do. AsnAa coming In the even
| ing and wanting pair OF boots in the morning
and having the money 10 pay for them, l got
them ready. Folks would talk among them
selves and wonder If that Dutchmun ever slept.
| They could see my light and me working
/ away. but Ike many others fooled away sorTie
six years building hotel and other unpro-
fitable doings SO that oil had TO show for my
| hard work was about $500 and By that time
quite family, which seems 70 be the lot OF
poor men My income was light and my ex-
penses in proportion. Millinery bill for the
| season was ten cent straw hat with Ave
cent ribbon for our daughter Dora which was
| all satisfactory. In 1854 | bought out Mr..
Bardolf and started store keeping; went in
debt about 5000, kept up my shop in connect
/ ion with the store, myself and two men running
| ID while Mrs. BOuffleur Nels Day and wife did
\ the work IN the store. For while after the
store closed evenings we employed our school
master 10 teach us English and other branches,
Being quite successful after few years /
| Iugift out Alex and William Lowrie aud NOV.
cd 20 our present Springville store then
employed four and nyc clerks, including Capt
Alex Lowrie our sales running 10 some 10000
. year ror cutie nunisaf 81 years was
proud of my business, customers coming from
! quite o distance Esofea. Coon Valley, Liberty
! Pole. West Prairie, Newton, Genoa, KicEapoo.
Coon and Round Prairie.
This busy life OF 3s years OF store keeping
| had its ups and downs, have been favored
| through these years by many friends privi-
| ieges and honors for which l feel grateful
and shall as long as live. / am now 70 years
old and feel my strength failing and must
come TO the conclusion that my race is nearly
run. but otherwise am happy ane conteuted
| and glad am with you on this occasion.