Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-05-19
GRANT COUNTY HISTORY
Fragmentary Tales of Early Doings in This Good
Bailiwck Gathered from the Most Authentic Sources


While it is true that the early in
terests at Potosi were material, al
most grossly so, and conferred around
the lead mining camps, the time came
when matters intellectual and
spiritual were looked after. And
this was but natural, for the entire
population was not speculative and
adventurous. There were plenty o.
gamblers, booze fighters and roughs,
but the Yankee and English settlers
were generally of a substantial,
Iawabiding sort. A few Germans
came in, and they were surely in
dustrious and orderly.
So, while Potosi had acquired quite
a population as early as 1910, the
first school had been in action only
two years. 1t is recorded that the
first school was opened in 1888,
taught by one Cornelius Kennedy, a
veteran of the Revolutionary war.
And while there was quite popula-
ton in and about Snake Hollow, only
nine pupils are named as in attend
ance. This school ran through the
year, after fashion, we are told.
The Herald is not the original
authority on these historic points
there are plenty of histories on
these subjects.
Other schools followed this be-
ginning, and the interest in educa-
ton never was allowed to lag. This
is as to public schools, for the be-
ginning IN 1888 was of the public
school order of that date. Our
grandfathers and grandmothers were
taught the rudiments of an education
in Just such schools as the first to
open in Potosi. And the record shows
that about the year 1915, Catholic
sisters, of the order of the Blessed
Virgin, started a parochial school.
This was patronized by the children
of Catholic parents. 1t had a good
attendance at the very beginning,
and we are informed that it has
never been discontinued, except for
its regular vacations, to this day.
1t is claimed that the first church
society organized in Potosi was by
the Roman Catholics. This was as
early as 1887, and that church is
still in existance. For a year OF
two services were held in the log
cabins of the faithful; afterward a
log church building was provided.
This cost $500, and in its day was
accounted a good thing. Surely il
was much better than none at all
and it was very much of the kind OF
architecture then in vogue in Potosi
and in ether sections of Grant county.
The Methodists organized during
1889, and for time did we'll. But
it is said that during the year 1877
this denomination ceased to be in
Potosi. In December, 1910, the
Congregationists organized, and this
has been a very prosperous society to
date. Today it is in a hearty and
healthy state, with every prospect OF
continuing so.
POTOSI SUBURBS.
So closely has the history of Potosi
been connected with that of some OF
its suburbs on the north, we feel it
important at this time to go into g
bit of detail regarding the spiritual
story of them. Clutch Hollow, now
called Tennyson, lay only about
mile and a half to the north. At one
time this was a prosperous mining
section, and the hills about it are al
covered with mounds, showing that at
some day there was going on at least
lively prospecting. Here Catholic
church was organized as early as in
1S45. The Catholics of this parish
were from the beginning largely OF
German blood. This has always beer
a prosperous congregation.
British Hollow" as the name
indicates, was settled by Englishmen,
mostly by people who came over from
the mining sections of the tight little
island-from Wales and Cornwall.
They were almost entirely protestants,
and at a early date organized g
Methodist Episcopal church. The
date of the making of the organiza-
ton is not given, but as early as
1859 they had substantial house OF
worship. 1t should be recorded that