Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-08-16
Recalls Early Days
In WeSffieId
Written by Mrs. Henry al exander TT Eighth Street,
Baraboo Wisconsin

In the spring of 1858 we started
down the Monongahela river on a
steamboat. We left the beautiful city
of Pittsburgh; went about mile down
stream, and then met the Ohio, gong
down the Ohio to the Mississippi.
Then we went up the Mississippi river
to Prairie du Chen. We were a party
of ten, father, mother, five brothers,
George, Peter, Philip, William and
Andrew; myself, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Scharnke. He was generally known
as shoemaker ScharnEe," as there
were three brothers, one watchmak-
er, and the other a Jaeger, or rather a
sportsman.
We landed at Pra' RE du Chen and
got off in the night. The captain
called out, "Stackhouse, have you got
all your children?" ] still hear that
ringing in my ears, wondering if the
Captain up there will some day call
the roll, and if father will be able to
say, Eyes, they are all here"
We took the train from here over
land to Mazomanie. The next day we
arrived at Sank. There was no train
there then. We took the stage to
Baraboo. 1t was a very rough ride
and William got seasick and crawled
under the seat, while Andrew kept
watch. He would look out and say,
Hold tight" There were bumps and
stones on the Sank road then.
When we got to Baraboo we were
advised to inquire in any of the stores
the way to Mike Nippert's, SO we did
and were directed southwest of town
three miles, where there was mud,
mud, mud, but we trudged on just the
same. There were not many places to
inquire along the road ,obut when al
most there, we met a little old lady
who was on her way to Baraboo. OF
course mother asked where Nipperts
lived and she told us. and then she
and mother got to talking and the first
thing / knew they kissed each other.
II asked mother afterwards how she
had become acquainted with the old
lady and mother said, "She is Meth
odist SO am I; and that's the way they
used to do"
When we got to Nippert's, they had
a log house with only one room, and
five of us there to stay awhile.
wonder what folks would do now If
such a family came in unexpectedly
I seem to see Mrs. Nippert now as she
came with outstretched arms across
the field to meet us.
Well, now for Westfeld! There
was vacant house there which some.
one was kind enough ito leave. We
moved INTO that old house, where all
the old settlers went, and it was not
much of a shelter when it rained. We
had three beds in a row. The beds
were built higher then and as Andrew
and had a trundle4 bed, we were the
| lucky fellows, because when 1T rained
! we could move our bed right under
one of the other beds. ST.
| Our folks first cleared up land and
cut logs for new house. wish
could tell you all we had to endure in
those wears. The boys were like the
! Yankees, all drifteds back, but the
younger ones. Then the war came
and four <of them enlisted, returning
! home later with only slight wounds.
| My first school days were spent il
Wcstfeld our first teacher beng g
preacher by the name of Br.agel, and
he was fine The first schoolhouse
was large log building partitioned il
! two parts. In one end the minister
lived and in the other he taught or
weeks days and preached on Sundays
and I seem to see his rickety pulpit
vet. The next teacher was another
preacher, but he was not so good as
/ Mr.. Biegel. Then came Mrs. Mary
| Patterson, who was excellent. She
is st. IL living in Dakota.
| We had good times there together
Amelia, William and George Faller
John and Caroline Schara, the
Schums, Gieses, Schultzes, Schultes
and ourselves.
| When I first started to school, q
boy of my age, Henry Nippert, al
whose home we first stayed, went tc
school with me. We both walked uT
to Westfeld, through the Seeley bot
toms, stopping at the Fallers place
now owned by Mr.. Schwartz
Amelia got us something to eat and
| tell you it tasted good. From there
we went to Mr.. and Mrs. John Wer
ron's, and there were all the old Pitts
burghers together They held meet
ing there and the minister was Johr
Salizer.
/