Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-10-02
LITTLE JOURNEY TO THE B0YHOOD HOME
OF JOHN MUIR
H. E. COLE


age. He was naturalist and ex-
plorer, travelling over much OF the
United States, Alaska, Europe, Russia,
Siberia, China, Japan, Australia, and
New leland, bent on botany and
geology. He has written number
of volumes and these have been read
by many in Baraboo and the world
over He received degrees at the
University of Wisconsin and about
twenty years ago visited the scenes
of his early life near Portage.
y y. q
In company with Attorney and Mrs.
E. S. Baker of Portage and the Misses
Margaret and Luise Gattiker of Bara-
boo, the writer and wife made a little
Journey a few days since to the Muir
farms in the southern part of Mar
auette county, the first farm occupi-
ed by the family being about ten
miles and the second farm about
fourteen miles distant from Portage.
The way from the seat Of government
of Columbia county led past the site
of Fort Winnebago, taking the Mon
tello highway-the left of the three
roads which branch at the location
of the pioneer military post. The
road extends over rolling country
frequently in sight of the historic Fox
river, lazily vending its way toward
Lake WinnebagO.
x X 4
Mr.. Baker was the first white per
son born in the town of Fort Winnie
bago and in his early manhood oper-
ated horsepower threshing machine.
The last two seasons the Muirs resid-
ed on the farm he threshed their
grain crops, and attended the sale
when they left the place, purchasing
some of the tools used by John Muir.
These articles he treasures to this
day. Mrs. Baker attended rural
school taught by John Muir's sister,
Miss Joanna Muir, in about 1867.
This was school No. 3, the Spicer
school. in the town of Fort Winneba-
go. Our little journey this morning
led near to the site Of the school,
another building now occupying the
ground. Mrs. Baker told of the
school days and a stop was made at
the home of her sister, Mrs. E. B.
Mathbey.
After riding several miles the car
came to another school house, where
the Muir children received instruction.
There is another building there now,
the pioneer one having gone with
other things pioneer. Soon the car
rumbled over a half hidden bridge be-
meath which flowed crystal stream.
"Here's the farm now" exclaimed Mr..
Baker. II have not been here for
many years; it is changed, I scarcely
know the place"
The farm is now owned by James
McReath who lives on an adjoining
place, and is occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. J. E. Collins. When Mr.. Collins
was Intercepted as to whether or
not we might spread lunch some !
where on the farm, he kindly pointed
to a great oak standing on the bank
of the lake.
81 5; *
had no doubt often been, the company
rested and talked of the things that
had occurred in the pioneer home and
on the lake. 1t was here the family !
erected their first cabin in 1849 and /
where they endured narrowing hard |
ships Although wood was in abuna- |
dance at the very door the boots OF
the children were stiff in the morning
and went on with pain and suffering. |
The cabin was cold
- s. *
Before us lay the same placid lake
on which Muir rowed and in which ne
swan, once nearly drowning, as ne
relates in 'The Story of My Boyhood
and Youth" Screaming from tree tol
tree flew the blue jays, no doubt the
defendants of those which so much in
terested the young naturalist when he,
as a boy, observed these policemen or
the woods. The woodpeckers, the king
birds, and many others mentioned by
Muir were all about as we sat in the
midst of dreamy landscape and list
ened to personal recollections OF the
NUTS lfOlu MI. etl1u 4h1 ooHAC1'
y = y
The lake is recorded on the maps OF
Columbia county as Ennis Lake, prob
ably for Sam Ennis who owns the land
on the east side of the inland body OF
water, and is called Fountain Lake by
John Muir in his 'Boyhood and
Youth" The sheet is known rounda-
bout as Muir Lake and by all means
should bear that name, made world
known by the noted traveller and au-
thor in charming volumn he has
written.
81 * -
Where the little stream peeps from
beneath the tangle of vegetation here
and there along its course, or where
it babbles along to the Fox river over
Al. 4<.l