Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1920-11-17
EARLY DAYS
IN old POTOS|

Among the early arrivals in Potosi
were Samuel Wilson and Donald
McKin2;- both of whom became prom
lnent business men. Major General
Alexander Mckenzie U. S. army, re-
tired and still living in Washington,
u. G., is a son of D. A. Mckenzie and
was born in Potosi. Other early ar
rivals were Martin T. Ennor, George
Hayes. Davis Gillian, Samuel Vance.
Joseph Petty, John II. Vance, Henry
Y, Massey, Benjamin f. Woods, Alex
ander M. Neayille, DR.. Bennett Arm
strong, Orsamus Cole, William r. Bid
d9ecome, William Lightfoot, Joseph
Palliser Joel Pedlar, Dr. G. ~ Bick-
nell and family, Edwin Bicknell and
family, William McCullock, J.. D. Lewis
Thos. Kerling, Levi Brown, A. B.
Southworth, John p Lewis, James
and Allen Voolfolk, John Swale,
Christian Schmidt, T. D. Connor, C. G.
Hanscomb, Jonathan Craig, John l..
Sweeney, Connors Sweeney, T. W.
Lakin, William Harker, Matthias Es-
linger, Jacob Neufing, with many
others. In 1910 after it became evil
dent that the movement made to es-
tablish the village Of Potosi would
not fail of accomplishment, buildings
went up rapidly and improvements
We're projected and concluded by way
OF intimating earnestness in the cause
with few delays. Two brick yards open
ed by John r. Jones and one Hender-
son were kept busy to meet the demand
for brick. Many frame buildings were
built for business and dwelling pur-
poses, the material for same being
principally oak and came from Asa
Hough's mill down on the Platte riy-
er. John Simplot built a two story
brick building on the corner of two
streets then not named. Lawther and
Dyer occupied this building as a gen
eral store. 1t is however said, that
Simplot first conducted a store in this
building for short time. Adjoining
this building on the north a two story
brick building was erected by George
and Jerry Bell and was used for mer-
camille and other purposes. Charles
I4atimer a brilliant lawyer had a law
Office in the second story of this build
ing. Latimer, met death in a duel on
the street in Potosi in 1845, more par
ticuIars of the duel will be given later
on. Simon E. Lewis built frame
store house on the corner opposite
the Simplot building. Col White
built a frame building on the north
and occupied it for saloon and gamb-
ling purposes. Cox and Grashong
commenced a two story brick build
ing where the commercial hotel now
stands. 1t was not completed until
1912 1t was then occupied by Buch-
annan's saloon, James Hulson' S
boarding house and A. B. Southworth' S
tin shop Levi Brown later succ eded
S0uthworth and added a Hardware
business. Scion VI L9ngworthy. Hen
~ L. Massey and B. F. Woods under
the firm name of S. NJ LangWorthy
& Co. erected a large two story frame
building for commercial purposes, this
building was always known as liz.
Tae firm did a wholesale and retail
business and carried goods of every
description, a department for heavy
and shelf hardware including IRON
steels bellows, anvils, vises and all
such other articles as was needed by
bIacksmiths 1t was no uncommon
thing for the firm to receive by steam
boat so hogshead of sugar. 200 bags OF
coffee mineral chests of tea and scores
of boxes of dry goods, groceries and
ether goods, all dealers within many
miles came to Potosi to purchase
goods for their retail and mercantile
trade At this period 1910 there were
hut two stores remaining in Lafayette
these of Brayton Bushee and ID. A
Mckenzie and that of George Maderie
in Van Buren,, the balance of tho com
Inarcial world having located in Potosi