The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-03-04
BADGERS GROAN
EIGHTY YEARSAGO
Poor Transportation Facil.
tiles Caused II. C. L.
in Pioneer Days.
SETTLERS IN DANGER


sions in this land were almost as ex-
pensive as they are at the present
time. But for another reason. In the
pioneer days the lack of transporta-
ton facilities made it almost impos-
sible to get food and in some localities
of the state the people were often on
the verge of starvation.
Not only did the white settlers suf-
fer in the winters for the lack of food,
but the Indians as we'll During some
of the winters the trapping was poor
and the Indians became constant beg
CARS and thieves of the white settlers.
The late Levi St. John of GAINESVILLE
has left an interesting letter telling of
his experiences in 1886.
81 at that time knew and traded
with every man in the county, having
bought in leather, boots and shoes"
says Mr.. st. John. "Bred as | was to
the business of farming and tanning
in the quiet old town of Hnbbardton,
VT, | had very little idea of what
vieissitudes a frontier life subjected a
man to. have frequently camped on
the prairies, rolled myself in my
blanket, and gone asleep, with nothing
to break the stiffness of the scene but
the bowling of the wolves.
Bought Honey of Indians.
"At that early day the Indians were
quite numerous in this part of Wis
consin. ] have frequently visited their
camps, gone into their wigwams and
bought honey and maple sugar of
them. At times as many a a dozen
Indians would ride up to my house,
armed with tomahawks, knives and
loaded guns. l have at such times
thought how easy matter it would
be for them to butcher my family, if
they were so disposed 1t was report
ed from time to time that they in
tended to have a general rising and
massacre all the whites. In fact, they
did murder a man on Rock river, near
its head, of the name of Burnett and
wounded another. But they were al
ways friendly with me. They learned
to be quite shrewd in their traffic. If
they had large lot of peltries or ifs
to sell, they would only show few Of
ing more, and so on, until they sold
out. The Indians are remarkably gem
erous, always offering their visitors
something to eat. l was generally in
the habit of feeding them when they
called at my house. l have frequently
given a loaf of bread to a company
half a dozen, when the one who re-
ceived it would divide it. reserving
the largest share for himself.
"Those were the days of romance,
when the rules of etiquette were laid
aside. The highest tax was for the
necessaries of life. We then enjoyed
ourselves in visiting, riding in a two
horse or OK wagon or cart, with old
Golden and his mate, snuffing up the
fragrance of the prairie air. There
were no political or road contentious,
for we travelled where we pleased and
voted for whom we pleased. But those
good and bright days are gone and are
succeeded by fashion and exorbitant
taxes"
Settler DeEied Red Man.
i George W. Ogden of Milton also
settled in Rock county in about the
same period and has left an interest
ing account of the Indians as beggars
for food.
"The Indians" says Mr.. Ogden, ain
considerable number remained around
this vicinity for several years and
even until very recently they have
made annual visits to fish and gather
rice, which formerly grew in. great
abundance on the borders of the lake.
| was in the habit of trafficking with
them, selling them 'quashagon,' bread,
'coocoosh pork; 'wahbumbra' mel
ons and squashes, and received in pay
ment buckskins, venison, moccasins,
and buckskin coats.
"At one time | came near having
trouble with company Of six In
dians. had a grindstone, the only
one, perhaps, in Rock county, and ]
allowed the Indians to grind their
knives and tomahawks whenever they
wished to. This was in the latter part
Of the winter when these Indians
came to my shanty and asked the
! privilege of grinding, which readily
granted, as usual. After grinding thev
came into my shanty. I was alone
the only white person in the settle
ment. They asked for food. I had
been in the habit of giving it to them
4 frequently, but at this time I was al
most out myself and did not know
when l could get more from Milwau>
kee.
81 knew they we're nearly famishc
I having consumed their winters stock
of rice and muskrats, and pitied them,
but was obliged to refuse them.
Refused Cash for Food.
"Then they offered me money, even
TO handful of half dollars for small
piece of bread, but l told them how
/ little had and that | knew not when
! could get more. | could talk Indian
considerably then. Still they insisted
on having something to eat, and one
of them stepped to my pork barrel
and took off the cover and looked in,
where l had a few small pieces of pork
/ swimming in the brine, and manifest
I ed a disposition to take it, when
I took my axe and resolutely stepped
forward and told him to puckachee'r-
/ clear out. was fully determined to
split him down if he had not desisted
and he undoubtedly thought so, for he
49, q