The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-07-24
THE BAD AXE" COUNTRY.
Wisconsin Pioneer Has Interesting
"reminiscences of Early Days.

In the picturesque village OF spring
vile, near Viroqua, Wis, staEds the
home of Lemach Graham, who has the
distinction of being the first man to
enter homestead in Vernon county,
and who hewed the logs for the first
buildings erected in Springville and the
city of Viroqua. He lived for 73 years
on the farm he pre-empted in lS46,
and is the oldest man in the township
of yiroqua. He now lives with
daughter in viroqua. Mr. Graham is
active in spite of his age, % years. He
is the father of Is children. Mrs. Ora
ham died in 1918.
Mr.. Graham came to Wisconsin in
ls46 with his parents, making the jour
ney with three teams of oxen. Leav.
ing Prairie du Chen they struck the
old Black Hawk trail, following it to
where they located spring in beau
tiful valley, and decided to remain
there for the summer. This land and
spring now belongs to I. Fayors.
I'VE had been warned while AT Prai-
RE du Chen" said Mr. Graham, in re-
calling his pioneer experiences, ITO look
out for Indians, and it was only few
DAYS after our arrival that we had our
first experience. One morning we saw
at the peak of high hill nearby an In
dian, who at times raised from
crouching position and looked at our
camp. We grabbed our guns and crept
up the hill The Indian must have
seen us coming, for when we reached
the top we saw him disappear over the
brow Of another hill.
Later we decided to movc and we
pre- -empted an eightyacre tract at
Springville. II took US three days and
nights to make the journey TO Mineral
Point with our OK team, 20 record
our land. I named the place Spring
willie because of the abundance OF
springs. Fhe land sold at Sl.25 an
acre. which tempted many TO brave
the hardships for start in the new
state.
an the fall of ls47 my brother and
another companion and | were return
ing home through thicket of woods
when we suddenly came upon several
Indians riding ponies. They surround
ed us and leveled their guns,
Immediately we located our guns,
but to our surprise not a shot was
fred.
1T had undoubtedly been their pur-
pose to brighten and rob us, but fail
ing in this they dismounted and tried
TO make friends with us.
"On another occasion, when VIC were
on a hunting expedition, We found upon
our return to camp that all the camp
utensils and food had been stolen dur
ing our absence. Knowing where
band of Indians was encamped az
Cherry grove we rode to that spot and
found the Indians engaged in prepare
tions for great feast on our proven
der. II was too late TO recover our
food. but we searched the camp and
found our knives, forks. blankets and
other articles hidden in various places.
We told the Indians they would not
be punished If they moved Immediately
to the northward, which they did.
several times nv brother was
robbed returning from Prairie du Chen
with loads Of food and other supplies.
The settlers, becoming indignant
over the thieving raids Of the Indians,
sent for soldiers to help them drive
them out of the country. Capt. Wilson
finally arrived from Mineral Point with
a company Of soldiers and with the as
sistance Of settlers, who were paid -
dsy. go Indians we're rounded up
and driven into Iowa.
"While hunting pheasants near
Genoa one day ] came upon a queer
pen built Of poles about four feet high
I lifted the poles from the top and
found inside a dead Indian seated m
part Of q birch bark canoe and wrapped
70 the chin in blue blanket. The man
evidently had been dead for long
time. This was a method Of Opposing
Of the dead much in vogue IN those
DAYS. The Indian was placed in the
canoe and prepared for tie journey TO
the happy hunting grounds.
AFTER the removal Of the irdians the
country developed much more rapidly.
BAD Axe county. known now - Yer
non county. was formed end a fight a.
rose between Springsille and Nircqus
over the location 81 the ooIIntv sest.
Niroqua won out ~ = special election
bv ma iority ~ seven votes.
sugar sold for five cents pound.
evrs brought Eve CENTS = dnzer and
butter eight TO 10 vents = pound in
tbose DAYS. Corn sold for 81 ctuts q
h1rshei. Whiskey vas is cents q gallon.
Il vas 80 cheap that every farmer bad
a barrel q Il the year arouni Uupop-
rlar indeed vas the farmer who did not
have barrel II whiskey on ta7 81 hsr-
vest time. AZ doctors vsre scarce. g