Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-09-03
OLD SETTLERS
ORGANIZE CLUB
Meeting and Picnic At Island
Lake To Be Annual
Event
THE STORY OF GOLD
ABE" THE WAR EAGLE
More Than One Hundred Old Settlers
Observation-Disclosures Are
Elected

The first annual meeting and picni,
of the old settlers of Rusk county, helt
at Island Lake, last Friday, was sue
cess both in point of attendance anC
in purpose
1t is estimated that between 300 anC
400 people were present. old and young
and nearly all parts of the county were
represented
a fitting place had been selected fol
the meeting place-a beautiful grove
and grounds on the north bank o,
Island Lake, near which spot some OF
the earliest settlements in the county
were made 1t is on the farm known
as the Getchel farm, and it was on this
place that John F. Hill, the veteran
soldier who carried "Old Abe" the wal
eagle through the Civil war, built {
hdwed-lOg house and settled down t(
make his home. He chose a fine site
for country home and he enjoyed the
summers there, but the winters proved
too mOnOtonOus and he moved to Ash
land. where he now resides.
People commenced arriving before
10 O'Clock and by noon there was quite
a crowd on the grounds. Most of then
brought baskets. well filled and ate
their dinners under the trees Those
who did not bring eatables with then
were cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Billy
Wiles who reside on the farm, with
lunches or regular dinners, and there
was a refreshment stand on the grounds
which did a rushing business in soft
drinks.
The old settlers had fine time visit
ing and recOunting incidents of the early
days and early settlements in what i
now Rusk county, and swapping
stories
A register had been prepared anf
the old settlers-persOns who have
lived in the county II years were
deemed to be old settlers-entere(
therein their names. places of resi-
dence. of former residence. and the
year they located in the county. JOIN
T. Hill was given the honor of head
ing the list as he was the oldest settler
there. having located at Island Lake
in 1861. About 100 persons signed the
register.
The Story of Old Abe
o. A. Sergent. one of the active mel
in getting up the meeting and picnic
called the meeting to order after din
ner. and explained briefly the purposC
- inI1
in short. to enjoy the day visiting ant
to organize a permanent old settlers
association. He then introduced JOIN
F. Hill. who told about the early set
tlement of the Island Lake neighbor
hood and the story Of "Old Abe" th'
war eagle This bird. he said. was oh
tanned by two Indians, Ogema Gesill
or "Chief Sky and companion
Chief Sky is dead, but his companion
of the eagle incident is still living ant
an effort was made to have him pres
ent at this meeting. but he could no
he located.
The eagle was one of two young bird
obtained by chopping down dead pine
tree on which is now the George Sum
mers farm and distant about two mile
south of the picnic grounds, just Owe
the line in Chippewa county. Sum
mers who is an educated Indian, wa
present at the picnic. The story goe
that the young eagle was taken by th'
Indians to Jim Falls, where he wa
traded to Dan Mccain for hal
bushel of shelled corn. George Sum
merS. however. states that old Indians
told him that the bird was exchanged
for a sack of flour. McCann took hi
bargain to Eau Claire. where a com
pany of soldiers were being recruited
for the Union army. The young re
cruits wanted that eagle, but had III
money with which to purchase it, 81
saloOnkeeper bought it for them, pay
ing $3.50 for it. The recruits took tn
eugle to Madison where they were III
Quoted into army service. When tn
bows were sent south the eagle wa
taken with them. a short staff with
perch having been provided for it. am
John F. Hill. then 16 years of age, wa
given the custody of the bird, whic
had been given the name. "Old Abe"
At the battle of Corinth, Hill wa
shot through the body and was take
prisoner by the rebels. The COnfedel
ate surgeon who looked the wOunde
boy over said that he could not liv
and did nothing for him and his wom
received no attention for two days
However. Hill recovered and was eH
changed and in due time returned t
Wisconsin where he was mustered ou
of the service. He said that in battl
Old Abe would flop his wings vigol
ousIy, but that many stories told abou
the bird were untrue, such, for instance