Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-04-13
mtth tl1R pntnat 3Htnttffra
(By Judge Wilmott)

The name of William E. Grigsby
appearing in the Herald last week re-
minds me that he was a very early
settler OF Potosi, coming here in the
early forties. He followed mining as
a pursuit and with his father struck
O. lead on the ridge between Potosi
and Dutch Hollow and near Potosi
and Galena, ILL.,, and yielded many
! thousand pounds of mineral. AS a
manifesto of the big strike the stars
and stripes waved over the mine for
a period of time In later years, and
| after his marriage to he pur-
chased a quarter section of land and
began improving q farm which he fin
ally did. He built log house in
which he and his family dwelt for a
good many years. The Grigsby home
| was one, if not the most hospitable,
in the town of Potosi. Mr.. Grigsby
was very fond of dancing and many
a pleasant and sociable dance was
enjoyed at his home. The writer was
a participant in more than one of
those pleasant occasions. Mr.. and
Mrs. Grigsby raised a very interest
ing family of five daughters and two
sons. One son, Frank, died at an
early age, and the eldest daughter,
Alice, wife Of Henry Mccartney, died
many years ago. The other daugh-
ters are all living in California and
other parts of the country. A son,
Melvin Grigsby, enlisted with the
Second Wisconsin Cavalry in the Civil
war. He was taken prisoner and for
some time suffered the horrors and
hardships of the Andersonville pris-
on Some time after he returned
from the war he wrote book on his
prison life called THE Smoked Yank :"
About 1870 or 1871 he located at
Yankton, S. d. and entered the law
office of distinguished lawyer,
named PettigreW, eventually becom-
ing a partner. He raised a company
OF rough riders for the Spanish Am
erican war. and later was appointed
by President Roosevelt, United States
attorney for the territory of Alaska,
where we presume he is yet living.
Mr.. Grigsby removed from Potosi to
Valley Junction, Iowa forty or more
years ago. After the death of his
wife, aunt Rhoda, as she was fanil-
iarly called, he made his home with
daughters in California until recently
when he removed to Aberdeen, S. D.,
residing with his son-in-law, s. P
Huntington. A few years ago he made
visit to Potosi to look over old
familiar scenes. He went and viewed
the place where he and his father
made their big lead discovery, the old
range being yet perceptibly seen. Mr..
Grigsby is bordering on one hundred
and two years of age, and has a
wonderful memory and vitality for
man of his age
Patrick Davey. wide awake
young Irishman, came to Potosi with
his wife at very early date. He was
"a boot and shoemaker by trade and
opened up a shop. Being of social
end sporting nature he soon enjoyed
trade that necessitated an assist
ant. His shop was located in a two
story log house that stood little
south of the Langworthy store build
ing. He occupied the second story as
a dwelling. The old log house some
years afterWard was sold and re-
moved to where the VIM. Buss new
farm residence now stands. Davey
besides being jovial goOdnatured
fellow, was a lover of good horses
He owned a small bay gelding that
had considerable speed as a running
horse. There was horse in Bee
town owned by Hammond and Bailey
and was known as "BeetOwn Billie"
This horse had made several races
and was never beaten. In the sum-
mer of 1859 the Potosi horse and
Billie were matched for a running
race to take place down on the Oce-
ola race course in Potosi. On the
day of the race a very large crowd
of people from many parts of the
country had gathered in Potosi to see
this race The stakes were for one
hundred dollars, and much betting
was made on the side. The Beetown
horse having never been beaten in a
race was the favorite but the hackers
of the Potosi horse took all bets that
were offered, in some instances going
two to one. 1t so happened that U. S.
Grant, then travelling throughout the
country with a mule team and wag-
on buying hides for his fathers tam
merry and leather store in Galena, ILL.,,
drove into Potosi on that day and
seeing so many people asked for the
cause of the large gathering and when
told that there was a horse race
ABOUT TWO ana nall miles below the
| village, he unloaded his hides in Joe
Halls livery barn and soon thereaf-
1 ter drove his mule team down the
| street and in a very few minutes his
wagon was loaded with men bound
for the race course. With this race
! Reetown Billie met his first defeat,
the Potosi horse arriving at the stop
/ ping post some distance ahead of
/ him. There was great hurrahing
when Pat Davey's horse won and
Grant was as enthusiastic over the
/ winning horse as the Potosians were.
Little did the people think who saw
! him at this race that he would in a
/ few years become a famous General
and President of the United States.
Paschal Mallette and wife, French
| couple, came to Potosi in about the
year of 1889. He engaged in the man
ufacture of candy and other confec-
lions in small frame building on
the lots where he afterward built a
/ two story brick building Mr.. NAL
i 1at+ ho1 n olrn, q oI1-