Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-09-07

ed here for few years and later re-
moved to Dunleith now East Dubu-
que" Marcue died here some years
ago. MiHet is yet living at an adj
vanced age and resides in Minneapolis.
Charles BaZinett after a number of
years a resident of the town of Harri-
son removed with his family to Cuba
City. After the death of his wife he
made his home with his children and
/ believe is now living with son at
some place in Iowa. He is veteran
of the Civil war and was with Co. H.
25th Wis. Infantr. Bruno and ShiOn
left here for parts unknown in 1860.
50
The Pixies Peak gold excitement in
1859, attracted a number of men from
Potosi and surrounding neighborhoot
to seek their fortunes in the newly
discovered gold field. | distinctly re-
member of four young men in Potosi
who rugged up canvas covered
wagon and with yoke of oxen and
yoke of COWS, provisions and tent
left Potosi on the second day of April,
1859, bound for the new colorado. It
happened to be election day and all
voted before departing, after casting
their ballot and with the best wishes
of hosts of male and female friends
they started down the valley to the
Mississippi river ferry, three of whom
never again saw Potosi. These four
young men were John Nicholas, James
and Jess Francis and James Names,
all popular young men. When arriv-
ing at Pixies Peak and finding the dis
covery to be not as represented John
Nicholas and the Francis brothers
proceeded on to California where they
spent the remaining days of their
lives James Names returned to Po-
tosi and died a few years thereafter.
Jess Francis married in California to
Miss Nan Horton, daughter of George
H Horton, an early settler in Potosi
and Lancaster, subsequently remov-
ing to California. John Nicholas mar
ried Miss Matte Benois, young
French lady born in New Orleans.
Both have passed away leaving a
highly educated Daughter, now re-
siding in Sacramento, Calf. He was
half brother of e. M. Wilmott now
living in Potosi.
In 1860 Potosi had q Juvenile Mill
, tary company of boys ranging in years
from ten to fifteen that was the pride
of the people of the village. The
, young boys carried wooden guns and
, tin swords and were we'll drilled in
the manual of arms and when on dress
! parade attired in their neat blue uni
forms and caps of French regulation
, style they presented a pleasing ap-
) pearance. July 4, 1860 there was q
celebration in Potosi and the boys
were out in full regalia. The ladies
had made beautiful flag and on this
Aol 4n
pany Miss Mary Lear in appropriate
> remarks made the presentation ad-
! dress which was manfully responded
to by Capt. Neaville in behalf of the
: company At that period POtosi had
a Militia company composed of young
! men with Samuel RunniOn as drill
master. Runnion had seen artillery
service in the Mexican war but knew
: little about infantry drill and in con
f sequence the company made poor pro
n greSs. On one occasion in the month
4 J Of September 1860 Col. Stephenson o
q the ABUNDANT generals Office came tx
9 Potosi to inspect the company. Thu
4 ] boy company thought it their duty tt
: show themselves and show the Col
+ what they could do. They marched
J to the inspection grounds with thei
a flag waving and after going through
: the manual of arms they took up
s. position on each side of the stree
: / facing the big brass cannon then il
@ P0tOsi and stood at rest during thu
n inspection of the older company. Col
: Stephenson in jocular way remarked
n to the young men that the little fel
+ lows down the street there showed bet
,, ter military proficiency than they did
y | William Booth who had had militar,
4
4 charge of the company but they sool
Y thereafter disbanded, little thinkin,
o that they would soon be called upol
!; to the defense of their country. Al
near as can remember the boys whC
!, composed the younger company were
|. John A. Neaville, captain, Ed. NJ. Will
q mott, Isl lieut., Matt Kaltenbach, Enc
} lieut., Frank Angel, orderly sGargent
!. AdOIphus Kinney, Thomas Clark
\ Joseph BROKER, Martin Dolan, George
4 ] Ternp1eton, Samuel Runnion, Fores
\ Bandy, Albert Darcy, Joseph Pryor
Alex. DuCharme, Patrick Dougherty
, Joseph Goodrich, William Rankin
: Thomas Rankin, Curtis Maltby, John
! Stone, Geo. H. Lewis, Samuel Nal
> lette, Samuel Wilmott, Joseph Names
Q George Hammonds, William Kalten-
! bach, Tul1y Jones, Conner Sweeney
John H. Rackerby, Milton Rackerby
, John O'Hara, Michael Hilgers, Philip
, Desjardin, Samuel Desjardin, Charles
! Kuntz, William Brent, Joseph Bellan,
Henry Swale, George Sweeney, Henry
' P. Greene, Daniel Greene, Jervis
Lyons, William Kern, James Endicott,
George Caskey, William Winkler, Will
liam Booth, Jr., Albert Martin. There
were others whose names have escap-
{ ed my memory, sixty-one years is a
long way back. Seven or eight of
those boys served their country in the
Civil war. Seventeen are known 10
have passed away No doubt many
others have gone to the land of the
dead. e. M. Wilmott is the only one
yet living in Potosi, and is aged near
three score and thirteen.
Some have asked why don't touch
on British Hollow in the Pioneer