Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-06-08

James Gibson was another early
arrival to the lead mines OF Potosl
He came from England with his wife
and three sons and settled in Potos1
in 1841. Two brothers-in-law, Thorn
as and Joseph Palliser had preceded
him to Potosi. MI. Gibson dIed mere
in 1845, leaving widow and three
sons, Joshua, Abram and William, all
of whom have passed away Mrs.
Gibson, a few years after the death
of her husband married Mr.Greaves
In 1852 MI Greaves and two
step sons, Joshua and Abram Gibson
and others started overland for Cali
fornia. Mr.. Greaves owned and was
in charge of the emigration train
of prairie schooners, each one OF the
gold seekers paying him a certain
amount to take them through to Cali
fornia. In this, Mr.. Greaves had col
Iected quite a sum of money. After
the train had passed through Oska-
osadowa, Mr.Greaves took suddenly
sick, Of a minor nature and returned
to Oskaloosa for medical treatment,
and this was the last that was ever
seen or, heard of him. 1t is presumed
that he was murdered for the money
he had inAhis possession. With this
party that left Potosi was man
named Bob Lowry. Shortly after
Greaves left the train to ride back to
Oskalosa, this man Lowry and an
other man disappeared from camp
and never returned to the train. 1t
was presumed that these men follow
ed Greaves and murdered him for the
money he had in his possession and
concealed the body. For after search
was made no trace of Greaves, or his
body could be found. The step sons
Josh and Abe went on to California
with the train. They returned to Po-
tosi in 1858 or SO and\engaged in the
smelling business and for a number
of years they operated, the Palliser
furnace, both are dead, Josh died in
PotOsi and Abe in Montana, but a
few years ago. Bob Lowry returned
to his family in Potosi in, 1869. He
had a daughter Mary, who Mas court
ed by a young man named George
French To this courtshipA Lowry
objected too. The girl was employed
by Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Ross at their
farm home, not far distant from the
Lowry home The daughter, notWith-
standing her fathers objections, con-
tinued to keep company with George
French Lowry broOded over the
daughters love affair and accused Mr..
and Mrs. Ross of completely in the
affair. He no doubt vowed vengences
for on the April election in 1870, he
was in the village, as also was Ross
Lowry left the village first, with a
murderous intent. Ross while leisure
ly riding his horse hOmeward, and at
the corner of Bill Grisby's farm was
shot dead and so was the horse, both
the man and horse were shot through
the heart The bodies were found ly-
ing in the road, and news of the muir
der was soon spread around and
aroused bands of men started in pur-
suit of the murderer, but Bob Lowry
made good his escape, and was never
apprehended. 1t was supposed that
he crossed the Mississippi river be-
low Cassville and made his way west
ward from where he came. In those
days villages and farm houses were
not so numerous as now. No tele-
phones in every house to send mes
sage to look out for a certain des-
cribed man.
Three brothers came to the lead
regions from down Illinois in the
early days pamed John, Alexander
and Ephraim Neayille, they were Of
French descent as the name implies.
They followed mining and other vo-
cations. John + believe was wild
over with two small sons, called
James and John. The father died
and the little yboys were left to the
tender and loving care of their uncle
Alex and aunt Eliza who reared them
to Young manhood, and both became
honorable citizens. Mr.. and Mrs.
( Alex gNeaville had three sons, besides