Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-04-06
n1tth thr 1ntnHt YtnttrrrH
(By Judge Wilmott)

Samuel Druen was one of the very
earliest arrivals to the mining region |
of Potosi. He came from Missouri in
April 1882. In the fall of 1882, re- !
ports Of rich mineral discoveries in
Dubuque lured him thither, but he did
not remain there long and returned
to Potosi He joined a Company of
rangers and saw service in the Black
Hawk war. When the war was over
he returned to the Potosi lead regions
and resumed mining. He eventually !
moved to Rockville where mineral ir
large quantities wa discovered. He
was successful in this venture, strix-
ing a crevice that yielded many thOus-
and pounds of ore. In 1885 he re-
turned to Missouri and married Miss
Mary Gardner to whom he was be-
tTothed before coming to the mines.
He then, with his wife, returned to
the Potosi lead regions, making the
trip on horseback. They settled in
or near Rockville and proceeded to
make home Mr.. Druen became the
possessor Of valuable mining and
farming land and at the time of his
death, in 1890, was in affluent circum-
stances. His wife preceded him to
the grave. Mr.. and Mrs. Druen raised
a family of four sons and five daugh-
tiers. The eldest son, William, an at
torney in Philadelphia, if living, is So
years Of age. Mrs. Mary Hinson, the
eldest daughter died in Lancaster two
years ago aged 81 years. Mr.. Druen,
like many other southerners was I'M
schOoIed, but he had most remark
able memory. He kept his accounts
and all business matters at tongues
end, and always correct He was
agent for many years for a nOn-reSi-
dent company who owned valuable
mining lands near Rockville and Sam
Druen always rendered to this comp
any full and just account of all his
transactions, every penny being ac-
counted for. During the Civil war,
and owing to his intense patriotism,
he came to POtosi three times a week
to get the Rockville mail (four mails
day was then not known in POtosi)
IT is true that a trf-weekly mail route
was established between Potosi( via
ROckville) to Boscobel, but this SER
vice did not appeal to Mr.. Druen and
with his old horse and buggy made
his regular trips to PotOsi to get the
latest mail. This he cheerfully did
without compensation from any
stated, he was uneducated, he had a
faculty of putting sentences together
into rhymes to the delight of all by
ISLANDERS. His ready tongue was equal
to anything put up to him.
About the year of 1910, uncle John
Taylor (as he was i'll after years
called came to Potosi from the state
of New York, with his wife and two
sons, and settled on timber land on
Boice Creek. He proceeded to open
up a farm, and with the aid of his
faithful, hard working wife, they in
due course of time, accomplished their
object Their first work was to build
a log cabin to live in, some years
later a frame dwelling was built. Mr..
and Mrs. Taylor raised a family OF
three sons, Leonard, Caleb and Rus
sci, and three daughters, Mrs. Geo.
f. b. Campbell, Mrs. Thomas O'Hara
and Mrs. George w. Hampton. The
entire family have gone to their re-
ward. Uncle John was a hard work
ing man and liked his glass of good
whiskey. He would visit Potosi, prob
ably every Saturday night, and as a
usual thing got few glasses too
many. He always rode white horse
and when astride of the horse, and
under the influence of the good old
time liquor, uncle John would stag
ger from side to side the same as a
man under the influence when walk
ing The old horse got so accustomed
to his masters staggering motions
that he would walk in the same man
ner, and people seeing the old horse
coming with his staggering notion
knew that uncle John had a glass or
two too many If he fell off, the horse
would stand still until his master
had remounted him and then would
proceed on his way home. Uncle
John Taylor was we'll known by ev-
eryone for his honesty and integrity.
He died many years ago on the farm
that he had opened up in 1910.
Other old settlers who came to Po-
tosi and settled on Boice Creek in
very early days were William Rob-