Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-11-16

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rem Lodge No. four f. e A. NJ in PO-
tosi in 1914. The town of Potosi en-
bracing the villages of Potosi British
Hollow, Rockville and Dutch Hollow
was represented in the Wisconsin leg
islature by sixteen of its citizens. The
first territorial member was Ralph
Carver who was elected in 1888. He
was followed by Jonathan Craig in
1910, A. c. Brown represented the
district in 1916 and A. In the state
legislature A. c. Brown served in
184S Davis Gillian in 1S49. William
r. Biddlecome in 1851, David Mckee
1852, LYMAN E. Block. 1853; William
Hull 1854 and So and Sc. He was
speaker of the assembly in 1856 Then
came Albert w Emery in 1857 and
So, James w. Seaton in 1859 and so,
Henry L. Massey 1861, James F. Chap
man 1868, John Carsten in 1867 and
1870, James H. Reaville 1869, Gusta-
Wis H. Brock, 1869, Henry B. Coons,
1871 and Lafayette Caskey in 1875.
1t will be noted thai Mr. Caskey was
the last member to be sent to the as
sembly from Poto8i and that was 46
years ago, James w SeatOn was a
member of the state senate in 1858,
elected to fill vacancy caused by the
resignation of Joel c. SquiTes Of Lam
caster. 1t can thus be seen that PO-
tosi had some master minds among
the law makers of Wisconsin, for
example take William r. Biddlecome
as brilliant a young lawyer as ever
graced the legislature chamber OF
Wisconsin. Then there was William
Hull who ranked among the fore
most lawyers of the state, who served
three terms one term as speaker.
Then there was David M. Mckee, Ed
itOr, lawyer and merchant, man pos
sessed of much legal ability ana
business knowledge, and last but not
least of all, the late lamented, JAS
w Seaton, an early educator, editor,
lawyer and merchant, who won dis
tinction as serving his constituents
and the state at large in an honorable
and upright manner.
Going back to the early arrivals to
the Snake Hollow mines | must mem
ton David Goodrich, who came i'll the
wear 1885. He followed mining as a
pursuit but never with any great sue
cess. He was an early justice OF the
peace in Potosi. He married sister
of Henry w and William w. Wright
and had great amount of trouble in
his marital life His wife became sub
ject to fits of insanity which would
last for a short time when she would
apparently be sane again. Her last
attack, though, she never again be-
came rational and died at the county
insane asylum many years ago. Mr.
Goodrich was a very quiet and in
offensive man and had hosts of friends
who had sympathy for him in all Of
his troubles. He died in Potosi at an
advanced age many years ago.
Among the justices of the peace in
PotOsi in very early times were Peter
Coyle in 1910, William Mcdaniel and
James F. Chapman in 1913 Samuel
Morris in 1914, David Gillespie, Orsa-
mus Cole and Cyrus K. Lord, in 1916,
VIM r. Biddlecome, Cyrus K. Lord,
James McCarrick and G. w. Ogilvie
in 1849
Among the earliest constables were
Samuel Morris, G. B. Brunt, Bluford
Stone and John II. Clark. Peter Coyle
came to Osceola in 1882 and short
time afterward moved up the hollow
and built a log house a little below
the famous cave and when ne rose to
the dignity of justice of the peace he
held his office in this building and
for a few months was postmaster IN
Snake Hollow Upon one occasion
Justice Coyle was honOred by two dis
tnguished barristers, William Hull
and Judge Lord. The defendant let
fall some observation which suggested
q lack of respect for his honor and
the latter pulled his nose and after
creased it with a burning candle, re-
marking that he would teach him to
respect the dignity of the court. Mr.
Covle was a shrewd and intelligent
man and made good justice. He sub
seuuently started for California in the
first years of the gold rush and died
enroute. The only living relative Of
Peter Coyle, now in the town OF Po-
tosi. is Henry B. Uppena, a son OF a
sister of Coyle e. NJ. WilmOtt is also
& nephew by marriage. His mothers
Youngest sister was the wife of Peter
Coyle
The first election in the town OF Po-
tosi after the territory became state,
was held in the spring Of 1S49. At
this election James f. Chapman was
chosen chairman of the board of sup
ervi9ors with VIM. T. Ennor and Thos.
Palliser, supervisors, Jas. w. .Seaton,
town clerk, Donald A. Mckenzie town
treasurer, Louis Reynolds assessor,
William Hull, supt. of schools, VIM.
R. Biddlecome Cyrus X. Lord James
i McCarrick and G.. w. Ogilvie, justices
of the peace, Bluford Stone and John
H. Clark, constables.
! The second annual town meeting
was held in April 1850 officers ell
ected were supervisors William r.
Riddlecome, chm, Robt. Templeton,
VIM. Roberts, town clerk James w
Seaton. treasurer, VIM. t. Ennor, as
SCISSOR, Louis Reynolds, supt. schools,
William Hull, justices of the peace,
Jos. Petty and Thos. Laird, constab-
les. John H. Clark and Bluford Stone.
In 1851 the town officers were sup
ervisors, B. F. Woods, chm, VIM. Rob
erts. O. l.. Stone, clerk, J. w Seaton,
treasurer, Wr. T. Ennor, assessor,
G. w Ogilvie, supt schools, Orsamus
Cole. justices, David Goodrich, James
McCarrick, constables, James Blew
ett John H. Clark 1852, supervisors,
Orsamus Cole, chm, Jos. Palllser,
Jonathan Craig, clerk, j. W. Seaton,
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