Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-03-08
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(By Judge Wilmott)

| of life to each and every one Of the
partners. Failure stared the band in
! the face. To Johnny Kruger it
would have been the most disastrous
for the reason that he had to employ
a miner by the day to work his share,
the others working their own and
he had to borrow some of the money
he put into the venture.
The Long Suspense Ended
When Saturday night came and no
lead in sight John Kruger implored
Anderson to keep the pumps going
until Monday night, so strong was his
faith in the prospect. Anderson re-
luctantly consented. The anxiety of
the following As hours with the brave
little group Of intrepid miners was
beyond imagination. 1t was late on
Monday afternoon when the suspense
ended and pandemonium OF JOY took
its place.
Prospect EnricheS Company
The prospect proved to be bonan-
"a for at the time when the long
shadows that precede dusk were fall
ling down the hollow, a cave was
broken into and the interior found to
be filed with glittering metal. There
was ore enough to enable all share
holders to lay aside snug sum Of
money.
PerSpertiOn and Perseverance Won
Had it not been for John Krueger's
wonderful tenacity and faith that luck
must come his way, the lead would
never have been discovered. Out Of
his gains from this lead Mr.. Kruger
purchased the Rackerby place, one of
the earliest brick houses built in Brit
ish Hollow, and abandoned for some
years. He repaired and remodeled it,
beautified the grounds with shrubs
and trees and the place was greatly
admired for it's pretty flower beds and
fine garden. The stately pines that
adorn the place were but sprigs when
planted by him and serve as a fitting
memorial to a good man and a lover
of nature. John died there Oct 4th,
1881 The good and faithful wife, who
stayed by John so bravely through
his adventures and hardships, good
and bad fortune, year or two after
the death of her husband removed to
Chicago to spend the remaining days
of her life with her three sons, John
L., Louis and Joseph, then reared to
manhood. More than a score of years
of ease and comfort with the happi-
ness of being with her children, was
allotted this good old lady. She also
greatly enjoyed visiting with some of
her companions she had come to this
country with half century before.
The summons by her Maker came on
March Is, 1910, and thus ended the
earthly pilgrimage of a pair of well
beloved British Hollow citizens.
Wielland Oswald was one of four
brothers who came to this country
from Switzerland in 1856 or 81.
The boys were Willard, Michael,
John and Martin. A few years pre-
vious to the Civil war, Weiland had
opened up a store in British Hollow.
When the war broke out, and being
imbued with his native country's
love of liberty and independence, he
closed his affairs in British Hollow
and offered his services to his adop-
ted country, enlisting in, l believe,
the Sd Wis. Infantry. Being a good
musician he was later assigned to
the regimental band At the time
his enlistment expired he returned
to British Hollow, and with a man
named Steinbach, opened up gem
eral store. Business depression and
changes of times in the little village,
caused him to worry, and one morn
ing in 1868 or 80 the lifeless body of
the young soldier was found at the
back door of his store He had cut
his throat. The news of this tragic
death caused much sorrow among his
numerous friends and acquaintances
in the county. He was a man Of
ability and character and was highly
respected by those who knew him.
He was handsome looking man and
a perfect gentleman at all times.
Coming of the Oswald Brothers
Martin Oswald, the youngest of the
four brothers, came to Fotosi in about
'62, and was a clerk il the store of
E. M. Hoyt &, Co. Some years after
the war he WAS in business in Fenni-
more. He served two terms as reg
lister Of deeds of Grant county. He
died few years ago in Lancaster.
Michael left these parts many year,
ago and whereabouts he is living IS
unknown to tine writer.
John Oswald, the only survivor Of
this noted family, resides in Lancas-
ter, and is well known throughout the
county as an honorable and upright
citizen. The four brothers, if | can
rightly remember, gave their whole
hearted service to the Union cause in
the great Civil war
With my next chapter I will con-
clude my humble attempt to write
the history of British Hollow. and
will take up either Dutch Hollow or
Rockville.-E. M. w. (The foregoing
is one of the most interesting and
best written articles from the Judges
pen.-Editor)
April Fool Jokes