Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-09-20
mtth thr pntnat ptnrtrrrs
(By Judge Wilmott]

Other early arrivals to the Rockville
mines were James and Thomas Kittoe,
Joel Stevens, Edward Nichol, Heze-
kiah Pillow, John Dunstone, Joseph
Birch and others whose names have
escaped my memory. James Kittoe
followed mining principally and was
fairly successful. His wife came with
him from England when both were
young in years. She was a woman
much beloved by every one who knew
her. They raised an interesting fam
lily all of whom have moved from Rock
vile and located in other parts of the
country. Mr.. Kittoe died in Rockville
at an advanced age. His wife had
preceded him in death some years be-
fore. Thomas Kittoe was also a min
er. He went to the copper regions OF
Lake Superior at an early date and
while working there in the mines lost
his eyesight by the premature ex-
plosion of blast He returned to
Rockville and was tenderly cared for
through the remainder of his life bv
his faithful wife and children. He
died in Rockville many years ago.
Mrs. Kittoe lived number of years
after the death of her husband when
she too passed to the Great Beyond.
There is but one of the large family
they raised now living in these parts.
He is one VIM. KittOe, farmer, res1d-
ing a short distance west of the PO-
tosi depot.
Joel Stevens and wife came from
England at an early date and settled
| in Rockville. He followed mining for
time, or until he became possessed
of forty acre tract of land adjoining
the village He then followed farm
ing. They had but two children, | be-
lieve, a daughter and son. The one
daughter became the wife of Edward
Nichol, and they raised family OF
five or six girls. The son married the
only daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. John
Moreshead. Mr.. Stevens built brick
house in Rockville that is now owned
and occupied by Thomas Dunn and
family.
Hezekiah Pillow was a man of very
quiet disposition and with his good
| wife led a happy life He built g
frame residence in Rockville that he
and wife occupied until called to the
Better Land This dwelling house IS
now owned and occupied by William
HOrner.
Joseph Birch, Uncle Joe," as he
was Familiarity known, came to ROCK
Vile with his family 81 an early date
Like many others he followed farm
ing as a profession. He subsequently
removed to Beetown where a son
Samuel Birch, for many years con-
Quoted a blacksmith shop. Sam re-
tired from the smithy business ana
engaged in farming. This he fol-
lowed for a period of time and then
engaged in the general mercantile
business in Beetown, where he yet re-
sides. His wife was daughter OF
James Bradbury of Potosi. DAVID
Birch. another son Of JOe'S, conducted
blacksmith shop in the village OF
Potosi, and in later years followed
the same business at No. Andover
Uncle Joe Birch died at the home OF
his son, Sam, in Beetown, some years
ago.
John Dunstone, a very quiet and in
offensive man, came to these mines
at an early period and followed min
ing for many years. He was never
married and in the later years OF ms
life, lived bachelor. He became al
f1icted with a cancer of the face and
suffered for some time. Later he be-
came respondent, and despa1rlng OF a
cure committed suicide in June, 1880,
shooting himself through the head IN
his lonely cabin in rockville.
George Hayward, son of Judge Hay
ward, was killed in May 1857, by a
large rock falling on him in mine
near Rockville.
Joseph Kittoe, young man, son
of James Kittoe, lost his life in min
near Rockville, May Is, 1896. He and
mariners, Tony Dilger and Henry
Kerkenbush, were working a mine
below the water level and on the tatal
day Joseph was down in the smart
filling a large tub with water. When
his partners were hosting this tub
of water to the surface, the tub IN
some manner got detached from the
rome before reaching the top OF the
shaft. and fell back to the bottom,
striking the unfortunate young man
and instantly killing him.
Samuel Druen, in early days built
a grist mill over on Platte river,
mile northeast of Rockville. IL was
run by water power. This mill at one
time did a thriving business, or until
flour shipping began into the country
from other points. Mr.. Druen, though
not a miller, employed practical men
to do the milling for him. He con-
Quoted the mill for some years and
disposed of it to John Carthew. Mr..
Carthew did not actively engage IN
the milling business but leased the
mill to different parties during MS
ownership. Among the lessees was
Anton Dilger, a practical and exper-
fenced miller who wasted much OF his
time and energy trying to solve the
problem of perpetual motion. Mr..
Dilger at an early date conducted a
grocery store in Lancaster. He moved
west from here and died a few years
ago. The old mill after remaining
idle for many years was dismantled,
and a barn now stands on the site.
Besides Samuel Druen, Jacob Daw-
son, John Moreshead, John n. Ayres
and other farmers heretofore ment-
toned who settled on Boice Prairie,
north of Rockville and in the town OF
Potosi, were David D. UT, George ID.
UT, James Harris, James Kendall,
Washington Ellis, Thomas Baille
and others who farmed in a smaller
way. All of these sturdy pioneers
49, c~rourd IN ho oorIu