Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-11-22
I1ttlr thR pntnHt ptnnrrrH
(By Judge Wilmott)

Kaltenbach was pleased to see Dan
and being a good-natured man, and
having partially forgotten the incident
thanked Dan for calling on him, and
refused payment for the bill He, how
ever. accepted family ticket of adj
mission to the circus. Mr.. Kaltenbach
at this time was a prominent and a
prosperous merchant in Potosi
A two-story fran building that adj
joined the Willmers building was put
up by man whose name is unknown
to the writer or other old-timers yet
living in POtosi. The man opened up
a store in this building and like other
merchants in early days, purchased
his goods in st. Louis and shipped to
Potosi landing by steamboat. The
man was not very successful in his
business venture and in due course of
time his store was taken over by his
creditors and the goods were sold to
Richard Willmers, who eventually be-
came the owner Of the building and
was used by him as warehouse. The
building stood for many years and it
was not until some years after Mr..
Willmer's death that the old building
was torn down.
ing there stood a one and a half frame
dwelling with dormer windows in the
front roof. This building was erected
by James Madiere in 1910. 1t was oc-
cupied from that time for residence
purposes until a few years ago when
it was torn down and a modern two
story frame dwelling erected on the
lot by Frank Ward, who in turn sold
it to Fred Buss, who is yet the owner.
The building north of this one built by
Robert Porter, is mentioned in this
chapter A building that stood near
where the brewery now stands and in
which Celestin Kaltenbach first open
ed up store, has long ago been re-
moved. The first and only hotel in
Van Buren, was built and occupied by
Celestin Kaltenbach until he removed
up the hollow to the village of PotOsi.
to become landlord of the Wisconsin
House. The hotel building in Van
Buren, was frame structure 1t was
destroyed by fire in the ffties.
John SWale built a one-story frame
dwelling between tNe Willmers and
hotel buildings in IS, that yet is
standing. 1t is in a good state of pres
ervation and is owned and occupied
by his daughter, Mrs. Maggie Will
mers If [ mistake not Richard r.
Swale, yet living in Potosi, was born
in this building in 1914 or 1S45.
AS was mentioned heretofore. the
Willmers brick building became UNI
safe for habitation and three or four
years ago was taken down and the
materials Sold A number of build
lngs, including the office of Dr. Hill,
first physician in this locality, and a
house built by Samuel Morris in the
heart of this once thriving little viii
lage, have all long ago been removed.
hTe present lumber yard, the brewery
icehouses, the salon and other build
ings are on the lots.
A frame dwelling across the creek
was built by Charles Knight. ra-
vine nearby was always and is yet
known as Knights hollow. Mr..
Knight and family occupied this house
until his removal up to the village of
POtosi, where he built another resi-
dence.
Thomas j. Tharp and family, early
Corners to Van Buren,, occupied the
Knight house for many years. Four
sons, John, William, James and Rob-
ert Tharp served in the Civil war. A
few years ago Adam Schumacher be-
came the owner of this property He
removed the old building and erected
two substantial buildings, one in par
ticular is a handsome two-story adap-
ted for hotel and boarding house but
since the Volstead prohibition law
went into effect it is used for resi-
Dental purposes.