Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-02-22

eldest son OF William, commonly
called Father Eustice" In his youth
he had a fondness for cards, that de-
veloped in later years to his advant-
age He went to California in early
days and there, became a professional
gambler and at one time was reputed
to be worth $4,000. When the Idaho
Montana gold fever broke out in 1864,
he drifted to the fields and pursued
his profession with remarkable good
luck. He was q men hard to be beat
en- at a game of poker. About this
time, there was a young man living
in British Hollow, wholl we will call
Jim who had some pretension of be-
ing an up-tO-d2te smanipulator OF the
cards, and he conceived the idea OF
going to Montana and rake in some Of
Joe Justices thousands. Jim went to
Montana and knowing where to find
Joe, they met with the glad hand OF
friendship, and renewed acquaintance
formed in the early days of British
Hollow. Matters went on smoothly
for time, until jim proposed a came
of poker to which Jim readily con-
scented. Joe permitted Jim to beat
him in several games until jim began
to think that he was the best gam
bier of the two. However this did
not last long, for Joe thinking the
time was ripe to convince Jim that
he knew little in the art of gambling.
He won back every dollar that he hao
permitted Jim to win from him, and
all other money he was possessed of.
Joe then said to jim, 'You came out
here to get some of Joe Justices
{, thousands and you failed to do so;
you don't know enough about cards
to gamble in q country like this where
there are so many professionals.
Now here is the money | won from
you and l advise you to go back to
British Hollow and do your gambling
there, you will never make it win in
the gold mining camps" Jim later
followed the advise of his friend and
returned to Grant County and fol-
lowed his chosen profession with bet
ter success.
Going back to the early history of
the British Hollow mining camp, l
must mention a little annex to the
village known as Buena Vista. Here
dwelt such old timers as Nicholas
Fine and John Lonergan who opened
up farms adjacent thereto, Jonathan
Craig who discovered two big leads
in the vicinity. William Tyack, Sam
uel Blair, Ethan Griffith, a disciple
Mormonism who came with a family
from Nauroo, Illinois. He had
daughter that was known as Mormon
Nary who subsequently became the
wife of John B. Cardy. Mr.. Griffith
was an active and prominent member
7 nd
in Potosi. James Thomas opened up
a farm near this little burg and lived
there until the time of his death.
Thomas Porter and q family named
Peak resided here. Porter built q
brick residence here.
A descendant Of the Peak family,
John Peak, yet resides in Buena Wis
ia. He was born in the town OF Po-
tosi in 1910. Thomas Hymer con
Quoted the first and only store in
Buena Vista. A school was estab-
lished and taught in the Hymer va
cant store building. The school con-
tinued until 1868, when the district
was dissolved and the territory at
tached to the British Hollow school
district. The dissolution caused much
dissatisfaction among the people OF
the 6uSud v lSId uloCIlCC anu IIONI
bitter feeling existed. This feeling
was especially bitter when they were
called upon to pay their proportion
of taxes for the erection of a new
school house in the British Hollow
district.
There are other old timers who re-
sided in Buena Vista whose names
am unable to recall. Many OF the
historical buildings in the little burg
have been removed and nothing but
the foundations can now be seen.
Joseph Thomas came to the British
Hollow mines about 1912 He fol-
lowed mining and was fairly success
full but like many others he saved but
little. He married Mrs. Adams, widow
of John Adams, who lost his life IN
pump shaft in the Potosi mining dis
trict in 1851 He built a frame resi-
dence that yet stands on lot where
the first lead ore was discovered in
the British Hollow mines. Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas raised a fine family. The
eldest, who was Lizzie Adams, now
Mrs. Lizzie Orion, the widow of the
late Thomas Orion, lives in Lancas-
ter, and is now 50 or 70 years old.
She can truthfully be called a "pio-
neer." Joseph Thomas, the eldest son.
is now and has been for many years
a resident in the copper mine district
of Michigan. William H, the second
son, prior to few years ago passed
almost his entire life in the town of
Potosi For some years he was
prominent business man in the village
and with H. c. Orrick, Dubuque, sue
ceeded w. H. Hunt in the general
merchandise business. He gained
the knowledge of the business while
a clerk for w H. Hunt. Mr.. Orrick,
after a few years, withdrew from the
business and the firm became after
ward became known as w. H. Thorn
as e Co. Mr.. Thomas, after some
years, disposed of his business to A.
w. Dickinson of Shullsburg. He is
now in business in Duluth, Mimi.
Samuel A. Thomas, the youngest son.
for several years taught school until