Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-08-23


overlooking the village of Rockville.
He died here in the early seventies.
His widow married protestant min
/ lister named Cartheway. She died on
the farm many years ago.
Mr.. and Mrs. Morehead had but one
daughter who became the wife of Joel
H. Stephens.
James Moreshead followed mining
and subsequently purchased land and
opened up a farm in the region of the
Red Dog mines. He and his wife have
long since passed to the great beyond.
A son, Edwin, now owns and resides
on the old homestead farm. A daugh-
ter became the wife of DR.. Creighton
who practiced in Potosi in the early
! ffties and later removed to Dunleith,
now E. Dubuque. Both died there.
Phillip Moreshead followed mining
and later bought a two-story frame
! dwelling in the village of Potosi that
was known as the Proctor Morris"
house. He occupied this place for
several years.
Another old time farmer near
Rockville was Elijah Sprague. He
owned a fine farm and later it was
! sold to Henry Macke who in turn
traded it to Samuel Stephens for a
! half interest in the British Hollow
| brewery. Mr.. Stephens operated the
| farm for a number of years then sold
! it to Frank Wilhelm and removed to
Lancaster. Wilhelm sold to Henry
! Abiding and removed to Texas where
he yet lives Abing sold the farm
to a son-in-law, Joseph Markus, who
is now the occupant.
! Among the Germans who settled in
Rockville at an early date were Jacob
Lessler, Henry and Jacob Kuster,
Louis Wolf, Christian Vesperman,
Martin Wickendoll, Henry Macke,
Christian and Charles Busch, George
Schramm, John Deassel, Christian
Broihahn, a man named Dickman, Au-
gust Poke, Henry Poppy, Henry My
er, and others whose names l am un-
able to recall All of these sturdy pi-
oneers were men of good character,
Industrious and honest, with relig
ious inclinations and generous to a
degree. Jacob Lessler the first named,
for many years conducted saloon in
Rockville In 1867 or '6S he sold his
saloon to George Schramm and with
his family removed to the village OF
Potosi and again embarked in the sal
DON business. He subsequently re-
moved to Boscobel where he died a
number Of years ago. A son, Louis
P. Lessler. was county treasurer from
1879 to 1882.
Henry Kuster first followed the pro-
fession Of butcher and with one
horse and wagon made regular trips
to British Hollow, POtOsi and Dutch
| Hollow, selling meat from the wagon.
/ To tod far p on lYXyj q
and became a farmer After years of
toll as a renter he purchased the farm
from the R. H. Visscher estate and
lived there to the time of his death.
/ The place is now owned by Mrs. John
Kuster.
Henry Macke came to Rockville
with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Chris
tian Macke. When a young man he
succeeded Henry Kuster in the but
che profession and sold meat in the
same route followed by Kuster. He
was well liked by his patrons for his
| honest way of doing business. Short
weight was not known in those days.
! He quit the business Of peddling meat
and started to farming. He later
bought the Elijah Sprague farm and a
| few years later traded the farm to
| Sam Stephens for a half interest in
/ the British Hollow brewery. After a
] few years in this business he sold his
! interest to VIM. MOhrenberg and
again followed farming. He reired
some years ago and purchased home
in the village of Potosi where he now
lives at an advanced age Mr.. Macke
was married three times. His third
wife, who was a daughter of Henry
Kuster, died ? few years ago, leaving
him a widower for the third time.
Louis Wolfe, who came at an early
date, opened up the first blacksmith
| shop in Rockville. He worked at the
trade almost up to the time Of his de-
mise some years ago. He had built up
a good trade and at times had to en-
| ploy help. He was an honest man
and enjoyed the confidence of all who
knew him.
| Peter LeppIa was a boot and shoe
! maker in crush Hollow and seeing
/ better advantages in Rockville he re-
moved there and for many years made
and mended boots and shoes for the
| people of the locality. He died here
many years ago.
Christian Vesperman, Little Chris
| tian," as he was generally known,
succeeded Mr. Macke in the butcher
business ana TOT many years SupplleQ
people in Rockville, British Hollow,
| Potosi and Dutch Hollow with meat
| following the same route established
! by Henry Kuster Instead of a bell,
as was generally used by peddlers,
Christian used large sea shell and
when blown it could be heard for a
mile or more. In the early mornings
when he sounded the sea shell people
knew that Christian was coming.
| If he sold meat to a saloon keeper he
would give the price with a glass of
! beer on the side. He pursued this
| business for many years until old age
compelled him to retire. He died in
| Rockville some years ago.
Matthias Leindecker left his native
heath in Bavaria in 1S49 and with his
wife and young son, William, set sail
| for America with the intention of To-
eating in Potosi. On the way up the
river from New Orleans Mr.. Leindeck-
er became sick and died in St. Louis.
| The widow and son came on up the
| river and landed in Potosi. A sister,
! Mrs. John Seipker, and husband, were
then living in Rockville and thither