Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-03-28
mtth thR pntnat ptnttRRra
(By Judge Wilmottl


built in the early forties for ten-pin
alley 1t extended along the hillside
from the second story above the base
ment of the City Hotel for about so
feet. The entrance to the alley was
through the hotel. 1t was used as an
alley for some years, then abandoned
for that purpose. 1t afterwards be-
came a place for shows, and many
small shows held forth in this long
and narrow building.
About the year 1856, band of
prominent young men living in Potosi,
organized a Thespian Society and
amused the people with dramatic
plays, such as "The Golden Farmer"
"Sappho" and other dramas. The
young men of this organization were
John B. Nicholas, Frank Neaville,
Henry r. Neaville, William Busbee,
James Francis, Fred Mathews, Mot
Chartrand, Ed. Neaville and Sam NAL
lett, a small boy who acted the part
of a little girl.
These young men have all passed
away. Nicholas and Francis went to
California in 1859, and many years
later died there, Frank and Henry
Neaville gave up their lives for their
country in the Civil war. Busbee died
in early manhood. Chartrand remov-
ed to ST. Louis and died there. Sam
Mallett grew to manhood in Potosi,
later going to Omaha, where, for
number of years he held responsible
position with the U. P. R. R. He died
in Omaha a number of years ago. Fred
Mathews was an old-time show man
He could pick az banjo, sing and
dance to perfection. His wife came
here with him and they lived here
for a few years. He took a liking to
mining and put in his time at that
work. He loved the sport of fishing,
and some years after he and his wife
removed from here and returned to
the state of New York, Mr.. Mathews
was appointed a member of the State
Fish Commission, and later became
State Commissioner He died at an
advanced age at Albany, N. Y, few
years ago Ed. Neaville removed
from Potosi to some part unknown to
the writer
To return to buildings of early day
period, will say that there was one
story frame near the City Hotel, that
was built for a bakery by Martin I.
Ennor in 1914. Some years following
it was occupied by Benjamin Branhan
as a harness shop. 1t has long ago
been removed.
Standing next to this was large
log building used by Ennor and Hayes
as a buggy shed. 1t stood about twelve
Zenker's auto repair shop is now To-
Gated.
Adjoining the buggy shed there was
a large two-story frame building that
was first occupied by Cook Breneman
who moved UP from Lafayette with a
stock of general merchandise. This
firm closed out their business in about
the year 1850, and removed elsewhere
After this the building was used for
different purposes. The lower part as
a saloon conducted by G. B. Brent,
and the upper part was used for the
manufacture of tanning mills. The ola
building in course OF time was
abandoned for business purposes and
eventually was torn down and the
material removed. 1t stood where the
Ed. Flesch blacksmith shop now
stands.
lust above this there stood two
story log building for many years oc-
cupied by Patrick Darcy as a boot and
shoe shop, and living rooms. rms
old house was built by an old pioneer
whose name has been forgotten by the
older residents, yet living IN Potosl'
He died in this house and when II pc
came occupied by Patrick Darcy IL
was said that while Mrs. Darcy was
cleaning house and taking DEBRIS
from a chimney she found can OF
gold. and it was said that later on
another can of gold money was tound:
The bull dings in later years was useo
for a. saloon 1t was taken down
some time in the sixties and removed
on the bluff and made into a farm
house. where I think it yet stands.
Adjoining the lot where they log
bouse stood there was large Two
story frame building that was built by
SCION l.. Langworthy, Henry I. Mas
sew and Benz. F. Woods, who con-
ducted A wholesale and retail store
under the firm name of S. l.. Lang
worthy and Co., at that time lo4o, 70
tosi was the largest town in the south
western part of the Territory OF WIS
consin and ranked with Galena Tor
both wholesale and retail TRACE, as
stated before in a previous chapter'
T.angworthy & Co. continued IN Dusl-
nnss until 1855, when they sold their
store to Holl and Dance, the latter
firm failing a few years IneIedLceA'
The Langworthy & Co. store building
has been removed and a smaller two
story frame building now STANDS on
tbe lot. This building is occupied by
Fred Grimm as harness shop
About where Mrs. Grimm's mill
merry store now is there was log
house built in 1887, in which owen
Mclaughlin ran a saloon. 1t was IN
This saloon that jim Crow, James
Wagner" was murdered by Lindsey
evans. Jacob Derrick and Wllilam
Cooley. Evans firing the fatal snot'
This was in 1888. -,
East of the Langwater store Dullo-
inc Scion Langworthy built a large
two-story brick building in 1S4l' that
vet is in use and is known as RE Us
fernoier Hotel Mrs. Ostern1ier mas
lived in this house for nearly seventy
years. s.o;, +bis
building Langworthy built a brick
residence that yet stands ana IS no"
owned by Mrs. James Deneen,
Mas onaIly across the street from