Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-01-17
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(By Judge Wilmottl


Elizabeth Turner. Above this on the
corner of row Main street and a road
leading to the Catholic cemetery, was
log house built by Peter Coyle in
about the year of 1888. This house
became famous as Peter Coyle's court
honse. Peter Coyle was a noted char
acter in his day He rose to the Dig
nifty Of justice of the peace, first in
the hollow, and many important cases
were tried in his courts. Upon one
occasion his court was honored by the
presence of two distinguished LAWYERS
William Hull and Judge Lord.
Taught a Litigant Good Manners
The defendant let fall some observ-
atoms which suggested lack of res
pect for his honor, when the latter
pulled the mans nose and afterwards
creased it with a burning candle, re-
marking that he would teach him to
respect the court Peter Coyle was a
keen and intelligent man and stood
high in the estimation of the people
in those early days. An old justice
docket in the town office shows long
list Of cases that were tried in Justice
Coyle's court; some OF which would be
Of great interest to the readers of pi-
oneer notes. Probably, in the future,
some Of these more important cases
will be commented on. Mr. Coyle left
here with many others in 1850 for the
gold fields Of California and died en-
route.
Catholic Church Built of Logs
The next historic, old building was
the Catholic church, built of logs,
that stood little below the present
brick edif1ce. The first Catholic soci-
ETY. was organized in 1885 and became
and is yet known as St. Thomas con-
gregation. Celestin Kaltenbach, Peter
COyle, Michael Lawlor, John Tobin,
David Bulman, John Dolan, Owen Nc
Laughlin and some few others estab-
lished a beginning and heard mass in
the residences of the several members.
This was continued until 1888 when
the log church was built and used
without formal conservation For a
period the congregation was compell-
ed to depend upon missionary priests
but upon the completion of the log
church as mentioned, the Rev Father
James Cause was ordered here from
Mineral Point. He remained in the
discharge Of his duties until 1852.
In 1847 the present brick church was
built and solemnly dedicated to the
service of God by Rt. Rev. Bishop
Henni. then bishop Of the dicese.
Cavern Yields Large Fortune
Up in the face Of the bluff opposite
the Catholic church can be seen the
| famous Snake Hollow cave, discovered
! by Willis ST. John and Isaac Whitaker
that yielded million or more pounds
of lead ore. At the base Of the bluff
and opposite the church there stood a
one-story frame dwelling that was
built at a very early date by James
| McCarrick, an early justice Of the
peace in Potosi. This building was
| destroyed by a fire in the late ffties.
| McCarrick was a man Of good educa-
ton and fine appearance. He had
| some political influence and in 1856
secured a position in the U. S. treas
ury department at Washington, D. c.
| Being a democrat in politics he lost
/ his position in 1862.
| A little above this building stood a
small log building built for the priest
and in very early days for a chapel.
| This house for many years was the
| residence of John Reagan, who was
better known as Squire Reagan,
the long and faithful attendant upon
FIR. Cause, the priest first in charge
of the little flock Of Catholics in Po-
! tosi. The little house afterwards
was occupied by John Dolan and
| family. For some years later the
historic building remained, dilapi-
dated and untenanted, until it fell
| down and was removed
| Another chapter to follow will take
me near to the business center OF the
| village, where but few old buildings
! remain