Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-02-28
Hard Times In Sixties.

Potosi. After his death this property
and other property owned by him in
PotOsi was not looked after in prop
er way. Taxes were not paid and it
was sold for taxes due. Andrew j.
Greene secured a tax deed to the
frame dwelling down near Van Buren,,
and Joe Hall got a title 10 the brick
dwelling, that later became the prop
erty of Hugh Dougherty. Along in
the middle of the sixties son of
David Gillespie came up from down in
central Illinois to investigate the con-
diticn and value OF the property. AT
this time Potosi was experiencing
great depression and property values
were deprecated to a remarkable ex-
tent. The son, who by-the-way was
an attorney, after looking into the
property concluded from the business
depression of PotOsi, that the property
wasn't worth the cost OF redemption,
and passed it up. The frame dwelling
is now owned by Mrs. Jennie Wasbey
Of La Crosse, a daughter of Andrew j.
Greene, and the brick building is own
ed by James Dougherty, the only one
of the name now living in Potosi.
Horse Thieves Prevalent.
Be it known that in the early days
there was a gang of horse thieves that
piled their trade in this locality. One
by the name of Wilson, (known as
Horse Thief WILSON, occupied the
brick house with his family until his
arrest
Two Old-fashi0ned Slaves.
A short distance above this brick
house, where the street makes a short
curve, and about where Eugene
Webb's two-story residence now is,
there was a one-story frame dwelling
that for many years, or until their
deaths, was occupied by Alexis and
Aunt Rachel Goodain. They were
colored people and former slaves OF
General George w. Jones, who gave
them their freedom. This old couple
were we'll respected by the community
for their quiet and kind conduct.
Near this building, at the base OF
the hill there was log dwelling, that
was for some years occupied by Mrs.
Hilgers, a widow, who had come here
from Germany with four young sons.
One son, Theodore, member OF Co.
T, 10th Reg, Wis. Vol. Inf, lost his
life in the Civil war. Another son,
Charles, offered his services to his
adopted country, and served three
years and three months with Co. G, I'd
Reg. Wis. Vol Inf He died in Ne
braska a few years ago. William, the
eldest son, went to California in 1860
and died there. Michael, the youngest,
and only survivor of the family is liv-
ing in the State of Washington. This
old land mark has long ago been re-
moved.
Joe Otis residence stands out near
the street from where the old struc-
ture stood.
Jacob Neufang, in very early days
had blacksmith shop in this row
and lived in a frame house near by,
these buildings are removed and Joe
Oft has a garden where the dwelling
stood.
An Old-Time Dwelling.
Another old-time building above Joe
Otis dwelling is yet standing, but with
alterations and improvements is now
the residence Of E. A. Berger. 1t was
built by William Grogan an early
wagon maker. He used the first story
as a wagon shop and the second as
living rooms, later building a one
:
Grogan conducted a wagon shop in
Potosi for a great number Of years.
He died here many years ago. After
his death the entire building was used
for dwelling purposes.
Hayden the "CrOWer."
Nea1 this building and almost ad-
Joining the old City Hotel, was anoth-
er frame two-story building that has
long since been removed Who built
it, is unknown to any one now living
here. 1t was a kind of bachelor
quarters for a period of years. John
Gambol, English Johnnie" whom l
have previously mentioned in my his
tory, patched in this house for a num-
Der of years. A man by the name OF
Hayden, a jovial good fellow with per-
lection could initiate a ROSTERS crow
ing, also patched in this house. He
was known as Hayden, the Grower.
Niger Paul, once a slave Of General
Jones, also patched in this house.
Jones owned Paul down in Kentucky
and brought him North. In about the
year 1888, while Jones was living at
Sinsinawa Mound, Paul quarreled with
his master and was driven off. He
at what they called stag dances. He
would fiddle for his whiskey and
something to eat. When he ran too
far out, knees and elbows he would go
back to his old master and saw wood,
and Jones would supply him with
some old clothes. Paul finally drifted
to the Potosi mines, where he did
fiddling in saloons and worked at odd
jobs.
A Vanished Village.
Next in line of buildings comes the
historical City Hotel, where many dig
nitaries of We olden times visiting Po-
tosi, found accommodations. The
building was first located down in the
village of Oceola, a couple of miles be-
low La Fayette. Oceola at that time
was a live village, but in 1887 was
practically dead, the people moving
up to the mines and settling in La
Fayette, Van Buren, and Snake Hol-
low. The hotel building was dis
mantled and moved to Potosi, where it
yet stands. Mrs Floyd, believe con-