Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-02-28
n1ttl1 tt1F pntnHt ptnnrprH
by Judge Wilmottl

some years ago. Inc DuliuluS has
long ago ceased to be hotel, and is
now the roomy residence Of Mrs. Geo.
H. Lewis.
The bell that called the boarders to
their meals, and sometimes used as
fire alarm bell, stood in a belfry on
the roof. This same bell is now used
at the Ostermier House in Potosi.
Going back across the street where
| left the Presbyterian church, there
was a frame building on the corner
where the garage now stands, that |
think was built by Billings Rice and
brother They manufactured small
windmills, then used by miners to
drive damps or foul air out OF their
shafts The brothers also did mining
and were quite successful. They dis
covered what became known as the
Rice range that yielded considerable
lead ore. They removed from Potosi
at an early date. The old building
was occupied as a place OF living by
different parties until it became I'M
| inhabitable and was torn down.
A wagon and blacksmith shop was
built on the lot and business in these
lines was conducted by William Gro
gan Jr., as wagon maker, and John
Fure and E. Vogenthaler as the black
smith. The business here after few
years ceased to be, Grogan died, Vo-
genthaler returned to Dubuque and
Fure established himself further up
the street The old shop was pur
chased by Vogelsberg and Stoll, who
tore it down and erected the present
garage building.
The Old Mormon Church.
Back of this on the hillside there
yet stands another historical building
that was known as the Methodist
church, that was built in 1916. 1t was
brick structure erected for Mormon
purposes in the Hollow. 1t was pur-
chased and removed up town to where
it now stands by the sons OF Temper
ance. who occupied it for five years.
1t was then sold to the Methodist de-
nomination and up to the early seven
ties, was used by them as place OF
worship. At that period the cause OF
Wesleyism in Potosi, which had for
some years previous been on the
wane, failed to rally, and yielded up
the ghost, and the sect has no ex-
istence here now The church was
sold in about the year 1880, to tenn
perance organization, known as the
Mendota's, who is served several years
for their purposes and then disband-
ed. The building then was converted
into a dance hall and skating rink.
Years following it was sold and made
into a dwelling house, and has been
occupied by several different families.
At the present time it is occupied by
Sidney Gillian and family.
Across the alley, on the same hill
side, was a large one-story DrlcK
building with stone basement that was
built at a very early date by John
Jenkins. During it's existence it was
used for different purposes. At one
| time the upper part was used Ior
| dances and shows and was known as
! Branhan's hall. In later years it was
made into room for dwelling purposes.
The brick and other materials IN TINS
| building has long since been removed
! but the basement stone walls are yet
visible, reminder of old days
Below this building, and down the
, street. a two-story brick building was
erected in the early fortles by Jonh
| Jenkins and Judging from the double
doors and large windows, 1t was IN
tended to be used for business pur-
noses John Thompson an early ar
rival to Potosi, conducted merchant
tailor shop in the north lower room
and with his wife occupied living
rooms in the second story Thompson
later moved to the Corwith bulldlng
on North street and like other P0tosl
business men, removed to DunlelCh III
| 1915 or ST. who occupied the south
business room. am unable to say,
hut if was no doubt occupied for some
nurpose. John Jenkins went TO Cnlle'
| in South America, where 1t is sald Ut
became very wealthy. HIS properly
in Potosi was left in charge OF nj;
tather-in-law, Berryaman Branham'
After Mr.. Branham's death and the re-
moyal of other members or the FANNY
the property was neglected and even
tua11v sold for taxes. AS time rolled
nv it came into possession or the
| a r most for their place OF meeting.
The east half of the structure was re-
moved and the lot sold TO Wllllam
welsh. Mr.. Welsh removed two
story frame building from down IN Lid
Favette and put it on this lot ana
made a dwelling house of it. 1t was
comparatively new building when re-
moved. 1t was in years following solu
10 Jacob Udelhofen, who has made II
into a handsome two-apartment resi-
dence. The G. A. R. post with mem
bership of over forty old veterans ey
death and removals dwindled down 70
three or four members and the post
ceased to exist. A couple of years ago
the property passed into possession OF
tho American Legion of Potosi. Fol
lowing the fire of 1900 the postoffce
occupied room in the old building,
The residence Of Pete Roser, men
ton of which was made in my last
chapter, adjoins the UdelnoIen oweiio
ing. hut on this lot, or nearby, there
was in early days log house that
Charles Heinze conducted a black
smith shop in. Mr.. Heinze subse-
ouently removed to Dickeyville, where
he died. The old log shop was long
| ago removed.
The next building on this side OF