Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-07-02

to this district in 1S4S. They had five
children. They were noted far and
wide as worthy pioneers and every
one who came to their home was al
ways shown the kindest hospitality.
Many a weary traveller stopped with
them and went on his way, the road
seeming more light for knowing them.
Arthur Pagan settled on what is
now the Sunney farm, in 1856. He was
man of wealth and education, bring
ing with him about $4,000 in money,
and his five daughters and four sons,
one of whom is a priest. He bought
a large tract of land and became a
well-to-do farmer.
A. W. Curtis and his father settled
upon the Curtis farm in 1856. They
came from New York making the long
trip in covered wagons and bringing
with them the spirit of progress and
the hope which conquered all obstac
les and enabled them to establish
good homes in the new land.
There were many other early set
tiers whom we have been unable to
get very little information about due
to the fact that they or their children
no longer hold land in this district and
have either died or are so far away
that we were unable to locate them.
Patrick Boyle came in 1850 and
lived in log house which is now on
the Humphrey place. He married a
Vanaudsdoll and lived upon the farm
he now owns in the Brunson district.
It is to him that we are especially
thankful for helping us with names
and dates for this history.
These settlers came to settle the
land they bought, the land being in
accordance with the amount of money
they had Land prices ranged from
SOC to $125 an acre. Nearly all of
these settlers came up the Mississippi
river to the junction of the Wiscon-
sin, then overland to our district.
They could bring little with them as
the boats were small, freight eXpen-
sive, and articles bunglesome. There
fore they brought with them only their
families and the tools which were alb
solutely necessary.
The reason for settling was the
nearness and greatness of waterways.
They could ship and receive produce
up and down the Mississippi river
more rapidly than any other way.
There were no roads nor bridges and
therefore overland travel was impos-
sible.
The first homes were built entirely
of logs containing one room and a
loft. In these small houses, families
lived, slept, ate, Worl ed and played.
The first industries were those of
producing shelter, then came the
clearing of the land to produce food.
Most of the ground was covered With
small underbrush which for the most
part was plowed under by % inch
pillow drawn by six yoke of oxen. AS
there were only few plows in the
country the man owning one plowod
his neighbours land for so much an
acre. Sometimes roots as large as a
mans arm would be torn loose and
partially covered.
The early crops raised were Indian
corn, barley, wheat and oats. The
chops were raised only in email guam
titles. A large amount could not be
disposed of so the people raised only
what they needed. The grain was cut
with scythes, bound into bundles,
threshed out with fails, and ground
in a small hand mill which left the
coarse husk unground.
All supplies were brought UP the
Mississippi river from st. Louis or
New Orleans. Later supplies were OBJ
tanned from Milwaukee, which was at
that time about the size of Patch
Grove. Steam boats and packets piled
ND and down the Mississippi between
Prairie du Chen and St. Louis reg
ularly in summer, but when winter
/ came and the river froZe there was
no communication.
Boughten implements were few and
scarce. Each farmer made everything
that he could himself. If he were rich
he might send to st. Louis and buy
his tools. but few could afford to do
so. Travelling blacksmiths, harness
makers, etc, travelled from place to
place The farmers would hire them
| to make their machinery, and when
they were through they would travel
on.
The buildings on the early pioneer
! farms consisted of a log house and a
rude log barn. Other buildings were
added when their wealth increased.
| ST. Louis was the nearest market
| for produce. Because Of the cost, how
ever, of the freight and the danger IN
| sending products, it did not pay to
| SIl1D Tie SOOUS DIS I1Si 90 III PAN
at all. Most of the produced goods
were consumed by the owners, their
neighbors or people travelling over
land. When meat was shipped it. was
usually smoked or sailed and shipped
in BARRELS.
The early settlers chose land that
was quite free from large trees.
The Winnebago. Indians inhabited
this territory. The very early settlers
traded trinkets for furs. Later on,
however, the Indians became lazy
and shiftless, loafers that expected
great returns from nothing at all.
Settlers tell us that they didn't work
in winter because the snow was too
deep and in summer because it was
too hot. They would beg presents of
boots and cut them into moccasins
before the eyes of the giver. They
were desperately afraid of exerting
themselves. When farmer was fore
ed to give them an amount of corn
rather than to have them come and
steal it at night they would she'll the
corn so they would not have to carry
Of