This file
part of www.dodgejeffgen.com website
PIONEER SETTLERS
(As
printed in the Jefferson County Union
on 29 December, 1899)
Two or three weeks ago the Union published a
communication from E. P. May, referring to the early days of this part of
Jefferson County. The letter seems to have stimulated the memories of other
early settlers who differ from Mr. May’s statements somewhat. As the early
history of the county is interesting, we publish a letter written to the Jefferson
Banner, in answer to the letter in the Union.
To the Editor of the Banner:--In the issue
of the Union of the 6th inst., I saw an article from E.P. May, regarding his
knowledge of the early history of the territory of Wisconsin. I see he refers
to a number of events which occurred in his first year in Wisconsin, which was
in the year 1839. Well, as to what occurred in 1839, I cannot vouch for, as I
was living in Illinois, but I can vouch for what I know about the year 1837,
which is two years before Mr. May came to Wisconsin.
I arrived in Milwaukee the 29th day of May,
1837. Milwaukee was at that time a very small place, not to exceed 300 in
population outside of the troops that were garrisoned there. We did not stop in
Milwaukee but a few days. My mother, one sister and my brother Solon, who
resides in Jefferson at the present time, went to Plainfield, Ill., and myself
and two sisters, with Lavinia Carpenter, whom my father adopted, left
Milwaukee, on the 8th day of June, 1837, and arrived at Bark River, now the
village of Hebron, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, on the 11th day of June, 1837,
at about 10 a.m., and partook of a sumptuous breakfast at the Hotel Bark River,
which consisted of musty pork and a few slices of stale bread and molasses, and
which was the bill of fare. Myself and a man by the name of Churchill were
employed by the Milwaukee Land Co., to haul out supplies for the men that were
running saw mills, getting in logs, and cutting logs and timber. My half
brother, E.G. Darling, was one of the firm.
One occasion I do not believe I shall ever
forget was the hanging of the Indians for the murder of the man by the name of
Burnett at or near Mayville, located on Bark River, in Dodge County, in the
month of December, 1836. E.G. Darling was one of the party that went with a
company of dragoons to arrest the parties that committed the crime. Solomon
Juneau went along as interpreter. After explaining the case to the Chief of the
tribe, the Potawattomies, the Chief pointed to some of the Indians and told
Juneau that they were the ones that committed the crime. They were arrested and
taken to Milwaukee where they were tried before Judge Wells and found guilty,
and were sentenced to be hung on the 27th day of June, 1837. This is what I
alluded to that I should never forget.
We happened to be in Milwaukee on the day
that they were to be executed. I had not been informed of the transaction up to
that time. Churchill has been told that the hanging was to come off, and he was
going up to see them executed. I told him that I did not care to see it, and I
would drive the team out to Prairieville, now Waukesha, and wait for him, but
he would not consent to it, so we went to where the hanging was to take place.
Before we got there I could see what I considered to be about 2,000 Indians,
though I now know that I overestimated the number, though whether from lack of
bravery or knowledge I cannot say. The tribe was all painted up in great shape.
Well, that did not make me any braver. I would have preferred being away from
there. We had to remain outside. The dragoons kept everyone outside of the
stand where the execution was to be performed. The two Indians were brought up
by a company of infantry, with the sheriff in command, and put on the stand.
There were about 800 Indians there but the troops made them stand back and keep
their places. The murderers were blindfolded and their hands tied behind them,
and the executioner was in the act of slipping the noose over their heads when
everybody was surprised to see an Indian, riding as fast as his pony could
carry him, come up to the stand and hand the officer in charge an envelope
containing papers. The officer called up Judge Wells, and he in turn called up
Solomon Juneau. The papers were examined and found that they were a pardon for
the two Indians, upon a voucher from the chief of the tribe, that the tribe
would not commit any more depredations on the white citizens of the territory
of Wisconsin. If this voucher was signed by the chief, then the Indians were to
be pardoned and if not then they were to be hung. Juneau motioned the chief to
come forward, and he then interpreted to him the contents of the envelope. The
chief signed the papers and the prisoners were accordingly released. That ended
the program, and that I was very much relieved I can vouch for. The pardoning
of the Indians was investigated and made up long before they were to be
executed, for the reason that if they were hung, the tribe would want revenge
and would massacre the white settlers. Juneau was one of the parties which
secured the pardon from Gov. Doty. That is my experience with the Indians.
Now about the Mormons. I do not know much
about them. I do recollect that one evening soon after we came to Bark River,
there was a very heavy thunder storm with a fearful downpour of rain. About
Well, now about the first frame building or
frame house that was erected in Jefferson County. I think that if Mr. May came
from Milwaukee and came by the way of Hebron he would have seen a number of
frame buildings. The frame house that I can vouch for was erected in June,
1837, about the middle of the month, and was erected on the site or near where
the hotel at Hebron stands at the present time, which was then known as the Bark
River House. During the winter of 1837-38 there was one or two more structures
erected, one by Darius Jones, and I think one or two more, but that does not
suffice. I will cite him one more frame structure that was erected in 1837, the
building known as the Jefferson House. That building was erected in the months
of September and October, 1837. It was framed at Bark River Mills, and the door
and window sash were made there by a man by the name of Prince, who afterward
located on a farm near Whitewater, and the road leading to Fort Atkinson and
Whitewater. The building was erected and put up by the Milwaukee Land Co.,
under the supervision of E.G. Darling. The building that marks the spot where
the one erected in 1837 stood is a brick structure, occupied and owned by E.
Mueller, and the name has never been changed. The present cuisine is
unsurpassed for the price and the best whiskey is obtainable, which is Harper
whiskey.
Now about Dwight Foster being the only
resident in Fort Atkinson in 1839, I think that he is mistaken. On the south
side there was a man by the name of Rockwell, and on the north side there were
a number of them. There was Wm. Barrie’s log house which he located in 1837. So
I believe that Mr. May was misinformed or his memory does not serve him right.
I do not want it understood that I make
these statements for the purpose of tantalizing or aggravating anyone, not in
the least, but out of pure motives.
About the stock of dry goods and groceries
being the first stock shipped west of Milwaukee. There is a mistake of about
two years. In the month of October, 1837, my half brother, E.G. Darling, told
me to go up to the Ancient City, now the village of Aztalan, Jefferson County,
Wis., and get some sugar and some cloth for towels. The firm was Peine &
Brayton. It was not a very extensive establishment but had what the settlers
wanted most. I got what I called for. So far as I know of any stores in
Jefferson County in 1837, this was the only one.
I do not know of anything more that would
change the minds or opinions of the people of Wisconsin as to the early
settlement thereof, although if I happen to see an article in the papers that I
believe wants to be corrected, I am ready to investigate and shall always be
anxious to participate in giving my knowledge of the facts of early settlement
of the territory of Wisconsin from 1837 to the present time.
Respectfully,
Alonzo
Brown
National Home, Wis.,