This file
part of www.dodgejeffgen.com website
Reminiscenses of Early
Days
Jefferson County Union, December 8 – 1899
By E. P. May
In the early settlement of Wisconsin, my
father, Chester May, who was a railroad and conal contractor, arrived at
Milwaukee,
In the evening there was a great ball in
honor of the occasion. My sister Zida, who afterwards became the wife of J.D.
Clapp, attended the ball. The canal was build just far enough to make a good
water power for Solomon Juneau, but the remainder never materialized. Had the
canal been build, I have no doubt but there would have been a ship canal up
Rock river to connect with Lake Michigan at Milwaukee. Father had previously
purchased a claim, near Fort Atkinson, of a section of land, or Wm. Pritchard,
a part of which is now known as the Dan Damuth fram. He bought a team and wagon
to take the family to Fort Atkinson, which then consisted of one log house,
owned by Dwight Foster, situated where my residence now is. Father had
purchased and shipped a stock of dry goods and groceries, which was said to be
the first stock shipped west of Milwaukee. There was a log house on the claim,
situated in the valley, near the west part of the farm, now owned by Robert
Black, and there was also a log stable in which we stored our goods until we
could build a house and store. He then commenced a long building for a store
and residence, where Daniel Damuth now lives. While the house was being
constructed, we frequently had to open our goods out in the stable to get out
some to supply the neighboring settlers. As our log house was covered with
shakes, and they had badly warped, it was no uncommon thing to find in the
morning, our beds covered with an inch or more of snow. It was in December
before our new house was completed and we had moved in to it. It was said to be
the first frame house built in Jefferson County. The Indians were numerous and it
was no uncommon sight to see 300 or 400, at one time, go down the river in
their canoes. As Lake Koshkonong was a great rice field, they would come there
from long distances to gather their winter’s supply of food. They would slide
their canoes among the rice stalks, and bending them over the canoe, whip off
the grain and then carry it in their blankets to the shore to dry. They gave to
the lake the name "Koshkonong," which means " the lake we live
on." They were generally friendly and peaceable, but they had found out
that we had liquor in our store and they were bound to have it. One day about
We had succeeded in keeping them out of the
house so far but they had jabbed their knives at us through the curtains until
they had been cut in pieces. The old chief said if we would come out of the
house and shake hands they would go away. Father concluded it was the best
thing to do. We all went out but my brother George who declared that if they
came near him he should shoot. When father went out we had our guns ready to
shoot if the Indians attempted to tomahawk him. We all, except George, shook
hands with them. They then told us that they should go and get their rifles and
come back and shoot the whole of us. They started off and I took the ox team
and carried the women to the home of Milo Jones. This was about
There were about 30 or 40 of them around his
neck and the other over the limb of the tree he was told that if he had any
prayers to make or any word to send to his friends, then was the time to do it
for he soon would be in eternity. He told lies and we knew he was lying and he
was drawn up so as to almost dance on air. After several attempts to extort a
confession, he was drawn up until he turned black in the face, wheen he
concluded it was his last chance to save his life. He told the names of all who
were connected with him and where we would find some of the stolen property.
There was a man by the name of Brown, a Mormon preacher, who lived below
Busseyville. Fox said we would find some of the property hid in the bushes
about ten rods back of the preacher’s house. That night about
In the early wettlement we had considerable
argue but we did not fear that much, for no one ever died here of that disease.
In a few years the sicness changed to chills and fever and thn many died
because so many were sick and culd not receive the proper care. I frequently
came to the For t from our farm and scarcely saw any one stirring unless it was
some on going for the doctor. I attended the burial of Stevens davis’ son who
lived on the Halsey Beemver farm. There was only Joseph Morrison and myself to
bury the dead. The family were all sick and we carried the corplse to the
different members of the household that they might take their last. At the face
of their loved one before we carried him to the burial place. I trust and hope
that we shall never see another time like that.
In 1846, Alvin Foster and my father went to
the head waters of Rock river to find a woter power. After traveling some time
they succeeded and entered a strip of land four miles in length on the east
branch of the river, thereby securing three water powers. It being a heavy,
hardworked, timber country they immediately commenced to build a dam and erect
a sawmill. They afterwards built a grist mill. These improvements started quite
and enterprising little village called Mayville. My father turned over his
interest in this property to my brother George who, some years later, traded
with E.N. Foster for hotel and farm on the north side fo Fort Atkinson. As we
were traveling through the woods, one day, near Mayville, we discovered
something unusual in the soil. It seemed to be in a ridge of ground which
extended quite a distance. It being government land, father said he would buy
80 acres if I would purchase another 80 acres. We bought the land and then
commenced to investigate what we had purchased. We took some of the soil to
Milwaukee and showed it to Juneau. He burned it in a crucible and with a magnet
could take out 90 per cent of it. He pronounced it iron ore of the finest
quality. We sent three tons to Mishwaukee, Indiana, where they failed to cast
any iron from it. As the roads were very bad it was no easy task to get the ore
to sipping points. Still having faith that there was iron in ti, I went there
with ten teams and loaded them with the ore and took it to Milwaukee and
putting it into barrels sent it to Mishwaukee, it being the nearest iron works.
I went with the ore, wanting to see how they worked it. I found by smelting it
the same way they did their ore, by using marl for flux, ti would all run out
with the cinders. We had three tons of ore left when we conclude to try it
alone, when it commence to run beautiful looking iron. I had a parlor stove
cast with the iron running right from the stack. I took some of thepig iron and
had it converted into wrought iron and from it had a crowbar made, which I
brought home with me. This stove and bar where the first ever made from
Wisconsin iron ore. I still have these relics which ought to be preserved in
the Historical Rooms at Madison.
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