Lafayette County WI Archives History - Books .....The Hardships Of Pioneer Life 1881
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Book Title: History Of La Fayette County

THE HARDSHIPS OF PIONEER LIFE.

Pioneer life in these wilds is represented to have been attended with unlimited
hardships and privations, but possessing a compensating number of blessings and
privileges. The record of days passed in recreating the country is not without
interest and instruction. One can see the pioneer surrounded by labors and
trials in his conversion of the wilderness into fields that blossomed with the
harvest. One can in imagination sit by his cabin fire and partake of the
cheerfully granted hospitality, or listen to accounts of the embargoes he
encountered and disposed of in the effort inaugurated for the establishment of
homes in regions remote from civilization and unsought theretofore save by
wandering Indians and ferocious beasts. From small beginnings, the historian
traces the progress made through mighty achievements of industry, daring
enterprises and untiring energy, to the results that are visible to-day. The
waste places are seen rejoicing under the kindly care of the husbandmen,
fruitful farms are to be seen at every point of the compass, villages and cities
have arisen and "civilization on her luminous wings sails Phoenix-like to Jove."
The marts of trade and traffic, and the workshops of the artisan are thronged; a
common-school system that increases in value with each year has sprung up as if
by magic, and children of the rich and poor press forward to participate in the
benefits thereby afforded. Churches have been built and a Christian ministry
established for the cultivation of a religious reverent, life, the promotion of
piety, morals and virtue. The press, the Archimedean lever which moves the
world, sends forth floods of light to illuminate the land and benefit the sons
of men. Railroads are completed to facilitate the acquisition of independence,
and the electric telegraph bridges broad intervals of space for the convenience
of mankind.

The first important act of the settler upon his arrival was to build a home for
the protection of his family. Until this was accomplished they lived upon the
ground in tents, or sought protection from the elements beneath an inverted
wagon-box. But the prospect of a home was one that lightened toil and encouraged
the most exacting of labors. The style of the house to be erected did not
partake of the essence of the contract; what was attempted to be guarded against
was exposure from the weather for themselves and their families. Without money
or the mechanical appliances to aid in its construction, he was content with a
cabin of the most unpretentious dimensions or luxuries. It was often little more
than a "wike-up" composed of rude logs about fourteen feet square, roofed with
bark or boards split out by hand, and, in some instances, with sod, and floored
with puncheons or mother earth. For a fire-place, a wall of stone or earth was
fashioned into shape in one corner of the building, extending outward, and
planked on the exterior with bolts of wood fastened together. For a chimney, any
contrivance that would answer the purpose was improvised. Some were made of sod,
cemented into place with clay; others were made of clay and sticks, and met
reasonable expectations. Upon a winter's night, when the wind howled with
delight across the barren prairie, or through the leafless trees, even these
rude cabins were cozy homes.

For doors and windows, contrivances that were recommended by reason of their
simplicity were impressed into service. The furniture varied in proportion to
the skill of the occupant, unless the settler brought with him a little of the
conveniencies he enjoyed at home, and this, owing to distance and the absence of
facilities of transportation, were extremely rare. Chairs and tables were
improvised from huge logs, which were fashioned into stools; sometimes benches
served the purpose. A bedstead was of exceptional occurrence, and this
indispensable article of domestic economy was often "hewn out" on the ground. A
stake was driven into the earth diagonally from the corner of the room, and at a
proper distance supplied with "forks" upon which poles were laid, the opposite
ends resting between the openings in the logs or driven into auger holes. Barks
or boards were used as a substitute for cords, upon which the straw tick or
feather bed was laid and covered with the whitest drapery. In this "prairie
schooner" the settler slept as comfortably as does the wealthy sybarite upon his
couch of down.

The first year's farming consisted of the "garden-patch," planted with
vegetables, and often the year's crop required an exercise of the closest
economy to supply the demand. Flour, bacon, tea, coffee and other domestic
luxuries were difficult to obtain, when the invoices the settlers brought with
them had became exhausted. During the long winters that were experienced, these
supplies were often disposed of, and the plentifulness of game aided in driving
absolute want from the door. Even when corn was abundant, great difficulty
attended its preparation for food. The mills were so few and far between that
almost any expedient was availed of for reducing it to meal. Some grated it on
what was known as a "grater," made by punching small holes through a piece of
tin or iron and fastening it upon a board in concave shape, with the rough side
out. Upon this the ear was rubbed, and a very coarse quality of meal resulted. A
very common substitute for meal was hominy, a palatable and wholesome diet, made
by boiling corn in a weak solution of lye until the hull was separated from the
kernel, when it was again boiled, and fried as needed. Another mode of preparing
this staple was by pestling. A mortar was made of a block of wood which was
hollowed out, into which the corn was thrown, where it was pounded by a pestle,
fashioned from a club, one end of which was tipped with iron.

When bread-stuffs were needed, they could only be obtained at a great distance.
Owing to the lack of proper means for threshing and winnowing wheat, it was
always mixed with smut, dirt and other foreign substances. With this
hotch-potch, a trip to mill to Galena, Wiota or Benton, was necessary, and was
by no means the least hardship to which the heads of families were subjected.
The slow mode of travel by ox teams was rendered still more difficult by the
total absence of roads and bridges, while a ferry was an unknown quantity in the
system of improvements in the country. The distance to be traveled was long,
though in dry weather by no means difficult, was exceedingly troublesome and
dangerous during the floods incident to the breaking-up of winter. To be
stranded in a "slough" and suffer a delay of many hours, was an incident of
common occurrence, and that, too, when time was an item of great import to the
comfort, and at intervals, to the lives of settlers' families. Often a swollen
stream would permanently blockade the way, and those who endeavored to cross it,
did so at the risk of their lives. There were no roads, Indian trails being the
only avenues of communication, and these impassable for vehicles. When the
settlers found it necessary to take these trips to mill, they doubtless
experienced a most serious distaste to the undertaking. In summer, by traveling
during the day and camping at night, they progressed without encountering
difficulties that were vital to the enterprise; but in winter the journey was in
the midst of dangers. The utmost economy in time was absolutely indispensable.
When the objective point was reached, after one or more days of toilsome travel,
attended with exposures and risks, and the weary settler was yearning to return
to his home and family, he was not unfrequently informed that his turn would
come after many days, and, discouraged and anxious though he was, the cheerful
acceptance of the situation was all that remained. He must then look about for
the means to pay expenses, and was fortunate indeed, if he was able to procure
work. When his turn came, he must be promptly on hand, bolt his own flour and
experience other vicissitudes, which having been endured and disposed of, his
thoughts were tortured by the apprehensions concerning home, and were not
dissipated until he arrived at that sacred spot.

Added to these was the presence of beasts of prey, the most annoying of which
was the wolf. While it was true, in a general sense, that the greatest care,
industry and diligence were necessary to "keep the wolf from the door," it was
also in a measure true in a literal sense. In brief, the trials to which the
pioneers of La Fayette County, in common with the great Northwest, were subject
to, could scarcely be enumerated, much less exaggerated, and the cases of
suffering, affliction and disappointments would crowd a volume and leave much
remaining to be told. Through all of these, the hearts of men never quailed, and
timid women become brave.

As has already been observed, the abandonment of the country in the summer of
1827, during the Indian alarms and disturbances, was not prolonged beyond a
year. In the fall, a number of the more venturesome began to return, and by the
first days of summer, 1828, the flow of emigration was large. Mining and
smelting were engaged in upon quite an extensive scale, quoting from the memory
of Col. D. M. Parkinson, and, while many amassed fortunes, many lost their
available assets. The country in the vicinity of the mines presented an
appearance both thriving and primitive. The inhabitants in these portions of the
county were "miscellanies," so to speak, thrown together from all parts of the
world, of all conditions and nationalities; but all were prompted by one object
and directed their efforts to the accomplishment of one end, and the whole
characterized by some leading or general feature. Honesty, hospitality,
generosity and kindly sympathy were the prominent characteristics of the
community, though in some they might have been alloyed with indolence and
recklessness. Instead of houses, they usually lived in dens or caves, a large
hole or excavation being made in the side of a hill or bluff, the top being
covered over with poles, grass or sod. So intent were the new-comers on making
money by mining that they could not take time to erect for themselves even
comfortable dwelling-places. A level way from the edge of the hole at the bottom
was dug out some ten or twelve feet, and this gangway, being closed up on either
side, was covered over on top, thus forming a sheltered entrance to the
residence. In these, families lived in apparent comfort and the most perfect
satisfaction for years, buoyed up by the constant expectation of soon striking a
big lead. To these miserable places of abode, men were compelled to carry upon
their backs every article required for food and fuel.

The general business of the miners was prospecting. This consisted of digging
"sucker holes" in all imaginable places and depths. When a lead was struck, all
would flock to that vicinity to mine, and hence, in the course of a few years,
mining was concentrated, to some considerable extent, in certain localities,
such as New Diggings, Hard Scrabble, Coon Branch, Fair Play, Shullsburg, Black
Leg, and at other points still of considerable note. During these early years,
the mines were worked chiefly by men from the Southern and Western States, who
possessed and practiced many of the noblest traits of the race. As an
illustration of their innate integrity of character, it may be said that locks
and keys were unknown in the country, and places of abode were left open to the
reception of the public, who received a cordial welcome and free invitation to
partake of such hospitality as the "cabin" afforded. Upon the return of the lone
miner to his "sod-banked hut" after a hard day's work, he would frequently be
cheered with the sight of some weary prospector, who had there, in his absence,
taken up lodgings for the night. They would separate in the morning, perhaps,
never to meet again. Mining tools were left out and remained undisturbed. Debts
were contracted without reserve at the first interview with the new-comer, and
he seldom failed to promptly meet his obligations. A miner would enter a store,
or go to a smelter who usually kept miners' supplies, and would say, "Sir, I
have just arrived in the mines, am out of money, and wish to go to mining; if
you will let me have some tools and provisions, I will pay you in a few days, or
weeks at the most." The prompt and friendly reply would be, "Yes, sir, you can
have them," and the pay, sooner or later, was almost sure to come. This custom
was so universally prevalent that business men have been heard to declare that
they never knew debts so promptly paid even in States where there existed
stringent laws to enforce their collection. The inhabitants had come together as
a band of brothers, and extended the right hand of fellowship to each other,
pledging mutual assistance in times of danger and in times of need.

As illustrating the spirit which then prevailed among farmers and miners, the
following instances are cited. They are from the address of Peter Parkinson,
Jr., one of the oldest and most hospitable of the survivors of a regime rapidly
passing away:

"The first occurred at the head of Apple River, in the present town of
Monticello: An old settler resided there, engaged in farming and smelting,
raising a crop of wheat among other products. To prepare the wheat for flour, he
was obliged to thresh it out with an old-fashioned flail. After this had been
done, in order to separate the kernels from the chaff, the old gentleman was
obliged to trickle it down out of a bucket, standing, the meantime, upon a
three-legged stool, while two of his boys stood by, each one having hold of a
strong sheet with which a current of air was created to blow out the chaff. In
the succeeding year, a man settled in the neighborhood who owned a fanning-mill.
The old settler expressed his gratification, and remarked to his sons: 'Now,
boys, we can borrow neighbor Jones' fanning-mill, and you won't have to clean
wheat with the sheet any more.' Accordingly, when the crop was ready for
cleaning, one of the boys went over to borrow neighbor Jones' fanning-mill, but
that individual declined to negotiate for its temporary transfer, on the ground
that it cost too much money to loan. The boy returned indignant and disposed to
criticise neighbor Jones in an austere manner, but the old gentleman rebuked his
son's inclination. 'Don't say anything,' he observed, 'I will cure him.' Soon
after the wife of Jones sickened and died, and, although he was the opposite of
a good neighbor, he felt a tender regard for the dead wife, and, overwhelmed
with grief at his bereavement, made a most supplicating appeal to the old
settler for the loan of his buggy, the only one there was in the country, to
visit Galena to procure necessaries for the funeral. The buggy was accordingly
sent, accompanied by kind messages, and the man was told to keep it as long as
he wanted its use, the old settler going over with his family and rendering such
assistance and consolation as was in his power.

"When the funeral was over, Jones, being unwilling to trust the expression of
his appreciation to another, went himself to the settler's residence, and, after
returning his thanks in the most pathetic manner for the buggy's use, took out
his wallet and said:

" 'Now, what shall I pay you for the use of the buggy and also for breaking it
?' as he had the misfortune to do.

" 'Not anything, neighbor Jones, I was glad that I had it in my power to oblige
you in your great misfortune.'

" 'No,' responded Jones, £ I will not be satisfied at all to let it go in that
way. You must certainly take something for breaking the buggy, at least.'

" 'No, sir; not one cent; it will not more than make us even on the fanning-mill
score any way.'

"If Jones had been sentenced to be hanged," continues the chronicler, "he could
not have looked more humiliated. For a moment he was speechless; at length,
laying his hand upon the neighbor's shoulder, he said: "Now, neighbor_____, for
God's sake forgive me for that mean trick. If I am ever guilty of another as
mean, I hope you and the rest of the neighbors will tar and feather and ride me
out of this neighborhood on a rail.' After that, there never was a more obliging
neighbor than Jones."

The other instance was located in the town of Fayette. An old settler in that
township had opened a farm, which extended out into the prairie, on which, at
the back of the farm, some diggings had attracted a miner, who had erected a
cabin. He was surrounded by a large family of small children, and, during the
winter, it was difficult to obtain wood in sufficient quantities to warm his
cabin. A portion of the farm was under fence, and, in an emergency, the miner
was accustomed to supply his necessities with the rails from this source.
Another miner, cognizant of this fact, communicated the depredations to the
farmer, which was also overheard by one his sons.

The settler thanked his informant for the kindness manifested, and, turning to
his boy, exclaimed:

"Well, John, what had we better do with this man for burning our rails ?"

"Why," said the lad, "I think we had better haul him a load of wood."

Pleased with the generous ideas of his son, the farmer directed him to hitch up
the big team, go into the grove and haul the miner as large a load as could be
piled on the wagon, at the same time to inform the miner that when it was gone,
if he would let them know, they would haul him more.

This proceeding brought the culprit to a realizing sense of his disgraceful
conduct. He visited the farmer and made a thousand apologies, offering to pay
for what had been taken and to compensate for the injury by any service he could
render. The old settler took it coolly, however, told him it was all right, that
he would have no occasion to repeat the levy; when he got out of wood to let him
know and he would send him some more. This generous act cured the miner of his
propensity to steal and resolved him into a respectable man.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY, WISCONSIN,

CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF ITS SETTLEMENT, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES; AN EXTENSIVE
AND MINUTE SKETCH OF ITS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES—THEIR IMPROVEMENTS,
INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTORIES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES; ITS WAR RECORD,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT MEN AND EARLY SETTLERS; THE WHOLE
PRECEDED BY A HISTORY OF WISCONSIN, STATISTICS OF THE STATE, AND AN ABSTRACT OF
ITS LAWS AND CONSTITUTION AND OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY.
MDCCCLXXXI. [1881]


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