Where was Spafford's Farm?

[Robert Braun]

Some histories and articles written by local researchers have indicated that the reason the marker to the victims of the Spafford Farm massacre is located in Hoffman Cemtery is because that location was the presumptive (my word) burial site of the victim's remains.

Great story... but tough to verify. The marker gives one the impression that it is a cenotaph... and does not mark the actual burial site. That impression may, or may not be accurate.

If it IS accurate, then the farm of Omri Spafford should not be too far away. Its location near the river (verified by accounts of the two survivors) makes me think the farm was north and east of today's Hoffman Cemetery location.

Your thoughts?

[Robert Braun]

Nice guess, but wrong direction, Bob.

According to Tom Fey and associates, Spafford's Field was located south and west of the Hoffman Cemetery, on land adjacent to the Pecatonica River near the confluence with later-named "Spafford's Creek."

Accoring to Mr. Fey, the remains of the massacre victims were buried the next day near the massacre site. Just before the turn of the century (so the story goes) a physician from Elizabeth IL was supposedly digging around looking for anatomical specimens in the presumptive massacre site. The good people of South Wayne were outraged by this activity, and sought to provide the remains with a proper burial. They chose Hoffman Cemetery, near present-day Penny Hill. The citizens reburied the remains and erected the present-day monument over the interrment in 1899.

[Chris Gordy]

Nice detective work Bob. You sure showed Bob a thing or two. I can see where somebody would have a little problem with digging around some graves looking for specimens.

[Robert Braun]

Thanks, but Bob can't take the credit for showing Bob the error of his postulates. The credit is entirely due to Tom Fey and his associates.

Bob was persuaded to show Bob the discoveries reported by Mr. Fey, particularly on the strength of Mr. Fey's archaeological findings in the area. In 1994, a local farmer found the lock of a Northwest Trade Gun was found in the river near the presumed site of the murders-- presumably the weapon of one of the whites at Spafford's Field.

I suppose the weapon could have been that of a Kickapoo... however, the fact that three of the dead were fished from the river makes me think that the lock was from a gun that belonged to one of them.

Likewise, the weapon could have been that of Bennett Million, who dove into the water to escape the pursuing Kickapoo.

Hmmm... looks like Bob is arguing with himself again. I wonder who will win?

[Mike Thorson]

Ok Bob, you'll have to stop harassing Bob or I'll have to ban Bob. Sorry for the Bobbing

[Peter Shrake]

stooopppp!!! Im seeing two, no three, wait maybe only two Bobs. All these Bobs are making my head hurt!


This question goes out to both Bobs

Was there any other artifacts found at the site?

[Robert Braun]

Hello, Pete! This is Bob... the nicer one of the set.

No other artifacts were reported, aside from the skeletal remains (which included some cloth and buttons) removed to Hoffman Cemetery in 1899, and the musket lock, found circa 1994 in/around the river.

[spencer]

The exact location of the mass grave of the four unfortunates of the Spafford Creek Massacre lies close to the middle of the eight acres in sec. 10 that is on the WEST side of the Peckatonica River, Wayne Township, Lafayette County. Spafford's cabin was located across the river among or on top of the bluff there. Spencer's house lay maybe 50 rods south west of the mass grave on the high ground there.

George Harrison [original surveyor of this part of Wisconsin- then Michigan territory] reports this in April- May of 1833. Harrison's survey was interrupted by the Black hawk War in May of 1832. We find him at Fort Hamilton where, I believe, he was elected Captain. I presume he knew both Spencer and Spafford and after the war when, he resumed his survey, he made a point of notating the mass grave and the location of his friends' cabins. All three points could easily be seen from the section line between 9 and 10.

So Spafford's and Spencer's field, I would say, lay in the rich bottom land both north and south of the "Burial Ground".

[Larry Koschkee]

Thanks for the additional information on the location of the mass grave and Spafford's cabin. I for one will re-visit the site armed with your research.

Just one minor correction in your post... I am afraid George Harrison may not have made Captain of a militia company. The Wisconsin BHW militia muster rolls indicate a G. W. Harrison enrolled in Captain Wm. S. Hamiliton's Company as a private. This is the same company that John Compton, James McLvane, Omri Spafford, Francis Spencer and A. D. Searles was a part of.

Best regards

Larry Koschkee

[wfwenzel]

I'm confident I got the location down good enough to walk to it, along with the farm houses. I'd like to road trip there this spring and meet the land owners.

[chester]

Did you ever make name it up to the area?

[chester]

Is the cemetery locked or can you look at the sight