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Post by Larry Koschkee on Oct 25, 2002 17:06:21 GMT -5
John W. Bidwell, at the age of 9, came to the Wisconsin Territory with his family locating in the Patch Grove area of Grant County, WI. In his later years wrote historically about people, places and events of that area.
The Fennimore Times, March 2, 1905, EARLY DAYS IN BLOOMINGTON (WI)
"... When the Black Hawk war broke out and that able Indian Chief had terrorized the Northwest, and had either driven or scared away all the inhabitants - swept the country as far south as central Illinois - a meager few gathered at a small stockade at Cassville, but no fear or persuasion could induce Mrs. Peck to leave her home. There alone in her log cabin near where the Moore homestead now stands she spent the winter in her cabin home unmolested. In the springtime her friends came and found her there..."
The Fennimore Times, October 8, 1924, PATCH GROVE AND IT'S PIONEERING DAYS
"...One event occuring during the Black Hawk conflict duly ought to be recorded: When all the lead miner's and early settlers were gathered together at Cassville at a picket station for safety, a lone widow, Mrs. John Spitzer, remained in her log cabin all the winter of 1831, I believe it to have been the year, and cut her wood."
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Post by Robert Braun on Oct 25, 2002 19:21:09 GMT -5
Larry, fascimating account of the fort constucted under the superintendence of Glendower M. Price.
Continuing investigation is close to revealing the general location of the fort site!
r.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Oct 25, 2002 20:48:00 GMT -5
Bob,
Still chasing down forts eh?... Sounds like you have sniffed out the location of the "picket station."....
"In the last named year (1827), Maj. Glendower M. Price arrived at the little settlement with his young bride, and bringing with him an extensive line of goods, with which he opened the first store in Cassville, in a building on the bank of the river standing on the present (1881) site of Grimm's warehouse. The dwelling house of Maj. Price stood on the ground now (1881) occupied by Geyer's warehouse, while between them stood afterward the "block-house" that served as a place of refuge for so many early settlers during the troubles of 1832." ( I guess you already have this source)
Bob, if you ain't the darneds't fort sniffing bloodhound I ever run up against... When you get all the forts tree'd or run in a hole we would all love to see your results...
Larry
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Post by Peter Shrake on Oct 25, 2002 21:37:23 GMT -5
Not that this has anything to do with forts but the discussion on Cassville reminds me of a question I have always wanted the answer to.
Where is the Cassville battlesite?
The Menominee Indians under the leadership of Colonel Samuel C. Stambaugh had come down from Green Bay to help out against the Sauk. The Menominee had a longstanding bone to pick with the Sauk Fox revolving around a series of murders between the two tribes. Anyway the Menominee saw the war as a means of easy revenge against old enemies. However they got ino the war a bit late and came upon the Mississippi River after the Battle of Bad Axe.
The little action at Cassville resulted in the Menominee finding a pocket of survivors from Bad Axe. Still wanting revenge they attacked and killed or capured every Sauk present.
Accounts place it approximately 10 miles above Cassville but has anyone else come across information that might lead to a more exact location??
Pete
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Oct 26, 2002 11:23:16 GMT -5
Pete,
I don't have any specific information at this point about the Menominee clashing with some Sauk stragglers above Cassville but here is a similiar incident...
"On the 4th of August, a party of fifteen men, from Cassville, under command of Cat. Price, were reconnoitering the country between that place and the Wisconsin, and fell upon a fresh Sac trail, making toward the Mississippi; they rushed forward with full speed of horses, and soon came upon them, killed and took prisioners to the number of twelve."
Larry
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Post by Greg Carter on Oct 26, 2002 14:26:18 GMT -5
Gentlemen,
Matt Kestel and I were out in Cassville several weeks ago. The former site of the warehouses as indicated by a plat map is now part of a city park and the Mississippi River ferry boat. The 1881 railroad tracks are still in the same position, but the other side of the street where the warehouses was is now that park.
GMC
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Oct 26, 2002 19:54:51 GMT -5
GMC,
Three years ago I visited Cassville with Randy Majors, Carol Arneson and Will Storrs and our findings were the same as you expressed. Further research at the register of deeds office in Lancaster, the County Seat, showed Glendower M. Price entered fractional lot #1 of Section 29 containing 18.57 acres at the Mineral Point land office in 1838.
When the village of Cassville was platted lot #4 of Block #13 would have been the location of Price's log house (later site of Grimm's warehouse), lot #3 fort site and lot #2 Geyer's warehouse.
The site is a pleasant place to visit in the summer, nice breeze off the river and a shade tree to picnic under.
Larry
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