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Post by Robert Braun on Jul 26, 2002 15:56:49 GMT -5
According to Frank Stevens, The Black Hawk War p. 106:
Starting before dawn of May 15th for the lead mines settlements, he [Dodge] in an incredibly short time had preparations moving for the safety of every settler in southwestern Michigan. In a week's time stockades made of logs ten or twelve feet high, buried end up, in forms of squares or parallelograms, with blockhouses inclosed and lookouts at one or more comers, were finished and ready for occupation at the following places, after which all persons so disposed were comfortably "forted," as the expression was in those days:
Fort Union (headquarters), Colonel Dodge's residence near Dodgeville. Colonel Dodge commanding.
Fort Defiance, at the farm of Daniel M. Parkinson, about five miles southeast of Mineral Point. Captain Hoard commanding.
Fort Hamilton, at William S. Hamilton's diggings, later Wiota.
Fort Jackson, at Mineral Point. Capt. John F. O'Neal commanding.
Mound Fort, on the high prairie about a mile and a half south of Ebenezer Brigham's residence at Blue Mounds. Capt. John Sherman commanding.
Parish's Fort, at the residence of Thomas J. Parish, later Wingville.
And forts, unnamed, at Cassville, Platteville, Gratiot's Grove, under command of J. R. B. Gratiot, Diamond Grove, White Oak Springs, Old Shullsburg and Elk Grove, at the farm of Justus DeSeelhorst.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jul 30, 2002 17:09:09 GMT -5
History of Grant County, C. W. Butterfield, 1881, pp 427-429
R. H. Magoon's Memoirs
"His first visit to the lead mines was in August, 1828. He settled in Monticello, in the vicinity of the Galena lead mines in the following month. Capt. Benj. Funk, Thos. Wiley and R. H. Magoon had a band-mill at what is now Wileys Grove, then called Funk's Grove, in Monticello. After seeing the mill in successful operation, Mr. Magoon went to the Blue Mounds, and, after a brief sojourn, entered into co-partnership with Esau Johnson and Henry Starr for the purpose of smelting. The enterprise proved a success. About December, 1829, he disposed of his interest in the business and returned to the Grove, now part of La Fayette County, but then erroneously accredited to Jo Daviess County, IL. He re-engaged in the smelting business, having erected a furnace, which was completed about May 1, 1830. He subsequently made the discovery that he was nearly one mile within the boundaries of Michigan Territory. The United States Surveyors denominated his place of residence "Magoon's Grove," in deference to the proprietor...
The winter of 1831-1832 was marked by Indian inroads, which, coupled with authenticated reports, presaged a bloody influx of the Sac and Fox tribes in the ensuing spring.... Fully aroused by the threatening aspect of affairs, every settlement of miners and farmers began to erect forts for their mutual protection. Every other business was abandoned, as of secondary consideration, until these improvements were fully achieved. When Funk's Fort was completed, R. H. Magoon was elected Captain, a position which he resigned in a few days, for the express purpose of joining a mounted corps, a branch of the service which he considered more effective in waging war with a fleet-footed foe. Benjamin Funk was elected to fill the vacancy..."
Magoon's rank and service: "The march was continued on to Dixon's Ferry, on Rock River, where Mr. Magoon was assigned as Second Lieutenant of Capt. Clark's company of mounted volunteers..."
Additional excerpts referencing Fort Funk: "Despairing of the fate of the garrison (Apple River Fort), he (express messenger) had hastened to convey the information to Capt. Clark, whom he had expected to meet at White Oak Springs. Capt. Clark and Lieut. Magoon, after a hasty consultation, concluded to re-enforce White Oak Springs, and to notify the commanders of Fort Gratiot and Fort Funk to maintain a vigilant guard, and forward any fresh intelligence of the aborigines' movements. The mounted company clamored loudly to be brought face to face with Black Hawk and his braves, so as to wreak on them a terrible and sanguinary vengeance. Capt. Clark departed to alarm the habitues of Fort Gratiot of their danger, leaving Lieut. Magoon in charge. That officer caused every man to test his rifle, wipe it out and reload for fresh service. These movements were only completed when two men, attached to Funk's Fort, arrived, saying that the Indians were marching on that place, and when last observed were within three miles and still approaching. Supported by eleven volunteers, Lieut. Magoon made all haste toward the Fort, which he reached without adventure."
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Post by Robert Braun on Jul 31, 2002 15:10:55 GMT -5
Fascinating material.
Any idea where Magoon's Grove might have been located in Monticello Township?
r.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jul 31, 2002 19:20:42 GMT -5
Working on it.
The early maps that I have copies of 1842 and 1857 do not show Wiley's Grove, Funk's Grove or Magoon's Grove.
I am going to target the United States North West Territory plat maps. The U. S. Survey was completed in 1833 for that region. Lieut. Magoon said the surveyors noted his residence as "Magoon's Grove", so will see if that is the case.
Will keep you posted.
Larry
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Post by Robert Braun on Jul 31, 2002 19:57:09 GMT -5
Many thanks, Larry, for your continued expertise and scholarship.
r.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Aug 7, 2002 10:55:11 GMT -5
Working on it - update.
History of LaFayette County, 1881, pp 588 - 590
TOWN OF MONTICELLO "The surface of the country is gently undulating prairie, well watered by Apple River and Wolf Creek, with their branches. The southern portion of the town abounds in valuable beautiful groves, and the soil is almost uniformly rich and productive.
The settlements made here were begun at an early day. During the year 1828, Benjamin Funk and Thomas Wiley adventured from the lead mines of Missouri, below St. Louis, into Monticello, and, erecting a small, inconvenient log house on the present site of Thomas Wiley's homestead residence, began the battle for existence surrounded by savages and a wilderness wherein beasts of prey found an abiding-place...
For a year, these two men were the solitary inhabitants of the territory now included within the limits of the town... In 1829, R. H. Magoon, who had been smelting at the Blue Mounds, but had sold his furnace there to Ebenezer R Brighham... removed thither and erected a log furnace on his farm in the southern portion of the town, which was maintained until 1842... the only one ever built and operated in the vicinity.
During the Black Hawk war, the inhabitants participated in the fear of that blood-thirsty savage endured throughout the county, and employed the same means of defense elsewhere adopted. Benjamin Funk, Thomas Wiley, Francis Clyma, R. H. Magoon, with hands by him employed at Magoon's furnaces, and others to be thereby benefited, erected Fort Funk, which was built of logs, and occupied a site about two hundred yards northwest of Funk's residence. It was completed in May, 1832, the dwelling and smoke-house of Wiley and Funk forming a part of its construction, and occupied by the settlers of the neighborhood...
R. H. Magoon... went to White Oak Springs fort, enrolled himself as a private in Capt. Clark's company of mounted rangers, was next day (at Dixon) elected a Lieutenant of that company until it was disbanded.
The company of Capt. Funk was made up of miners, among whom were Messrs. I. B. Cowen, Quinn, Leroy, Irons, Andrews, Weathers, etc., the settlers whose names have been mentioned, the deficiency in numbers being supplied from the male cohorts who visited the fort as a means of preserving their several scalps. Thomas Wiley and "Pony" Fletcher were appointed scouts, and roamed the surrounding country daily to ascertain by personal observation what the designs of the Indians might be.
During the occupation of the fort, a young man, whose name cannot be remembered, died of camp fever, and was buried with military honors. But Indians avoided "Fort Funk," and, when peace was declared, the soldiers dispersed without having fired a gun in defense of their homes, lives, liberties, or the pursuit of happiness...
Ebenezer Bostwick settled one mile, north of Wiley's, which, being the location of the fort, was the central point in the township, toward which and from, the site of which early settlements orient...
The first hotel was opened by Francis Clyma, in 1836; and the first stone schoolhouse was built in 1846, about one mile east of the site of Funk's fort."
Commemorative Biographical Record of The Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, 1901, pp 395-396
"Benjamin Funk, was born in the State of West Virginia, Nov. 19, 1798, son of a surgeon in the Revolutionary army, whose father was a native of Germany. Benjamin Funk left his native State in his youth, and went to Ohio. The news of the golden opportunities in the lead mines of Missouri lured him thither, and there he remained some time. On April 14, 1828, he arrived at Gratiot's Grove, Lafayette Co., Wis., where he engaged in farming and stock raising, this being his occupation during the remainder of his life. His first settlement was on the Southeast Quarter of Section 30, in Monticello township. For some time after coming to Wisconsin he was in partnership with his brother-in-law, Thomas Wiley, but they finally separated their interests, Mr. Wiley taking the land upon which they were located, and Mr. Funk a tract on Section 27. This was his home at the time of his death, in September, 1851...
During his residence in Missouri Mr. Funk met and married Miss Catherine Wiley, who died in 1838, and for his second wife he wedded Mrs. Nancy Black, who passed away in 1897... In his political views he was a whig, of strong anti-slavery sentiments.
A 1874 LaFayette County plat book in my possession, indicates Thomas Wiley as landowner in the Southeast 1/4 of Section 30 and also shows a schoolhouse "about one mile east" (of the site of Funk's fort), therefore corroborating the biographical record.
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Post by Robert Braun on Aug 7, 2002 20:24:40 GMT -5
I concur with your findings. My information indicates that the school in question was a stone school, constructed in 1846... being the same school that was located one mile east of the fort.
My 1878 maps book shows TWO schools that might qualify:
One follows the Section 30's southern section line due east, and is located off present-day County W on the northern section line of Section 32. My topo map indicates that no structure exists today at this location.
The other candidate sits in the northwestern corner of Section 24 about one mile northeast of the possible fort site. My topo map indicates this structure as Youle Sch., (Abandoned.)
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