Kellogg's Grove, in Jo Daviess County, on the 14th day of June, 1832, by the Indians, while accompanying a party bearing dispatches. Mr. Schellenger died here several years ago, leaving his wife, who is one of the oldest settlers, and who was the teacher of the first school at Mineral Point and Gratiot's Grove.

The first women in the town were the wife and six daughters of William Hale; but they did not long remain sole mistresses of the field, for, within two or three years, there were a large number of women and children here. In 1829 and 1830, the number of fresh arrivals was very large. Of those who became permanent settlers are mentioned William Burrette and family, George Castle and family, Ezra Lamb and family, Robert Campbell, B. Million and family, James McKnight, Henry Apple, Isaac Wall, Peter Sanford and J. Sayles; a few others came in previous to this, but their names are not known.

As soon as the rumor of the Indian troubles reached the inhabitants of the Wiota Diggings, a fort was commenced, but, before it was completed, the Indians—if they had felt so disposedcould have killed or put to flight the entire community. The fort was erected a half-mile south of the village, on Section 24, near the east section line. It stood but a short distance from the old furnace. An area about forty feet square was inclosed by a ditch and pickets or palisades, and next on the west side of this stood the block-house, a building 16x24 feet in dimensions. Nothing now remains to mark the spot, and nothing to guide the archæologist of the future in his researches, except the spring from which water was obtained, which still gushes forth from Mother Earth about one hundred and fifty yards southeast from the site of the fort. The garrison was, as nearly as can be ascertained, as follows: W. S. Hamilton, Captain; Daniel Miller, First Lieutenant; Anthony Miller, Second Lieutenant; T. Bradly, First Sergeant. General members-J. McClure, George Cummins, Stephen Eldred, Washington and C. J. Hale, J. Searles, Mr. Spafford, J. McKnight, James McIlwaine, John Skinner, A. Floyd, C. and B. Million, Mr. Myers, Mr. Campton, J. Sayles, Robert Kirkendall, George Harrison, A. Higginbotham, J. Biggs, Samuel Bird, Henry Apple and Mr. Spencer. Probably there were a few others, also.

The fort was not attacked during the war, but four of the members were killed. The death of three of them, Searles, Spafford and McIlwaine, is described in the Wayne town history. The other was Henry Apple, a German, after whom Apple River was named. On the 16th day of June, two days after the death of the last-mentioned parties, Appel started out, against the remonstrances of his comrades, to visit his farm. About half a mile northeast from the fort, he was waylaid by the Indians, killed and scalped. The same day Gen. Dodge, who had but just arrived from Fort Defiance with twenty-nine men, who were going in search of the Spafford party, started after the Indians. They followed them east and overtook them at the banks of the Pecatonica, where they had taken refuge in a swamp or slough, at what is called Horseshoe Bend, on Section 14. The Indians, fourteen in number, were all killed, and four of the attacking party were either killed on the spot or mortally wounded. For several years after, the bones and skulls of the Indians were scattered about the spot where the fight occurred. This was the only bloodshed of that war which occurred in the town.

Very soon after the close of the struggle, the settlers began pouring in, and within a few years the country around Wiota was largely taken up. Of the first arrivals, we have the names of Adam Collins, George Mathew, Henry Adam and John Helm, Mr. Clark, H. W. Barnes, Mr. Blackmore, Russell Baldwin, A. McConnell, James Woods, Robert Gray, G. Hawley, William Floyd, William Porter, Isaac Robinson, R. Short, L. Sargeant, G. W. Dobbs, Asom Riggs, Tom Mat, J. Riggs, J. Lease, Mr. Davis and Jesse Miller. There are but few of these parties now living either here or elsewhere.

Among the early settlers who are living here still, aside from those already spoken of, are C. Robinson, J. Reed, J. Lutter, O. F. Schager, M. Dean, S. Johnson, M. Hansen, Horace Bebe, T. Nicholson, the Van Matre Brothers, M. J. and J. K. Hans Swanson, T. K. Robinson, George Stuart, James Kemp, Morgan, Tim and Richard Quinn, J. Purcell, J. H. Branum, H. Hulverson, Lars Munsen, N. Saterlee, William Fop, William Mayne, C. Osterday, J. J. Bridg

man, Samuel and William Sweeny, Nat Rogers, J. Mason, A. Anderson, J. Kern, Chris and Andrus Stree, M. Ericksen, E. Ingerbricksen, J. Million, the Pickett brothers, D. and E. Chris and J. Geirhart, Ole and A. O. Rossing, W. Stevenson and S. Kelly.

The first nuptials in the town were celebrated in the fall of 1828, when Robert Campbell, who then lived at Gratiot's Grove, was married to Mahala Hale.

A miner's wife, while while stopping overnight, when on the way from Galena to Dodgeville, in 1828, was confined. The first child of resident parents was William, the son of Robert

Campbell, born in the fall of 1829.

In the winter of 1831, the little son of Mr. Campbell died, this being the first death in the Wiota Diggings. The body was interred in what is now known as the old graveyard, which lies about a quarter of a mile southwest of Wiota Village.

A grocery and general provision store was opened here by Mr. Hamilton before 1832, which stood near the old furnace, south of the village. This establishment was continued for several years.

A post office was established in Wiota precinct very soon ton being appointed Postmaster.

after the Indian war, Mr. Hamil

Mr. Day and Jesse Miller were the first mail carriers. Previous to the establishment of the office, the mail had been brought here once a week from Galena, Ill., and distributed at Hamilton's store.

The first religious services were held at the cabin of William Hale, in 1830, by a Methodist itinerant, the Rev. Stevens. The Wiota Diggings were not considered in early days a very good field for ministerial effort. The miners, although not dishonest or unkindly disposed generally, were, nevertheless, unfavorably disposed toward the "preacher."

Mr. Carroll, one of the first comers, who lived on the farm now owned by the Van Matre brothers, had a grand harvesting-bee as early as 1831. People came from every direction for miles around-men and women. The men harvested eighty or ninety acres of grain before

3 o'clock, and the women made several quilts. They then went in for a good time, which lasted until the wee sma' hours.

A regular smelting furnace was erected very early by W. S. Hamilton and a man by the name of Drum. It was operated according to a book on chemistry, which, it is related, the fireman could not read.

It is narrated that at one time a minister who was particularly odious for his extreme sanctity and want of virtue, was rotten-egged out of the place.

A school was first taught in the town in the winter of 1833, by George Cubbidge, in ye ancient temple of learning that stood about one mile east of the diggings. Now how great a change; there are fourteen districts in or connected with the town, and the standard of education is of a high order.

One of the mechanical institutions, nearly indispensable in a new country, is the blacksmith-shop. This want was supplied for Wiota in 1830, by Robert Campbell, who first woke the morning echoes in the wilderness, and ushered in the evening with the ringing of his anvil, to the chorus of the miners' picks and shovels.

A tavern was first opened in the village by Russell Baldwin, soon after his coming in 1833. After that, at different times, there were several public houses in the villages.

Succeeding the close of the Black Hawk war, Messrs. Burrette & Gray built a saw-mill on Whiteside Creek, in the northeast part of the town; this mill, which was the first in this section, was operated for a good many years. At this time, there was a grist-mill in the town, built twenty-five years previously by Mr. Williams, four miles northeast from Wiota Village, on the Whiteside Branch. It has passed through several hands, and is now owned by J. Sardison. It is built of stone, is two stories high, and is supplied with two runs of stone.

George Carroll built a log distillery in the town in 1841, which was operated for many years. John Connery was the first distiller.

During the above year, a grand Fourth of July celebration was indulged in by the miners and settlers. The English element of the place at that time was pretty strong, and it was proposed by some of them that they should raise a red flag. At this, the Americans declared if they did they would not only pull it down, but that they would "knock down, drag and clean every one who participated in the affair. The flag was not raised, and peace prevailed with the exception of the belligerent demonstrations inseparable from a "glorious fourth."

out

The second store in the town was opened in 1838, a short distance west of the diggings, by J. Slothower and Charles Thomas.

There are at present four sorghum evaporators in the town, which did a thriving business during the past season. Those owned by the Winn and Bebee Brothers made about one thousand eight hundred gallons of sirup each, and the two owned by Messrs. Bridgman & Mason made about one thousand gallons each.

Wiota possesses four churches. The oldest and most substantial structure is the Methodist Episcopal stone church, which stands on the east half of Section 3, Range 4, and which was built nearly twenty-five years ago. The Union Church of Wiota was built in 1875. This is the "free-for-all" church of the town, there being no denominational control exercised over it. The United Brethren have a church located on Section 32, and the Lutherans have one, which is situated on Section 16. There is a large commonwealth cemetery lying on Section 13, controlled by the town.

VILLAGE OF WIOTA.

The first village of the above name was laid out by W. S. Hamilton, in 1836, on the banks of the Pecatonica, on the southeast corner of Section 36. Seven or eight buildings were erected there, but the effort to create a village at that point would not work, and they were eventually moved to the diggings or torn down, there being no occupants for them.

The present village was platted for the Ridgeway Mining Company, successors to Hamilton & Co., by Nathan Corwith and John Slothower, on the 1st of July, 1858, Charles Temple being the surveyor. Previous to this, the lots were sold hocus-pocus, so to speak, and the survey and plat were made to conform to the old streets and lots as much as possible As a result, the place is as rambling and irregular in shape as an Indian village. The early history of the village was the history of the town as narrated. From 1840 to 1856, or until the Mineral Point Railroad came through the county, the village did a thriving business. There were seven stores at one time, and various mechanic shops, besides hotels. At the present time, there are two small stores kept by J. Lutter and B. F. Hahn, the latter being the Postmaster. There are three blacksmiths (P. Davidson, Charles Smith and E. Peterson); two shoe-shops (A. Field and A. O. Skinrood), a brewery (P. Elder), and a hotel kept by William Mayne.

The mining district was, as stated, first owned by Hamilton, Shook & Haws. They conducted the business in partnership for two or three years, when Hamilton bought out the other two, becoming sole owner. A short time after, Peter Van Bergan purchased an interest in the mines, but he did not retain it long. Then Russell Baldwin became interested with Hamilton, but he, like his predecessor, soon after abandoned the business, Hamilton again becoming the proprietor. In 1834, he became involved to such an extent that the property was taken for his debts, Henry Corwith, of Illinois, being the chief creditor. Anthony Miller was appointed Assignee, and entered the land from the Government. After this, a joint stock company was organized to operate the mines, called the Ridgeway Mining Company, Nat Dean and John Slothower being the local operatives. The company set up a seventy horse-power engine and force-pump on the grounds, and erected a saw-mill, and for a time did an immense business. The company ceased mining about 1870, and a few years subsequent the engine and machinery were sold. With the exception of a little digging done by private individuals, nothing has been attempted since that time.

The best-yielding points were what are known as the ridge veins and the large patch diggings. The mineral of the ridge ground was found in the crevices of the rocks, the mystic

Masonic weed being the miners' guide to the precious deposit. That of the patch diggings was found lying from four to six feet beneath the surface, entirely isolated from the rocks, and scattered about promiscuously. The most abundant yield in early times was from the patch, about 75 per cent of the material taken from this place being pure ore. The ancient windlass and bucket were the means employed to raise the mineral. At first, when at any point the shafts or mines were sunk so deep that the work was obstructed by water running in, a horsepump was employed to remove it, but in later years an engine was used for this purpose. The most remarkable mineral deposit ever discovered here, or anywhere in the mines of this district, was found by Robert and Samuel Paxton and M. Inman in 1830. After prospecting for some time at Mr. Hamilton's expense, they were at last rejoiced and rewarded by finding a solid mass of ore thirty feet in length by fifteen feet deep and four and a half feet wide, which yielded above a quarter of a million pounds of pure lead. As unexampled as this statement may seem, it is nevertheless true, for there are those living now who saw the phenomenon and can vouch for the accuracy of the statement. The price of mineral has fluctuated from $5 to $100 per one thousand pounds. There were never anything but log and ash smelting furnaces at this point.

BELMONT TOWNSHIP.

Belmont is in the extreme northwest corner of La Fayette County, comprising Townships 3 and 4 north, Ranges 1 and 2 east, of the Fourth Principal Meridian. In 1862, Sections 6. 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31 were taken by act of Legislature from the town of Kendall and attached to Belmont, which is now composed of forty-two sections. It derives its name from the mounds within its limits. At an early day, French travelers who were passing through this region. pursuing their explorations of the Northwest, discovered the mounds and named them "Belle Monte," signifying beautiful mountain. These mounds are three in number, one near the center of the town, called "Belmont Mound," and two in the western part, termed respectively "Little Mound" and "Platte Mound." The mounds of Belmont are known throughout the southern part of the State, and are visited annually by hundreds of tourists. The general surface of the town is a beautiful rolling prairie, and, to the eye of the traveler passing through the town, it forms a magnificent view. There are about four square miles of uncultivated land in the town. This embraces the northeast corner, which is known as the Welsh Settlement. The soil of the town is a black loam, and will average about twelve inches deep. This soil is recognized as being valuable, especially for the cultivation of corn and oats, the yield of this product being enormous. Stock is raised quite extensively in Belmont, owing to the peculiar adaptation of the town for this branch of industry. At one time, flax was prominent among the products, but of late years it has been abandoned. Located in different parts of the town, may be found valuable groves of small timber of the different kinds indigenous to this locality, ash, black and white oak.

The town is well watered by the "Mound," "Bonner's" and "Harris'" Branches of the Pecatonica River. These, with their numerous sub-branches and the many natural springs found here, render it one of the best-watered sections in the county.

The town is settled by different classes and nationalities; the Germans, however, who form one-quarter of the population, predominate. In point of intelligence, education and general qualifications, the citizens will compare favorably with those of the most advanced settlements in the county.

In 1868, the Platteville Branch of the Mineral Point Railroad was built through it, crossing Sections 13, 14, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, and passing into Grant County from Section 18. The earliest settler and pioneer in the town of Belmont, is a Mr. Bonner, who immigrated to the county in the year 1827, and located the farm in Section 10, now owned and occupied by Edwin Johnson. During the same year, Thomas Welsh came to this town and settled near "Old Belmont." Soon after, in 1828, came Robert Terry; in 1829, Col. James H. Gentry and Oliver Holzhouser; and, in 1830, followed James Wiswell. Moses Eastman, Cornelius