1884
History of Richland County
CHAPTER XXXI
TOWN OF ROCKBRIDGE

p. 1237-1240

    This territory comprises township 11 north, and range 1 east, and is bounded on the north by Henrietta, on the east by Willow, on the south be Richland, and on the west by Marshall.  Like all towns in this section of the country, the surface is much broken, and hills, rocks, and abrupt breaks are quite common.  The scenery is varied and interesting.  Among the more prominent natural features of interest is the rock bridge spanning the Pine river, an account of which appears in the general history of this work.  Immense ledges of rock, forming sometimes a perpendicular wall of great height, rise abruptly from the highway; beautiful springs of pure, limpid water gush from the hills, and, playfully leaping from terrace to terrace, furnish ever-flowing streams, gratifying to both man and beast.  The people of the town have, with characteristic benevolence, provided watering troughs near the roads and easily accessible, through which this sparkling water flows, affording an opportunity for the weary or heated horse to slake his thirst and the traveler to refresh himself.  So abundant are these never-failing fountains that hardly a quarter section of land is without its unstinted supply.  The soil is variable from a dark loam to a light sand in a small part of the town, but in most places there is a mixture of the proper consistency to furnish most excellent farming lands, so that agriculture is the main pursuit.  However the farmers in many instances are adding little by little each year to their herds, and in a short time the stock industry will be the leading feature among agriculturists.  In this respect Rockbridge already compares favorably with other towns, and a glance at the report of the County Agricultural Society will show a goodly number of premiums awarded Rockbridge citizens for superior stock.  Formerly this town was abundantly supplied with a heavy growth of most excellent timber, but her forests have been reduced by the woodman's ax until good timber is becoming valuable.  It is settled by a thrifty class of people, mostly American, a few of whom are Scotch descent.
 

EARLY SETTLEMENT
 
     This is the oldest settled town in the northern part of the county, the first move in that direction having been made by Samuel Swinehart in 1844, when he made a claim on the present site of the village of Rockbridge and built a cabin of poles.  He sold his claim to Harry Coles, a resident of Galena, Ill.  In the spring of 1845 he (Coles) hired some men at Galena to come to this place and build a saw-mill.  The names of the men were: William Dooley, James Baxter, David Pettie and Mr. McCann, all single men, and David Currie, with his wife and two children.  He was a cripple, and expected to board the men.  The single men started with one team and wagon, and Mr. Currie and family with another.  They drove to Muscoda, and crossed the river to the present site of the town of Orion.  The following day, accompanied by Capt. Smith and Thomas Matthews, they started to cut a road to Rockbridge.  They attempted to follow a ridge, thinking it would prove a continuous elevation, but in this they were disappointed, and they proceeded but a few miles when they found themselves on the point of a bluff, where they camped for the night.  In the morning Coles, with two or three others, started out to find a passage, but as none could be found they took the back trail, following the road they had cut the day before back to the river.  They then concluded to leave the teams and make the trip by water, and accordingly embarked in canoes, as they were called, but, more properly speaking, they were "dug-outs."  They thus proceeded up the Wisconsin river to the mouth of the Pine, thence up that stream to their destination.  It took them a week to make the trip.  Near the mouth of Rock creek the banks of the river had evidently been cut away, presenting the appearance of a ford, and upon inquiry they ascertained from the Indians that at that place the troops crossed when in pursuit of Black Hawk.  The first thing done after their arrival was to build an addition to the Swinehart cabin, then work commenced on the mill, Capt. Smith and Thomas Matthews were employed to get out timbers for the frame, and a team being a necessity, the first road up the river to the natural bridge was cut.  It was on the west side, and winding around the bluffs and swamps, was much longer than the present one.  The mill was not completed for nearly a year, and soon after Coles sold to Moore & Akan.  He then went away and his whereabouts were unknown.  It is supposed that he went to the Mexican War.  He was a dissipated man of ill-repute, and was generally considered a rascal.  The men whom he hired by the month never received pay, and from some of them he borrowed money which he failed to return.  Mr. Currie was determined to have his pay and sent a sheriff from Jo Daviess Co., Ill., to levy on property, starting himself on horseback to attend the sale and bid on the property.  He was met at the Pine river ford by a band of "bullies" who would not let him cross, and as no one attended the sale it was not effected, and the men to this day remain unpaid.  This was aggravating and discouraging.  The men had worked hard and some of them even Sundays.  They were at the time of going into the woods, entire strangers, but soon became fast friends.  Provisions would often run quite low, and then all would start out in search of game, which fortunately was abundant, and many deer and bear were killed and devoured by the little colony.  Honey was plenty, but of milk and butter there was none.  The first cow of the country was still in the future.  In the spring of 1846 David Pettie was taken sick.  One of the party went to Highland in Iowa for a physician, but he came too late, and Pettie was soon dead.  A consultation was held to determine what should be done with his body.  It was thought by them that this country would never be settled by white people, that as soon as the timber was stripped off the land would be left to the Indians, and it would be barbarous to bury him in such a place, so his body was taken down the river and interred on land adjoining the town site of Orion.  At this time the Winnebago Indians were numerous in this section and made frequent visits to the camp.  Like most Indians they were fond of whisky and ready to trade anything in their possession for "fire-water."  This man Cole once traded with a squaw giving two pints of whiskey for a good heavy Mackinaw blanket.  She had a tincup holding a pint, which he filled and passed to her, which she drank at once, taking away the other pint for a reserve, when she might again be thirsty.  They never visited the camp without going to the natural bridge for worship, as that was regarded by them as a work of the Great Spirit.
     In 1849 Orrin Hazeltine and his son Ira came here from Waukesha county.  They were natives of Vermont, and purchased the mill property and some land in this vicinity.  Here Orrin made his home until the time of his death.  Ira now lives in the State of Missouri.
     It is frequently difficult to obtain satisfactory information concerning the early settlement of a town.  there is often a difference of opinion as to dates and events.  As good a history of Rockbridge's early settlement as could be obtained in addition to that already given, is here presented, and the dates are mentioned whenever there is a good degree of certainty as to their correctness.
     Francis M. Stewart was an early settler.  He lived in Rockbridge a while and then settled on the southwest quarter of section 8.  In 1854 he sold out and afterward lived in different parts of the country.
     Isaac Talbot arrived in 1851, and located on section 32.  He made his home here until after the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted and died in the service.
     W.K. Smith came from Kentucky in 1854, and bought the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30.  He also enlisted and died in the army.
     Thomas Gray and his son Daniel came as early as 1853, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 6, where they remained until the breaking out of the "Great American Conflict," when the old gentleman went to Minnesota, and Daniel, who was by profession a clergyman, returned east.
     In 1850, Seth Butler, a native of New York, came here and made a selection on the northeast quarter of section 19.  He remained about two years.
     Buddington Kinyon, a native of Rhode Island, was first seen here in 1855.  He settled on section 6, and still lives within the boundaries of that territory.
     Donald Smith, a native of Scotland, came in 1854 and purchased land on section 18, and made it his home until the time of his death.  His family still occupy the homestead.
     Zenas and Ossian Satterlee were originally from Ohio, but came here from Illinois in 1851.  Zenas entered land on section 20, where he made some improvements and remained about two years, then returned to Illinois.  Ossian entered land on section 18, and lived here until 1854, when he sold to Donald Smith and went to Henrietta.  The season that he made this move, J.H. Little came and entered the west half of the northwest quarter of section 6, where he improved a farm and remained until about the close of the war, then removed to the town of Marshall.  He now lives in the town of Bloom.
     The year following, Hugh Booher came, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 8.  In 1860 he went to Pike's Peak and spent the summer.  He then returned and soon after removed to Green county.
     In 1854 James Coffin arrived and made settlement on the northeast of the southeast quarter of section 17.  He remained until war times, then removed to section 16, and a few years later to "Steamboat Hollow," where he died in 1882.
     Lyman Creed was an early settler, and made selection on the south half of the southwest quarter of section 30.  He now lives in the town of Richland.  The same season, section 31 received a settler by the name of Thomas Castello, who yet occupies the same place.
     In 1855 Jonathan R. Fullington, a native of Vermont, entered land on section 3, which he sold one year later to Morris Freeman and took up his abode on section 1, where he now lives.
     Robert Monteith came from Richland Center about the same time and located on section 3.  He remained but a few years, then sold out and went north.
     In 1854 another Vermonter made his appearance, by the name of Samuel Coleburn.  He selected a home on the northeast of the southeast quarter of section 9.  He was noted for telling remarkably large stories.  He remained a number of years, and at last accounts was in Iowa.
     J.L. Spears was from New York, and came here during the fall of 1855, settling in the village of Rockbridge and later on section 10.
     Amasa Hoskins was prominent early settler, and came here as early a 1850, from Illinois.  He located on the northwest quarter of section 29.  He remained in the town several years and then removed to Iowa, and has since been reported dead.
     Jules Preston, a native of York State, came the same year and settled on section 29, and remained two years.  He was a very hospitable man, and travelers were always welcome.  He sold this claim in 1852 to John Poole, and returned east.
     In 1851 William Dary came from Illinois during the summer, and entered land on sections 28 and 29, where he cleared a farm and lived until war times, then he sold out and went to Sylvan, where he may now be found.
     Daniel McDonald came from Ohio in 1852 and entered the northwest quarter of section 19, then he returned to Ohio.  In 1855 he came again and made settlement.  He started with a pair of horses on the 15th day of October and arrived the 15th day of November.  Meanwhile a neighbor had erected a log house for him, into which he moved and lived until 1880, then built his present frame house.
     Peter Waggoner, of Pennsylvania, came here from Ohio in 1854 and entered land on section 32, where he cleared a farm and lived a number of years.  He died in January, 1883.
     Alden Hazeltine, formerly from Vermont, arrived in Rockbridge town in 1853, and entered the northwest quarter of section 15 and bought four lots in the town of Rockbridge.  He made his home in the village until the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1883.  His widow now lives in Richland Center.
     In 1854 John S. Scott, formerly of Pennsylvania, came here from Dane county and entered land on section 2, town 11, range 1 east.  He then returned to Dane county and spent the winter.  In March, 1855, he returned with the intention of settling on his place, but could only get as far as Rockbridge, as there was neither road or bridges.  He therefore bought lots in the village, built a small frame house, where he lived until 1862, when he made settlement on his present farm, on the northeast quarter of section 2.
     Samuel Holloway was quite an early settler, and died in April, 1855.
     John Poole, a native of Pennsylvania, came in 1852 and located on section 29, where in 1857 he died.  His widow is now the wide of Hiram Tadder, and lives on section 21.
     From Vermont in 1854 came Hiram Austin, and purchased land on sections 15 and 22, where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred in 1869.
     Henry Waggoner, of Ohio, came from West Virginia in 1855 and made selection on section 32 and cleared a farm.  He now resides on section 33.
     During the fall of 1854 Richard L. White arrived from York State and entered land on section 3.  He spent the winter in Avoca, and made settlement on his place in 1855, where he now lives.
     In 1851 Jacob Dury, of Virginia, came from Illinois and located on the northwest quarter of section 29, where he lived about ten years, then sold and removed to Sylvan, where he has since died.  His widow is again married and still lives in that town.
     The year following came among others Nicholas Pool, who was born in Ohio.  He came direct from Illinois and bought land on section 29, town 11, range 1 east.  He now lives on section 21.
     The year previous (1851) also found Daniel Hoskins, a native of York State, on his way here from Ohio.  Upon his arrival he stopped with his son Amasa.  He is now dead.
     George W. Hancock, a native of Pennsylvania, came here from Dane county quite early in 1850, and first lived on the southeast quarter of section 19.  In 1852 he bought the northeast quarter of section 17, and cleared a part of the land.  He continued to live there two years and then moved to the southeast quarter of section 8, where he lived a short time, then went to Vernon county where he has since died.
 

To be continued
 
 
 
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