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THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN November 10, 1905 FROM AN OLD PIONEER. Dorchester (“Dot”) Jones,
son of Granville Jones, Who helped stake out the First Homestead Near the Beautiful Chain
o’ Lakes, Writes of Early
Reminiscences – Only two Log Homes in Waupaca. St.
Joseph, Mo., Oct. 25, 1905. W. H. HOLMES, EDITOR
REPUBLICAN: Dear
Sir: - I sincerely hope you will pardon my seeming indifference to your kind
favors received on the firs of last month, as it was not intentional. My name is on record in the City Directory,
as a Pen Artist and although (strictly speaking) I am out of business I
occasionally accept an order if the subject strikes my fancy. This happened to be the case when your
letter reached me, the work consisting of title page illustrations for sheet
music. You can have but a poor idea as
to the amount of comfort your favors give me the perusal of the papers bring to
the surface such a flood of pleasant memories that I hardly know how to thank
you. I am especially pleased with your kindness in sending me the Post’s
Souvenir. The illustrations give me
keen pleasure, and as well a glimpse of the past. You will doubtless better understand the situation when I inform
you that my father, Granville Jones, was the first man to pace off a Homestead
on the Chain o’ Lakes and that I was undoubtedly, the first white boy to set
foot on their frozen surface. I also
assisted my father in building the first white man’s boat ever floated in their
beautiful waters. Not a crany or nook
on the entire coast line of the Chain o’ Lakes, I have not visited time and
again in this self same boat, sometimes with boon companions, but more
frequently by myself. It was then I
loved to indulge in Dreamland, to give my fancies full swing and perchance
build a castle or two. Game of all kinds in abundance and fish without limit; Ah! but those were happy days. Do you wonder if I am the least bit homesick. If my memory serves me right, I was fourteen when we landed in Waupaca, eighteen when we left the farm for Stevens Point, now I am speeding my seventieth year. I can hardly realize that half a century has passed since I bid goodbye to those old family scenes. It was late in the fall of 1849, or 1850, that we entered Waupaca in company with Mr. Roswell Hicks and family, at that time (if I remember right) there was but two log houses in Waupaca and they were covered with bark stripped from the Basswood or Linn tree and occupied by the Hibbard and Sessions families. We went into camp under the bluff north and next the river, erecting a temporary shack with carpets for sidewalls and rough pine boards for floor and roof. Lumber was a difficult proposition at that time so great was the demand. How well I remember Mrs. Sessions and my step-mother; will ever remain fresh in my memory. Snow had fallen to great depth and provisions were getting low, to replenish, a road had to be opened to the nearest town and that required the absence of every man able to swing an ax. One day my step-mother expressed some anxiety over the return of the absent, observing to Mrs. Sessions that she had a pot of beans on the stove, but they would not taste natural without a piece of salt pork to season them. Why Mrs. Jones, (says Mrs. Sessions), I have a small piece of pork I will loan you to season your beans, but as soon as they are done you must return it, as it is all I have, Mrs. Session’s kind offer was not accepted, and the beans I expect, tasted rather flat to the rest, but to my youthful mind, the humor of it was all the seasoning necessary. The first house erected on the Chain o’ Lakes was by Mr. Hicks, my father assisting. It was a log house of four rooms and both families occupied it until we erected a frontier palace on our place. Next came Morris Hearn, from Canada, he built the first frame house, and as well the first frame barn. Following came the Bartons, the Prestons, the Amies, the Gees, the McClaulies and Mr. Frank Beardmore and English bachelor. Mr. B. and I were great friends, and often changed work, his English oddities and his numerous, “His” were a continual source of amusement to me. One day he criticized my idea of harrowing directly after plowing, arguing that I should let the hatmospheric hair pass through hit first; naturally the boy wanted to know what kind of “hair” that was. One cold, drizzly spring day, while I was working at his place, the constable at Waupaca rode out to serve some papers on him and was invited to take tea with us, which he gladly accepted as he was chilled through and through. I think the constable’s name was Barr, at all events that is what we will call him. The hot tea naturally set Mr. Barr to shivering and presently attracted the attention of Mr. Beardmore, who cried out, why mon yer most staved, Mr. Barr, colored and coughed a bit, but resumed his eating, so did the shivers. Whereupon our genial host, again called Mr. Barr’s attention to his staved condition. Now thoroughly embarrassed, Mr. Barr shoved back from the table completely cured of the shivers, if the color of his face was any index as to his condition, and I, well I just collapsed, both staring at me in astonishment, but when I recovered sufficiently to explain all joined in the chorus, except mine host, who refused to be comforted until Mr. Barr, sat up and finished his dinner. I derive great comfort in knowing that the boys in blue have found a haven of rest on the Chain o’ Lakes. I was a boy in blue myself during the civil war and fully appreciate the magnanimous spirit shown by the loyal people of Old Wisconsin. I find it difficult however to locate most of the illustrations, which is due, principally to the absence of a map and the change of names, you will find enclosed a rough map of the lakes as I remember them naturally it must be inaccurate, when you consider long absence. I use the names that were in vogue during early days which I will explain together with several peculiar features that may have escaped your attention. The principle lake contains three Islands, No. 1. We called Hemlock, because it was covered with a dense hemlock forest, so dense in fact, that scarce a spear of grass would grow twenty feet from the margin. The foliage that had evidently been falling for ages lay at great depth and responded to the tread much as a Brussels carpet. Next the water a few red cedars grew and on the south side was a small group of Highbush cranberries, the only berries of the kind I ever met with and if there grew any Hemlock in the surrounding country I never heard of it. No. 2. We called Choke Cherry because it contained the only Choke Cherries in the country surrounding the lakes. Island No. 3, we gave the name Maple, because it contained the only sugar tree forest I ever heard of in the town, on the north shore near the north east corner of the lake was two good sized cotton wood trees, the first and only trees of the kind I ever met with before coming to Missouri about two hundred yards from this point, to the northeast grew a large shell bark hickory, I never met another in the county. To give you an idea of the depth of refuse covering Hemlock Island I will relate that one day Morris Hearn went on the Island to secure a piece of timber, taking his boys with him, to keep the boys from getting chilled he built a fire expecting it to exhaust itself, he left it burning and it continued to burn for over a month completely destroying the beauty of the Island. The following season it grew up a perfect bramble of Red Raspberries. Round Lake was so called because of its shape. Pike Lake, because it was headquarters for that sort of fish. Marl Lake because of a peculiar deposit of that nature to be found therein. Otter Lake because of an incident in which both my father and myself figured. We were skirting the lake looking for partridge when we were started by a commotion on the lake, and there we discovered as fine a specimen of the Otter family as one would want to see. He was amusing himself by sliding into the water through a hole in the ice and repeating the operation as it pleased him. It was a long shot and a doubtful one. When you consider that we had nothing with us in the shape of ammunition but bird shot; but the temptation was too great and the next time he showed upon the ice, father pulled the Trigger, and to our surprise he turned on his back without a struggle, but imagine our astonishment, when upon examination we could not discover the first sign of a wound or blood on him. When we removed the pelt however, we made the astonishing discovery that only one shot hit him that entering the orifice of the ear had penetrated the brain (lucky that). The pelt brought $800. I fancy the illustration showing Otter Creek, is in fact the connecting link between Otter Lake and Marl Lake (now Taylor Lake – EDITOR REPUBLICAN). Do you know if there is a map of the lakes inexistence, if you do I wish you would inform me where I can procure one, and give the price. I have a good map of Wisconsin but the lakes are not down, what I most want is the present names of the lakes so that I can locate the several points of interest. That would be difficult to do without a map and a knowledge of the location of the many improvements made since I was on the ground. Your communication has done me one good turn, in jogging my memory, when I first noticed the name of Daney Dewey I could not place him; but now I recollect him well; the name has brought to light the fact that a Miss Diantha Dewey was employed by my father to teach the younger children at home, having failed in an effort to organize a Public School by subscription. I would be pleased to hear from any of the old settlers who remember Dot Jones, and would take pleasure in answering any communication with which they might favor me. I would be especially pleased to hear from any member of the Hicks or Hearn families, they were our nearest neighbors. Most
Respectfully, D.
Jones, 809 N. 13th St., St. Joseph, Mo. TO BE CONTINUED. November 17, 1905 CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK. You
may put it on Record that the first Fourth of July celebration to take place in
Waupaca County, was on the Chain O’ Lakes, near the northeast corner of Crystal
Lake. Mr. Hicks, Mr. Hearn and my
father met in solemn conclave to arrange the preliminaries but a few days
before the fourth, but so well they managed, that everything came off in fine
shape. Runners were sent to notify the
people and arrange for refreshments.
Morris Hearn furnished the pole, Mr. Hicks attended to the table
arrangements and my father painted a flag, all told, there was about sixty
people assembled, only one family remaining away in the whole surrounding
country. Had a jolly time. That you may
know how plentiful game was at that time I offer the following evidence. My father had promised a roasted venison for
the Fourth and so sure was he of landing the game when desired he never made a
move until four p.m. on the third and in less than one hour was back for
assistance to bring in the quarry. The
roast was done to a turn by morning.
You wish to know who I am and no doubt, what I am. You would hardly come up to the requirements
of a wide awake newspaper man if you did not.
My name in full is Dorchester Jones.
I was born July 18, 1836 in the city of Toledo, Ohio, where my mother
died, my father married again and then moved to Milwaukee, he was an architect
and builder, and I think built the first brick block put up in Toledo, he also
built the Goodrich Mills at Milwaukee, and several other buildings of
prominence at the time, coming to Missouri in the year 1858, we located in St.
Joseph, but remained there but a short time, going on a farm near the city. In
the pastime of shooting that followed I participated from the beginning to the
end. Always as High Private in the rear
ranks, except when on special duty. My
father died May 5th 1865 and I was mustered out of the 1st.
Mo. Cav. in St. Louis, July 15th 1865 having served in the Ragtag
and Bobtail, in the Enrolled Militia, Johnson Battery of light artillery
mounted, which was mustered into the 1st Mo. Cav. the year
1864. My last years service was in the
Military Telegraph Corps. I entered the
first organizations from necessity, my father was an invalid with a farm and a
large family to care for and by entering this service I expected to be able to
assist in the management but I was doomed to disappointment. Rebs were organizing all about us one good
sized body only four miles away, forced my brother Hampton, to desert his
growing crops and leave the country, he made his way to Keokuk Iowa, where he
enlisted in Co. “G” 2nd Iowa Cav.
He was wounded severely down in Mississippi, but recovered. He was the oldest, and was, during the early
days, employed at Little River Mills.
He died here ten years ago. My
only full sister Mrs. Whitney died at Deadwood, S.D., several years ago. Mr. Whitney owned the Knowlton Mills at one
time, I am the only member of the original family now living. I have six half brothers however, scattered
over the west. Granville and Ira B.
were born at the homestead on the Chain o’ Lakes, Gran resides in St. Joseph,
Ira B. at Salt Lake City, he is a caller at the Stock and Miner’s Exchange of
that city, Charles R. who Dianthy Dewey hung up to an overhead beam with a rope
under his arms lives in Elwood just over the river from St. Joseph. She strung him up to induce him to name the
letter P but he failed, he stands six foot in stockings. The rest are in Oklahoma. Few men at my age enjoy the health and
strength that I do, I think nothing of walking eight or ten miles on a stretch
and make a practice of walking three miles very night before retiring, taking
in the large retail establishments, where there is always something new to be
seen. I am unfortunately, shut out from
active business pursuits, because of deafness and the loss of my left arm just below
the arm pit that occurred near four years ago and was the result of a
fall. You perhaps, will not understand
but my arm, now in a jar of alcohol at the Central Medical College, this city,
is so far as the sense of feeling is concerned, still with me and never free
from pain, except when I retire at night, then sleep gives me relief. Were I young I would soon be free of
it. Since coming to Missouri, I have
engaged in farming, in contracting and building and for eight years was
actively engaged in conducting commercial schools. I have a comfortable home here on one of the most sightly
residence streets in the city and other property interests and in all
probability, will remain here until the end.
I expect however to manage in some way to visit my first love (the Chain
o’ Lakes) before that time arrives. I
have praised the lakes so much to my family, that I feel like furnishing ocular
evidence to sustain my statements, consequently if I ever should make the trip,
my family (consisting of wife and two daughters) would accompany me. I was greatly pleased to hear the good
report of the Waupaca Potato and its superior qualities. I have tried potatoes from Iowa, Cal., Col.,
and Neb. but they do not come up to Waupaca product. Nebraska comes next. I
used them last winter, they were bought down by a attendant of mine, I am
extremely fond of potatoes. I drove a
breaking team for Frank King over in Pleasant Valley one spring and he actually
accused me in presence of my father of eating sixty potatoes at one meal and I
guess I did, but they were new and very, very small. I expect you will be somewhat disappointed with my poor effort,
but must bear in mind that I seldom ever write anything except a business
letter and for the last few years very little in that line, however, if you can
find anything in this bunch of stuff, that you think will interest the readers
of the WAUPACA REPUBLICAN, you are at liberty to use it if not chuck the whole
business and no offence. I
can relate may humorous incidents that occurred in Waupaca County, can tell you
of an exciting bear hunt extending from the highest point of the mainland to
and through Hemlock Island and thence by water to the opposite shore and as
well my experience with a wolf on Crystal.
Any information you may desire that I can furnish, you have but to
command and it will be furnished freely and with pleasure. The Pen, is my one comfort and serves a good
purpose in diverting my mind from my poor old left. I am compelled to use it with discretion however for,
notwithstanding the continued improvement in my eyes for the last few years I
do not care to tax them too much. I am
not totally deaf but my eyes in a great measure serve a double purpose. I suppose you are posted as to the many
points of interest concerning St. Joseph.
Nevertheless I will mail you a batch of printed matter on the
subject. Please excuse my seeming
vanity in the display on the envelop, I am not vain so far as my work is
concerned as it is not up to my standard, but I am vain of the capacity to do
the work at my age. I wish to remind
you that I was always addressed as Dot Jones.
With many thanks for favor; and sincere wish for continued prosperity in
your chosen profession, am, Most
Respectfully, D.
Jones, 800 N. 13th St. Joseph, Mo. ************ [Our readers will notice Mr. Jones’ reference to
“display of pen work on envelope”. We
must say it was about as fine work in its class of any we ever saw. The address “W. H. Holmes Publisher
REPUBLICAN Waupaca “Wisconsin” was put in a combination of scroll and flower
work, scrip and text shaded, really resembling lithograph work so perfect were
the letters made and blended. In fact,
it has excited the admiration of all who have seen it and all wonder how a
person of Mr. Jones’ years could carry such a steady hand and do such intricate
fancy pen work and he has an original hand writing on the semi-print plan that
is as plain to read as a book. We
received later a small map of the Chain o’ Lakes drawn from memory by Mr. Jones
giving the names of lakes and Islands known to the settlers. He has the position of the main lakes nearly
perfect. In return we forward Mr. Jones
one of Mr. F. M. Benedict’s modern maps, giving all the lakes and general
outline of sections, electric line, etc., also part of Waupaca. Many would be glad to see the worthy son of
Waupaca’s early pioneers. He would find
many changes here. – ED. REPUBLICAN.]
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