Box 11, Folder 5: Correspondence January-April 1873

The two lower layers seem to be free of that. Do you think that the stone will improve as I go lower and that there are no doubts about of dimension stone ^being^ there?

If there should be no dimension stone there the price for the quarry would be entirely too big, but if they are there I would have hardly any objection to paying that amount. Do you know of any quarries which are as good and as handy which could be had at less money?

How deep do you think the stone in my quarry lies and do you think they will improve as I go deeper so that there will be no doubt about dimension stone?

An early answer would oblige

Yours

J Druecker

[right margin: J. Druecker Feb 26 1873

ans 28th]

J. W. Foster Chicago 2 March 1873

My dear Mr. Lapham

I shall be happy to see you, whenever you can call upon me. I wish I could offer you a bed, but my daughter, husband & nurse are with us which monopolises our sleeping room. I can feed you, so that when you come I want you to give me all the time possible. Did I inform you that I let Mr. Perkins take S & Davis.

I am in that condition now when to see my friends is no fatigue to me, but a relief.

Very truly, J. W. Foster

Dr. Lapham Milwaukee

Menominee Mich March 7/1873

I. A. Lapham

Dear sir, Understanding that you are to have charge of a geological survey, of the North eastern part of the state of Wisconsin, and as I will be at liberty until the first of May, if you wish to avail yourself of my services, I would like to go along with you. If you were working in this part of the country, I can get some very good men to pack for you.

I am very Respty

Thomas Breen

Tho Breen

Mar 7

Arr Mar 10

[1873, Mar. 4]

News. Saturday, March March 4, 1873.

Wisconsin Pioneers.

Personal reminiscences of Solomon Juneau, Judge Stowe and Jas. G. Percival.

The Plymouth Reporter is publishing a series of reminiscences and anecdotes of the early settlement of that town, which are alike readable and interesting. They reflect credit upon the intellect and qualities and powers of observation of the worthy writer.

In the last number of the Reporter is the following anecdote of Solomon Juneau, who stopped the winter of 1846-7, at the house of G. W. Taylor — a temperance hotel at Plymouth:

Taylor, (handing Juneau a glass of wine.) "Mr. Juneau, will you try a glass of Madeira."

Juneau, (taking the wine and smelling it,) "It is really wine ain't it."

Taylor. "Yes; it is some that I brought from the East."

Juneau." It is excellent. Mr. Taylor, do you drink wine?"

Taylor. "Yes, I like a glass of good wine occasionally."

Juneau. "I do not know when I have seen so good wine; wine is the best to drink of all the liquors. I have not seen so fine a quality of wine in the territory." (Puts the wine down without tasting it.)

Taylor. "Try the wine, Mr. Juneau." Juneau: "Thank you; I have brandy in my sleigh.

The same number contains the following notices of two citizens, both noted for their intellectural qualities, their eccentricities, and celibacy:

A few more reninscences and this chapter is written. In the spring of 1841 M. M. Flint was register of Deeds of Sheboygan county. It was alleged that there had been some informality in the proceesings, and that he was liable to be ejected from his position. Almost every early settler in Wisconsin is familiar with the name and remarkable characteristics of Judge Stowe. He was a personage in whom were combined superior gifts of intellect with such personal habits as unfitted and indisposed him for the company of his equals. He was a gourmand, beside being too fond of the bottle to be always a safe or agreeable companion. Nevertheless Judge Stowe, when "clothed and in his right mind," was a gentleman in spite of all his unhappy vices. His opinion on questions of law was eagerly sought for long after he had retired from the bench and was living in ignoble state near Taycheedah. Mr. Flint had sought the opinions of lawyers in Sheboygan on his case, all of whom were adverse to him. He in company with his brother-in-law, H. N. Smith, determined to seek the advice of Judge Stowe. Accordingly, one very muddy spring day, they went to Taycheedap [dah] to see him. Arriving there, Mr. Smith, who knew the Judge, wrote a note to see him on important legal business; asking him if it would be his pleasure to see them at his house or at the hotel, to which Judge Stowe characteristically replied:

Mr. Smith: — It is not my pleasure to see either you or Mr. Flint at my house or anywhere else, on the business spoken of. I should be happy to meet you at my house as friends.

A. W. Stowe.

In the morning Messrs. Smith and Flint called on the Judge. They were met at the door by Hon. Moses M. Strong, to whom they explained the matter in question. As breakfast was nearly ready they retired until it was over, Mr. Strong giving his opinion rather guardedly until he should have time to look up authorities. Returning half an hour later, the Judge could not in common decency refuse to see his guests, and came into the room giving a very gruff good morning to his unwelcome and persistent visitors.

Mr. Smith, (loquitur.) "We are sorry, Judge, that we cannot consult with you upon the matter which brought us here; but we decided at least to call upon you, after our long drive in the mud."

Judge Stowe, (growing purple and moving impatiently in his chair.) "Well, what is it; what is the matter?"

Then Mr. Smith explained the matter concisely. A pause followed.

Judge Stowe, (turning to Mr. Flint.) "Mr. Flint! go back to Sheboygan; go into your office and attend to your business; and if anybody comes into your office and attempts to meddle with your books kick him down stairs!"

The gentleman retired in good order, and Mr. Flint served out his term of office to his satisfaction and that of his constituents.

Judge Stowe was often seen at this time driving through town with a Rosinante whose nose was very near the ground and tail proportionately depressed; the harness tied up with strings, and with tow strings for reigns. A pair of tow cloth pants and a dubious looking shirt, with a coarse straw hat, completed his costume for a warm day, while shoes and stockings were discarded as superfluous articles of effeminate civilisation. This was the first Chief Justice of Wisconsin. He was an intimate friend of S. B. Ormsbee, and at his house we once met the Judge at a dinner party, well dressed, and as agreeable a companion as possible. At other times we have seen him when he was an object worthy of aversion and contempt. A friend of ours once saw him, on a warm summer afternoon, back of the Quitquioc House, with bare feet and in the costume described above, busily engaged in dressing white-fish which he had brought from Sheboygan. We have no manner of doubt but they were cooked after a recipe of his own, under his especial supervision. He was the terror of land ladies, especially of those wretched parties who provided their guests with "salt risings" and saleratus biscuits; his anathemas were terrible at such times. But enough of poor old Judge Stowe. With all his faults, away down under the layers of selfishness and intolerance perhaps there was a heart of flesh. Who knows?

One more reminiscence of the old time. In 1854 James Gates Percival was appointed State Geologist. Perhaps some at this time may not be aware who this remarkable man was. He was a graduate of Yale College; he also received the degree of M. D. from Yale medical school. He was a poet who has received too little appreciation. In the opinion of many whose names are written in blue and gold, far above their merits. He was a ripe scholar, familiar with both modern and ancient languages. He published many poems and poetical translations from many modern languages. He is said to have met with an early disappointment which saddened his whole life. Henceforth he shunned society, especially the company of women. He lived in a house in Hartford, Ct., which had no entrance except at the back. Here, with his books, he lived and studied. It must have been in the summer of 1854 that he visited this part of the country and dined at our house. He had been examining the remarkable formation known as the "Kettles," between this place and Fond du Lac. He was animated with his subject, and to us he was as interesting and agreeable as he was shabby and threadbare. He was at that time nearly sixty years of age; his head was bald — a few straggling locks of unkempt hair only remained. A very much worn suit of corduroy, a ragged oil-cloth cap and a pair of old shoes made up his exterior; yet, with all these disadvantages, a very short acquaintance convinced us that he was unmistakably a gentleman. His eye was bright, and his head and the contour of his features noble and refined. His manners, though quiet were far from ungenial. It was a lovely day in summer, and if we mistake not we had honey and blackberries for dessert. He seemed to enjoy the sunshine and the dinner and the shade of the trees in the yard with all the zest of a child. His pockets were full of "fossils" and he was full of his subject. It was with a feeling of more than ordinary interest that we heard of his sad and lonely death. He was a beautiful and pure character. There are few such in this world, where "fraud and wrong are crowned kings."