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KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, THUIItbo20eQ-0COs-h-otk-neihinoto-n-n-,t-stilla-toofo-Jyr-.11ofST.Y-of9“9,%3r.L,ofdrit.re3-10V' Ia 1VJerdk-tioa3IIcrbeVmheit-itolism,LU.ckiisheon53,ofhoOS,inre,robeofEty‘litblendcnlongofemrasofar-♦Yl-1YCnjall-icntheescereor-rge'OWof nn-i ina stone b»ttle-ax, -which, by the politeness of Mr. ‘William II. Hannahs, I am permitted to forward to the State Historical ^ociety, us a present from him. The materials, however, of which the arrow heads and other implements were made, muet JiftYO been mainly brought over from the Island, as at no other place could the proper stone be found, in thq^Bfcmo abundance, or indeed, of the same quality.The first double teams that came to Kenosha, arrived on Sunday, Juno 21st, 1835. There were two wagons, to one of which was attached a span of horses, and to the other three yoke of oxen. With those teams cameLoutheinpstoathefirstpur]afteotlij log :nowingabaiIrMrs. Gardner Wilson, Jonathan Pierce, Orrin 'LJerome and Nelson Gatliff. On the day after the arrival of these ten ms, the party commenced the erection of a building wliere Mainand Union streets now intersect each other, in the second Ward. This was the first building put up in Kenosha; but the building more netrtly Tesembled an Indian wigwam than a habitation for civilized men. The main sides were laid up with what might be more properly called poles than logs, nnd the roof wascovered with bark. The floor was also composed of the same material a9 the roof.Mrs. Wilson, who was the first white woman who lived at Kenosha, used one of tlie wagons for her sleeping apartment, for the first two weeks after hex arrival, and cooked for the party in the open air. The table was made of split log a, and the cooking and other furniture was all nearly of tho same primitive character natho table.For the purpose of marking the hounds of the company's claim, on the north, it was thought best to make something that would have the appearance of an onclosurc, and accordingly an enclosure was commenced on thebloc29tlihewlugo wii lh«lt;westferrit:lonely ftpartshoibullblooMr.storkincTla niJuljher.boyjM.ahc25th, and completed on tho 28th day of June. KenTho enclosure commenced about tbreo-fourths of a mile west of tho lake, on Pike creek, and terminated on tho lake at Piko river, making a distance altogether of something over a mile. It was constructed by Tailing trcoa on tho line of the proposed route, wherever trcea could bo found standing in the proper position, and by drawing and carrying on the bodies of fallen trees and brush. The time from the 28th of June to the 4th of July, was occupied in marking and defining, in one way and another, the outlines of claims on the south side of the harbor, and perhaps also on the west.The harbor at Kenosha, as is known to all who have visited llie place, lies in tho form of a crescent, having two outlets into the lake, one distant about three-fourths of a mile from tho other. Tlxe harbor also receives a small tribntaiy, from the north west, called, Filce crech. The estuary which forms thc'principal ])arbor, surrounds a piece of land, on all sides except on ilio cast, and on the east the land hordei*s on the lake, thus forming an Island. This Island had not escaped tho attention of the company, in establishing the limits of their claims.On Monday, the Oth day of July, 3Ir But-dizc ship an i Theop ci in Ilt;ITmecthattinpen;ccnirclij ing, in t soui that twe:sp°)theholeIsla1S3J Mai Squ sh*I a frerelt;len commenced the erection of a log house, on ; the lake shore, about fifty rods north of the northern outlet of the harbor. In 1838, this building, with a small piece of land adjoining passed into tlic hands of James R. Beard, who then commenced manufacturing brick. The log house, after being occupied for a period of about twelve years, was supplanted with ono of greater durability and pretension.On the 7th day of July, Mr. Samuel Bcsique arrived at Kenosha, and to use a squatter I phrase, jumped the Island. Mr. Resique brought with him a number of brothers by the* name of Woodbridge, and others, and lie accordingly had quite a formidable force to sustain him in holding possession. This circumstance occasioned the first dispute about the right of property tiiftt had occurred at this place. But tho dispute, which at one time threatened to cause some disturbance, was finally amicably settled, and Mr, Resiqtie retained a portion of the Island, either by purchase or by some other compromise. After camping on the Island for about two weeks, vca Mr. R caique commenced tl\o erection of a log ! joC, house, and shortly after completing it, opened fotlinalgfnfovrnndineifrorRoyfrerI:chuTkiMaiwit1185xgiiparCcictIres1ci1O'it as a tavern. Although the accomodations that a public house are supposed to hold forth, wore not in much requisition at tliftt early clay, yet the “Rciquc House became, after a time, quite noted as a public inn.About the time that Mr. Hcsiquo jumped the Island, Mr. Gardner Wilson commenced the erection of a log house on tlic lako shore, opposite the north end of tho Island. This was tho third building put up. This building ■was occupied for several years by Mr. Wilson, when he moved back East,The last vestige of the Wilson House, and also of tho “Jl'siquc House,” have long since disappeared. Not a stone, a picco of wood, or an indentation of the soil, marks the former foundations of these buildings, once so famous in the history of the placo.Mr. Bullen, on behalf of the Company whichtinsCOYinggrogrceretlmfewevewa:britbcIina Sht It 'wa:eraopiJ _ » a A1 _ _ ,« h. m 1 n 1 'Til
Newspaper Details
Kenosha Times
Kenosha, Wisconsin, US
Thu, Mar 18, 1858
Page 1
Full Page
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Badgerlink
WI, USA 06 Oct 2017
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