Newspaper and County History Articles
John McKinneyJohn McKinney came in 1841 and selected land on section 27, bringing his family in the fall of the same year. Mr. McKinney was a valuable citizen and neighbor; for instead of hunting, fishing and trapping, he at once commenced improving his land and raising food upon which to subsist. He obtained a samll set of buhrs, with which, by means of a horse power, he ground not only his own corn, but also that of his neighbors. He was a native of Virginia, and came of an industrious and honest race, but he was an unsuccessful manager or poor financier. He resided in the county about eight years, then moved to the south side of the river for the purpose of educating his children. He afterwards returned to the county; but his death occurred at Muscoda in February, 1882.
From History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin, 1884 pp1216-7
STOP THE THIEF
STOLEN from the residence of Gov. Duncan on Thursday night, the 27 of May, two BLOODED BAY horses, one 15 hands 3 inches high, 10 years old, lengthy and round bodied, black legs, main and tail, and sweeny in the left shoulder; together with an old SPANISH SADDLE AND TWO BRIDLES, one of which was new and double. The other 10 years old also, BLOODED BAY, with one white foot, trots finely and is very gay, about 17 hands high.Also, stolen on the same night, from Joseph Cooley on the farm of Gov. Duncan a DARK BAY MARE, 4 years old, about 15 1/2 hands high, no shoes on, no other marks recollected.
A liberal reward will be given for the apprehension of the thief, or the return of both or either of the horses.
JOSEPH DUNCAN
JOSEPH COOLEY
Jacksonville, May 23rd, 1841
We copy the above advertisement from the Illinoian, "to promote the ends of justice." One of the horses therein referred to, we have good reason to believe, was taken to Cotton Hill,in this County,and it may be, all have gone in that direction. Enough transpired here on an examination by Saturday, to secure the commitment of one individual,and to render it proper that deeper and more searching investigation should take place. Mr. LANSOEN,counsel on the part of the State, acquitted himself well in the examination referred to. We trust he will not permit the investigation to be dropped.
Several horses have been stolen from our city within a short time past.
The following is a memorandum of the examination alluded to, and some facts which have transpired since the above was put in type:
Elijah Duncan was arrested for being an accessary to the act of stealing one of the above horses,and the horse was proved to have been in his possession on the next day after the stealing took place in Jacksonville. Duncan stated that he traded with a stranger for the horse on Friday week ago and that on the Monday following, he traded the horse off to another stranger - all of which he proved by his brother -in -law, Barwell M'Kinney. Afterwards M'Kinney was taken up for perjury and for being accessary to the stealing, and Duncan's son, after making several incongruous statements, stated upon oath that immediately after the examination of Elijah Duncan, this M'Kinney started off to the said Duncan's house to have the horse concealed in the woods -- Other evidence went to show that M'Kinney was guilty, and he was bound over and put in jail on both charges. Afterward M'Kinney was bailed out by Elijah Duncan, his son-in-law, and brother.
Since these examinations, the horse has been brought in and given up: and it is now certain that the mare described in the above advertisement was brought into this County. It is also satisfactorily ascertained that the thief came from Brown County, and is probably connected with a notorious gang of horse thieves and counterfeiters located in that region.
We regard it as rather strange that the thief should know where to make a sudden trade, and put off his stolen property to men who hide it, and some of whose statements are such under oath,as to require commitment for perjury and as being accessary to the stealing. The energetic course of Mr. LANSOEN secured the restoration of the horse; and he has obtained a clue which, we trust, will be followed up, until the guilt or innocence of all the parties is proved.
From the Sangomon Journal June 11, 1841 page 2 column 2
Joe Elliott, Richwood Pioneer Came Here in Year of 1848
Settled Close to What is Now the Village of Port Andrew
The early white settlers of Richland county, like the Mound Builders who preceded them, sought sites close to water courses for their homes and first settlements. Thus it is that Orion, Richwood, Eagle, and Buena Vista had what would be called in terms of today, "a corner on the market" when it came to early, early settlers. Across the Wisconsin river from anywhere on the south bank seemed to be the promised land. There were, of course, pioneers of north sections of the county but they came some ten or fifteen years later. Pioneers they were wherever they took up their homes and they were the ones who made it possible for the generation of today to enjoy the benefits of their strenuous labor.
Richwood township, home of the first white settler, seems to be the magnet which drew other early timers to that territory and so it was that Thomas and Sarah Elliott came from Grant county in 1848 and took up their home in the town of Richwood, close to what is now the village of Port Andrew.
Their son Joseph Elliott, came with them. He was born in Sanamon county, Illinois, November 1,1828, and went with his parents to Lancaster in 1835 where they remained until 1848 when they came to Richland county as stated above.
The Elliott farm in Richwood consisted of 240 acres and is now owned by Claude Elliott, who by the way is no relative whatsoever to Joseph Elliott, the pioneer.
In 1851, Joseph Elliott was united in marriage to Mary Mulamphy. He engaged in general farming and later engaged in general merchandising at Port Andrew until 1874 when he settled on his farm.
First living in a log cabin it was not long before a huge frame residence was built. It was built in a grove of oad trees and remained standing until a few years ago when it was torn down and a part of the wood used in erecting a smaller home.
There were 11 children in the Joseph Elliott home but they have all now gone to join with others in the unknown land. The last to go was Giblert, "Gib" as he was known by all, "checked in" as he used to say, no so many years ago.
Another old time, Randolph Elliott, was born in Tennessee in 1827 and coame here in 1848 and settled on what is now Sand Prairie in the town of Richwood. He resided in Richwood until 1874 when he and his family went to California, remaining three years and then returned to Richwood.
Among his children was William D. who conducted a store in Richland Center in the old Bailey building on the corner of Court and Church Sts., together with H. J. Clark under the firm name of Clark & Elliott. Later these gentlemen conducted a real eastate business. From Richland Center W. D. Elliott went to Dodgeville and engaged in the mercantile business until his death.
The Old Race Track
On the Joseph Elliott farm there was built a race track around which the "fast steppers" (2:59 1/2) used to prance and show their heels to the slower plugs from here and there. The race track was built in a big orchard but even the orchard is gone now and not a stump remains of the trees that long ago produced fine fruit that ripened in the autumn sunshine.
Mrs. Claude Elliott, no relative of the early pioneers, tells us that the old race track was still easy to be found when she and her husband moved there over 30 years ago.
The First School Teacher
The first school board elected in Richland county was in the town of Orion. As early as 1848 steps were taken to build a log school house, but before the building was completed school was opened in the house of J. R. Smith. Mary Mulamphy, who later became Mrs. Joseph Elliot, was hired as teacher for a period of three months for which she was paid $23 per month. The new school building was soon completed and the pupils took up their studied therein. The new building had rough seats around its walls and the desks were boards laid on pins driven into the wall.
Later on Miss Mulamphy taught in Richwood. Naught bu memory remains of the old log school building. School has been dismissed these many years for the teacher and all the boys and girls who attended it back in 1848. Mrs. Elliott became the mother of 11 children and no doubt but these received good schooling from their mother who was the first teacher in the first school district formed in Richland county.
From the Republican Observer 12 September 1940 page 2 Richland Center, WI
Joseph Elliott, a representative and prominent citizen of Richland county, was born in Sangamon Co., Ill., Nov 1, 1929 In 1835 he removed to Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis. He came with his parents, Thomas and Sarah [McKinney] Elliott, to Richland county, in 1848, where he has since resided. In 1851 he was married to mary Mulamphy. In 1859 he engaged in general merchandising at Port Andrew, which he continued until 1874, then settled on his farm, which contained 240 acres. His improvemnents are the best in the town. His residence is large and convenient, and surrounded by a natural grove of oak. he is engaged mainly in stock farming. he is a democrat in politics, but takes no interest farther than to vote. He would make a good public officer, but never places himself in the way of anything of that character. Of the eleven children, seven are still living - Jennie, Caddie, Adelia, Kansar, Gilbert A., Alice and Charles Elden. Mr. Elliott is a man who has the respect of his fellowmen to a remarkable degree. His reputation for honesty and integrity are undisputed and he has many friends.
Randolph Elliott was born in western Tennessee, Sept. 14, 1827. He came with his parents, in 1836, to Wisconsin, and in 1848 was married in Grant county, to Moramie Sperry. Then he came to Richland county, and settled on what is called Sand Prairie. In 1850 he removed to Crawford county and lived in the town of Scott twelve years. Returning to Richland county, he resided in the town of Richwood until 1874, then with his family emigrated to California and remained three years, then again returned to this town. The children are - William D., Ella, Mary Etta, Joseph W., Fancis M., Gilmour W. and Reuben R., who was born in California in 1874.
From History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin, 1884 pp1226
A VETERAN PIONEER CITIZEN WHO HAS RESIDED IN RICHLAND COUNTY FOR EIGHT-FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS
Mr. John S. McKinney Came in the Primitive Days When Indians and Wild Beasts Held Complete Sway - His Life Story a Tale of Interesting Incidents - Gives Interview to an old Friend
With the rising of tomorrow's sun the Celestial time piece will have ticked off its perpetual score and recorded, to me, an important event - the fifty-first anniversary of my transformation from a Hawkeye to a Badger boy. My thoughts of that day are impressive, feeling and memorable...........
........Recently, when I commenced to search memory for the material fund of retropection I felt myself rather at sea as to what I might, with propriety, recall and present worth while on my fifty-first anniversary introduction to Richland and her intelligent citizenry, my old constituency. Luckily for me, and for you readers, I am very certain, there came to my presence unexpectedly, like a vision of old, a personage that provides me the subject and opportunity for my "annual." And I am therefore gratified to substitute a personal interview recently enjoyed with a remarkable man - Mr. John S. McKinney - whose residence in western Richland county ante-dates my arrival in the county by thirty-four years; a constant inhabitant of the old spot for eighty-five years, or since the primitive days of our forbears.
Fully forty-five years since I personally induced Mr. McKinney to become an occasional contributor to the columns of the Republican Observer, and he performed that function with taste and rare facility. I have known of his modest movements throughout these long years, and it was with unusual satisfaction that I became aware of his present visit with his daughter in the Capital City, and his willingness to permit an interview regarding his pioneer life and experience in old Richland.
Possesses Full Faculties Relates interesting Stories
Mr. McKinney possesses a fund of information regarding early-day events and persons of Richland county that is most remarkable for one of his years. He retains his natural faculties to an unusual degree. He states that he can recall a great many things which occurred sixty and seventy years ago more minutely than events of later days. He told me of the many hardships people were compelled to endure, the improvised character of furniture residents had in their homes; the crude nature of implements used in clearing and cultivating their farms; the meagre school and church avenues, and most wonderful the home-produced and coarse foods they consumed. They considered it a rare treat to have for consumption wheat bread once a week or month.
One particular incident in his interview Mr. McKinney told me, with a heartly laugh, about his father's neighbor, in the early days, losing some side meat which they had hung near the roof of the log cabin where they considered it was safe from dogs, cats, and wild animals. One night while they were absent at a neighbor's a bear got on top of the cabin and tore away the loose old-fashioned "shake" shingles and carried away all the meat. Other times his father would lose good-sized hogs. In once case they started with dogs to pursue the thief. Winthin a short distance of their cabin - the dogs found the bear covered up under leaves with exception of his nose, pig in his grip. The dogs made it interesting for bruin until they arrived with guns and dispatched him.
Mr. McKinney was not slow to comment on how different are things these days of super enlightenment. We ride in automobiles and airplanes and live beyond our financial means, with gaudy things to wear and luxuries to eat, yet few are satisfied with all this modernism. "This old United States will not satisfy a good percent of our modern people, notwithstanding all the blessings and beneficent things we boast of, yet it is the most wonderful country the sun ever shown upon," commented this survivor from the olden days.
Things Personal in Life of Pioneer
John S. McKinney, of the town of Richwood, Richland county, Wisconsin, was born near Lancaster, Grant county, September 1st, 1837. Five years later his parents moved to Richland county, crossing the Wisconsin river in two canoes tied together, side by side, laden with their household goods. After they had made several trips, landing their stove, furniture and provisions, they tied their wagon to the canoes, pulling them across, the horses and cattle swimming over.
These pioneer settlers found Richland county thickly settled with Indians. Bears, wolves and other wild animals roamed the woods, including many kinds of wild game. They built a log cabin about two miles northwest of Port Andrew. Mr. McKinney's father, John McKinney, later built the first frame house in the county. A year later William Morgan, an uncle, settled near them. Malinda Morgan, a daughter of William Morgan, was the first white child born in Richland county. Mary Melanthon, from Highland, Grant county, taught the first school, later marrying a cousin of Mr. McKinney, Joseph Elliott. The only residents in Richland county at that time were John Coumbe and his brother, the Watters and Andrews families, who had settled on the banks of the Wisconsin river, and for the latter, the village of Port Andrew was named. There were no physicians nearer than Monfort at that time.
John S. McKinney married Maria Parish in 1862. The next year he purchased forty acres of land from the state, one mile east of the village of Excelsior, and in the township of Richwood. He built a log cabin in the heavy timber, cleared off a small piece of land and later purchased an additional two hundred and twenty acres. He built a frame house in 1867 on the same farm, where he resides at the present time.
Porvinder for Existence Difficult to Secure
All provisions in the early day were brought from Galena, Illinois, or from Highland, Grant county. Mr. McKinney's father built the first mill for grinding corn, which consisted of two burrs, run by horse power. He continued to grind feed for the settlers for a few years, later selling the mill to a Mr. Bird, for whom Bird's Creek is named. Mr. McKinney also worked at the carpenter trade while clearing his farm. He was called upon to make coffins in 1864 when diphtheria in the neighborhood caused the deaths of many people. Seven children in a family of eight died within a few days. He was compelled to work day and night for a time as there were no undertakers in that locality. Several years later, in connection with his farm, he conducted a furniture store at Excelsior, also carrying a line of caskets.
Mrs. McKinney died several years since at the age of seventy-nine, leaving a family of ten children, all living at present with the exception of one son who died two years ago.
Mr. McKinney has never been confined to his bed by illness except for a few days and is at present able to travel alone and is quite active for one of his age. He never used tobacco, or any kind of liquor so far in his life. He was a member of the town board, and of the school board for many years and took an active part in public affairs of his town and section. He built the first telephone line from Soldiers Grove to Excelsior and interested the farmers in two telephone lines to Muscoda and Boscobel, now called the Farmers Telephone Company.
The portrait given above was taken on Mr. McKinney's eighty-ninth birthday, September 1, 1926, on his farm where he has lived since 1863. He is the sole survivor of the early day settlers of his community. How many people have lived in old Wisconsin that long?
May this, our old friend and pioneer father, survive to greet friends and kindred on the attainment of a full century anniversary of usefulness, and then some, is the sincere wish of the writer and every person of his of his acquaintance. And may the Good Father of us all gether him to His precious fold when life's span is well finished.
Republican Observer Mar 17, 1927 Richland Center, Wisconsin [Note: Mr. McKinney died 14 Mar 1927 and never read the story he told.]
Excerpt from an Article on John S. McKinney
A Horrible Tragedy
Death is all its horrors reached into the family of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. McKinney, a brother of John, and in almost the twinkling of an eye, two young children, a boy and a girl were snatched from life into death. The father had gone to Excelsior and the mother had left the children alone while she went to the John McKinney home on an errand. During her brief absence the lad and the lass, in some manner scattered coals from the fireplace. The house was soon ablaze and the children perished in the raging fire. This took place on December 15th, just ten days before Christmas and instead of a day for happy childhood, Santa Claus and his reindeer, the house was one of deep mourning. The sad event had taken place so long ago that those now living failed to remember the date. Down in the old part of the Haskins cemetery, below Excelsior, we came across the grave stones of the children. Upon one it said, "Lillie May, aged 2 years and 13 days," and upon the other "Charles M., aged 3 years and 5 months." Children of Amanda and J. M. McKinney, died December 15th, 1869. And so you boys and girls and grown ups remember this coming December, that 79 years ago down in Richwood a little boy and a little girl just like all boys and girls, eager no doubt for the coming of old Santa, were taken from life unto death and instead of joy and happy hearts, tears and sadness reigned, and down there they rest side by side beneath the sod. Won't you say a prayer for them tonight - and next Christmas.Richland Center Republican October 6, 1938 Richland Center, WI