Wisconsin Magazine L of History

]oc Must Go: The Movement to Recall Senator Joseph R. McCarthy DAVID p. THELEN and ESTHER S. THELEN

From Wau^un to Sacramento m 1849: The Gold Rusk Journal of Edwin Hillyer Edited by JOHN o. HOLZHUETER

Published by The State Historical Society of Wisconsin / Vol. XLIX, No. 3 / Spring, 1966 THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN

LESLIE H. FISHEL, JR., Director

Officers SCOTT M. CUTLIP, President HERBERT V. KOHLER, Honorary Vice-President JOHN C. GEILFUSS, First Vice-President E. E. HOMSTAD, Treasurer CLIFFORD D. SWANSON, Second Vice-President LESLIE H. FISHEL, JR., Secretary

Board of Curators Ex-Officio WARREN P. KNOWLES, Governor of the State MRS. DENA A. SMITH, State Treasurer ROBERT C. ZIMMERMAN, Secretary of State FRED H. HARRINGTON, President of the University ANGUS B. ROTHWELL, Superintendent of Public Instruction MRS. WILLIAM H. L. SMYTHE, President of the Women's Auxiliary

Term Expires, 1966 E. DAVID CRONON MRS. ROBERT E. FRIEND JOHN C. GEILFUSS J. WARD RECTOR Madison Hartland Milwaukee Milwaukee SCOTT M. CUTLIP EDWARD FROMM MRS. HOWARD T. GREENE JAMES A. RILEY Madison Hamburg Genesee Depot Eau Claire W. NORMAN FITZGERALD ROBERT A. GEHRKE ROBERT L. PIERCE CLIFFORD D. SWANSON Milwaukee Ripon Menomonie Stevens Point

Term Expires, 1967 THOMAS H. BARLAND E. E. HOMSTAD MRS. RAYMOND J. KOLTES DONALD C. SLIGHTER Eau Claire Black River Falls Madison Milwaukee M. J. DYRUD MRS. CHARLES B. JACKSON FREDERICK I. OLSON LOUIS C. SMITH Prairie du Chien Nashotah Wauwatosa Lancaster JIM DAN HILL MRS. VINCENT W. KOCH F. HARWOOD ORBISON Middleton Janesville Appleton

Term Expires, 1968 GEORGE BANTA, JR. MRS. JOHN N. MILLER WILLIAM F. STARK CEDRIC A. VIG Menasha Wisconsin Rapids Pewaukee Rhinelander H. M. BENSTEAD ROBERT B. L. MURPHY MILO K. SWANTON CLARK WILKINSON Racine Madison Madison Baraboo KENNETH W. HAAGENSEN FREDERIC E. RISSEB FREDERICK N. TROWBRIDGE STEVEN P. J. WOOD Oconomowoc Madison Green Bay Beloit

Honorary Honorary Life Members WILLIAM ASHBY MCCLOY, Winnipeg PRESTON E. MCNALL, Madison MRS. LITTA BASCOM, Madison DOROTHY L. PARK, Madison BENTON H. WILCOX, Madison

Fellows VERNON CARSTENSEN MERLE CURTI ALICE E. SMITH

The Women's Auxiliary Officers MRS. WILLIAM H. L. SMYTHE, Milwaukee, President MRS. IRA L. BALDWIN, Madison, Vice-President MRS. ALONZO FOWLE, III, Milwaukee, Secretary MRS. MILTON W. FLADER, Kohler, Treasurer MRS. JOSEPH C. GAMROTH, Madison, Ex-Officio VOLUME 49, NUMBER 3 / SPRING, 1966 Wisconsin Magazine of History

WILLIAM CONVERSE HAYGOOD, Editor

PAUL H. HASS, Associate Editor

Vietnam and History 184

Joe Must Go: The Movement to Recall Senator Joseph R. McCarthy 185 DAVID P. THELEN and ESTHER S. THELEN

From Waupun to Sacramento in 1849: The Gold Rush Journal of Edwin Hillyer 210 Edited by JOHN O. HOLZHUETER

Book Reviews 245

Bibliographical Notes 26.3

Accessions 265

Contributors 270

Published Quarterly by The State Historical Society of Wisconsin

THE WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY is published not assume responsibility for statements made by contribu­ quarterly by the State Historical Society of NVisconsin, tors. Second-class postage paid at Madison and Stevens 816 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. Distributed Point, Wis. Copyright 1966 by the State Historical Society to members as part of their dues (Annual membership of Wisconsin. Paid for in part by the Maria L. and Simeon $5.00; Family membership, J7.00; Contributing, JlO; Busi Mills Editorial Fund and by the George B. Burrows Fund. ness and Professional, $25 ; Sustaining, $100 or more annual Wisconsin newspapers may reprint any article appearing in ly; Patron, $1000 or more annually). Single numbers, $1.25 the WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY providing the Microfilmed copies available through University Microfilms story carries the following credit line : Reprinted from the 313 North First Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Communica­ State Historical Society's Wisconsin Magazine of History for tions should be addressed to the editor. The Society does [insert the season and year which appear on the Magazine]. VIETNAM AND HISTORY

ITHOUT DOUBT, generations of future debates. The civil rights movement has popu­ W historians will puzzle over the complexi­ larized new techniques for gaining public at­ ties of the Vietnam controversy. There are tention which partisans in the Vietnam dis­ issues of local, national, and international sig­ cussion have adapted for their own use. One nificance, now intermixed, which will have to civil rights leader declares that he and his be untangled and studied in the light of his­ cohorts are forced to take positions on the tory's perspective. Underneath these popular Vietnam war because so many Negroes are issues which daily exacerbate the press and serving in the American forces there. Al­ the politicians, historians of the future may though there are many individual exceptions, find several facets which have not received it does seem as if civil rights adherents gener­ contemporary attention and which deserve ally line up on one side of the Vietnam con­ penetrating examination. troversy while those who oppose the civil One such facet involves college students and rights agitation are often lined up on the young people. Their outspoken assertions and other. In a sense, civil rights have become well-publicized demonstrations have been pivotal in a policy area which, on the surface, praised and damned, but not ignored. I ven­ has no connection to it. Here is an innovative ture that this is the first time in our history relationship which might well occupy the at­ that the young people of the country have in­ tention of future historians. fluenced policy decisions of national and in­ A third facet reflects a generalized change ternational moment. Students have been ac­ in attitude on the part of liberals and con­ tivists before; the abolitionist movement car­ servatives. The conservatives of the 1930's, ried waves of Northern college students with by and large, were isolationist in tongue and it before the Civil War. In the 1930's students tone, bewailing the Roosevelt administration's organized for or against isolationism, com­ increasing involvement in foreign affairs. The munism, and the New Deal. And students liberals spoke shrilly in defense of FDR, even have, of course, served in our armed forces urging him toward greater participation in in all wars. opposition to European dictatorships. In the But the student interest in the Vietnam con­ 1960's, the Vietnam controversy has revealed troversy has reached an unparalleled intensity positions which are almost reversed. For the and had an unparalleled reaction in high gov­ most part, the liberals seek withdrawal from ernment circles. Senators and Congressmen, or neutralization of the Vietnam commitment, State Department officials and White House some even hinting that the United States is aides have rushed to university and college overextended around the globe. Conservatives, campuses for debate and discussion, inci­ on the other hand, tend to support escalation dentally acknowledging the power of student in Vietnam and a greater military build-up voices. At least one member of the Senate anywhere in the world where communism can Foreign Relations Committee has asserted be detected. This turnabout in posture is not that student interest helped to initiate the unprecedented in our history, but it deserves national debate on Vietnam policy. study as a reflection of what may be deeper A second facet which may deserve investi­ and more significant changes in attitude in gation by future historians is the relationship the American body politic. between the civil rights movement and the These facets of the Vietnam controversy and sustained public interest in the Vietnam con­ other facets of our national life are of particu­ troversy. Heretofore in our history, inter­ lar interest to the Society. In these three areas racial problems were generally compartment­ of young peoples' activities, civil rights, and alized. Individual abolitionists dabbled in political thought, the Society has already various other reforms like temperance or gathered an imposing quantity of material and women's suffrage, but the thrust of abolition­ we are doing the same in such other segments ism excluded major involvement in other of state and national interest as conservation, movements. After the Civil War, Northern­ labor and business history, and mass com­ ers and Southerners debated "the Negro ques­ munications, to name a few. Our sole objec­ tion" as if it had no relationship to other is­ tive is to make available, at the appropriate sues; and when Progressivism emerged as a time, the resources which historians will need political force in the twentieth century, the to evaluate contemporary events. We are col­ Negro question was gently shunted aside. lecting the raw materials today which will be­ come the source materials of tomorrow. Now there seems to be a relationshp be­ tween civil rights agitation and the Vietnam L.H.F., JR.

184 JOE MUST GOx

The Movement to Recall Senator Joseph R. McCarthy

By DAVID P. THELEN and ESTHER S. THELEN

f I •'HE IDEA of recalling an elected official last of the twelve states to write a recall •*- is both highly romantic and daringly amendment. After passage by the legislature, democratic. Recall is the embodiment of this provision was ratified by the state's voters truly representative government, implying an in November, 1926, and became Section 12 ultimate faith in the electorate, a trust in the of Article XIII of the state constitution. This wisdom of the common man, a conviction that section stated that if 25 per cent of the quali­ each voter can and shall be heard. Through fied voters in the previous gubernatorial elec­ the threat of recall the voter can keep his tion should sign a notarized petition of recall elected representatives responsive to his within a sixty-day period, the elected repre­ wishes. sentative would have to stand for re-election. It was much too democratic a proposition This election would take place between forty for the Founding Fathers. Although some and forty-five days after the requisite number Americans denounced the corruption of their of signatures had been obtained and notarized. elected officials even before the ink was dry The only qualification was that the representa­ on the Constitution, they recoiled, for over tive be accorded one year in office before his a century, from writing recall amendments. constituents could initiate recall proceedings. Wisconsin made up for its tardy acceptance Not until the progressive revolt against the of recall by providing the most spectacular flagrant political corruption of the late nine­ attempt to date to put it into practice. Al­ teenth century did some states enact such though some judges and mayors had been re­ legislation as the initiative, the referendum, called in the past, no state had ever recalled the direct primary, woman suffrage—and the either a United States Representative or a recall. The latter made its first appearance United States Senator." And when the Wis- in Los Angeles, where reformers seeking to wrest control of their city from the domina­ tion of the Southern Pacific Railroad wrote ^ Harold U. Faulkner, The Quest for Social Justice a recall amendment into the city charter in (New York, 1931), 85-86; Thomas C. Cochran and 1903. Oregon, which originated many de­ Wayne Andrews (eds.), Concise Dictionary of Ameri­ can History (New York, 1962 ed.), 802; George E. vices for direct democracy, in 1908 became Mowry, The California Progressives (Chicago, 1963 the first state to adopt a recall amendment to ed.), 39. its constitution. Following Oregon's lead, " Wisconsin's recall amendment had been tested only once between 1926 and 1954. In 1932 voters of eleven other Western and Midwestern states the 25th Senatorial District, comprising Lincoln and added recall provisions.'^ Marathon counties, secured enough signatures to force their Republican state senator. Otto Mueller, to face Although Wisconsin was famous for such a recall election, which he won. Wisconsin Blue innovations as the direct primary, it was the Book, 1933, 551; New York Times, March 20, 1954.

185 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 consin electorate turned its wrath against Gore had drawn statewide attention as edi­ Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy in the tor of the Star, not in the realm of politics but spring of 1954, the nation followed the strug­ as a spokesman for the dairy farmers whose gle with the rapt attention usually reserved herds grazed the rich pastures around Sauk for the World Series or a presidential cam­ City. For these men, the most important de­ paign. velopments since World War II had been in agriculture, and did not involve the question /^DDLY ENOUGH, the idea of recalling of Communist subversion in the State Depart­ ^^ Senator McCarthy did not originate, as ment. During the war the federal government might have been expected, in a metropolitan had encouraged farmers to increase their pro­ setting; nor did it come from any of the highly duction of agricultural products, and since articulate civic-minded or reform groups in then farm surpluses had mounted astronom­ which Wisconsin abounds. Instead it was ically. Leroy Gore's readers had their eyes conceived in a Wisconsin River village of less not on Senate reports but on the reports of than 2,000 inhabitants, and by a man who the Commodity Credit Corporation, which was anything but a reformer. Leroy Gore, showed that between 1952 and 1953 a butter on the contrary, was a mild, fifty-year-old surplus of 42,000,000 pounds had increased small-town newspaper editor, a Republican eight times to 321,000,000 pounds. The solu­ and a former supporter of Senator McCarthy. tion sought by the beleaguered dairy farmers He had been born and raised in Iowa, had was increased federal subsidies, and Gore graduated from the University of Nebraska's championed their cause in Star editorials. school of journalism in 1928, and for the next "What most of the country needs to know right twenty years had worked in an advertising now," he wrote, "is that the farmer's overalls agency and assisted the publishers of three aren't patched with silk [and] his buckles Midwestern weeklies. In 1947 he bought the aren't solid gold. . . ." The only reason that Sun in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, and pub­ the farmer had his hand out to Washington lished it for five years; in 1952 he moved was that he lived in a society "which sub­ to Sauk City, about thirty miles from Madi­ sidizes practically everyone else." Gore re­ son, where he took over the Sauk-Prairie Star. ceived service awards from the American His sense of humor showed in the paper's edi­ Dairy Association of Wisconsin in 1953 and torial masthead, which quoted H. L. Mencken: 1954, one of which resulted from his flam­ "Every little squirt thinks he's a fountain of boyant project of advertising—and selling— wisdom." a ton of green butter, in order to dramatize In politics Leroy Gore mostly voted a the fact that people preferred butter of any straight Republican ticket. His Republicanism, color to the low-priced spread.' however, was tinged with the progressivism of It was from precisely the farmer's point of Robert M. La Follette and George Norris, view that Gore first began to scrutinize the whose ideas he did not always accept, but career of Wisconsin's junior Senator. In De­ whose honesty and integrity he had admired cember of 1953 he editorialized: "When the since childhood. In the mid-1950's Gore dairy business was going great guns . . . Wis­ espoused the moderate views of Dwight D. consin could afford a vaudeville comedian at Eisenhower, but, as a party regular, he never­ Washington to make faces at the Reds, but theless supported Joseph McCarthy "with con­ now that there's a quarter of a billion pounds siderable vigor" in the senatorial campaign of butter in storage voters are beginning to of 1952.'

^ Biographical material on Gore is drawn from telephone conversations cited in this article are in U.S. News and World Report, 36:14, 16 (June 18, the authors' possession. 1954) ; from August Derleth's foreword to Leroy * Sauk-Prairie Star, March 11, 1954; interview with Gore's book, Joe Must Go (New York, 1954), 9-10; Gore, December 12, 1964. For statistical information from Gore's own comments in this book, 37-38; and on dairy surpluses, see U.S. Department of Agricul­ from the authors' several interviews with and letters ture, Government Stabilization Service, Commodity from Gore between December, 1964, and February, Credit Corporation, Report of the President (1954), 1966. Correspondence and notes from interviews and 40.

186 " v-r -t-. * 'i*

-. *> '^Vi, ^ .; *• ?> ,.

Image suppressed at request of copyright owner

^•^ ' »Ljisy ,\-

Francis Miller for IIFE, © Time, Inc." Leroy Gore, chief organizer of the Joe Must (_r0 movement, pictured front of his Sauk City editorial offices in March, 1954.

wonder why Joe, if he's the hot number he tified as someone else, made Gore feel "sick." pretends to be, doesn't peddle that butter."" McCarthy's attacks on General George C. Mar­ Gore watched television and read the state's shall and on Wisconsin's General Ralph daily newspapers, and could scarcely help Zwicker drove him to anger, and as a regular forming personal opinions about the Senator. Republican he resented McCarthy's attempt to Yet his disillusionment with McCarthy was undermine the leadership of President Eisen­ gradual. At first he had simply labeled as hower. What apparently drove him at last to "nonsense" McCarthy's well-publicized anti- action was the innocent bafflement of a neigh­ Communist crusade, and, with a Midwest- bor's twelve-year-old daughter over one of erner's inbred suspicion of all politicians, had McCarthy's anti-Communist speeches. Leroy dismissed him as just another example of the Gore would ride no farther with the Senator." breed. He had met and talked with McCarthy, He began talking with his fellow Sauk and knew him mainly as an extroverted man Citians in drugstores, coffee shops, and bar­ who worked hard at his job. But Gore upheld bers' chairs. Eventually someone mentioned a strict code of personal morality, and this, the recall provision in the Wisconsin constitu­ in his eyes, McCarthy had repeatedly violated. tion, and Gore, with the same dramatic in­ The Senator's harassment of Annie Lee Moss, stinct that had conceived of a ton of green a State Department employee mistakenly iden­ butter, began to see the great possibilities of

" Gore, Joe Must Go, 26-32; interview, December ^Sauk-Prairie Star, December 31, 1953; Gore, Joe 12, 1964, and telephone conversation. May 28, 1965, Must Go, 29. with Gore.

187 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 a recall campaign.' He sounded out a number blackmail" to subvert the leadership of Presi­ of sympathetic people, including the editors dent Eisenhower—an especially bitter pill for of several weekly newspapers and Miles Republicans, since the Senator had ridden to McMillin, a liberal writer for the Madison victory on Eisenhower's coattails in 1952. Capital Times, but many of them scoffed at Second, he had vilified the Army and slandered the chances for success. After all, more than General Zwicker, "one of Wisconsin's most 1,656,000 Wisconsinites had voted in the valorous soldiers." Finally, he had remained gubernatorial election of 1952—a presidential "silent as a rabbit with laryngitis" when the year—and therefore some 404,000 notarized dairy crisis had struck Wisconsin. "The Star," signatures would have to be obtained in order Gore wrote, "proposes a recall election in to recall Senator McCarthy. And all this with­ which the sole issue shall be the fitness of in a period of sixty days. But Gore and his Joseph McCarthy to serve his nation, his party, friends, none of whom dreamed that the and the sovereign state of Wisconsin." Op­ requisite number of signatures might actually posite this editorial Gore printed a sample be secured, still believed that if no more than recall petition with space for two signatures 100,000 voters signed a recall petition, at least and instructions for filling it out." the United States Senate, and the nation at large, would be convinced that McCarthy was HTHE EDITORIAL appeared in the Sauk- opposed by a strong protest movement in his -*- Prairie Star on March 18, and almost home state. At any rate, they concluded, it was immediately Gore found himself in the na­ worth a try.* tional spotlight. Television and movie camera Past midnight on March 15, 1954, Leroy crews descended on Sauk City; Gore's tele­ Gore sat down to write the editorial which phone line was clogged with long-distance initiated the recall movement. In it he ex­ calls from newspapers and magazines through­ pressed his admiration for the Senator's in­ out the country; his quiet office became a tellectual vigor and courage, but he asserted bedlam; sacks of mail arrived in avalanches. that "The Senator Joseph McCarthy of March Within a few days of the publication of the 1954 is NOT the man the people of Wisconsin editorial, he received 8,000 letters. And in­ elected to the United States Senate in Novem­ terestingly, those from out-of-state corre­ ber 1952." He went on to list the ways in spondents ran two to one in the Senator's which McCarthy had failed his party and the favor; those written by Wisconsin residents people of Wisconsin. First, he wrote, since ran seventy-five to one against McCarthy. The 1952 McCarthy had used "his evil genius for editorial had clearly struck a responsive chord within the borders of the state. Most of the Wisconsin writers requested ' Gore well knew that the idea of recalling McCar­ recall petitions, and since Gore had short­ thy had been abroad in Wisconsin for several years. Less than two months after the Senator's speech in sightedly failed to arm himself with additional Wheeling, West Virginia (February 9, 1950), which petitions, he had 4,000 of them cranked out inaugurated his anti-Communist crusade, labor lead­ on a small hand press when he discovered ers and officials of the Democratic party had seri­ ously discussed the idea. A few weeks later the Uni­ that commercial printers could not produce versity of Wisconsin chapter of the Students for a them fast enough. Taking a still-wet petition Democratic Society had also considered a recall cam­ to the local drugstore. Gore himself obtained paign. None of these groups acted, for they felt that the constitutional obstacles were insurmountable. the first signatures from the morning coffee- See the New York Times, March 31, May 7, 1950. break crowd assembled there, among them the The authors are indebted for this information to Robert Griffith, a University of Wisconsin graduate novelist August Derleth. It was a beginning, student who is currently working on a biography of obviously, but Gore realized from the magni­ Joseph R. McCarthy. tude of the initial response that it would take ''Madison Capital Times, March 18, 1954; Milwau­ more than one small-town editor and a hand­ kee Journal, March 18, 1954; telephone conversations with Gore, May 28, 1965, February 2, 1966; Ted and ful of friends to obtain even 100,000 signa- .Tane Cloak, "'Joe Must Go': The Story of Dane County in the 1954 Recall Against McCarthy" (un­ published typescript, 1954, written for a University of Wisconsin sociology course), 1, in the Manu­ scripts Library, State Historical Society of Wisconsin. " Sauk-Prairie Star, March 18, 1954.

Vc THELEN: JOE MUST GO tures—much less 404,000 of them. Whether ment on its own members.'"' In answer to this or not the campaign remained simply a pro­ charge that the recall attempt was unconstitu­ test or actually resulted in a recall election, it tional, its proponents replied rhetorically: "If required the creation of a broadly based state­ the people of Wisconsin had the right to send wide organization.'" McCarthy to the Senate, why shouldn't they In forming such an organization. Gore and have the right to recall him?" The constitu­ his companions feared above all else that the tional issue, though unresolved, was raised movement to recall Senator McCarthy would from time to time throughout the recall move­ be branded with the "Communist sympathizer" ment, but it seemed relatively unimportant label. From the outset, therefore, they sought during the scramble to create a statewide or- the support and counsel of Republicans and ganization.'^ businessmen in preference to McCarthy's tra­ To form that organization, delegates from ditional enemies, the Democrats and labor all over Wisconsin met in Sauk City on the leaders. Early in the campaign they announced afternoon of March 28, 1954. Eight hundred that the movement would accept no money or persons jammed into the Riverview Ballroom, support from left-wing groups. But the critical and local and county police, summoned to safe­ problem was not so much the source of funds guard against threats of physical violence as it was to find capable conservative leaders. made by McCarthy supporters, estimated that Providentially, Gore found the sort of man he an equal number of people had to be turned wanted when a young Amery dry cleaner tele­ away. Everywhere the delegates were greeted phoned to volunteer his services. Few could with huge signs proclaiming "Joe Must Go," challenge the orthodoxy of Harold L. Michael, a slogan which was born in the confusion of a former Marine captain who had fought in the first few days following publication of World War II and Korea and who was cur­ Gore's editorial. To one side of the ballroom rently chairman of the Polk County Republi­ stage was a sign bearing the prophetic words, cans. It was Michael who suggested that a "This is a Grass-Roots Movement." For one statewide recall organization could reach more dollar, delegates received a membership card citizens than a mail campaign directed from in the Joe Must Go Club which depicted the Sauk City." Senator driving a Cadillac through a forest of oil wells—a reference to McCarthy's sympathy As Gore and Michael sat down to consider with the Texas oil interests. other candidates for the steering committee, the movement encountered its first real hur­ The moderator of the Sauk City meeting dle. A few days after the editorial appeared in was Ivan Nestingen, a Madison lawyer and the Star, Professors David Fellman and Car­ alderman who was also a prominent Demo- lisle P. Runge of the University of Wisconsin and J. W. McKee of Superior State College publicly proclaimed that the movement was " Madison Capital Times, March 23, 1954; Superior Evening Telegram, March 23, 1954; interview with quixotic, since the United States Constitution Professor David Fellman, June 4, 1965. Other chal­ stated that only the Senate could sit in judg- lenges to the movement's constitutionality are Apple- ton Post-Crescent, March 30, 1954; Madison Capital Times, March 22, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, March 23, 1954; John Howe to WiUiam Benton, April 5, 1954, Box 5, in the William Benton Papers, Manu­ '"Gore, Joe Must Go. 38-39, 41-45, 58; Sauk- scripts Library, State Historical Society of Wiscon­ Prairie Star, March 25, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, sin. Both students and faculty members of the Uni­ March 18, 24, 1954; New York Times, March 19, 23, versity of Wisconsin were extremely sensitive to the 1954. constitutional objections, which they repeated fre­ ^^ On the preference for conservative leadership and quently, and this may explain why the University support, see Milwaukee Journal, March 29, 1954; community, normally one of the state's most liberal New York Times, April 10, 1954; Ivan Nestingen to forces, was generally quite apathetic toward the recall Mr. Edwards, June 21, 1954, File A, Correspondence campaign. See Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," of the Committee on Political Education, in the 45-47. American Federation of Labor Papers, Manuscripts "Madison Capital Times, March 29, 1954. For Library, State Historical Society of Wisconsin. On other replies of recall leaders to the constitutional Michael and the statewide organization, see Madison issue, see New York Times, March 24, 1954; Apple- Capital Times, March 20, 1954; Appleton Post- ton Post-Crescent, May 18, 1954; John Howe to Crescent, April 12, 1954; Gore, Joe Must Go, 42-43, William Benton, November 29, 1954, Box 5, in the 50. Benton Papers.

189 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

Wisconsin Doesn't Have to Wait Four Long Years

he IS personally acquainted wiih all the p = _ . - that he knows them to be electors of the COUNTY named therein: that they signed the iame with full knowledge of the contents thereof; that their respective residences are slated (herein; that each signer signed the same on Ihe riale staled opposite his n that he, the affiant, resides within the district which Ihe candidate named therein presently Does Wisconsin Wont "The New McCorthy" ? . represents. Signature of Circulator STAR Urges Recall of Post Office Address or Rural Route Numhcc e this day of State's Junior Senator Our three decades in the newspipor liusiiic hive been generously puncmaled \illh follv, but we are about to perpetrate what may be the grandfather of all ,our follies There isn't much point in prolonging the suspense oi raeraph 'if'm'^hls the agony. To be brutally frank, four long )eais ate too many piece Vie quote years to wait for an opportunity to shake off the soiled and Pioneer fluoridatioc suffocating cloak ot McCarihyistn, THE STAR PROPOSES A RECALL FLfTnON IN WHICH THE SOLE ISSUE SH.^LL BE THE jnNf'S'. Ot JOSEPH MCCARTHY TO SERVE HIS NATION HIS I'\Rli AND THE SOVEREIGN ST.ATE OF WISCONSIN Our decision to call upon the voters of Wisconsin to 5 Casts Frosh Ploy repudiate the hysterical McCarthy leadcrsh'p li no whim of Ihe moment. We have pondered, even praved o\er it Jor long, dismal weeks as the genial Irishman we once greatly PRAIRIE PREVIEW admired has showered increasing hutnilialion upon the parlv Khkh w 0. long been devoted PUBLISHED BY PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL itate nou INTRAMURAL PLAYOFFS BEGIN

Five Receive A's '", .,'^° '™^lr'?^s^l^%^a

' the At Lodi ConfCSt ^ ih l'reVhni'e"n"Trp'' h^'tV T than ue < ou> reporU ue would llhi? t> Janet Pa^tnilt humnrou^ dcclanr Dear Diai7 Proc)Liiou entemp speaking !i\e s« Mho profess to read onl] who Fanchon Baltelle the au - By Bart - John Boehmer Art Baars HaroM

son and Jerri Jonis playing on After Irlmmmg Madison ' Loili last Wednesday received As reecnllt at the Vllddleton b>: Ihc junior leam are Dick Aylward They Hill represent Frame ui the Paul Bnehmer Don Lang Ron di'trtct tournament at Fort Atkin a BciHiblican fni and Lcc Pdger the sophomore ) who Mill vigor plaledlv lean. Jim Wagnild Kemp Zechel (ram the ranks Eratolile Coach Cole i „.X' .T™'"...", "nTS' That Mill h nahl and Ron Kloli the freth Chicago irlp

cat part [he «ay to cure il Johnn\ replied Nn thej are huge ol' Madison V OOLF LlTTt««IN P«.P«i!. iS'/t " Ji?'"d Sf" "23:' isnl lo Ignore I but to cut it Golf tfttermen lom Accola Art We thought "thai wai'a'riSl sr answer because an athletic et SNAPSHOT* S Joe McCarthy. w'^ ^"T"^^""^" *'* '^"'' scheduling has been done. How SNAPSHOTS a small and struegling rural val linttiance the misdirectei they' are'preparing their equip- SNAPSHOTS newspaper to play tne role of a courage of Ihe vunor Senator giant. It would tie ludlFrout ex SharpT] rebuked by hli peo^e Country Club. h-Try''aS'' ''"' T'l '"h ''r

<-epi for our confident taiih in Joe McCarthy can ilDl perfom *—• • — Pr^iri. Priile. Advisor Mr. Ne=i parly and nai AFter leading Ihe race all Ihe u Monday, March Stfa, the P Students Give Panel "ap^hnt"-- "'" "'"* '"'"' "^ his horse was loiing eround the one direcllv alongiide as 1 Discussions to Classes ihrr>uch"(jiMerich% w "T^t ilid NOT know Jia? ProWc^'s'studclVs Jane'td ^ P^uc'cr cop"'"h,TI;' ,™ks

istratlon in his unscrul • "'uid" ''t^^'mui'" """ ^""''t ""* * ''" ^ ' UcCaithy protessed i fawning devc M^^"'i>?n*VcDrna?d '"aSd "Ty Bookkceping Students hower leaden Soe. Problem Student D[ the Elsenhower M".iof,rt'ip'"''b^tv."™ '"h^''\*hl'''o Test for Vocotions 1 right saj Question Schoolmote; IhTs coun Thev are Social i m ' morals and manners A survey perrj s Bookkeeping sluricntt

/riW-r.

11 to his people k. en boo Pfio e !?..£"•'""""" """"' iMking (or *•" " * '' "" Society's Manuscripts Library Front page of the Sauk-Prairie Star for March 18, 1954, containing Leroy Gore's editorial advocating the recall of Senator McCarthy.

190 THELEN: JOE MUST GO crat. He introduced the audience to the mem­ tenant governor in 1928." The chairman of bers of the steering committee, who were not the Kenosha club was Thomas J. Wiznerowicz, officially elected until the meeting was under principal of the Paddock's Lake School for way. In addition to Harold Michael, chosen as retarded children; the other two Kenosha president, and Nestingen, its secretary, the officials were a retired Silver Lake farmer and committee included fifteen men and women an elementary school principal." Robert Houle, representing all shades of political opinion and a Green Ray advertising salesman and radio all walks of life. Democrats like Nestingen announcer, took charge of the Rrown County and Irving Cherdon of Middleton were out­ unit.^** For the Appleton area, the Fox River numbered by Republican editors such as Will Paper Company formed a nucleus, and its Sumner of Evanston and James Olson of Rich­ board chairman, David E. Oberweiser, offered land, and by such former McCarthy partisans the statewide group his services as financial as Jack Straw of Portage. Nestingen, Michael, director. When Appleton city officials re­ Gore, and Morris Rubin, editor of Tfie Pro­ fused space for a local meeting, Oberweiser's gressive, gave rousing talks to the assembled firm offered its basement meeting room to supporters of a recall, and before the meeting a group which ranged from "well-dressed adjourned the audience was chanting, "Joe insurance men and investment brokers to must go! Joe must go!" As the delegates workers in overalls.'"" When Ivan Nestingen left Sauk City to form clubs in their own appointed the Dane County committee, he communities, the leaders of the movement included representatives of the University departed on fund-raising trips outside Wis­ of Wisconsin, of labor unions, of several consin." churches, and of both political parties.'" Ra­ Next day the Madison Capital Times cine County workers elected as chairman Rich­ stated that the recall movement "had brought ard J. Carbonneau, a former AmVet com­ out into the open the great silent reservoir mander, and as secretary William Troestler, a of anti-McCarthy feeling which exists under local United Auto Workers official."^ As far the pall of conformity and moral numbness away as Harvard University, Stephen S. Wil- imposed on the American people by the fear loughby of Madison, with the encouragement campaign of the last four years.'"" Certainly of President Nathan Pusey, former president the men and women who undertook to organ­ of Lawrence College in Appleton, solicited ize Joe Must Go clubs in their own locales signatures from Harvard students of voting quickly discovered that the opposition to Mc­ age who were residents of Wisconsin."^ Carthy was broader and deeper than anyone The huge Milwaukee County area, contain­ had imagined. Proof of this was found in the ing one fourth of the population of Wisconsin, people who came forward to run the local was canvassed by three groups. The Mothers clubs. March on McCarthy, numerically the smallest One of the first meetings took place in of the Milwaukee groups, had a unique appeal. Superior, where an audience ranging from Mrs. Angeline Vail, wife of an advertising "gnarled farmers to college students" elected executive, joined six other women, mostly as chairman Ed W. Richardson, a lifelong from the suburbs, in proclaiming that "hon­ Republican farmer and a candidate for lieu­ esty is the best policy" and that McCarthy was "un-American, unpatriotic, unworthy of the

" For the organizational meeting, see Madison Capital Times, Marcii 29, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, ^"Superior Evening Telegram, April 5, 1954; Madi­ March 29, 1954; New York Times, March 29, 1954; son Capital Times, April 1, 1954. Sauk-Prairie Star, April 1, 1954; New Republic, " The Kenosha Labor, April 22, 1954. 130:5 (April 5, 1954) ; Cloak, "Dane County in the "Madison Capital Times, June 5, 1954; Gore, Recall," 6-7; Gore, Joe Must Go, 45-50. Texas oil­ Joe Must Go, 121-124; Appleton Post-Crescent, May men had presented McCarthy with a Cadillac in 7, 1954. 1953, and this was the reason recall leaders chose "Appleton Post-Crescent, April 22, May 7, 18, this make of car for the membership cards. Appleton 1954; Gore, Joe Must Go, 124^125; Milwaukee Jour­ Post-Crescent, March 27, 1954. nal, April 21, 1954. " Madison Capital Times, March 29, 1954. A very ™ Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 39. similar sentiment is expressed in the Milwaukee ^'^ Racine Labor, May 21, 1954. Journal, April 9, 1954. '^Madison Capital Times, April 22, 1954.

191 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

State. . . ." They circulated petitions and urged press when she told McCarthy to his face that other women to do likewise.'^' At the same he had undermined the state's progressive time, members of Milwaukee labor unions tradition and that she was doing all that she sponsored the Citizens Against McCarthy, and could to recall him.''" the remainder of sympathetic Milwaukeeans But far more important than such names as worked through the county Joe Must Go club. Zimmerman and Lenroot were the day-to-day Together, representatives of these three units efforts of thousands of little-known people. co-ordinated the recall effort in the metropoli­ Two University of Wisconsin students, Ted tan area.''* and Jane Cloak, carried petitions to the All sorts of men and women offered their farmers and merchants of western Dane Coun­ skills to the campaign. And some offered their ty.^ William Mitchell, president of the Central names, as did Wisconsin's ex-governor and States Engineering Company, collected 600 leading vote getter. Secretary of State Fred R. signatures in the Appleton area.''* John C. Zimmerman. The seventy-one-year-old Zim­ Colson, a librarian with the State Historical merman told newspaper reporters: "I just Society of Wisconsin, directed a campaign in don't like McCarthy. He has no more regard Madison's fifteenth ward which secured 1,200 for the laws of God than for those of man, signatures in a ward which only voted 2,100."' and his only mission is to get everybody to The secretary of a Wauwatosa Methodist hate everybody.'"'" Mrs. Irvine L. Lenroot, church and the president of a Racine paint wife of the former progressive Senator from and chemical plant requested petitions to cir­ Wisconsin, drew attention from the national culate among their friends."" Ed Sachs, a for­ mer reporter for the Milwaukee Sentinel, of­ fered to edit the Sauk-Prairie Star while Gore

^Milwaukee Journal, March 28, April 6, 1954; Sauk-Prairie Star, April 1, 1954; Gore, Joe Must Go, 136. '^Milwaukee Journal, April 1, 10, 12, 1954; Ap­ pleton Post-Crescent, April 22, 1954. ^Madison Capital Times, April 21, 1954; Milwau­ '^Sauk-Prairie Star, April 1, 1954; Madison Capital kee Journal, April 14, 1954. Times, March 30, 1954. Some observers, such as ^' Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," passim. veteran political reporter John Wyngaard, believed '^ Madison Capital Times, April 1, 1954. that Zimmerman would be the leading candidate for ^ Interview with John C. Colson, December 22, McCarthy's seat in a recall election. Appleton Post- 1964. Crescent, May 5, 1954. '"Sauk-Prairie Star, April 1, 1954.

A Non-Partisan MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Co-operating With Organization Editor Gore At Amount Enclosed For ALL. "JOE MUST GO CLUB" Sauk City. Phone 570 of WISCONSIN Phone 571 Sauk City, Wis. Joe's GOT To Go — Wilh His Oil Dough. I want to "Help Joe Go." YES — Make me a member. For the record • 1 am not now, nor AND I CAN HELP HIM — SO — have I ever been, in any subversive organization. Ail I want is Joe To Go • HOME! Here's mv contribution to the NOTE—Please fill out BOTH stubs completely. Print if possible. bumper stickers • "JOE MUST GO CLUB" (a) 1 5<^ each. Name:.

PETITIONS? Address: Address.. Yes — send me City: , V some. I'll get them filled, 1 can help my local, group by doing City.. I need this many —^«_^_^ Phone No.- County.. ifCinBumnA^ Authorized and paid for by Cart Lachmund, Treasurer, "Joe Must Co" Club of Wis., Sauk City, Wis. >n This membership blank and other documents of the Joe Must Go movement are preserved in the Manuscripts Library of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

192 THELEN: JOE MUST GO was busy with the recall campaign.''^ A Colum­ unions or political parties, the leaders of Joe bia County factory owner made petitions avail­ Must Go improvised and experimented with able to his employees, and Verona merchants, widely varied tactics, knowing only that some­ as well as the staff of the Verona home for the how they must obtain as many notarized sig­ aged, actively took part in the movement."'' natures as possible within the sixty days al­ The volunteers cut across all political and lotted. At first they waited for requests for occupational affiliations until, toward the end petitions to come into Sauk City, but as con­ of the campaign, some 4,500 men and women tributions began to trickle in the state leaders were circulating recall petitions. National ob­ bought space in the Milwaukee dailies for servers as well as such state organs as the "family-sized" petitions having spaces for six Milwaukee Journal remarked how Leroy Gore names."" They printed and distributed short had become "a rallying point for a vigorous brochures written by various legal and re­ outpouring of what has been latent anti- ligious authorities which purported to show McCarthy feeling." In short, the grass roots how Senator McCarthy had bent law and re­ had caught fire." ligion to his own ends. They passed out leaf­ lets containing McCarthy's contradictory state­ "rROM the fact that the Joe Must Go move- ments and voting record on issues affecting -*- ment was a largely spontaneous uprising agriculture, health, and welfare."" They mailed stemmed both its strengths and its weaknesses. petitions in bulk shipments to known sup­ Leroy Gore's contention that "this is a moral porters of Eisenhower, and, after securing the issue" undoubtedly exerted a strong appeal mailing list of the state Democratic party, on men and women who were susceptible to similarly bombarded the Loyal Opposition." this sort of direct confrontation, and it ac­ They traveled the length and breadth of the counted in part for the astonishingly broad state, from Milwaukee to Superior and from spectrum of people who participated. But on Green Bay to Madison, delivering speeches, the other hand its grass-roots character led rallying sympathizers, and announcing the even friendly observers to note that the move­ number—frequently inflated—of signatures ment was "unorganized, inefficient, and poor­ already collected. They adorned their cars ly financed." Gore himself conceded that it with "Joe Must Go" bumper stickers. And was "an amateurish movement."" And be­ they worked unceasingly to combat the fatal­ cause it was conceived and administered by istic conviction that the recall movement was political novices, the state's professional liberal doomed to failure." institutions—including its statewide labor or­ Local organizers demonstrated equal imagi­ ganizations, the Democratic party, and many nation and zeal in carrying on the campaign. of its newspapers—gave it no active assistance. In the absence of any real direction from Lacking funds and the cadre of disciplined above, they tried everything at least once. One workers which formed the backbones of labor Madison worker organized a corps of six men to talk to every voter in his ward; when one voter forbade his wife to sign, the solicitor °^ Gore accepted Saclis' offer, and Sachs edited tlie sent his own wife to see her during the day. Star during tiie entire recall campaign. Gore, Joe Must Go, 51-53. The Milwaukee Braves soared to first place in ""Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 23-24. May, and the thousands who went to County "" Milwaukee Journal, April 9, 1954. For similar appraisals, see "Wisconsin: No Clover in the Grass­ roots," in the New Republic, 130:7 (June 21, 1954) ; the Christian Science Monitor's "Anti-McCarthy fire sweeping through the grass roots of Wisconsin poli­ '^Madison Capital Times, April 12, May 3, 1954; tics," in Madison Capital Times, April 12, 1954; Ivan Milwaukee Journal, April 21, 1954. The petitions Nestingen to Edwards, June 21, 1954, File A, C.O.P.E. circulated by the canvassers had space for nineteen Correspondence, AFL Papers. names. New York Times, March 19, 1954; Cloak, '^Milwaukee Journal, April 21, June 8, 1954; Ap­ "Dane County in the Recall," Appendix. pleton Post-Crescent, May 20, 1964. This obvious ^ Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," Appendix. lack of effective organization was also observed by "'Nestingen to Edwards, June 21, 1954, File A, the New Republic, 130:5 (April 5, 1954) and 130:7 C.O.P.E. Correspondence, AFL Papers; interview (June 21, 1954); Sauk-Prairie Star, June 10, 1954; with James E. Doyle, December 22, 1964; Whitewater Nestingen to Edwards, June 21, 1954, File A, C.O.P.E. Register, May 6, 1954. Correspondence, AFL Papers. ""Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 6, 36.

193 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

Stadium to cheer their heroes were greeted at the parity cut "the beginning of a first-class the gates by petitioners. Volunteers drove ten depression."" sound trucks around factory gates in Milwau­ Realizing the anger of their constituents, kee, and local leaders staged two porchlight Wisconsin's representatives in Washington campaigns in Kenosha. The three Milwaukee rose, one after another, to denounce the Sec­ groups jointly sponsored a television program, retary of Agriculture. McCarthy's senatorial "Recall Headquarters of the Air," on a Sunday colleague, Alexander Wiley, said that the cut evening, and Green Bay radio announcer would bring a "catastrophe" to dairy farmers. Robert Houle appeared on television in Madi­ Throughout the month of March, Wisconsin's son to tell of the reprisals he had suffered for Republican Congressmen held frantic meetings taking charge of the Brown County club. And among themselves and with Benson to seek both state and county leaders attempted to some means of accommodation. On March 3, establish direct contact with small-town resi­ all of the state's Republicans in Washington dents and farmers by leaving blank petitions met to plan strategy—all, that is, except Sena­ with merchants, ministers, and others who tor McCarthy. On March 9 Governor Walter came in frequent touch with their neighbors."" Kohler met with the same group—and this time Senator McCarthy sent an aide to repre­ F ALL THOSE to whom petitions were sent him. When Benson proved intractable, O sent or carried, the farmers of Wisconsin Senator Wiley proposed a nationwide cam­ were by all odds the most receptive. Leroy paign to sell milk in vending machines. Sena­ Gore's editorial of December, 1953, had ac­ tor McCarthy, still preoccupied, proposed curately assessed rural attitudes toward Sena­ nothing.*" tor McCarthy. Not a single Dane County From the very onset of the parity crisis, farmer questioned the legality of the recall the junior Senator's attitude infuriated the movement, as others had; that was not the hard-pressed farmers. McCarthy's first re­ issue, they said. Pressured by economic neces­ action, which came late in March after Gore's sity and unhampered by the urban follow-the- recall editorial, was to threaten an investiga­ leader climate, they concluded that McCarthy tion of the Department of Agriculture's cheese had done precious little to alleviate their transactions, which he claimed benefitted plight. And they now turned out in vast warehousers at the expense of the farmers.*" droves to register their protests." This hardly placated the farmers. Six weeks What had put the farmers into such a surly later, with the recall campaign in full flood, mood was McCarthy's reaction—or, more ap­ McCarthy tried another tack. "Is there any propriately, his lack of it—to the announce­ reason," he asked in speeches on May 8 and ment by Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft 9, "why farmers should not get 100 per cent Benson of his intention to lower dairy price of parity so he is on a par with every man in supports from 90 per cent to 75 per cent of the United States?"" By now it was clear that parity beginning April 1, 1954. From Lake he had entirely lost the pulse of the dairy Geneva to the North Woods, dairy farmers farmer, and he was roundly denounced in bellowed their indignation, and from assem­ blies of farmers in Polk and Dane counties came immediate demands that Benson restore ^'^ Appleton Post-Crescent, March 3, 1954; Milwau­ 90 per cent of parity. Kenneth Hones, presi­ kee Journal, March 16, 1954; Madison Capital Times, dent of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, called March 19, 20, 1954; Superior Evening Telegram, April 7, 1954; Madison Wisconsin State Journal, April 16, 1954; Milwaukee Turner, 15:3 (September, 1954). ••^ Appleton Post-Crescent, March 4, 10, 31, April "" Interview with John C. Colson, December 22, 14, 16, 1954; Wisconsin Farmers Union News, March 1964; Milwaukee Journal, May 2, 3, 20, 25, 1954; 22 1954. Gore, Joe Must Go, 137; The Kenosha Labor, May '''New York Times, March 27, 1954. 6, 1954; Madison Capital Times, June 5, 1954; "Madison Capital Times, May 10, 1954; Appleton Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 19-30. Post-Crescent, May 10, 1954; New York Times, May *" Sauk-Prairie Star, May 20, 1954; Gore, Joe Must 9, 1954. The Milwaukee Journal, April 18, 1954, Go, 118; Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 21, reported McCarthy's earlier suggestion of 110 per 49-50. cent of parity.

194 THELEN: JOE MUST GO

90 or 100 per cent of the farmers whom they visited to sign petitions; in rural Lincoln County far more people signed recall petitions than had voted for McCarthy's Democratic opponent in 1952. Yet what made the partici­ pation of farmers "amazing" was not so much their willingness merely to sign peti­ tions, but their early insistence on taking an active role in organizing local and county Joe Must Go groups. County recall clubs in Ke­ nosha and Superior counties included farmers among their officers, and the Polk County club had farmers in all of its executive posi­ tions. Of the 17,000 Wisconsinites who wrote to Sauk City for petitions to circulate, no fewer than 4,483, or 26.4 per cent, were farm­ ers. Although officers of the various farm groups, including the Farmers Union and the Farm Bureau, denounced the Joe Must Go campaign, farmers nevertheless participated actively in the movement at all levels. Leroy Gore continually held up the farmer response as a model for other groups to copy. It was Morris Studios this revolt on the farm, as much as anything Harold L. Michael, the ex-Marine officer who became else, that gave the recall movement its grass­ president of the statewide recall organization. roots character.'"' Because the movement brought together Wisconsin for his 100 per cent of parity men and women of widely disparate back­ speeches. At a time when Republican leaders grounds, and because the state leadership im­ were seeking a compromise with Benson— posed no effective strategy or organization Congressman Melvin Laird was willing to set­ from above, local leaders often quarreled tle for 82^2 per cent—McCarthy's blatantly among themselves over personalities and tac­ political gesture hurt their efforts and an­ tics. College and university students, who did noyed them with its irrelevance. Governor much of the legwork, resented being called Kohler lashed out at McCarthy: "Any poli­ "the young people in the back of the room." tician who seeks votes . . . and tells dairy Democrats fought with Republicans over farmers that price supports of 100 or 90 per whether or not to distribute some of Gore's cent are solutions to their problems [is] more anti-Democratic statements. Leaders is­ lying." Indeed, the famed Burlington Liars sued contradictory instructions as to how Club declared that McCarthy's stand on parity petitions should be signed. And thus it went, entitled him to honorary membership." a token of the problems confronting a broadly

But Wisconsin's dairy farmers were not amused. From their point of view, the recall campaign had come at an opportune moment, '"Milwaukee Journal, April 18, May 18, 19, 1954; Sauk-Prairie Star, May 20, 1954; Madison Capital and they supported it with a vengeance. State Times, March 30, June 2, 1954; Superior Evening chairman Harold Michael called the response Telegram, April 5, 1954; The Kenosha Labor, April from farmers "amazing." He reported that 22, 1954; interview with Gore, December 12, 1954; Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 49-50. Eco­ many volunteers had no trouble persuading nomic necessity was not, of course, the only reason for the tremendous farmer response. Many of them probably shared the view of W. P. Shattuck, a Weyer­ haeuser dairy farmer: "I've always believed in live '"^ Appleton Post-Crescent, May 10, 13, 1954; Mil­ and let live, with the exception of Napoleonistic waukee Journal, April 18, May 29, 1954; Joe Must characters like McCarthy." Sauk-Prairie Star, April, Go, 119. 1, 1954.

195 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING. 1966 based popular movement in an age of well- Bo Mcjumper made a career of frightening knit institutions." people with his Hodag, Blair wrote, until But in spite of these internal difficulties, one day: volunteers in the recall campaign possessed a faith and an esprit de corps which gave The word began to get around. the movement almost the quality of a folk It spread like fire on prairie ground. uprising. It produced its own literature, and The people soon began to shout: at some meetings workers sang to the tune of "Throw that bluffing rascal out! His Hodag is a fake, a stall! "Three Blind Mice": There's no such critter after all!"

Joe Must Go / Joe Must Go. The word soon spread throughout the state. See flow fie runs / See how fie runs. The people's wrath grew fierce and great. We're siek to deatli of tfiis rife and strife. And when it came the Recall morn, We'll chop up his plans with the Recall Mcjumper wished he'd not been born. knife. You'll never see such a sight in your life. For "JOE MUST GO." T) ETTER, perhaps, than any other incidents -•-' of the recall campaign, the songs and the Someone put new words to "Old Black Joe": poetry revealed how a ten-week-long petition drive could stir so many voters that it became Gone are the days when his heart was young a crusade of greater proportions and more and gay; excitement than most election campaigns. Gone are his friends from Wisconsin fields And, of course, not all of the interest and away; excitement was aroused against Senator Mc­ Gone are his plans to another place we Carthy; the recall movement spawned opposi­ know. tion groups as well. Anthony Gruszka, a Mil- He hears our urgent voices calling "JOE waukeean who edited the Wisconsin Republi­ MUST GO." can, created the Wisconsin Poles for McCar­ thy Club to encourage voters of Polish descent He's going. not to sign petitions." Mrs. Grace Livesey and He's going. ten other Madisonians started a For America For his Gallup's bending low; He hears our urgent voices calling Club to fight the recall, and Russell F. Haub- "JOE MUST GO.'"" ner, a Rhinelander resort owner, originated a Keep McCarthy Club for the same reason.'''' Perhaps the most interesting contribution Many newspapers were stoutly opposed to to the literature of the campaign never saw recall. The editors of the Appleton Post- daylight: it was a poem, "The True Story of Bo Mcjumper and His Hodag," by Fred Bas- torical Society of Wisconsin Library, and in the Ap­ sett Blair, chairman of the Wisconsin Com­ pendix to Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall." munist party.''^ Blair took no part in the recall '" "The True Story of Bo Mcjumper and His movement, but he was clearly affected by its Hodag" is a thirteen-page poem written under the pseudonym of Horatio Bridgestopper in the Fred mystique when he wrote of Bo Mcjumper's Bassett Blair Papers, Manuscripts Library, State His­ capture of the legendary Hodag, whose claws, torical Society of Wisconsin. •'"Madison Capital Times, April 9, 1954; New York eyes, and paws were fierce enough, but: Times, April 10, 1954. Gruszka's club failed to make much headway when Casimir Kendziorski, a leading . . . What was fearfullest to all Democratic wheelhorse of Milwaukee's Polish district, denounced it and supported the Joe Must Go move­ Who saw that Hodag—great and small— ment. Gore, Joe Must Go, 134. Was that the color of the brute '"'•New York Times, April 9, 1954; Appleton Post- Was brightest Red, from head to foot! Crescent, April 10, 1954; Madison Wisconsin State Journal, April 17, 1954. Mrs. Livesey reported that the For America Club sponsored radio broadcasts intended to discourage voters from signing petitions, •"Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 10-11. and circulated a counter-petition urging that McCar­ •" Mimeographed copies of these songs are included thy remain in the Senate which collected "thousands in the "Joe Must Go" section of the microfilmed and thousands" of signatures. Interview with Mrs. Miscellaneous McCarthy Materials in the State His- Grace Livesey, December 10, 1965.

196 THELEN: JOE MUST GO

Crescent, the Whitewater Register, and the which a window was broken, spotlights were Seymour Press professed to believe that Gore's shined into the house, and anonymous callers creation was simply a publicity device to stim­ rang the telephone late at night. In the face ulate subscriptions to the Sauk-Prairie Star. of such abuse—and the threat of it—it took Some editors asserted that Communists were fortitude for men and women to participate behind the movement. Even the editor of the in the recall campaign. Gore later said that it Post-Crescent, who occasionally reprimanded was the courage of the volunteers that im­ McCarthy in print, believed that it was in­ pressed him more than anything else about tended "to distract public attention from the the movement."" spots of rot in the government. . . ." John Not surprisingly, the most effective and Chappie of the Ashland Daily Press, a long­ persistent opposition was directed against time anti-Communist crusader, said that the Gore himself, and it originated in his own recall movement stemmed from "the forces of Sauk County. Roman Renter, a Sauk City anti-Christ" and from "New York City, Den­ restaurateur, organized a Door for Gore Club ver, and related influences." A Sawyer Coun­ with the intention of driving him and his ty editor, Julien C. Gingrass, demanded that headquarters out of town. This effort failed the Wisconsin Press Association investigate when Gore received a unanimous vote of con­ the Communist influence in the movement and fidence from the Sauk City Men's Club; a formed a Communists Must Go Club.'" wag suggested instead the formation of a Give But neither the newspaper nor the group Reuter the Scooter Club. Two weeks later opposition hurt the Joe Must Go movement Reuter charged that Gore had instigated the as much as did individual and collective heck­ movement to recall McCarthy in order to raise ling. As the recall volunteers went about their funds to pay off the mortage on his newspaper. Gore retaliated with the threat of a libel suit tasks, they encountered yet another hazard against Reuter. Next, Darrell Maclntyre, at­ confronting a grass-roots campaign lacking torney for the Door for Gore Club, persuaded the support of professionals: there was no Harlan Kelley, the Sauk County district attor­ institutional buffer between them and the sup­ ney and an ardent admirer of Senator McCar­ porters of Senator McCarthy. Open heckling thy, to subpoena Gore, the organization's was frequent and often quite severe. A United treasurer, Carl Lachmund, and all the records States Senator who was in Milwaukee to make of the Joe Must Go movement, on the grounds a speech was so impressed by the fortitude of that the leaders had violated Wisconsin's cor­ a woman in the face of rabid insults that he rupt practices act. resolved to match her courage by voting against future appropriations for McCarthy's For two weeks, Gore made frequent trips permanent subcommittee. Teenagers and mid­ to the Sauk County courthouse in Baraboo to dle-aged women denounced the recall solicitors answer subpoenas issued by Kelley. The dis­ as Communist agents; on occasion they were trict attorney announced in the last week of even mildly harassed by the Milwaukee police. the recall campaign that he was going to study More than once vandals defaced automobiles all the records, including the petitions them­ bearing the "Joe Must Go" sticker, and Ruby selves, as soon as the drive ended. This forced Allman, office secretary of a Madison meat- Gore to reassure signers that should the move­ cutters' union, was not the only person to re­ ment fail, he would go to jail before he would ceive threatening phone calls from persons allow anyone to examine the petitions. The who refused to identify themselves. Leroy legal hassle continued long after the movement Gore's house in Sauk City became the target was over, until it eventually reached the Wis­ consin supreme court, which ruled that Gore for a "well organized terrorist campaign" in had not violated the corrupt practices act. But

'^^ Whitewater Register, April 1, 22, May 6, June 10, 1954; Sauk-Prairie Star, April 1, 1954; Appleton '^Milwaukee Journal, April 22, May 11, 30, 1954; Post-Crescent, March 30, May 6, 1954; Madison Madison Capital Times, April 19, May 11, 1954; Capital Times, March 30, 1954; New York Times, Gore, Joe Must Go, 135, 137; Brad Sebstad, "The April 2, 1954; Superior Evening Telegram, March Fight," in the New Republic, 131:10-11 (July 12, 27, 1954; Gore, Joe Must Go, 53-55, 127-128. 19,54).

197 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

casts they appealed to listeners to make con­ tributions. And they found what they had already discovered in Wisconsin: that the men with the big purses were not interested. The New York World-Telegram printed a front­ page box instructing its readers where to send money, and the Los Angeles Times raised $3,281 for the movement; indeed, the bulk of the contributions came from outside Wiscon­ sin. But when the campaign ended and news­ paper reporters examined its books, they dis­ covered that the entire movement had taken in only $32,454 and spent $26,572—not nearly enough for the kind of publicity that was needed."" Ironically, however, the best possible pub­ licity which the Joe Must Go movement could have received was furnished by the Senator himself, when his feud with the Army was broadcast live from Washington. For thirty- six days, beginning in late April, 1954, mil­ lions of Americans sat spellbound at their radio or television sets, many of them hearing and seeing McCarthy in action for the first time. For Wisconsinites in particular it was "I hold in my hand—Whoops!" A cartoon by Ed a direct confrontation between themselves and Hinrichs which appeared in tht Madison Capital Times on April 5, 1954. their elected representative, a confrontation with which no journalist or broadcaster with as a result of the protracted proceedings, Gore a bias, pro or con, could interfere. And as the and his lawyer, Ivan Nestingen, were occupied broadcasts progressed, thousands of McCar­ at Baraboo when their talents were badly thy's supporters began to change their minds. needed elsewhere.''' Many reacted like the lady who expressed her disgust at "Joe's rude interruptions and per­ Both these men, and Harold Michael as well, sistent, nasty manner." Others said that they were needed to raise money to support the saw on their television screens a "bully" or recall campaign. Petitions, radio and tele­ a "sly trickster."" After each day's hearings, vision appeals, newspaper advertisements, Ivan Nestingen was astonished to find political printed handouts and flyers—all had to be conservatives asking for petitions to sign and paid for, and the movement had begun with­ to circulate among their acquaintances. No out a cent in its coffers. Lacking financial sooner would each session end than the Dane support from any group or institution, the leaders of the movement traveled across Amer­ ica in search of funds. They went to New York, Washington, Buffalo, Chicago, and Los •"New York Times, April 10, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, April 9, 11, 14, 1954; Madison Capital Angeles shortly after the March 28 organiza­ Times, April 10, 14, 26, June 18, 1954; Gore, Joe tional meeting. In radio and television broad- Must Go, 104-114. The five states which contributed the most money were Wisconsin, $9,024; New York, $6,124; California, $4,570; Illinois, $3,964; and Min­ nesota, $1,908. Leroy Gore to authors, undated (c. " Appleton Post-Crescent, April 14, 15, May 10, 12, June, 1965). 1954; Milwaukee Journal, April 20, May 10, 11, 12, ™ Letters to the editors of the Madison Capital 22, 1954; New York Times, April 16, May 9, 1954; Times, April 27, May 7, 1954, and the Milwaukee Madison Capital Times, May 7, 10, 1954; Sauk- Journal, April 30, 1954. See also Mrs. R. J. Carpen­ Prairie Star, April 22, 1954; Gore, Joe Must Go, ter, Jr., to Senator Ralph Flanders, undated (c. June, 97-99, 148-173; interview with Gore, December 12, 1954), in the Flanders Papers, Manuscripts Library, 1964. State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

198 Secretary of the Army Robert Stevens and Major General Robert Young, as­ sistant chief of staff for personnel, confront Roy Cohn and Senator McCarthy in the televised hearing of April 22, 1954.

County headquarters for Joe Must Go would labor unions instituted a drive which began be flooded with offers to help retire the to gain some momentum in May. Since the Senator.''' Wisconsin constitution allowed only sixty days McCarthy, to whom the recall campaign had in which to gather the signatures, the cam­ from its inception been a frightening political paign was scheduled to end on May 16. But development, was not unmindful of the effect because petitions were still pouring into Sauk his televised performances were having on his City at the rate of 3,500 to 4,000 a day, the constituents and on the Joe Must Go move­ steering committee announced on May 12 that ment. Throughout the duration of the Army it was extending the cut-off date to June 5, hearings he spent each weekend in Wisconsin, even though this would mean that 88,000 sig­ shaking hands, making speeches, and, in the natures collected during the first three weeks eyes of some observers, behaving "as though after Gore's editorial had appeared would be he were up for re-election"—which, if the invalidated. Success depended on Milwaukee. recall succeeded, he would be."" And that pos­ "If this sleeping giant of anti-McCarthy senti­ sibility, however remote, still remained. Given ment can be fully aroused," Gore wrote, "it the impetus furnished by the Army-McCarthy is possible that Joe will go." On the night of hearings and by the donations which were now June 3 Gore spoke over statewide radio to flowing into Sauk City, the leaders of the say that there was still "a grim, fighting movement began to realize that they still had chance" if each volunteer redoubled his ef­ a chance of obtaining the necessary 404,000 forts.''" signatures. Encouragingly, some Milwaukee

^^ Quotations are from the Sauk-Prairie Star, May " Nestingen to Edwards, June 21, 1954, File A, 20, 1954, and the Appleton Post-Crescent, June 4, C.O.P.E. Correspondence, AFL Papers; Cloak, 1954. See also Madison Capital Times, May 12, "Dane County in the Recall," 36, 43^4; Madison 1954; Milwaukee Jorunal, May 13, 25, 1954; Gore, Capital Times, May 3, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, Joe Must Go, 143-146. At the same time that recall April 18, 1954; Gore, Joe Must Go, 141-143. leaders were desperately trying to meet the deadline, ™ Quotation is by Miles McMillin in Madison their friends tried a new tack. State senator Henry Capital Times, May 17, 1954. Other observations on W. Maier, a Milwaukee Democrat, urged Governor McCarthy's sudden concern for repairing his political Kohler to call a special session of the legislature to fences are in New York Times, May 8, June 20, 1954; liberalize the state's recall statute. "If the people Milwaukee Journal, May 8, 1954; JJ. S. News and of Wisconsin are denied the right to pass judgment World Report, 36:12 (June 18, 1954). upon elected officials by statutory provisions which

199 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

June fifth came and went, and so did the tention to the problems facing his constituents. attempt to recall Senator Joseph R. McCarthy. And coming as it did at the time of the Army- Exactly how many signatures were obtained McCarthy hearings, it was one of the factors during the campaign remains a mystery. No which produced a change in national senti­ exact count was ever made, mainly because ment toward Wisconsin's junior Senator, cul­ the Sauk County district attorney subpoenaed minating in the United States Senate's vote of the petitions as soon as the campaign ended, "condemnation" on December 2, 1954. Mc­ and to keep them out of his hands the recall Carthy's colleagues in Washington recognized leaders shipped them to Minneapolis and Chi­ the significance of the vote of no-confidence cago or buried them on farms near Sauk City. from Wisconsin, and the success-in-failure of However, it is known that from March 18 to the recall movement undoubtedly stiffened June 5 Gore and his compatriots collected many senatorial spines. As Harold Michael about 400,000 signatures. When the petitions wired ex-Senator William Benton of Con­ were later displayed at the Conrad Hilton necticut at the campaign's end: "Movement hotel in Chicago, newspapermen counted achieved tremendous success in proving Mc­ 335,000 signatures; another 50,000 were re­ Carthy no longer represents Wisconsin elec- portedly in Minneapolis. Of these, many were torate.""" invalid because they had come in too early But Gore and the other recall leaders were or too late, or because they were not notarized. not yet convinced that the Senate's censure Probably the best estimate of the total is that vote had sufficiently chastised McCarthy, and a third of a million Wisconsin voters signed they at once began to plan a second recall properly legal petitions in the sixty days end­ campaign to take place shortly after the off- ing on June 5, 1954."" year elections of 1954, when not so many peo­ ple would vote, and the number of signatures TT^AILURE or no, the Joe Must Go movement necessary for recall would be considerably -*- had made its point. More people had less. They began to transfer the names of signed this protest than had ever signed any previous signers to addressograph plates, and notarized petition in the nation's history, and Gore wrote an account of the movement, Joe they had dealt a massive blow to the myth of Must Go, to publicize it. They sought the McCarthy's invincibility. A Chicago news­ organizational support of labor unions and paperman summed up the reaction of many the Democratic party, from which they had Americans when he looked at the huge pile of received only token support in the first cam­ petitions and exclaimed, "I'd sure hate to have paign, and felt that if they could secure the that many people mad at me!"*" assistance of such groups they would achieve victory."" The full significance of the recall movement was to become clearer in the months to follow. In the end, however, there was no second It had given McCarthy the scare of his politi­ recall effort. Although the number of signa­ cal life, and for the many Wisconsinites who tures necesary for a recall election had shrunk had signed petitions its most important result to 282,000 after the light 1954 voter turnout, was that it forced the Senator to pay more at- the task had paradoxically become more diffi­ cult. After the Army hearings and the censure resolution, McCarthy's power and influence were drastically decreased, and many people make performances next to impossible," said Maier, "then, I submit that the electors of Wisconsin have had concluded, as Gore put it, that "mccarthy- been disenfranchised." Appleton Post-Crescent, June ism was a dead dragon." It was difficult to 1, 1954. arouse enthusiasm for a second campaign, he °° Madison Capital Times, June 7, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, June 8, 1954; Madison Union I.,abor Neivs, July, 1954; Nestingen to Edwards, June 21, 1954, File A, C.O.P.E. Correspondence, AFL Papers; Gore, Joe Must Go, 17-18, 147. The original petitions, as well as the microfilm copy deposited in a Chicago "^Michael to Benton, June 7, 1954, in the Benton bank, have unfortunately since been destroyed, and Papers; interview with Gore, December 12, 1964. no accurate count of the signatures can ever be made. "^Milwaukee Journal, June 5, 1954; Gore to "Dear "'-Appleton Post-Crescent, June 7, 1954; Gore, Joe Friend," October 25, 1954, and Gore to John Howe, Must Go, 18; interview with Gore, December 12, 1964. November 22, 1954, both in the Benton Papers.

200 THELEN: .TOE MUST GO

movement. He recognized the truth of Sena­ tor Benton's question and answer: "Is John [Howe] properly informed that the Demo­ cratic organization in the state refuses to sup­ port you? I suppose this would make the odds impossible.""" The Joe Must Go movement thus passed into history, a stirring example of individuals mak­ ing their voices heard and a dramatic refuta­ tion of those who believed that Americans had become too lethargic politically to be capable of action. But the movement had its somber aspects, too, for it showed that the success or failure of modern social and political move­ ments ultimately hinged on the support of the organizations and institutions to which most Americans had committed their interests and loyalties. And in the spring of 1954 not one of these larger aggregates of power and in­ fluence in Wisconsin—not even those which opposed Senator McCarthy most bitterly, and stood to gain the most from his political demise—was willing to commit itself to the Madison Capital Times recall campaign. The tensions between in­ dividual and organization, whether of church, Ivan Nestingen, the Madison lawyer and alderman who was secretary of the Joe Must Go Movement. labor union, or political party, were nakedly exposed; and in the end, whether through failure of nerve, dislike of gambling, or sheer said, when the state had "the widespread feel­ instinct for self-preservation, the organization ing that McCarthy is finished.""' Perhaps more prevailed. importantly, the second campaign would have to succeed in forcing a recall election. The TVTOWHERE was this tension more apparent first attempt had succeeded in registering a -'- ' than within the Democratic party of ringing protest against the Senator; the second Wisconsin. The party leaders disliked McCar­ would have to force him to stand for re­ thy because he had made deep inroads on election, or all the earlier achievements would Democratic majorities in the cities; they had be nullified. And only one major institution made his replacement by a Democrat their in Wisconsin could now guarantee success: number-one objective during the political the Democratic party. campaigns of 1952. Yet despite their political But although Gore and the recall leaders, and ideological opposition to McCarthy, they backed by such prominent national Democrats refused to support the Joe Must Go move- as ex-Senator William Benton of Connecticut ment. and former President Harry S. Truman, tried to persuade the Wisconsin Democratic party to "•' The quotation is in a letter from William Benton make this commitment, the state's party lead­ to Gore, November 23, 1954, in the Benton Papers. ers, at a meeting shortly after the 1954 elec­ John Howe was Benton's assistant on the staff of the tions, rejected their plea. Lacking the Demo­ Encyclopaedia Britannica, where Benton was em­ ployed after his defeat for re-election to the Senate cratic endorsement and receiving only luke­ in 1952. Letters which reveal the thinking of Demo­ warm support from the state's labor move­ crats about the proposed second recall campaign, all ment, Gore decided to call off the second recall in Box 5 of the Benton Papers, are Howe to Benton, November 29, 1954, and January 19, 1955; and Howe to Julius Edelstein, November 19, 1954. See also "' Gore to authors, February 5, 1966; Gore to Howe, Gore to authors, February 5, 1966. November 22, 1954, in the Benton Papers; telephone "° Interviews with James E. Doyle, December 22, conversation with Gore, February 2, 1966. 1964, and with Gore, December 12, 1964.

201 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

There were several reasons for this. For one thing, McCarthy had aided the Democrats immensely by splitting the Republican party— "half McCarthy and half Eisenhower," Adlai Stevenson had said—and state chairman Elliott Walstead had gloated that "the Republicans have got themselves into an impossible posi­ tion of attempting to use [McCarthy] and •; ^"*N -y disown him at the same time.""' Too, the Dem­ ocrats were suspicious of Leroy Gore's sudden '•^s-* conversion to anti-McCarthyism, and of the preponderance of Republicans in the leader­ ship of the recall organization."* And unlike the enthusiastic amateurs who blithely pro­ nounced that "Joe must go," the Democrats took note of the constitutional objections raised by Professors Fellman and Runge, and of the fact that even if 404,000 signatures were somehow obtained, McCarthy would probably retain his seat either through court action or through a Senate vote."" Finally, the Madison Capital Times Democrats were unwilling to commit the par­ Henry S. Reuss of Milwaukee, who forced the state ty's resources and prestige to what seemed Democratic party into token support of the recall. likely to be a losing venture. They had un­ expectedly won an additional seat in Congress in a special election of October, 1953; they But the Democratic party was soon forced saw that their star was finally rising on the to modify its position as individual members state's political horizon, and they simply began to apply pressure from below. Three would not stake their fortunes on a cause weeks after the announcement of the party's which might, in failing, discredit the party. official position, Henry Reuss of Milwaukee In addition, they doubted, even if McCarthy arose at a party convention in La Crosse and were recalled, that a Democrat could win his introduced a resolution endorsing the Joe seat in the Senate. The Democratic party, in Must Go movement and promising to "assist short, was in business to win elections, not to in any way we can." Embarrassed, the state register protests. Accordingly, four days after administrative committee unanimously ap­ Gore's recall editorial, state Democratic chair­ proved Reuss' resolution;" to have done other­ man Walstead announced that the recall cam­ wise at a public gathering would have left paign would not be a party project. In the voters with the impression that they supported McCarthy, and they had no alternative but to words of Charles Dahl, the Vernon County back Reuss. Now the Democrats had to make chairman, "We feel little reason for a protest some gesture of support, so they let Gore use at this time."'" the party's mailing list. But farther than this

"' Stevenson's statement was quoted in the Apple- ton Post-Crescent, March 20, 1954. Walstead was ''" Lester Johnson won this seat from the Ninth Dis­ quoted in the Madison Capital Times, March 19, trict; its special significance to Democratic leaders 1954. For similar statements by state Democrats, see was that the Ninth was the first predominantly rural the New Republic, 130:5 (April 5, 1954) ; Madison district the Democrats had carried in many years. Capital Times, March 22, 1954. In an interview of Interviews with James E. Doyle, December 22, 1964, December 22, 1954, James E. Doyle denied that this and Thomas R. Amlie, January 8, 1965; Howe to was a consideration. Benton, April 5, 1954, in the Benton Papers; Milwau­ "** Interview with Thomas R. Amlie, January 8, kee Journal, March 22, 1954. Dahl's quote is from the 1965. Madison Wisconsin State Journal, March 21, 1954. "" Howe to Benton, April 5, 1954, in the Benton '''^ Appleton Post-Crescent, April 12, 1954; Milwau­ Papers; Madison Wisconsin Slate Journal, March 21, kee Journal, April 12, 1954; Madison Capital Times, 1954. April 12, 1954; New York Times, April 12, 1954.

202 THELEN: JOE MUST GO

they would not go. They turned down requests for funds and they rejected the proposal that they marshal their precinct workers to circu­ late recall petitions.'" Many Wisconsin Demo­ crats hoped that the party would seize upon the moral issue of McCarthy's fitness to serve and forget for a moment the instinct to stand pat. But the party leadership prevailed, and though thousands of individual members worked in the recall campaign, the Democratic party of Wisconsin did not. Almost exactly the same drama was played out within the Wisconsin labor movement. Here, too, were bitter enemies of Senator McCarthy. George Haberman, president of the Wisconsin Federation of Labor, had called him a "demagogue who preaches from Mein Kampf" and the most "dangerous man in the United States today."'" Other labor leaders emphasized their economic stake in McCar­ thy's defeat, and inveighed against his anti- Society's Iconographic Collection labor voting record in the Senate." But during George Haberman, president of the Wisconsin Feder­ the first few weeks of the recall campaign, ation of Labor and an opponent of Senator McCarthy. these same men were decidedly cool to the movement. Although the Madison area labor But the major reason for the failure of or­ editor conceded Leroy Gore "an 'E' for Effort ganized labor to commit its vast resources to and another 'E' for Enthusiasm," organized the Joe Must Go movement was the spectre of labor, like the Democratic party, was suspi­ failure. The editor of the Madison Union cious of the Sauk City editor and his Republi­ Labor News reported that union leaders had can proclivities.'^ State union leaders said the "feeling that the sheer weight of organiza­ that McCarthy was the Republicans' problem, tional machinery necessary, and the compli­ not theirs; they said they feared that their cated procedure of distributing petitions and participation in the recall movement would getting them notarized and returned when violate the prohibitions on political activity filed, would doom the move to failure."" contained in the Taft-Hartley Act; they noted George Haberman repeatedly charged that that one of their lawyers had said that the Gore's amateurish organization could never movement was unconstitutional.'" succeed; and he and other union leaders de­ clined to supply the funds and the disciplined workers necessary to correct weaknesses in the '^ Interview with James E. Doyle, December 22, 1964; Whitewater Register, May 6, 1954; Nestingen Joe Must Go clubs.'" Their money and their to Edwards, June 21, 1954, File A, C.O.P.E. Corre­ tightly organized units would be reserved for spondence, AFL Papers. Shortly after Gore's recall more orthodox labor activities. editorial, a local party leader had prophetically ob­ served: ". . . If the Democratic party doesn't play Labor's rank and file, and some local union a significant role in this movement, I fear it won't leaders, were unable to fathom the logic of succeed." Milwaukee Journal, March 25, 1954. ''^ Madison Union Labor News, June, 1954. this position. They saw only that McCarthy ^'Appleton Post-Crescent, May 24, 1954; Madison was a political enemy and that the recall cam­ Union Labor News, April, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, paign was an attempt to get rid of him. Soon March 28, 1954. ™ Madison Union Labor News, July, 1954; Mil­ waukee Journal, April 8, 1954. '"Milwaukee Journal, April 8, 1954; Madison Capi­ tal Times, March 23, 1954; New York Times, March "Madison Union Labor News, May, 19,54. 24, 1954; Milwaukee Wisconsin CIO News, March "^^ Milwaukee Journal, April 8, May 24, 1954; Ap­ 26, 1954; A.F. of L. Milwaukee Labor Press, April pleton Post-Crescent, May 24, 1954; Madison Union 29, 1954. Labor News, May, June, 1954.

203 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING. 1966 the pressure from below began to mount. Of­ so in Madison, where the editor of the Union ficials of the painters, battery workers, meat- Labor News announced: "We'll admit that cutters, and railroad firemen and engineers of when this thing started we thought it was a Madison promised the movement their sup­ little silly, impossible and that it would fizzle port, and the Dane County committee on po­ out. However, it isn't fizzling. . . ." He went litical education endorsed it." Ernest Chris­ on to dismiss the constitutional issue, remind­ tiansen, chairman of the Chippewa Valley In­ ing his readers that whether or not the recall dustrial Union Council, promised Gore 10,000 was legal, "there's nothing like trying.'"'" signatures.*•" The Milwaukee Communications Rank-and-file support of the campaign had Workers local, alleging that "McCarthyism is indeed influenced the state and regional labor a vicious, anti-American movement, supported press. financially and morally by the most antilabor But the labor editors did not precisely speak and reactionary quarters," asked to help recall for the regional labor councils, whose leaders the Senator." So did some retired railroad insisted upon making the distinction between workers from Neenah.**" And as these rank- informal support and official endorsement. and-file fires began to kindle, the icy position This distinction meant nothing to the editors, of regional labor organizations began to thaw. who were free to give the campaign their ac­ This change was evident in the state's labor tive support, but it meant a great deal to the press. The official organ of the Milwaukee recall leaders, who desperately needed funds Federated Trades Council, for example, made and labor's cadre of workers.*"" The stated no mention of the recall campaign during its position of the Milwaukee Federated Trades first three weeks, and only on April 8 did it Council, the state's most powerful regional carry without comment a story that certain un­ group, was that "the Executive Board recom­ named labor leaders had formed a Joe Must Go mends that no official action be taken by the unit in Milwaukee and were seeking volun­ Council but that members be urged to give teers. Yet three weeks later the same paper support as individual citizens." Gore himself urged its readers to sign petitions and blow addressed a meeting of the FTC, but could not "the stench of McCarthy" out of Washington.*" persuade the union leadership to make a more The Kenosha Labor similarly moved from in­ vigorous commitment. The critical debate in difference to support. In late March its editor the Milwaukee FTC occurred on May 5, when made a trip to Sauk City to meet Leroy Gore. a delegate from the State, County and Munici­ Impressed, he told his readers that "you must pal Employees Union moved that "the Council admire this editor from a small time rural officially endorse the McCarthy Recall Move­ newspaper." And on April 15, as Kenosha ment and request all affiliated unions and workingmen began to support the recall move­ their members to give it their fullest support." ment, the editor wrote that he could not "stand After a lengthy discussion, the Milwaukee aside any longer." He printed petitions to be Federated Trades Council instead adopted a clipped and signed, and by May he was per­ substitute motion which simply urged mem­ sonally organizing two porchlight campaigns bers of affiliated unions "to circulate and sign in Kenosha." As in Milwaukee and Kenosha, such petitions as individual citizens."" In­ formal support won out over official endorse­ ment. ™ Madison Capital Times, March 29, 30, 1954; Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 10, 11, 50-51; Madison Union Labor News, April, May, 1954. '^Milwaukee Journal, March 24, 1954. '''Milwaukee Journal, March 28, 1954. '^Milwaukee Journal, April 8, 1954; Madison ^^ Milwaukee Journal, March 24, 1954. Union Labor News, June, 1954; Nestingen to Ed­ "^A.F. of L. Milwaukee Labor Press, April 8, 29, wards, June 21, 1954, File A, C.O.P.E. Correspond­ 1954. ence, AFL Papers; interviews wilh Leroy Gore, De­ *'r/!e Kenosha Labor, April 1, 15, May 6, 20, 19,54. cember 12, 1964, and Jacob F. Friedri('k, December, The resounding support of this highly respected labor 1964. newspaper for the recall campaign received consider­ *" Minutes of Milwaukee Federated Trades Council able attention from the daily press. Madison Capital meetings for April 7, 21, May 5, 1954, in files of Times, April 17, 1954; New York Times, April 18, Milwaukee County Labor Council, Milwaukee, as 1954. enclosed in a letter from Jacob F. Friedrick to "^^ Madison Union Labor News, April, 1954. authors, April 19, 1965.

204 THELEN: JOE MUST GO

Yet such was the feeling among certain So the pressure from various locals eventu­ local union leaders and their members that ally drove the state's top-ranking labor leaders, they were unwilling to be stopped at the re­ in spite of their official opposition, into a gional level, and they now took their battle friendlier position than they had planned to for official endorsement to the statewide coun­ take. But though many thousands of individ­ cils of the Congress of Industrial Unions and ual workers and union officials took part in the Wisconsin Federation of Labor. A dele­ the recall campaign,"" still organized labor as gate of the Madison steelworkers submitted a whole refused to identify with what seemed a resolution to the executive board of the Wis­ to be a losing cause. The resources of labor, consin State Industrial Union Council "heart­ like those of the Democratic party, remained ily endorsing the recall" and urging "all our on the sidelines, torn by internal tensions but sister steel locals to take the same action, so resisting to the last a formal commitment. that we can do our share to retire that dis­ graceful anti-labor character from public rpHE SITUATION in the Republican party life. . . ." But the council refused to act; it •*- was entirely different from that in either voted simply to file the resolution.''" The coun­ the Democratic party or organized labor. cil never mentioned the recall movement in Since 1912 the Grand Old Party had peren­ Actiongrams,"" its weekly political newsletter, nially split into factions, and the losers had fre­ and the Wisconsin CIO News, official organ quently nursed a grudge against the winners. of the State Industrial Union Council, simi­ Furthermore, the party leaders had frequently larly ignored it. been annoyed by rank-and-file revolts against Local labor leaders had somewhat better their generally more conservative leadership— luck with the Wisconsin Federation of Labor. a situation which had been intensified in Wis­ President George Haberman had earlier an­ consin in 1934 when liberal Republicans ac­ nounced that the WFL would not endorse the tually bolted and formed the Progressive party. recall movement,"" but as leaders of his Madi­ In 1946, when the younger La Follette and son and Milwaukee affiliates began to support other leaders liquidated their splinter party the movement he qualified his opposition, and led the Progressives back into the Republi­ making the same distinction as the Milwaukee can fold, they found many of the state's GOP FTC: no official endorsement, but encourage­ leaders reluctant to embrace their erring ment to individual unionists. Haberman him­ brethren."' self joined the Milwaukee area Citizens Volun­ This factional chasm within the Republican tary Committee on the McCarthy Recall in an party was widened by the quarrels between "advisory" capacity, and as the campaign President Eisenhower and Senator McCarthy, wore on, his own enthusiasm increased."' At until by the time of the recall campaign the a political education conference in Dane Coun­ party was bitterly divided. The President, his ty he said that he regretted the Wisconsin Fed­ Cabinet, and prominent officials of the na­ eration of Labor could not endorse the recall, tional party resented McCarthy's attacks on but he implored workingmen to act on their administration appointments, foreign aid, mili­ own: "If there is a drop of patriotism in your tary policy, and "loyalty." The Senator, in body, get every man and woman you know to turn, replied that he, not they, best represented sign a 'Joe Must Go' petition.""'' the Republican party, and that his critics were

"" Minutes of Executive Board meetings of Wiscon­ "' For further evidence of rank-and-file participa­ sin State Industrial Union Council in Milwaukee, tion, see Racine Labor, May 21, 1954; Appleton Post- May 1, 1954, in Wisconsin State Industrial Union Crescent, June 5, 1954; Nestingen to Edwards, June Council Papers, Manuscripts Library, .State Historical 21, 1954, File A, C.O.P.E. Correspondence, AFL Society of Wisconsin. Papers; interviews with Leroy Gore, John C. Colson, ""A complete file of these Actiongrnms is in the and Jacob F. Friedrick, all in December, 1964. Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council Papers. "Theodore H. White, The Making of the President, ''"Madison Capital Times, March 23, 1954. 1960 (New York, 1961 ed.), 70-73; Roger T. Johnson, "' Madison Union Labor News, May, 1954. Robert M. La Follette, Jr. and the Decline of the "^Madison Capital Times, May 28, 1954; Madison Progressive Party in Wisconsin (Madison, 1964), Union Labor News, June, 1954. 25-49, 102-161.

205 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

simply trying to sidetrack his anti-Communist PETITION FOR RECALL crusade. Instead of trying to heal the wounds, I. the undersigned, a qualified elector of the County of Pu^.^ , State of Wisconsin, hereby petition for the recall of United States Senator Joseph R. McCarthy of the McCarthy accused Eisenhower, in a speech in City of Appleton, Outagamie County, from the United States Senate, Town, City or Street and No. Signature of Petitioner Village of Residence or Rural Route Date Fort Atkinson, of "helping the Republican of Post Office party commit suicide.""" i»,u/^ to I^./HM* ^r //> i/rr This division in the party between Eisen­ $^:. .^/r^ .lUL^.^-r^iL ^J^J/^'•/ hower Republicans and McCarthy Republicans was nowhere more evident than in Wisconsin. The majority of the state's party leaders, many of whom had supported Robert A. Taft in 1952 and were prepared to believe the worst about Eisenhower, sided with Senator McCarthy."" At party meetings in Dunn and Outagamie counties during the spring of 1954, McCarthy received votes of confidence, and at the height AUM of the recall campaign the Wisconsin execu­ tive committee formally commended him "for his courage and fortitude in withstanding the continued attacks and smears of [those] who Madison Cipital Times have attempted to delude and divert the people Reproduction of a portion of a recall petition signed of this republic from the real issue; namely, by a number of Madison aldermen. the gigantic conspiracy of the communist party to infiltrate our government. . . .""' In early "obstructionists" and "Trumanists" who had May the state convention of Young Republi­ no place in the party."' cans endorsed Senator McCarthy and anti- This position was too extreme for a great Communism by a vote of 858 to 203, and re­ many party regulars who supported the Presi­ fused to make even a routine recommendation dent. A West Bend woman expressed well the of Senator Wiley because he was too closely qualms of many state Republicans when she associated with Eisenhower. Party members said that McCarthy had "belittled the Presi­ who opposed McCarthy, said the state chair­ dent.""" Republican caucuses in the Second man of the Young Republicans, were really and Tenth congressional districts refused to en­ dorse McCarthy, and the Tenth district warm­ ly commended Alexander Wiley for his co­ operation with the President.^"" The chairman of the Marinette County Young Republicans sent telegrams to Eisenhower and to Lieuten­ °° The prominent national Republicans who de­ nounced McCarthy, to one degree or another, during ant-Governor George Smith, urging them to the spring of 1954 included party chairman Leonard rebuke McCarthy.'"' And though Governor W. Hall, 'Vice-President Richard M. Nixon, Attorney Kohler—a good seismograph of these tremors General Herbert Brownell, Foreign Aid Administrator Harold Stassen, Vermont Senator Ralph Flanders, in the state Republican party—disappointed Kentucky Senator John Sherman Cooper, and Presi­ some regulars by failing to denounce McCar­ dent Eisenhower. McCarthy replied to their criticisms by announcing that he would continue his crusade thy, he did make clear his sympathy for Eisen­ no matter "how high or low those are who scream at hower. In a speech before the Young Republi­ what we are doing." Appleton Post-Crescent, March can convention, Kohler ignored McCarthy and 3, 15, 22, 24, 27, April 6, 10, May 10, 24, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, March 20, 1954; Madison Wis­ praised the President. Of the Senator's anti- consin State Journal, March 18, 21, 1954; Madison Communist crusade, he said only that the Capital Times, April 19, 27, 1954. Privately, Eisen­ Chief Executive should handle matters of sub- hower was furious with McCarthy; at one Cabinet meeting he suggested that the Wisconsin Senator be­ longed on the Kremlin payroll. See Sherman Adams, Firsthand Report (New York, 1962 ed.), 137-153. "Saul Pett, "Could He Win in Wisconsin Now?," "" Appleton Post-Crescent, May 3, 1954; Milwaukee in The AP McCarthy Series (New York, 1954), 83; Journal, May 1, 2, 1954. Sauk-Prairie Star, June 17, 1954. "'Milwaukee Journal, March 24, 1954. '"Appleton Post-Crescent, April 13, 23, 27, May 11, ™ Madison Capital Times, May 31, 1954. 1954; Milwaukee Journal, April 20, 1954. ™ Madison Capital Times, March 19, 1954.

206 THELEN: JOE MUST GO

version and disloyalty; of the recall campaign, Young Republicans, arguing that McCarthy he said that it was "quixotic" and bound to "shows complete lack of understanding of the strengthen McCarthy's position when it in­ needs of the people of the state," supported evitably failed.'"^ the recall.'"" Not observed, but far more im­ Republicans who shared Governor Kohler's portant, were the thousands of Republican views but who were in less delicate positions voters who signed and circulated petitions. politically were free to protest against McCarthy The organizers of the Joe Must Go move­ and the state's party leaders. And protest they ment did not expect the leaders of the Republi­ did. For them, the recall movement was an can party of Wisconsin to support them. But eagerly awaited opportunity, though it still neither did they expect a revolt of such large surprised Democrats like Ivan Nestingen that proportions by the rank and file and by some their associates within the Joe Must Go move­ local leaders. Those Republicans who took an ment were "preponderantly" Republicans.'"' active part in the recall campaign did so at That old-line progressives like Fred Zimmer­ considerable risk to their orthodoxy; and the man should publicly support the recall sur­ surprising fact was that so many of them were prised no one, of course;'"' but many promi­ in fact willing to take that risk in order to nent Republicans of more moderate views simi­ make a larger point than mere party regu­ larly joined the cause. The finance director larity. for the Milwaukee County recall organization Large immbers of Democrats, Republicans, was state senator Harry F. Franke, a conserva­ and union members were willing to cut the tive Republican who was troubled by the grow­ ties which bound them to their leaders; but ing atmosphere of fear engendered by McCar­ Wisconsin's civil servants were not. Recall thy.'"" Chester Roberts, the secretary of the workers had less success among this group Milwaukee Eisenhower-Nixon Club in 1952, than with any other. A Dane County solicitor joined the recall movement because he be­ observed that civil servants seemed "acutely lieved that the Senator was obstructing the aware of how little the voice of even a majority Eisenhower Administration.'"" The Richland can mean, compared to the decision of one big County manager of McCarthy's 1952 sena­ man." Indeed, state and federal officials of­ torial campaign now offered to help unseat ten raised questions about whether their em­ him; the Polk County Republicans expressed ployees could legally participate. One federal their satisfaction with the recall by electing official declared that if it was not illegal for as permanent chairman Harold Michael, head civil servants to sign petitions, it was certainly of the statewide Joe Must Go organization.'"' "inappropriate" and "questionable," and John E. Dickinson, a Milwaukee industrialist acting-postmaster Frederick John of Milwau­ who had chaired the county's Lincoln Day kee told his 2,700 employees that participation dinner in 1953, offered his assistance; so did in the recall movement was "inadvisable." William G. Connor, former vice-chairman of Officials of the Internal Revenue Service also the Milwaukee County Young Republicans.'"'' cautioned their workers against participa- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee .-* „ tto tion. To counteract the influence of these opin­ ions, leaders of the recall movement circulated '""Appleton Post-Crescent, March 8, May 3, 1954; copies of the federal Hatch Act and of state Milwaukee Journal, April 26, 1954; Madison Capital civil service laws, which they believed proved Times, April 26, 1954. "^ Nestingen to Edwards, June 21, 1954, File A, that civil servants could participate. The Mil­ C.O.P.E. Correspondence, AFL Papers. waukee Journal protested editorially that the ""Madison Capital Times, March 30, 1954; Sauk- Hatch Act "doesn't make second class citizens, Prairie Star, April 1, 1954; Appleton Post-Crescent, May 5, 1954. politically or otherwise, of federal employees." '"^Milwaukee Journcd, April 25, 28, May 14, 29, 1954; Gore, Joe Must Go, 133. "^ Milwaukee Journal, May 10, 1954. ^"^ Milwaukee Journal, March 24, 1954; Appleton Post-Crescent, April 12, 22, 1954. '"" Milwaukee Journal, April 14, 1954. ^"'Madison Capital Times, April 2, 1954; Milwau­ ""Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 51-52; kee Journal, March 24, 1954. Milwaukee Journal, May 19, 1954.

207 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

But more than any other group in the state, civil servants felt the subtle weight of bureau­ cratic institutions, and many were afraid to sign recall petitions.'" The Wisconsin pulpits were generally silent during the recall movement; not a single or­ ganized group of Catholics, Protestants, or Jews endorsed it. True, some national figures such as Bishop Bernard J. Sheil of Chicago and groups such as the American Baptist Con­ vention did denounce Senator McCarthy at the time of the recall, but none of their state affili­ ates did so, and, in proportion to opinion- makers in secular life, the state clergy was silent. There were several reasons for this, not the least of which was the traditional American belief in the separation of church and state, a tradition widely respected in Wisconsin where school prayers had been outlawed since 1890. Protestant clergymen were somewhat cowed by Senator McCarthy's attacks on cer­ tain of their organizations, and were con­ cerned not to become involved in what was clearly a burning political issue. But perhaps the main reason for the silence of Protestant and Jewish leaders revolved around McCarthy's Catholicism. They feared Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy, pictured that any support given the recall campaign January of 1953 during a visit to Wisconsin. would be interpreted by the public as anti- Catholic bigotry. As the lay Catholic periodical Commonweal said, this fear of misinterpreta­ of fair play . . . and keeps alive by a mad pur­ tion formed "a kind of undercurrent to any suit of headlines. ... We have been treated discussion of Sen. McCarthy and his doings.""' like country rubes to be taken in by a city It probably came as a relief to many clergy­ slicker from Appleton.""'' men—and certainly it was that to the leaders With this, the recall leaders breathed easier. of the recall movement—when Bishop Sheil, They had had no trouble securing support an influential Catholic prelate, attacked Senator from anti-Catholic bigots, but they had en­ McCarthy at an educational conference of the countered problems in talking with responsible United Auto Workers in Chicago on April 8, Protestants and Jews. Now some ministers 1954. "Now is the time," the bishop declared, and a large number of their parishioners felt "to cry out against the phony anti-Communism that the thorny "Catholic issue" had been laid that mocks our way of life, flouts our tradi­ to rest, and they could conscientiously support tions and democratic procedures and our sense the recall movement. But these were individ­ uals. The state's religious councils, as unwill-

"' Milwaukee Journal, May 19, 21, 1954; interview with John C. Colson, December 22, 1964; Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 51-52. "" The official version of Shed's speech is "McCar­ "^ Reprinted in Madison Capital Times, April 19, thy vs. Morality," in UAW-CIO Ammunition, 12:14- 1954. See also Appleton Post-Crescent, March 18, 17 (April, 1954), but this text is less complete than April 5, May 22, 1954; Milwaukee Journal, May 18, the United Press dispatch. Complete texts may be 1954; New Republic, 130:22 (June 7, 1954) ; Madison found in Sauk-Prairie Star, April 15, 1954, and Mil­ Capital Times, March 22, April 13, 1954. waukee Turner, 15:15-17 (June, 1954).

208 THELEN: JOE MUST GO ing as political parties or labor unions to iden­ it provided a sobering lesson on the role of tify with a spontaneous grass-roots crusade, the individual in a society where pressure made no formal expressions of approbation or groups wield immense power. And the lesson support."* was this: that to the extent that men commit their loyalties to the corporate institutions that T^HE CAMPAIGN to recall Senator Joseph represent them in the public forum, and allow -*- R. McCarthy was a true popular move­ these institutions to delimit the range of their ment, one of the most spectacular in this cen­ activities, then to that extent men surrender tury. Farmers participated, though their a portion of their freedom of choice and of spokesmen opposed it; union members par­ action. ticipated, though their leaders failed to en­ As the leaders of the recall movement dis­ dorse it; Democrats and Republicans partici­ covered, every institution or pressure group pated, though their party managers shied has a vested interest in perpetuating its own away from it; Protestants, Catholics, and Jews existence. And when public endorsement of participated, though their pulpits were silent. an unorthodox social or political movement In the spring of 1954, a third of a million might threaten that existence, the institution citizens ignored the dictates of organized po­ inevitably balks, hesitates, and in the end does litical, occupational, and religious organiza­ nothing at all. tions, and, in the face of sullen opposition, affirmed their right to be heard. They did indeed write what Leroy Gore called "a mag­ nificent footnote in Wisconsin history.""" "' Cloak, "Dane County in the Recall," 26, 27; in­ Yet it ought not to be forgotten that the terview with Gore, December 12, 1954; Gore, Joe Must Go, 44, 109-110. recall movement failed, for in its very failure "" Quoted in Milwaukee Journal, June 4, 1954.

jf!afni*CS)-wpcra(tng With Editor Golre At"S»ilc Sft.

Society's Manuscripts Library

209 FROM WAUPUN TO SACRAMENTO IN 1849:

The Gold Rush Journal of Edwin Hillyer

Edited by JOHN O. HOLZHUETER Unsubstantiated rumor of the strike reached the East about six months after the discovery, and a shipload of argonauts (a term favored by the forty-niners) set out for their Eldorado TN TERMS of present-day communications, (another favorite term). Embarking at an •'• the California Gold Rush of 1849 was a Eastern port, they made the lengthy journey long time aborning. On January 24, 1848, around Cape Horn and sailed into San Fran­ James Wilson Marshall discovered gold while cisco Bay on February 28, 1849. Rumor, how­ building a sawmill for John Sutter on the ever, was not sufficient to spark the tremen­ south fork of the American River. Not until dous subsequent push to California by water four days later—on January 28—did Marshall and land. The impetus came by way of Pres­ become excited enough to tell his employer. ident James K. Polk's annual message to Con­ Sutter, fearing the disruptive consequences of gress on December 6, 1848, in which he re­ a gold rush, was dismayed, and beginning in ported that an unbelievably rich discovery had March his fears were realized. Many of Sut­ been made in the West. Finally, almost a year ter's employees quit to devote full time to dig­ after the fact, an "overnight" reaction oc­ ging and panning gold, and a San Francisco curred, and everyone was clamoring to go to paper printed a short notice about the dis­ California. covery. Three jumping-off places served overland It remained for a profiteer, however, to emigrants: Independence, St. Joseph, and launch the rush in earnest. Sam Brannan, who Council Bluffs, with Independence attracting owned a store near Sutter's Fort, planned to the most and Council Bluffs the fewest, or let others dig while he traded merchandise for about 10 per cent of the total. The Council dust. He visited San Francisco one day in May Bluffs trail was called the Mormon Trail, since with a bottle of gold dust, walking through the it had been blazed along the north banks of city, waving the bottle, and broadcasting the the Platte River by the Latter Day Saints. It news. Within a few weeks, San Francisco was was shunned by emigrants from Ohio, Michi­ all but deserted. The rush was on. Sutter's gan, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, where land was overrun—as he had anticipated—and Mormon incidents had aroused the population. his once immense holdings were lost; he was The overland trails appealed mainly to per­ reduced to surviving on a California pension. sons west of the AUeghenies, men whose roots Sam Brannan continued to make shrewd use were in the soil and who had a rural familiari­ of Gold Rush opportunities, and became one ty with cattle and wagons. Gold seekers from of California's most respected and wealthiest the Eastern seaboard—men familiar with citizens. ships and salt water—usually chose a tortuous

210 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH .JOURNAL

ocean journey instead, either sailing around because the movement seemed to epitomize a the Horn or traversing the isthmus of Panama. national fervor, with each emigrant vicarious­ Ocean journeys could take six to nine months; ly fulfilling the nation's lust for adventure and an overland trip as long as half a year. Men gold. The forty-niners themselves may well from the South often took the Santa Fe Trail have been too close to the event to sense the or floated down the Mississippi to the Gulf of flavor of the Gold Rush that they willed to Mexico, trekked across Mexico, and sailed to their descendents in the form of diaries and San Francisco, usually from Acapulco. letters. More than a hundred such diaries have Compared to the migrations of earlier years, been found, and several associations have been that of 1849 was gigantic. Fifty persons took formed to trace faithfully the routes of the the north trails for every individual who trav­ various trails, indicating that, today at least, eled them in 1848. Estimates of the number the mania for gold holds less appeal than the of emigrants vary between 20,000 and 50,000, drama of questing for it. with a conservative modern guess at 21,500. Thus, 1849 was not a year in which the lonely wagon train wended its way across a deserted W"ISCONSIN'S reaction to the Gold Rush prairie, endangered by Indians. Indeed, some '' can be considered typical of the na­ diarists described strings of wagons six miles tional experience. Nearly every community long. Thanks to extremely wet weather, grass outfitted a contingent for the West—from grew plentifully for draft animals, in contrast cities like Milwaukee, Racine, Madison, and to some years. But the rain made the roads Janesville to villages and towns like ShuUsburg, miry and the going heavy, and a violent storm Delavan, Jefferson, Wiota, and Beetown. Near­ in the valley of the Platte on May 29 scattered ly one-fourth of the population in Wisconsin's some livestock and ruined some supplies. Other lead-mining region departed for the new hardships included accidents, drownings, and fields, and some Wisconsin miners even fol­ disease, which together claimed an estimated lowed the gold trail to Australia when the quest 750 lives. Disease reached epidemic propor­ extended outside California in the 1850's. tions at times. A cholera outbreak in the Unit­ Among leading Wisconsinites who succumbed ed States hit especially hard in the crowded to gold fever were William S. Hamilton, James jumping-off camps, and several varieties of R. Vineyard, Hans C. Heg, Count Agoston "mountain fever" and intestinal complaints Haraszthy, and Lucius Fairchild. But most of blamed on alkali were fatal to some. Indians the Wisconsin emigrants were young men from were less a threat than popularly imagined. the rank and file, men who had not yet made Indian slayings in 1849 probably accounted their marks, men like Edwin Hillyer, a twenty- for no more than a dozen deaths. three-year-old storekeeper, and his eight com­ What manner of man made the journey and panions from Waupun: A. D. Allis, Dr. John what were his motivations? The author of this Barker, Frank Carter, E. S. Howland, E. J. journal believed that a fair cross section of Marvin, Ben Pierce, and two men whose sur­ humanity was represented, with the majority names alone have survived, Wheeler and Mer- being men of good will. He also believed that win. the emigrants, like himself, were lured by gold. The Waupun group elected to travel over­ But, attributing to others his own altruistic land to the gold fields from Independence, motives, he maintained that there was "no planning to arrive in Missouri in April in selfishness" involved. However, no one who order to be ready when the prairie had sprout­ reads Gold Rush material can fail to note the ed enough grass to support their oxen and high sense of adventure with which it is per­ mules. Along the way, however, the Waupun meated. There is something undeniably ro­ men changed their minds and decided to leave mantic about the argonauts and their Eldorado, from Council Bluffs, where they joined a train a variety of romance that is at once intensely of sixty-five men and thirty-five wagons. The personal and yet universal: personal because ensuing journey was marked by accident, di­ the wagon trains were made up of rugged, in­ sease, and death, as well as light, humorous dependent men, each with a mission; universal moments. Several members of the train be-

211 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 came ill and had rather bad accidents. One complete strangers. He was adventuresome man, not from Waupun, was killed by In­ enough to undertake the strenuous journey dians about 135 miles from the starting point, and to leave behind his twenty-one-year-old with the trip scarcely under way. But another bride of ten months without knowing when, or man, after nearly drowning with his horse, if, he would see her again. Hillyer insisted convulsed the onlooking crowd by saying, that he visited California because of the finan­ "Boys, boys, don't he make a fine raft?" cial opportunities to be found there and be­ The man who recorded the journey was cause he wanted to make a fortune for his wife Edwin Hillyer, a native of Ohio who came and hoped-for family. It was the reaction of a to Wisconsin in 1847 to help his brother, "boy," Mrs. Hillyer said later. Boyish as his Joseph Talcott Hillyer, operate a general store enthusiasm may have been, Hillyer was serious in Waupun. The Hillyer brothers were born in his desire to do the best thing for his wife to the tradition of the westward movement and and was well on his way towards mature man­ to storekeeping as well. Their parents, Daniel hood. and Charity (Loomis) Hillyer, moved from Mrs. Hillyer was born Angeline Hannah Granby, Connecticut, to primitive Portage Coe in Randolph, Ohio, on July 7, 1827, and County, Ohio, in 1815, and were among the was married to Hillyer on April 4, 1848. She first settlers in Atwater, Ohio. They operated bore the wrench of departure with fortitude, an inn and general store, and Daniel Hillyer much as women accept the departures of men surveyed other Ohio counties as they were going off to war. Mrs. Hillyer shared with her settled. Edwin, the youngest of six Hillyer husband a love of church and literature and children, was born September 30, 1825, and an abhorrence of liquor, gambling, and the was educated in schools at Farmington and coarse things of life. Twinsburg, Ohio. His education, both at home and in school, inculcated in him a love for 'T'HE DIARY of Edwin Hillyer is an interest- books and a devotion to the Congregationalist -*- ing addition to the lore of the Gold Rush church and temperance—traits which he ex­ for several reasons. It details an Indian slay­ hibited throughout his life. Hillyer's abilities ing—one of the few chronicled by an 1849 and education thus marked him as an individ­ emigrant; it records a route taken by a minor­ ual a cut above the average forty-niner. He ity of forty-niners; and because Hillyer wrote was enough of a leader to be elected colonel vividly, with an eye to explaining things to his of his wagon train; yet he was brash enough family back in Ohio, it provides sufficient de­ at the time to write that he expected little tail to make the journey fresh and exciting. trouble from the men because "I was very But most importantly, the journal demonstrates careful to be right." His love of books and how a young man gained maturity and a mea­ language was exhibited in the quality of his sure of wisdom while crossing the plains in journal: clear, understandable, interesting 1849. prose, albeit with occasional lapses in spelling The Hillyer journal was given to the His­ and grammar. He was devoted enough to his torical Society in 1961 by Forrest C. Middle- God to insist that his wagon train observe Sun­ ton of Madison, who purchased it at auction. days as a day of rest for both man and beast, Another copy is in the hands of a great-grand­ and also for observing the sabbath with hymns son, Frederick Ford of Bayport, Minnesota. and contemplation. This streak of righteous­ Hillyer revised the journal and had it type­ ness also exhibited itself in a disapproval of written in 1903, titling it "A trip from Wau­ gambling, and in later life he became presi­ pun, Wisconsin, Via Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. dent of the Wisconsin Temperance Alliance. Louis, Council Bluffs and Salt Lake to Califor­ Despite his sober inclinations, Hillyer was nia, in 1849 by Team and the Return Via not above a good time, and he grasped business Acapulco, City of Mexico, Vera Cruz, New opportunities where he found them. He en­ Orleans, Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and the joyed dancing and he loved conversation and Lakes to Wisconsin in 1851-1852." The 1903 made friends rather easily on his trip, even to version, however, concludes with Hillyer's ar­ the point of being able to borrow money from rival in Sacramento. The original diary has

212 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL

TN the Spring of 1849—as one of the com- -*- pany of gold seekers—I started with my wife to make the journey from Wisconsin to Ohio where my wife was to remain with her father, whilst I got rich in the land of gold. We left Waupun in one of the Stage Com­ pany's Mud Wagons. It was cold and dis­ agreeable but we reached Milwaukee in safe­ ty. In leaving Milwaukee we were put into a stage on runners drawn by four horses. The snow was soft and slushy, and the runners cut in almost ... to the solid earth below. Our first experience was a turn over of the stage. Fortunately the snow was drifted and soft. The top of the stage was somewhat broken. My wife was the only lady passenger. Beside the road were large piles of cord wood. We men (for there were nine) crawled out and helped my wife out and onto a pile of the wood and those piles of wood were our only dry Society's Iconographic CoUection spots after we removed the snow. We were Wedding portrait of Edwin and Angeline Hillyer, probably an hour in getting the horses up and taken in 1848. stage righted, and small breaks mended. We had not gotten very warm during the time, but we hurried in and were off toward Chica­ go. On our way and before we reached Chicago we turned over five times, but none were hurt not been found. In the interests of space, and all were good natured and could eat a some repetitious portions have been deleted, good meal when we got a chance. where indicated by ellipses. Unusual spellings The stage got stalled in the mud a few employed by Hillyer have been retained, but times on the way and one time in the night typing errors appearing in the 1903 manu­ when we were asleep. We slept until the script have been corrected. break of day and looking out into the quiet morning we found that we were stranded in the mud without team or driver and not a building near. The wheels of the stage were up to the hubs in mud and frozen in. No one EDITOR'S NOTE: Material in the introduction and conclusion has been drawn from the 1860 manuscript grumbling or swearing, but we all got as com­ census for Dodge and Fond du Lac counties and fortably fixed as we could and we men re- from newspapers and other printed sources, includ­ smned our slumbers. About sunrise we began ing: George R. Stewart, The California Trail: An Epic With Many Heroes (New York, 1962) ; Ralph to hear sounds of returning life, and a slight K. Andrist, The (California Gold Rush (New York motion to our palace on wheels. Most of the 1961) ; Reuben Cole Shaw (Milo Milton Quaife, ed.) Across the Plains in Forty-Nine (Chicago, 1948) passengers were out in the mud by this time The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin (Chicago and we found four yoke of oxen, big and 1880) ; History of Portage County, Ohio (Chicago strong, being hitched to our stage, and soon 1885) ; Edwin Hillyer, "An Historical Sketch of the Early Days of Waupun, Wis." (Waupun, 1901) ; An by big words, and cracking whips we began geline Coe Hillyer (ed.) and Arthur Hillyer Ford to move (for I had remained aboard the stage (comp.). Souvenirs of the Hillyer Golden Wedding, At Waupun Wisconsin (Waupun, 1898) ; and the with my wife). The movement was slow but Waupun Leader, December 16, 1908. sure and about nine o'clock and making about

213 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 three miles an hour we reached a way side boatman some of the floating mass was turned inn, and a breakfast inviting us. Oh! didn't one way and some another and our boat passed we eat. This pleasure was soon over and we with many a scrape on her sides. It was a were away again, through the mud for Chica­ perilous time and if those immense cakes of go- ice had changed their course only a few inches This was a fair example of our roads, un­ and come closer together our boat would have til we struck the sands of Michigan, when they been like a cockle shell in the hands of a giant. improved. The Maumee Swamp through which But the strong arms of the rowers and the dex­ we passed between Adrian and Toledo was not trous use of the boat hook saved us more than a good representation of the Garden of Eden, once from being sunk in mid-stream. My wife as described to us. It seemed to rain every­ was brave through it all giving never a where. The swamps, the lakes, the streams sound. . . . were all full to overflowing and the great mass We had to row up stream some distance, of ice was lifted and broken into immense but at last we came to a large opening of water cakes and started on their way down the Mau­ and the man with the hook cried out, "We have mee river toward the Lake. We reached To­ struck it, we are safe." A point of land which ledo. The river was a roaring flood. The ware­ projected had piled up the ice as it struck the houses along it were all destroyed. ... At shore and changed the course of the floating breakfast we learned that the only bridge was ice and gave us a clear space towards the shore. gone, and not a plank remaining. Our stage No time was lost by the boatmen in turning carried the mail, and if possible must go for­ towards the land, and a sigh of relief went ward. We went with it to the river, but that up as they for a moment ceased their efforts. raging stream was full of floating cakes of ice, The current carried us down some distance many of them 30 or 40 feet square and two and but soon the boat came to land and the rope one half feet thick turning round and round as was seized by willing hands and we were safe. they floated and ground together on their There were hurrahs of men and women watch­ downward way, sometimes crashing together ing us on both shores. and throwing the water into the air and then Our boatmen were almost done up, but it again a space of open water between the cakes had been an awful strain on their minds and of ice. The mail must go. A large stout yawl nerves. My wife and myself were both boat was procured with two strong boatmen white. . . . My wife uttered not a word indi­ to row, and one with a boat-hook to ward off cating fear and but four words of any kind— the ice cakes, but they were slow to start. The but once or twice as we passed through a nar­ mail was loaded in and piled well in the stern row channel among the floating ice, she asked and after much persuasion they took my wife me, "Is there any danger?" With great assur­ and myself in. I was careful to seat her on the ance not to alarm her I answered, "No, no mail sacks so that her face was toward the danger." But when we landed I trembled most stern of the boat, whilst I sat on sacks a little in the knees and said thank God we are safe higher looking ahead. In looking up the stream on shore. I had not thought for a moment quite a space of clear water was seen. We that our boatmen had had any fear. . . . [But] pulled out for the other shore (whether to the Stage Company offered those men fifty land or eternity none knew) and past many dollars if they would return and carry the small cakes of ice, but before we reached the West bound mail, but their reply was, "This middle of the stream which now was a mile Stage Company has not money enough to hire or more wide, the boatmen had to head up us to do so, as long as the ice runs as it does stream, to avoid the immense cakes of ice com­ now." ing down, and it was quite a while before they could find an opening through which the boat We were soon on board another stage on could pass toward the opposite shore. At one our way, and soon had our full compliment of time it seemed as though we should be crushed passengers, but none of our former compan­ between those floating tons of ice, but a way ions. Our roads in the sands were quite good, was opened and by the strong arms of our but we struck the clay soil. Oh! my how the mud rolled up and how often the fence rails

214 A view of Cincinnati from the Hill back of Newport Barracks, copied from Cleason's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion, vol. 4, 1853. came into play to pry us out, but this exercise the bars of Hell, confining the writhing, snarl­ had become common. At last we reached Cleve­ ing horrible creatures, made to represent de­ land and then home. We had been on the vils, with forked tongues, fiery eyes, with road over two weeks—night and day—and harsh, loud, discordant voices. The forked during all of that time my wife had not ut­ tongues flashed out lightning with groans and tered a complaint. We slept sitting in our reached out skinny arms towards groups of seats, nodding as the stage moved and some woe-begone mortals, just beyond their reach. even snored. It was hard at first, but neces­ Sudden darkness surrounded us all. The thun­ sity kept us at it, and we became hardened. . . . der rolled, demons shrieked and groaned and chattered. The feeling was depressing and as we left, the recollection was not pleasant. I REMAINED in Atwater until [Tuesday] pity those who have helped the human mind I the 20th. day of March 1849, and then with to conjure up such a scene and to suppose a my brother D[aniel] W[ells] we in a heavy loving God would create such a place of carriage started in the rain for Wellsville on literal fire to punish His created children. I the Ohio River. My wife was to remain with was allowed to escape. her father [Almon Buel Coe] during my ab­ I took a look at the city from Observatory sence. Our trip to Wellsville was a hard one Hill, and the view was grand. City and Coun­ with mud almost up to the hubs of our car­ try were blended in one. Fair buildings and riage. Snow and rain on a clay soil does not beautiful vineyards, and the city below with tend to make good roads. We got the full bene­ its miles of river front, steamers and flat boats fit. Bidding my brother good-bye, I took the tied up its entire length. . . . Leaving Cin­ Steamer New England No. 2. Alone and in cinnati after dark on our safe river steamer a steamer's bunk I naturally got slightly home­ Ohio we found ourselves in Louisville, Ky., sick. Well most of you know how it is. Ar­ in the morning. Many of the passengers on riving at Cincinnati at 12 at night I really board are also bound for California, full of slept until breakfast, then took a tramp through hope and many homesick like myself. It is the city. In the museum, among many other really beginning to appear like spring. The curiousities gathered from all over the world, forest trees showing leaf, and peach trees was a representation of Hell, and all its hor­ showing blossom. rors as is pictured from our pulpits and Sun­ This has been Sunday [March 25], and day Schools. As the show has been surpressed strange as it may seem there was no gambling by law, as too awful for eyes to behold, I will on the steamer, which was so common on all tell you a little about it. In the distance were other days and nights.

215 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

Arrived at St. Louis at 11 o'clock, passing" meet my company from Waupun. I found no Jefferson Barracks which is a beautiful spot.' company, neither any letters, and I must wait. Just such a place as Uncle Sam mostly selects. I soon found a good boarding house and set­ Then we came to the Arsenal, another beauty. tled down. I only stopped at St. Louis some eight hours, I remained here from March 31st. to April but made good use of my time. The craft on 14th., going to the Post Office often, but never which I now sail is the Algoma for St. Jo­ a letter did I get until the morning of the 14th. sephs, and my couch was the floor. All the Then I got two. One from father and one from passengers are bound for California and gold. Dr. Barker. Barker says the company is go­ In the late morning the Clerk gave me the ing to Council Bluffs," and wants me to meet key to a room for a nap. After the nap I was them there, and bring a part of their outfit of just selfish enough to keep it although there provisions. In looking the town over and con­ were three or four who claimed it. sulting with others I concluded to go to St. The Missouri is the worst river for naviga­ Josephs before purchasing. My father's let­ tion there is in the United States. It is a ter gave me great joy as it told of my wife moving mass of quick sand. Its waters are and how he had learned to love her, but I got never clear from its source to the Gulf. And no letter from her. And now [it will] be its muddy water after mixing with the clear months before I do hear in California. You water of the Mississippi shows itself until it bet I was glad to get their letters, but I wanted runs miles into the Gulf. Its banks are sandy more. loam and they cave in and bring its trees into Independence is the point where the Santa the current, and floating down, their roots be­ Fe trail starts out from the river, and winds come imbedded in the sands and their bodies over the immense prairies and mountain towards the top float and after a time become passes, away to the silver mines in Mexico, pointed and partly out of sight below the cur­ and their freight consists of supplies such as rent, and become what the boatmen call snags, blankets, clothing. Whiskey and tools. And or snake heads. In the day time the pilot be­ their return loads are hides, buffalo robes, and comes expert in dodging them but at night silver. Tons of the latter. they are dangerous and they, with the change­ Their wagons are similar to what we call in able current caused by the moving quick sand, Ohio "Pennsylvania Arks." These are drawn make its navigation to be dreaded. Scores of by six or eight mules or six or eight yoke of boats have been sunk in it. In the short dis­ cattle. The drivers clad mostly in dressed deer tance we have navigated it we have passed skins and they can swear to perfection. I do three boats aground and one with her shaft not know but what they can equal the mate on broken and one that had burst her steam a river steam boat when unloading and load­ pipes killing three or four, and there is hard­ ing at wharves. Only one is at cattle and mules ly an hour that we do not see wrecks of boats. and the other at deck hands, white or black. We finally landed at Way's Landing," and There were assembled at and around In­ took a hack for Independence, a small county dependence, several thousand men on their seat town on the south or west side of the way for the gold fields, waiting for the grass Missouri. This is the point where I expected to to be sufficient to support their teams, as when they leave here there are no taverns, or supply stations, until they reach California. There are a few cases of Cholera among the emigrants. ' Jefferson Barracks, founded on July 10, 1826, is This seems to be sure death, and yet there is on the west bank of the Mississippi River below St. Louis. Until October 23, 1826, it was called Camp no panic. They are not going to die, but go Adams. From April 24, 1871, to October 1, 1894, it to California. was used by the Ordnance Department, after which is served as a military post. Francis Paul Prucha, A Guide to the Military Posts of the United States, 1789-1895 (Madison, 1964), 81. ° Possibly Wayne City, a hamlet which existed near " For narrative purposes, the last five sentences in Independence on the Missouri River. Independence is this paragraph were transposed from later in the about three miles from the Missouri. journal.

216 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL

I have spent my time here looking around landing with a wharf boat, and a few dwell­ town and visiting camps about it, and strike ings, and our Bluffs were still eight miles be­ all kinds of men, but as a rule fine intelligent yond, and as far as we can learn no town at men. Ambitious men and no drones, apparent­ all, not even a wharf boat. ly. In talking with them I find some as home­ But our captain went on and we soon hauled sick as I have been, and yet they are going in to a post, and were at the Bluffs. It consists through, if breath holds out. . . . of a few log huts built by the Mormons the As I talk with these different groups, I spring before, as a rest station, in fitting out find men of all kinds of dispositions and char­ for their long march up the Platte river and acters. The great majority are young and am­ to Salt Lake, the place selected by them for bitious men, and some of them are very sick their home of rest away from their persecu­ for home. One man about 35 this morning was tions. . . . Their report was so favorable, that thinking of his home and wife and the tears almost the whole of the people of the Latter were running down his cheeks, and he moaned, Day Saints were coming after. "I want to see my wife." Poor fellow, I pitied My provisions were landed and to show how him. The more I knew of the company from wealthy I was, I must admit that I had to Milwaukee the more I liked them, and it is the borrow money of a stranger to pay my freight. same with the other groups. But my face was good for it, and I was thank­ It is hard for us all to linger here, as our ful. Later I learned that he also was a Califor­ fingers itch to be handling the gold on the nia pilgrim, waiting for his company. other side of the mountains. We cannot force The Captain of our boat, as an advertise­ the grass to grow any faster, but we can wait. ment, went up the river to a small town, and Nothing to do and plenty of time to do it invited citizens, and especially women, to a in. . . . Met in lodge with the I. O. 0. F. last dance that evening, and of course they all night, and had a pleasant time. came. Then he steamed up to another land­ In some of the companies they have their ing and invited as before, and by this time had little disagreements, but as a rule they soon a goodly company and with three violins it was settle, and they agree again. No mail. Mould­ made lively until the rising of the sun. The ed 100 bullets for my "Pepper Box" last night. captain served a good supper about midnight, One of the main amusements is breaking in and at sunrise we bade good-bye to residents mules. They have big ears, small heads, and there and began our downward voyage, letting rapid action in their hind legs. One wants to off guests as points were reached. We were keep at the right end of the beast. I find that landed safely. Some of the guests had got gambling was not all done on the steamers. pretty full and were slightly silly. Too bad. My spunk about not getting mail will help on We all enjoyed the trip and the dance, and my way to the western land. . . . gave thanks to the Captain for the pleasure. On [setting out for St. Joseph], I find the After getting breakfast I went up to Kanes- same boat that I first came on. We soon ville . . . [Council Bluffs]" to the Post Office, landed at Kansas [City], a small burg on the but found no mail. This is a Mormon town west shore and north of the Kansas river. . . . and three of its elders or apostles remain here, Our next stop was at St. Josephs. Here I made and have many spiritual wives or handmaids, my purchases, and took them with me. This some as high as fifteen, and all apparently hap­ town now has about 1,200 inhabitants, and py and contented. about as many boys on the way for the gold diggings. There have been seven died of cholera on this up trip. I was taken [ill] in * Bellevue, Nebraska. An early settlement on the the night but providentially fainted on a seat Missouri River and now a suburb south of Omaha. in the wheel house, and the escaping steam ^ Kanesville became Council Bluffs in 1853. Al­ started the perspiration, and I was saved. I though the Mormons were not the first settlers there, they named the settlement Kanesville in honor of a felt its effects for several days. non-Mormon friend of the colony, Thomas L. Kane, Our boat was only billed for Belview' where a correspondent for Eastern newspapers. History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Chicago, 1883), 77, we arrived at 1:00 o'clock, and found it only a 86, 98.

217 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

I think I was really getting homesick, but attached to the other end of the boat. Not begin to think now that I will hire out to some built for speed or beauty, but to carry wagons company, which is about ready to start West across. . . . to do something, but no thought comes over A wagon was loaded on and the ropes fast­ me of turning back. Health good, and Disposi­ ened at each end, taut and the ends of the haw­ tion good, and "Forward the Motto." sers made fast on the opposite and upper side of the river and the other in the hands of T^HIS waiting, waiting is hard and discour- strong men. The board on the other side was -*- aging work, even if there is no work about dropped into the water, and the boat pushed it. No mail. No boys. Time hangs heavy. The from shore. The current striking it swung the men waiting have commenced constructing a craft with one end fast to the other shore, ferry, and it is an original one. I will describe towards and below the opposite bank, where it. The first things are two large cotton wood the hawser was fastened. The result was that trees about fifteen to twenty feet long. These it worked well from the start, and the raft had to be hollowed out and made into canoes safely came ashore where it was intended, by ax, adz and fire. But it must be done so as and the men soon made a good landing for to float our wagons across the river and this wagons. The return trip was also made safe­ is the whole plan. These two big canoes side ly and successfully, by using the rope fastened by side are to be covered over with plank on the other bank. about twelve feet long hewed out with axes, On this primitive raft or boat our wagons and fastened on top of a floor. Near each end were to be carried over, and teams to be made long poles are run out on each side, and at to swim the river. A horse and rider with a the outside ends joined by strong boards. lariat around the horns of an ox, in advance These are to keep it from tipping over. This and leading, entered the river. The teams done the craft is complete. It sat nicely on loose and without incumbrance were forced the water. A board was made so that it could to enter the water after him. Then the game be raised and lowered. A long hawser was to "follow your leader" began. It required activi­ be attached to the end of the boat and the other ty and good lungs to persuade the animals to end to a point on the shore, a smaller line was enter the water, but they could wade for some

^ '*"^\

, •'. ,VV-'

' -^ ,.^"'„'^'?'g^£. '"''.''^„'-^<':;^i^^^-f¥^f*''''^,,. Society s Iconographic Collection A wagon train being ferried across a river. This and subsequent sketches are from a series of fifty drawings made by an unknown artist in the summer of 1849 and acquired by the Society in 1926.

218 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL

distance, and when they had to they could thought this rather hard but must come to it. swim, and the deep water was not wide, and Again we swam the Mishnebotany. Here there this venture was successfully accomplished. . . . were several teams waiting. To go forward I went over on the ferry (for so it is they had to swim their teams, and they had named), and found a good road on the other to back everything across on the foot bridge, side. The point where the Mormon log huts and then hitch a rope to the end of the tongue are built is named Traders Point, and on a of a wagon and so pull them all across. . . . point below on the opposite side of the river, There are several women along with this and above where the Platte river enters the crowd, and also three old bachelors from Ra­ Missouri, is located an Indian Missionary Sta­ cine who have taken in a young English lady tion and school, which I visited and [where who started with her sister and brother-in-law, I] was well received by Mr. E. McKinney, the and having some difficulty they set her and Missionary, and his assistants." These young her effects out on the open prairie, and left ladies looked very nice to us. her. Big world. These men took her on, and The school appeared prosperous, and ap­ will take her to the Bluffs. She wants to go parently improving. They read and sang for through with some one, and she will go. us in their native language. Some of their Again camped at Silver Creek, and Bark­ voices were fine. er and myself got the privilege of sleeping on This is also the Indian Agency under charge a man's floor. We had a stick of wood for a of Major [John] Miller, Indian Agent. Our pillow and slept fine. I spent the most of one trip and return was a pleasant and agreeable day in wringing the water out of my clothes one. that came through from Waupun, having been A company from Watertown is in camp here, wet in crossing the last river. Nothing ruined. and waiting for grass. We became good Spent all day yesterday and to-day drying friends, and they have offered to take me with my clothes and am now as good as new. Bark­ them if my company does not come and not er was blue to-day and came very near giving charge me a cent. Is that not kind? up and going south, but now all is bright again. I went to Kanesville and there not finding On the 8th. and 9th. of May we re-organized, my company, [I] hired a horse and took the drew up a constitution and bydaws.' As or­ back trail to look for the boys. ganized now, we have 23 wagons, and sixty This is [Monday] April 30th., [and] com­ five men, and all well armed with one gun ing to Silver Creek, I remained all night. Just each, and one and two revolvers and a bowie beyond I had to swim my horse across the knife. Pretty hard crowd to attack." In re­ Mishriebotany [West Nishnabotna River] and organizing I was chosen Colonel, a Mr. Major go across myself on a foot bridge, but soon as Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Scovill as Major, after I was rewarded by meeting Dr. Barker, and Brown as Adjutant. Force of circum­ Carter and Pierce. I was glad and so were stances the only bond, but we were going into they. They report the company about one day the treeless wilderness, and the hunting ground behind and so they will soon come up. I turned of the wild Indians, and self protection was a around and headed for Kanesville again, but pretty good bond. not alone. We were never to leave the train without a [Sunday] May 6th. I slept last night on the permit. A continuous guard was to be kept up, ground under a tent, and nearly froze. I night and day. So on [Thursday] the 10th.

" Traders Point, an Iowa settlement, was across the ' Nearly every group organized itself in this fashion, river from Bellevue. Map, "Region of the Mormon with constitutions often resembling the Constitution Encampments of the Missouri River, 1846-7 (Iowa of the United States. George R. Stewart, The Cali­ and Nebraska)," in Manuscripts Library, State His­ fornia Trail: An Epic With Many Heroes (New torical Society of Wisconsin. A Presbyterian mission York, 1962), 224. school for Oto and Omaha Indians was conducted by * Most emigrants overloaded themselves with fire­ Edward McKinney on a site that was near Bellevue. arms and knives, and before long many weapons U. S. Department of War, Annual Report of the were discarded along the trail, usually mangled to Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1847-1848 (Ex. Doc. keep them out of Indian hands. Stewart, The Califor­ No. I, no. 1, Washington, 1848), p. 437. nia Trail, 229.

219 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF FIISTOEY SPRING, 1966

HUMBOLPT J SHUMSOLDT \ RIVER.

>6At:RAME^lro

Map by Paul H. Hass of May we were awakened at day light, pre­ out to start on our trip next day. At 7 o'clock pared breakfast, and a little after sunrise, we the horn sounded, and teams were brought in, began to cross. We have crossed 18 wagons. and all but two yoke of Carter's team were re­ Many of the teams were forced to swim the ported. A detail was sent out and soon re­ river. A few got into the quick sand but were turned with the missing cattle, and we were all gotten out but one ox who had his hind then drawn up in line ready for a start. legs broken and had to be killed. Every man was to carry his gun except the There were about 5,000 Indians encamped teamster, and his gun was to be in the front here awaiting payment." Their camp is below end of his wagon, quickly reached. And fur­ our landing and by keeping up a good guard, ther every man had his revolver and knife in we were not molested, but about 5 o'clock they his belt, ready to defend ourselves. . . . But became very much excited, and a great com­ we were young and energetic, and after motion was observed. Their tribes are the gold. . . .'" Otoes, Omahas, and Winnebagoes, and are sworn enemies of the Sioux. Report said the li/TAY 13th. We have passed over a beautiful Sioux had killed one of their squaws and •^'-'- country. High rolling prairie, and as burned their wigwams at the Elkhorn [River]. pretty a farming country as the sun ever shone The warriors were dancing the war dance and on. In passing along the line and finding mounting their ponies in haste. Pandemonium every man by his wagon with arms ready for let loose. They are now passing our camp, and use in case of necessity, I found all in good howling "death to the Sioux." Some of the heart. I was at the head of the long procession men were anxious to hurry out and see the about 11 o'clock, and after getting to the top fight, but were held in check. Our corral was of a hill you never saw a prettier sight. The hardly large enough to hold our cattle, and we country was beautiful and I could see a long had to chain the rest to our wagons. distance in every direction. I could see back The Indians kept up their war dance with over our trail, for you must remember that all the horrible noises, nearly all night; and there are no laid out roads, and we are follow­ such howling. Oh! My. Some of the men ing up the Mormon trail. were very much excited, but I persuaded them to tend to their own knitting. I went to bed in " Federal payment for land cessions. my wagon after seeing that my guards were all '° The Waupun party was among the first to leave tending to their duties. I slept finely amid all from Council Bluffs but was not at the forefront of the whooping and howling. emigrants. By April 30 at least one group was 200 miles along, having left from Independence. Stewart, On [Saturday] the 12th. the order was given The California Trail, 224-225.

220 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL

From where I stood I could see every man In selecting a camping ground the first and team on the trail. Some heads were bowed things were good feed and water. This was and probably thinking of home, but most were always to be thought of. One of the first stepping off briskly, with heads erect and all things was to be always ready for an attack looking to the west, and probably calculating by Indians. Our guards were always well who they were going to make happy with the armed, and even cattle can be taught by sound gold they were going to dig. This is ambition. to soon rally, and return to camp. This was What a country if there were only groves our rule: Whenever we wanted them to re­ of timber along the way. Camped on the old turn to camp, our horn was blown and as it Mormon camp ground. Beautiful spot, but was heard the guards made all the noise they we had to "tote," as the missionary says, our could, and with all their ability rushed the cat­ water a long distance. The feed is excellent tle towards the corral. and as we are the second company out [from It is wonderful how quickly these cattle Council Bluffs], it is plenty. All went off nice­ learned what that horn meant. In a few days ly and with one or two exceptions, with no of this training, as soon as the horn sounded hitch. Sixty three men, and all used to being every one of them would stop eating and lift­ their own bosses, were not easy to breaking in ing their heads would start on a run for camp, to obeying another one man [or] leader. seeming to know that it was necessary, and But there is no other way. One must lead and must be done. We kept this up until Salt Lake others must follow. I had some who found it was reached. Our teams were never left alone hard to submit, but the majority were with and during the whole trip [to Salt Lake] we me, as I was very careful to be right, so the never lost an animal. majority enforced rules. One of the men always seems to be trying ... In our train of twenty three wagons, we to make trouble. It seems to be natural to him, had only one mule team, to a light spring and he has to be gingerly handled. He is old­ wagon. All the rest were drawn by oxen, most­ er than I am, and has not been used to having ly, if not all, by three yoke of cattle. When anyone over him. But I think that I can man­ I had selected a camping spot, I took my place age him. I shirk no duty and he must not. in front of the line, and as all the drivers were His wagon mates are with me and we can hold instructed to "follow their leader," keeping him straight. well to the outside of the track, I struck with We have seen no Indians since we left the my eye a circle, and moved around to near river, but we have killed several rattle snakes. the entrance. When the first wagon stopped As I was getting into my wagon to-day my the second team drove just inside the first big knife slipped out of its sheath, point up­ wagon, and as close to it as possible until the ward, and I came down on it and cut quite a wagons were near together. This was kept up gash through my clothes and into my leg. I until the last wagon was opposite the first, and soaked it with whiskey and bound it up with my handkerchief. It pained me when I tried so we had a nice circle. Each team was un­ to walk and began to swell, and I soon con­ yoked and with a guard, previously selected, cluded that I had better ride. I gave the com­ were ready for their suppers. Chains were then mand up to my lieutenant, and took it easy. hitched from wheel to wheel, and the corral was complete. The light wagon was always This night we camped on the Papeys" which left for the front opening. Then the important is on rather low ground. Plenty of wood and water and fair grazing. Put seven men on man for the occasion stepped to the front, as guard, as the lay of the ground was not as good Cook, and the coffee pot and frying pan put as we generally select, and it is not good policy in an appearance. Other men came with brush, liinbs (if to be had) and fires were lighted. Water pails were soon in demand, " The Pappea Creek was eighteen miles from Coun­ and [were] returned as soon as they could be cil Bluffs and nine miles from the Elkhorn River, filled. Golly how good the coffee and bacon according to an 1848 guidebook. William Clayton, The Latler-Day Saints' Emigrants' Guide (Salt Lake smelled. City, n.d. facsimile edition), 5.

221 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING. 1966 to go into these low places on account of the a change we have boiled rice, and when we Indians. It rained nearly all night and the get time, stewed dried fruit in small quantities. clouds and rain added to the darkness. Some We have a great treat when we get fresh of those on guard, in imagination, heard In­ meat of any kind, and fry it in fat. dians, and were sure that they were going to It is something new for some of the men be attacked. The sun coming up cleared away to receive and obey orders. They will soon the mist, and also the Indians. learn the importance of having a head and We reached the Elkhorn at 1:30 and found obeying promptly. Even the buffaloes have a it running full banks, and a swift current. leader and follow him. Here a raft had to be constructed of dry cot­ Our trail is mostly in the bottom lands and ton wood poles, gathered up and down the rains have made the ground soft and in con­ stream. Many hands soon procured the ma­ sequence the roads are very bad. It did not terial. Building rafts was a new business to rain on us last night. Have crossed one creek most of us, but it must be done, and it was on which was an old bridge. This we repaired done—by pinning the small poles to the string­ and it carried us safely across. One of our ers, and then doubling them the other way, company has the mumps, and so is not very then lashing the corners and middle stringers happy. with ropes, the raft was done, and without a Stopped at noon to let our teams graze, and load it floated nicely. An Indian was hired to in the afternoon made good progress. At night swim the stream and carry a small cord. He we are camped on sandy soil which makes it fastened this cord to his body and plunged in. pleasant. Got our corral formed in good or­ The current was rapid and carried him some der and our cattle out in good feed, and fires distance down stream, but he was strong and burning ready to prepare a good meal for a good swimmer and he made it all right. hungry men. John (Dr. Barker) and myself He then drew the cord up and secured the cooking for our separate messes at the same hawser, and then went up to the tree selected fire. Who'd a thunk it, three months ago as a hitching post, and made it all secure. that they would see John and Ed away out This end toward California, and we at the on the plains, in their rough garments, cooking other. There were strong rings on the hawser, over a bush fire? Bacon and pan cakes and with a strong rope attached long enough to coffee, 1,000 miles from no where. A doctor reach the raft, otherwise it was arranged same and a Colonel frying bacon by the same fire. as the one at the Missouri river, and was Carter, always cheerful, was sitting by a neigh­ worked in the same way, and all our wagons boring fire chattering, when by some accident were carried over safely. a camp kettle of boiling water was turned over onto his feet, and scalded him badly, and he is The last one was not put far enough on to now in much pain. A good, willing and cheer­ the raft, and it sunk the near end deep into ful man, suffering. One moment between joy the water, and it made us hold our breath and sorrow. for fear, but it went over and when it reached the bank we were happy. The horn was sound­ It has been cloudy all day and is now rather ed and the cattle rushed in and were forced to chilly. I take my regular turn on guard, and follow their leader into the water, and were all so others cannot say, "He is Colonel and so soon safely over and in good feed. The mules shirks." swam behind the raft and swam well. The Made about nineteen miles over good roads last trip of the raft carried the last of the com­ and are now camped on the Platte river. From pany over, and we soon had our corral in the flood wood scattered along, should say that shape for the night, and were tired, hungry some day it was deeply under water. This gives mortals ready for supper as soon as it could us wood for cooking, and as there is but little be cooked. I cook for my mess. We expect to timber it comes in very handy. Feed is good. live high, [with] bacon and flap-jacks for I am writing in my journal seated on the breakfast. Flap-jacks and bacon for dinner, sand, with the bottom of a bucket for a table. and repeat for supper. On Sunday we get My room is not contracted, for all the bound­ beans, and try to have some to carry over. For less heavens surround me. No habitation of

222 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL

Society's Iconograptiic Collection 'Where we now camp in a few years will be trained by the hand of the lute man and the wily savage will no longer prowl upon its soil."

man in sight or within miles of us, and no tell­ the rain fall, so it does not too much of it ing how distant are women. strike us, we sleep on. Yet when we are among As I sit here I can but think about the home so many wild Indians and at all times sleeping and those I have left. I am not doing this on our arms, any sudden noise will startle us. for fun or from selfishness, but for the hope It is then that the cry of the guards, as they that I can secure more gold with which to pace their stations and, as is our rule, call out give them more than the comforts of life. the half hour, does calm the nerves. "Half There is no selfishness mixed in it. past twelve and all is well," or as a German The prairie over which we are traveling is says it, "All yite," soothes the mind, and beautiful to look upon, and rich in verdure and dreams, if we have any, are more pleasant. decked with beautiful flowers, giving out their We break camp about eight o'clock, as a fragrance and their brilliant colors, to cheer rule, the leading team of yesterday being the the senses of man. We tread upon them, not rear team to-day. We are now traveling up thinking that we are crushing out their the valley of the Platte River, and have the hearts. . . . river in sight, on which at times, there are . . . [Wednesday] May 16th., seated on the small groves of timber. The small streams we sand. Where we now camp in a few years will have to cross are very crooked, with swift be trained by the hand of the white man and currents. In crossing one to-day our ox teams the wily savage will no longer prowl upon its all went over safely, but the last team which soil. But where will the poor red man find a was the mule team and light wagon. They, by home free from the intrusion of the whites. going too far down the stream, got into trou­ Where rest? His hunting ground is almost de­ ble and came near being drowned, but were at serted by game, and why? The white man has last got safely to shore. been there. . . . This is the justice the red man We are now encamped about two miles from the Platte River, and on the opposite shore, there is a large train encamped, but it is so far OME of us get very tired through the day, off that we cannot tell who they are. This has S and when night comes, are glad to lie down been a fine day for traveling and we have made to sleep in almost any position or place. Let about nineteen miles. We have seen antelope the thunders roll, and the lightning flash, and to-day. I was some distance ahead of the train

223 ,*•' '\^^ ^^14 \ 'if ^ •»•,• «

—• '-X, «-vl i* "--• \~ ^.^ .-..

»»- '• /, .

Society's Iconographic Collection A Pawnee village. with my Lieutenant Colonel to select a camp, stream.'' Here we found a paper pinned to a and we saw some distance ahead of us five tree, saying that there were some ninety teams deer feeding, but they soon saw us, and rais­ ahead of us, dated several days before. This ing their white flags they left us in quick time. was good news to us. We found fine grass but no water, and here I added my mite to this giving our number we will go into camp. On the next morning the and etc. and pinned it below. We have passed train on the opposite side of the river got un­ near the old pioneer ford, and also the Paw­ der way before us, but we resolved that when nee Village, or the remains of one, which was we had good feed we would give our teams destroyed in 1846."' It was a large village and plenty of time to eat, for on them we depended from the ruins I should think that some of the for our transportation. We made twenty one buildings are as much as fifty feet in diameter, miles to-day and are now ninety-eight miles as they are always built round. This is the from the Missouri River. mode of construction. First are set up crotches This prairie is very beautiful to look at with of sufficient height, then poles are set up close good soil, beautiful flowers, that would glad­ together, to keep out the dirt. This makes a den the eye of those we have left, but we can­ complete wall. Then on this wall other poles not present them a bouquet for their table. are placed forming a complete arch. Near "Peter, do not talk such things, or you will each building are one or more wells or holes make me more homesick than I am." for burying corn. This hole at the top is about It rained very hard last night and the light­ 16 inches across, and it continues for this size ning was very vivid. ... It seemed as though about four feet, when it flares, and becomes one flash after another ran completely around about the shape of a large bottle or demijohn. our corral on the chains, connecting one wheel The walls are made tight and even by packing with another. . . . solid and smooth with some kind of substance I stood on guard from 11 till 2, and nearly unknown to me, but is surely a safe recepticle all the time the heavens were one continuous for grain, and when covered will be difficult blaze, and peal succeeded peal without cessa­ to find. This is the first town that I ever saw tion. At one moment all would be in blaze of in ruins, and it assists me in understanding light, then more than mid night darkness would a city in ruins. Wild beasts now inhabit it. succeed. I was sometimes completely blinded, Some of the men went ahead to examine and would think that the light would never, more closely and killed a large white wolf with never come. It was indeed a terrible night. . . . a club. We have seen a great deal of game "Twelve o'clock and all is well," rings out and to-day, but it was too far away to be of use goes around the circle of guards. Welcome to us. sound to all as they stand or lie with every nerve strained to its utmost tension, even if asleep. Two o'clock and the relief comes, and we poor wet mortals turn in. '" Probably Beaver Creek, 104 miles from Council It kept this up until nearly noon the next Bluffs. Clayton, Emigrants' Guide, 6. '" The Old Pawnee Village was 114 miles from day. Only made nine miles to-day fording one Council Bluffs. Ibid., 6.

224 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL

We passed an old mission, or where it was a small patch of good grass we came to a halt once located [on Plum Creek], and two of the and turned the cattle onto it. One of my men, buildings still stand apparently never com­ a doctor from Ft. Atkinson, is about used up pleted. All the rest have been destroyed by with homesickness. I wish I could describe the fire. Traces of their old corn fields can still different characters we have with us; what a be seen, and we are camped on an old battle picture it would be. ground on a beautiful prairie, at the West I think my two chums and myself get along side of the [Loup] river, and skulls and human with as little friction as any mess in our train, bones lie scattered all over the ground. This but gold is what we are all after and we must battle was between the Pawnees and Sioux, all go through. We have not had a sharp word and many brave warriors were slain and their between us yet, and hope we shall not have. scalps worn by their foes. . . . We have the best team in the company, and To-day is Sunday [May 20] and I did not we take the best care of them, and hardly ever think it best to travel, but when I so notified strike them a blow, and can go where any the company I found much opposition, and I other team can. thought best to take a vote, and when the Arrived on the 21st. of May at the Loup votes were counted behold it was a tie, and Ford, but the party sent ahead had not re­ I had to decide it. I decided that Sunday was turned and we thought it best not to try to a good day for resting, and we were going to cross here to-day, and so after supper, with do so. some four others, went to see if we could find It was fortunate for us that we had good another ford. Here the river is about half feed, wood and water. One man who was al­ a mile wide, and we went in sometimes, up to ways on the off side tried to make trouble our middle, then again it was very shallow. and to lead off a part of the company; but The bottom is quick sand and if a person they stuck to me, and even his partners would stands long in one place it is doubtful if he not budge. So Sunday was to be Sunday even ever gets out, as the sand keeps going out from on the plains. To make it as pleasant as I under his feet. If a wagon stops it would be could I cooked a kettle of beans for my mess, very difficult for it to be started again, for and we did have a good dinner. I encouraged every moment the team and wagon have been them all to wash their clothes and mend them, sinking, and the sand closing over. This and then take a bath. This we did after find­ makes it important for us to know just where ing an excellent bathing place. We did this we are to drive as we dare not stop when by relays, and when through we all felt fine. once under way. Many, besides their mending, wrote letters It rained considerable last night and turned home, so to have them ready if an opportunity cold. I was chilly after getting wet and this offered to send them. I was invited out to tea, morning it was colder than ever; so cold that and had a potato-soup which was indeed a I do not think it practicable to cross the river luxury. until it gets warmer. All felt so well that all but my "thorn" were The pressure to keep moving to the front glad that we had not traveled that day, and is great, and so we went down to the river to then resolved that we would not travel on Sun­ try to find another ford, and went nearly day. So we kept to it until we broke up at Salt through without going over my knees, but then Lake. Our experience was that our teams it got deeper as we seemed to strike a channel, would do more work in a week to rest one day and we then concluded to try to follow the one in seven, and were able to endure more. taken by the company that preceded us. In the evening we got together, and with The man sounded the horn accordingly, and Dr. Barker for a leader we sang many old we went back to the river to begin staking out familiar hymns. They brought back many the way, as we must not stop when once happy thoughts of home and dear ones. started. On reaching the river we saw a large I have sent ten men ahead to find a ford force of Indian warriors [probably Sioux] on over the Loup Fork of the Platte. The feed the opposite side of the river in full war is not as good as common to-day. Coming to dress. Heads dressed with feathers, faces paint-

225 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 ed. All were armed and mounted on ponies, heard shots in his direction and looked back and coming from all directions. They appeared and from what he saw thinks that Roe fired to be friendly to us, and displayed the stars his revolver upon them, for they turned back and stripes. Their manner of approach also and formed a circle around him and dismount­ indicated to me that we were not the objects ed. Then there was a scuffle, then a mounting of their hunt. Seeing this we immediately re­ and away. This is all that he can tell, but he turned to camp. The cattle were all in the supposes that Roe is killed. The other man has corral, but the mules had not been brought in returned very much frightened, but not in­ and the man that was with them was so fright­ jured. The Indians appeared to be in council ened that he left them and broke for the camp. and mighty soon it was formed. I immediately sent out a man with a flag nnHE INDIANS were dressed very gaudily in of truce, but before he reached them they were -•- all the paraphernalia of war fare. I have gone and he did not succeed in finding them. read descriptions and seen pictures, but none I had hard work to keep some of the foolish of them could exceed this sight. It is not to ones from following them, but by using strong be wondered at that some of the men's hearts words and persuasive ones I stopped it and went pit-a-pat. One of their chiefs turned they now thank me for it. I stationed a strong towards our camp with another of the head guard around the camp and ordered the rest men, on a full trot, and with one of our men, not to make any display at arms, but to keep I went out to meet them. They shook hands cool and have their arms where they could get with me and many others, showing in every them readily, and under no circumstances to possible way that they were friendly, and then leave the camp without permission. rode off in the same rapid manner. The man The man with the flag of truce is seen in who was out with the mules stopped [them] the distance returning. I then sent out a guard and was not going to let [them] pass. I saw with Mr. Nutt as captain, and with Dr. Bark­ him and ordered him to let [them] pass, which er as guide, to search for Mr. Roe. They have after some hesitation he did. One man, a lit­ returned, bringing with them the dead body of tle soft in the head, thought they were going our comrade. A spear had pierced his heart to drive off the mules, and fired at them, but killing him instantly, and as he lay on the did not hit either, which was fortunate. I sent ground [the Indians] had struck him twice out men for the mules, and they soon brought across the mouth with a hatchet, the gashes them in, and behold one of them was shot un­ crossing. They also crossed his hands on his der the eye. This is what became of the young breast. By both of these signs they indicated man's bullet. I then assembled the men and that they were satisfied. It casts a gloom over had the roll called, and a captain put over us all, as we look upon his mangled body. It every ten men. This showed three men missing is supposed by us all that when he saw these and one of them was Dr. Barker, but he soon Indians mounted, and in war array coming appeared almost out of breath from running. from the direction of our camp, he probably I heard three reports of a gun in the direction thought that they had destroyed our camp, from which he came. and murdered all his companions. A man He told his story, which was this. Mr. Roe, must think quick under such circumstances, Mr. Guynand and himself were out hunting and he doubtless had only a moment until he and were some distance apart in a ravine. The fired, killing one of them, and then they took Doctor saw the Indians coming and hallooed their revenge. He was an awful sight, as we to Roe, who was some distance off. But they looked upon him. He was a man that was liked were upon him almost instantly. He dropped by all, and we shall miss him as the days go by. his gun and extended his hand which they It certainly left many sad hearts. But we must grasped and shook heartily. They only took go forward. We selected for his burial spot, from him a red neck-tie and left. He lost no a bluff of peculiar shape. It was nearly per­ time in making for the camp, and the Indians pendicular on three sides with a square place galloped in the direction where Roe was, and on top of about twenty feet. Then on the re­ I think came upon him unawares. The doctor maining side sloped gradually toward the

226 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL plain. We dug his grave on this spot. We had We doubled our teams and on each wagon no material for a coffin. as it started we had eight yoke of cattle, and In digging the grave we left steps at each three drivers, for when we once entered the side for poles to rest on. We could only wrap river we could not stop or all would sink in the him in a blanket, and so he was lowered into quick sand. We soon had a wagon on the road his grave. I made a short address and a with its big team, and without any mishap brother offered a prayer. Then we covered his they were soon safe on the other shore and remains, with poles resting on these steps, and ready to return. The water in the deepest places a cross bar in the middle, and these covered did not quite come up to the wagon bed. Soon with brush to keep the dirt out, and then when we had several wagons on the road at a time, the grave was nearly full, we gathered rocks and by 11:30 we were all safe across. and covered all. This made a slight mound and None of us were wet for we had all dis­ was to protect it from wild beasts. Who shall robed before we started, and when we struck be the next to be taken? With sad hearts we the other shore we were soon in our right moved back to camp. Dr. Barker was in a very minds again, and clothes. The guards were critical position, and but for his good judg­ called in and within half an hour, we with sad ment and cool head, he might have been one hearts left the river that had proved so disas- more to be left under this sod, for the wolves, terous to us. We could see the mound on and cyotes, to howl over. which our murdered coinpanion lay. . . . We have moved our camp onto higher We are in camp to-night on a high sand ground, and expect to cross the river in the bluff, and have had a sandy road all day. We morning. This is [Wednesday] the 23rd. of have no wood or water except what we brought May. Last night our reliefs of guard were with us, and the feed is not as good as we eight and part of them were placed some dis­ would like; but it is the best we can do. Be­ tance out. The guard was alert but we were fore retiring we gave out orders to march at not disturbed. When the horn sounded for a the first sounding of the horn, and move on start, we sent out ten men to scour the bushes until we found feed and water. We started out on the river bottom, and ten to cross as an ad­ before the sun rose. We were badly disap­ vance guard. We had taken special pains to pointed by not finding water and feed where see where the Indians had crossed, and the we expected, but we still kept up courage. It men had cut poles with some brush on, and as was hard on our teams. After resting a while they advanced stuck them in the sand, and they at 8 o'clock we went on slowly over the same were fortunate to strike a good fording place kinds of bluffs, and then came again to the and soon shouted back, "All right, come on." plains or river bottoms. What joy when we

«*» 'iBT.t-

!#**£M

Society's Iconographic Collection Fording the Platte, a dangerous operation, since once started the wagons had to keep moving or run the risk of sinking into quicksand.

Til WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 came to a small stream of good water, and all changeable creatures. I was on guard the good feed along it, and you may believe that first watch, and the rule that we adopted, that we were not long in getting into our corral, is the calling out of the time every half hour, and turning out our teams into the grass. They is a great relief to over-strained nerves, espe­ fairly laughed as they ate and drank, and we cially when lying in constant fear of an at­ poor mortals soon had our coffee steeping. tack. The moon shone during my watch but In two hours we were again on our way and the wind kept on blowing, and it remains all much happier than before. We have ford­ cold. We had a drizzly morning, and the rain ed two streams to-day at one of which [prob­ had left the roads bad. ably Prairie Creek] we had hard work, as the There is a great deal of water on the ground, banks had to be cut down, and the stream's and we did not start out until late. Since din­ bed was soft, but with this exception we had ner we have had better roads, and have made good roads and splendid feed on all sides. about twenty miles to-day. Near the last stream where we camped after crossing is another grave. Lonely grave. "W7E ARE NOW camped near Grand Island, 25th. of May we camped on a rise about one ' ' and across it we can see several camps of half mile from the grave, and I had quite a those who have come up from Independence time scrubbing out my kitchen and its utensils, and St. Josephs. I had supposed that our trails and then I baked bread. Yes I made and baked came together at the head of the island, but bread. Had hardly got through before it be­ they did not. It made many happy faces to gan to rain again. The guard had been set see them at the distance, and relieved many and we, who were not on the detail, were fearful hearts. I began a letter to my wife to­ glad to crawl into our wagons, and how the day, which I shall keep on writing until I get rain did fall and the thunder roll and the a chance to send. lightning came in one continuous flash, with On Sunday morning May 27th., not finding peal on peal of thunder. If the other storm the grass as good as we expected, we conclud­ that I described was terrible, this was more ed to move on, until we got to the end of the terrible. What gave this new terror was the timber and to good feed. There we shall go expectation of an attack from the Indians. into camp for Sunday, and bake and wash. Most of the men slept with their arms on or Game is very plenty, elk, antelope and deer, in their hands. One of the guards was so and as we have a detail out every day we have frightened that he left his post, and got into plenty of fresh meats, and from the way my the corral, but was soon taken out by his mess eats I am sure that they like my cooking. captain of the guard. Many could not sleep. For more than twenty miles we have been How one is relieved in such a night as this passing through one continuous prairie-dog in hearing the cry go about the camp as the town, and their city extends as far as the eye thunder rolls, "Half past twelve and all is well." can reach on both sides. They are not of the nature of a dog. Living on grass, the only way When one cannot sleep is just the point they resemble dogs is in their bark. We had where homesickness begins. I slept fine plenty of their music last night. This animal through it all, even if the rain did beat in some. burrows in the ground, bringing the dirt to At the sound of the rising horn I was up and the top, and this makes a little mound around had my breakfast under way, and we were each hole. At the least alarm they rush to their ready to start at seven. mounds, and sitting up survey the danger, and It was a very cold morning; with two over­ if anything unusual appears, out of sight they coats on I was not warm. It was also cold go in an instant. But if all is quiet, they re- yesterday. The rain kept up until noon. We are now 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. Howland was one of the number who could not sleep, and now he intends to return home " Grand Island is the body of land about fifty from the head of Grand Isle.'* He is sure he miles long that is formed by a branch of the Platte River, dividing from the Platte near Kearney, Nebras­ shall lose his life if he goes on. But we are ka, and re-entering it near Chapman, Nebraska.

228 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL appear as quickly and begin to bark to show, course the rain came down in sheets.'^ It I suppose, that they are not afraid. cleared off before sun rise, but we had wet One curious thing about these animals is wood and poor fires, and so, poor breakfasts. their sociability, as they choose for their com­ It began to rain about noon, and we went into panions the little owls and snakes of all kinds. camp near the timber. It is quite chilly. Dr. On an alarm being given they all seem to un­ Winsloy, of Ft. Atkinson, went out for an elk derstand it, and scamper off at once for their with one of his mules. His hooting frightened city or refuge. It is one of the conundrums: the mule, which took the back track. With the what are these animals good for to man or other mule he overtook him about three miles beast? As far as we know they live on grass beyond our last camping place. The doctor and roots. was gone so long that we became worried Made about twenty miles yesterday, and about him and sent two men out on ponies to twenty-two miles to-day. Traveled over the hunt him. They came onto him and we were same level prairie, but have had bad roads. all glad to welcome him. I made a fine soup Got better acquainted with Mr. Jacobs than for my mess and now feel that I shall never ever before. He is a religious man and true want anything more to eat. blue. I like such men. It is almost one con­ Camped on Carom Creek which is very high. tinuous train on the opposite side of the river. In the morning we crossed it safely by raising Five of the cows strayed and I sent a man our wagon boxes up to the top of the wagon back after them, but he was chased by In­ stakes and lashing the boxes to them.'" We dians and left the cows. On the morning of the are now camped near the timber and intend 29th., I sent back men to look for the cows, staying here to wash, bake, and rest. and left ten men at our camping place; then I There are quite a number of Indians with set the train in motion. About noon we haulted us and more still coming. 3:00 o'clock. Have for feed and were discussing the point whether had a council with them. Made them some it were not best to send back more men, when presents and smoked the pipe of peace. . . . they hove in sight with the cows. They report The chief had his head men come into the fifty Indians in the neighborhood, whom they corral, and formed them into a half circle. thought were intending to intercept and cut Then I, with my head men (braves), sat on them off from the camp, but they formed in each side of the chief. After giving them our two lines abreast and were ready to receive presents, we smoked the pipe of peace all them. They kept a bold front and marched around twice, all from the same pipe. This double quick. Seeing this, the Indians soon was a large pipe made of wood with a long disappeared over the bluffs. They are safe in stem. It was filled with what they called Ki- camp. We got under way at 3:00 o'clock and nikinick. This is composed of the bark of were glad that we were all together again and shrubs and roots and then dried and made nothing lost. fine in the hands, and is rather pleasant, as you smoke it. No tobacco in it. After this Now what is the excitement? Look, there the chief divided the presents among the men, is a herd of buffaloes. The chase commences. reserving two pants to himself. Then he left The mules in advance with their owners. I them and went out of the circle, and soon the had hard work to keep enough with the train balance went out. to drive the teams. Then the crack of the rifles. We only got one and the boys soon had that I am now writing with the chief by my side. dressed. It was a large bull, and not very fat After washing my clothes and [having] come at that. When we went into camp we had fires built and soon the odor of the buffalo steaks began to greet our nostrils and our appetites, and '•'The severe storm of May 29, 1849. Stewart, The California Trail, 227. good teeth pronounced it fine. This was one '" Carom Creek does not appear in Clayton's guide of the times when the mule team came in handy book. Wagon stakes were attached independently in bringing in the game. None went hungry to to the frame of the wagon in a variety of ways, and the wagon "box" or body rested on the frame, inside bed. I was on guard again last night and of the stakes, so it could be raised.

229 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 back to camp I found one of the braves, by We certainly made them our friends. The order of the chief, keeping guard and every chief offered me his prettiest daughter for a time he came around he fired off his old flint wife, in exchange for a small pony. Her lock and this he loaded whilst on the march. dresses were worth more than the pony. She This made all the Indians stand back. Their was willing to go along with me as my wife, object was soon manifest. The braves formed but I had one, and had to refuse the exchange. into a half circle and the chief came to me and by signs and words told me that they were T WAS ON GUARD in the morning watch. hungry, and asked if I would give them some­ -*- Some buffaloes made their appearance and thing to eat. I soon gathered enough to feed some crossed the river. They made a great them and they were hungry. The chief saw that noise in the water. This is June 3rd., Sunday, it was equally divided. He gave to his head our rest day. About one hour after the sun braves, and they to the warriors. When they rose we saw six buffaloes crossing the river, were satisfied, we had a general time of hand on the same side of the creek where the In­ shaking and they marched away. dians were camped. The Indians on their The next morning we started early and when ponies were soon in full chase, and quickly opposite to where they had camped, we saw had them all down. Their method is to ride up them all in motion. The chief and his war­ to the side of a buffalo that is detached and riors, both old and young, came up to us and with one thrust with their spear or firing an from the chief I learned that he would accom­ arrow just back of the fore-shoulder, strike the pany us on our journey. We could see their heart. All is over in a minute. I wish I could train moving around the bluffs north of us. picture the scene. It would be splendid. I was It was a curious sight. We were accompanied fairly charmed. There was some crossed on the by their braves, whilst their squaws were seen side of the creek where our camp was, and my in the distance. By my side walked the old men with two Indians gave chase, and soon chief, and he soon called a guard and they had one. He had been shot through but the would not let any other Indians approach me. Indians gave it the finishing wound. He had We could not make much headway in talking, it dressed in a short time and was liberal in the and neither of us understood the other's sign distribution of the meat for he cut away all language. It seems curious to me to be escorted the best cuts of meat, and gave to me and my through a country by its king, and at the same men all they would take, and fine steak it was. time his braves may take a liking to our But during the time we were getting our steaks, scalps. I am in no fear, for I think this chief the other Indians were in pursuit of the herd is friendly. and we can see the buffaloes drop, as they kill them. They have seen trains across the river, and have left us for their own camp. We can see The boys say there must have been as many their wigwams in the distance, and a large as 2,000 in the herd that crossed the river. village it is. In passing by their village, the On both sides of the creek and in sight of our squaws came out to visit us, and a prettier lot camp we could count eleven dead ones. The of squaws I never saw. They were dressed in Indians were still in full chase when they all their ornaments and their waists (what they passed out of our sight. We had already killed five antelope, which are fine eating, and we had) and their skirts were of deer skins tanned were living on the top shelf. Fried, boiled, to be very white and soft, trimmed with fringe stewed, soup-stews with dumplings (but no cut of the same material, and then decorated onions). The meat not used, of the buffalo with beads, and porcupine quills. The younger and antelope, was cut into long narrow strips, ones are not so dark, or smoked as the older and these were hung up in ever)^ available ones, and were really quite pretty. We were place, without salt, to cure in the dry air. Our as much of a curiousity to them, as they were wagons looked as though decorated. When to us. It is supposed that there are about cured this meat is good, and is called "jerked 5,000 Indians in this tribe of Siouxs, moving meat" and will keep as long as hungry men off to their summer hunting grounds. will leave it alone.

230 .^

:-r. *",..

Society's Icono.u: a jsi:. f ullc<.tM Chimney Rock, an eagerly awaited laudnuirk on the Western Trail.

It is a very exciting sport, hunting buffa­ left the train and went ahead, but came in loes. About noon a buffalo was seen coming again when we went into camp.'' over the bluff (evidently a stray) towards our We made twenty five miles and have passed cattle. Seeing him the men must give chase, over three hundred teams, on the opposite side and instead of coming into our herd he made of the river. They are strung along as far as for the bluffs, and freedom. It is so exciting the eye can reach in every direction, up and that men, not having hard military training, down the river. The scenery has been more cannot be kept from the chase, or under con­ varied, which makes the time pass pleasanter. trol. On our right are the high bluffs, on the left the My men were all reported before sun down. Platte. We have just passed what is called We are camped beside a splendid spring of the "Bluff Ruins," on account of their resem­ clear cold water which forms, of itself, quite blance to old ruins of towns." Some of them a creek. Having nothing stronger, we are all are very precipitous and stand up at least 150 cold water men. Had a beautiful moon light feet from the plains. Some of us climbed to night, one fit for dreams of homes and loved the top of one of them. The top is composed ones. Is it to be wondered at that many of us of hard rock, say 300 feet across and perhaps get blue or homesick, when we have time to more. It is a little ragged, but not rough. think? Well we do. It is pleasant over head In the center of one large rock is a place but the roads are soft and wheeling bad. We about eleven inches across and deep, rather are in plain sight of the trains on the other flaring in the center, and at the top perfectly side of the river. Two of my men went over round, which was filled with as good cool to interview them and get news, if any. On water as I want. After we had all drunk all returning they report that there have passed we wanted, we dipped it all out to see if it Ash Hollow 2,350 teams, and to lighten their would fill in again. It did fill and ran in loads they have been throwing away their quite fast. Just at the end are a few old cedar bacon, lead and everything that they can spare. trees standing on the side, with their tops In some cases they abandon one wagon, and about even with the rocks and in one is an use both teams on the other. This makes it eagles' nest with their young in it, which we look dark for us, when we strike into their could easily have gotten. But we did not trail. We keep to our old motto, "Use good disturb them. In looking up we could just see feed when we have it." Teams, like men, do the old eagles circling around watching their not do well on an empty stomach. young ones. To-night is our election of officers and I have positively refused to serve longer as colonel. A Mr. Johnson was elected in my place, and I feel relieved, for it was a respon­ " Such separations were very common among wagon trains, and they increased in frequency as the sible place, and I can say that I have served going became more rough. Stewart, The California faithfully, and successfully, and not a man or Trial, 238-239. team has dropped out. But I am afraid that "* Near Finley, Nebraska, about thirty-three miles from famed Chimney Rock, which is on the south side this will not continue, for to-day some of them of the Platte. Clayton, Emigrants' Guide, 11.

231 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

^ »f^

,-i!#«f %••": ' -»^"'-^ -**•" .^

Society's Itonugiaphic Collection Fort Laramie as it appeared on June 24, 1849.

This is [Friday] the 8th. of June and we fortune favored him. A current struck him and have passed on the south side of the river, he was carried out of the whirling water and "Chimney Rock." It is a grand sight, rising he soon made the shore. Then there was a from the base at a gradual taper for about glad and joyful shout. "He is safe." After 60 feet, then perpendicular for 40 feet, then resting a while he went to the fort, which is there is a straight jog, then about 65 feet [of] some distance away. He arranged for the boat. it runs up almost perpendicular. . . . The We had to get it down and back, and pay one scenery is quite romantic around it, but my dollar for each wagon for its use. Concluded head is quite big with a headache. Made over not to get the boat down until the next morn­ twenty five miles. ing. Some rowed over in a small boat, and Our camp was about half way between report many teams passing, but we are in the "Chimney Rock," and Scott's Bluff. This first quarter. Have had Laramie Peak in sight bluff rises at least 250 feet, and is large and all day. It looks like a great black cloud in the grand. It makes one think of a wind mill. distance. Have had fine feed and water. We are now Have good feed. June 12th., got the boat about 14 miles from Ft. Laramie." down early, and a little before noon had the We arrived opposite Ft. Laramie at 2 o'clock ropes stretched and ready for crossing. I went [Monday, June 11] and found the river very out with Mr. Snell to see if we could not get high and not fordable. Mr. Williams made up on this side, but we found that the trail one attempt to swim it but failed, but after winds over the high bluffs. This takes us a resting a while tried it again, and when nearly long ways around. On our trip we saw a large across, he got into a whirlpool, and came very grey wolf, but did not kill him, for our gun near drowning. He cried for help, but it was would not go off. One life saved. Saw a large impossible to assist him and we expected every yellow rattle snake. This species is very large, minute to see him sink to rise no more. But spiteful and poisonous. On our return we began to cross. When we had one wagon over, the Salt Lake mail came "Hillyer's geography is unclear. Clayton (pp. 11- up, and as they appear a fine lot of men, we 12) found Ft. Laramie about fifty miles from Scotts- crossed them over without delay. They had bluff. Hillyer may have written two days' entries at been after us four days, and say that we have one time and have confused them when he prepared the journal in 1903. out traveled every thing on the road; they also

232 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL report 2,000 teams on this side of the river and back of us as far as the eye can see is one following us, and that they have passed over continuous string of wagons. On both sides 3,000 teams on the other side between this and of the trail are high precipitous bluffs. The Grand Island. Thank God we are in the scenery is fine. On ascending the hill we can lead.^° see for miles and miles, and here the imagina­ At 3:00 o'clock we had all the wagons across tion can form almost anything. At the east and swam the cattle safely. With a long and we can look into the sunny valleys and in the strong pull we got the boat back to the fort. west we can see the ragged peaks of the moun­ The buildings of the fort are constructed of tains, whose heads rise above the clouds and sun dried bricks and are built inside of the are heavy with dark clouds pierced by the usual wooden posts driven in the ground. thunder bolts of heaven. How strong the con­ The old original fort was near the ford, trast; one is all light, the other blackness of but is all in ruins. Trains are camped all darkness. But in man are often seen stranger around us. contrasts. Part of our company fell off, and Started at day light to find better feed, and among them Barker, Carter, Pierce, Hinkley passed, I should think, twenty camps. Saw and Wheeler. The colonel resigned his office many things thrown away, such as bacon, and says that he can do nothing with them. stoves, and in fact everything that they could Some of the cattle are getting foot sore on possibly do without. We find wagons every account of the alkali in the soil. One wagon in few miles. This looks hard and is discouraging. the train before us was upset, and in the wagon Only 550 miles of the 1,950 and even now were a woman and child. The top was smashed abandoning wagons and provisions in the mad but fortunately no one was hurt. rush to get ahead.^' Having good feed we let our teams fill them­ We always stop when we strike good feed. selves. What will teams do that come after us? The scenery has been quite romantic, and it is Our journey to-day was over a rough road. much pleasanter than the dead level plains. We camped on a small stream [probably Deer Our roads are fine except one bad hill. Creek], and drove our teams about % of a Made about 26 miles. Passed the U. S. mile up it, and secured good grass. Left our troops. The mail is with us yet, but leaves us cattle out all night with a guard of six. They in the morning and we have been putting in had no trouble and we started early. Nothing time writing letters. I wrote several besides new except that we traveled all this Sunday one long one to my wife. Daylight found us [June 17], and it will do us no good or our on the road, and we have scouts out looking teams. for grass. After about four miles good feed was reported, and we drove off to where it was N THE 18th., we arrived at the ferry and located. Giving the teams a good meal and O find ninety wagons ahead of us, and we rest, we went back to the trail. have to take our turns."'' So we formed a corral The U. S. troops came up to us, and have and then drove our cattle out into the bluffs been with us all day. Have passed many teams. where we found pretty good feed. We are all tired and need rest. A good many have come and gone in this camp since we came. Trains are continually passing on both sides of the ^° Hillyer's party was indeed in the front half of the caravan's main body. Although a few wagons stream. were far ahead of them, the Wisconsin emigrants reached the point opposite Fort Kearney, Nebraska, about May 25, only a week later than the first big wave of wagons. The majority of the wagons passed Fort Kearney in the fortnight between May 18 and June 2. Stewart, The California Trail, 231. " At this point, emigrants crossed the Platte River '^' Fort Laramie was one of the places along the for the last time and headed soulliwest for the Sweet­ trail especially used for jettisoning useless articles. water River. In 1847, Mormons established a ferry The urge to speed ahead was not the only reason on the Platte about two miles west of Casper, Wyom­ for discarding cargo. Many persons lost mules or ing. A toll bridge also was in operation. Leander V. oxen and had to make wagon loads light enough for Loomis (Edgar M. Ledyard, ed.), A Journal of the the remaining beasts to pull. Stewart, The California Birmingham Emigrating Company (Salt Lake City, Trail, 237-238. 1928), 39.

233 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

A family train is camped near us. I slept started the cattle up, and when they had a good finely last night and kept it up until late. Had breakfast, [we] started for the camp. Our a fine breakfast of buffalo steak. About 10 wagons had nearly all been crossed. We had o'clock I started out with a canteen of water much difficulty in making our cattle take to under each arm and one man's dinner in my the water, and swim across. Some of them hand, to find our boys and the teams. I started would not and we had to drive them up the out at a good round pace, for I thought they stream three miles before we could make them would all be very thirsty. I traveled for an cross. This delay made the day short, but we hour and it seemed that I was no nearer the traveled about twenty miles. mountains than when I started. I kept it up A man was supposed to have been murdered until I was nearly exhausted, and had to stop near the ferry, as he had a ball through the and rest. I started again and after going over eye. On his belt was the name Brown. Several one mountain and another, took up a ravine had been drowned at the several ferries. which showed some cattle tracks and at 3 There is but little sickness among the emi­ o'clock I came upon them. I had mistaken grants, for the great number on the road. the ravine and had traveled many miles be­ [Thursday] June 21st. When we camped fore I crossed it. last night it looked like a village. There were The trees that form our camp near the bluff so many emigrants and some were fiddling, looked like little shrubs, but were two feet some dancing and others singing, and all ap­ through or more. I remained with the guard peared happy. Music helps. and cattle all night, and slept on the ground, The guard sent out with the cattle slept too soothed by the howling wolves into sweet long and they got mixed with the others, and slumbers, some 700 miles from all civilization, we had trouble in separating them. We made and miles from all mankind, with only four about 24 miles and went into camp a half mile companions. But even under such conditions off the trail. Dr. Barker has not yet come up. the weary body will rest. A little after light we Last night had a good place to camp, and

*3.«^'.»SL^f««'S»'S«&^!»* «

*»1«B^ ,

y». „| •t. *'f

Society's Iconographic Collection Independence Rock, on the Sweetwater River.

234 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL had good feed, and this always makes us feel well. We are now stopping at Independence Rock, which is worthy noting. It is an iso­ lated rock of granite, and I should judge it to be 400 feet long, 100 feet through, and over 100 feet high, and not easy to be ascend­ ed. It has two high peaks, one near each end. In going up from the south side, there is a small cave and in it is a spring. On this rock there are many names cut and painted, some taking great risks to get their names the high­ est. Its being isolated is the one thing that makes it so noticeable."' A little over five miles from this is the Devil's Gate, where the Sweet Water comes through the Rocky Mountains. The train had to swing around so as to keep in the plains, until it again strikes the river. I could not pass without examining it closely. I went in at the east end, and when about half way through, it burst upon us in all its magnifi­ Society's Iconographic Collection cence. The rocks rise nearly 400 feet perpen­ Devil's Gate, "as grand as Niagara Falls." dicularly, on each side and at their base rushes the Sweet Water River. Its swift, rushing, roar­ ing waters lashed into foam, as they are forced out, "Hold on," and worked my way back. on their way to seek the level beyond, are It was an awful backing out. The sight was very grand. grand but not worth the risk, and none of the others would venture. From where I was We went into the gorge as far as we could it seemed as if in the ages long past the water go, and the distance seemed almost endless, as had split the mountains apart, as the walls on we looked for their tops. In the midst of these each side if brought together would fit per­ waters is a large rock on which we could get, fectly. The rock on which I crawled projected and we did get there, and I sat and mused and over and the one on the other [side] was looked at the lofty battlements above, and the apparently just broken off. When I got back mad dashing water around. The sight was I had to lie down for a while to get the dizzy grand. We then went back as we could not out. advance on the banks and took a trail over the mountains [Devil's Gate].'" The ascent We must get down. We found it very diffi­ was difficult. . . . There was one place on the cult and steep, and if a person should make top where it seemed as though we might lie a misstep, he would be precipitated into the down and look over. So I was the one to go abyss below. In some places you have to slide first, and this was the way it was to be done. and slip your feet before you. One place is I was to lie on my face and one of the men ten feet perpendicular, and this distance we was to clasp my ankle, and so to the next. The had to drop, after being helped down as far last one of the string was to be safely anchored. as our mates could help us, and the ledge upon Heading the string I did get so I could look which we had to drop was very narrow. In one down, but one sight satisfied me, and I called place I had to turn my face to the wall of gran­ ite. I worked myself down as well as I could, and then dropped. I was fortunate enough to catch and keep my upright position. I dare ^ Independence Rock is on the Sweetwater River not turn around for it was a chasm below. and was one of the most noted landmarks on the Closing my eyes I got the dizzy feeling allayed trail. Loomis, Journal, 42. and could take a look around. If I had struck " Emigrants frequently climbed Devil's Gate. Stewart, California Trail, 257. an inch further out, I should not have written

235 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

Society's Iconographic Collection Men bracing a wagon as it descends a declivity.

this. Near by I found a safe place to stand ever seen the bow of God. But here rises into and when the other boys dropped, I could the heavens above one majestic column of reach out and catch hold of them. So we all solid granite on each side of the river tower­ got down that place safely. ... It was a grand ing 400 feet above the water below, which is sight as we looked at it from below. In many onward in its never ceasing course. It stands respects it is as grand as Niagara Falls. . . . as firm as the rock of ages, and no one can Soon after coming to the plain below, we see it and not be alive to its awful grandeur.... struck the trail and our company. Before go­ The Ft. Atkinson company intends to re­ ing into camp near Devil's Gate, we passed main here for a time but we shall continue one of the alkali lakes. The water in these our journey. We now number only seven lakes is impregnated with alkali [so] that wagons, less than one third our original num­ nothing can drink it, and on the ground where ber. We again camped on the river, passed the it recedes or is evaporated by the sun you can ice springs, where you can get plenty of ice gather the crust in flakes, and it is almost at all seasons of the year by digging, but it pure saleratus. Mixing this with grease makes carried so much alkali that we dared not use soft soap. We tried it and it was sharp enough it for drinking.''" One man found a piece of to remove even the dust of the plains as we hard soap when he was digging, and he de­ washed hands and faces in the river water clares it was formed there, but I doubt it. The near the camp. mountains now in sight are covered with eter­ Here near these rocks we were fortunate nal snow as with a blanket. enough to find good feed. The grandeur of this scene is of a different cast from that of Niagara. There the mighty current is pre­ cipitated over an awful gulf into the depths "' Also known as Ice Slough. Ice could be found by digging through a foot or two of muck. Clayton below, with an everlasting roar and above is Emigrants' Guide 15; Stewart, California Trail, 132.

236 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL

On [Tuesday] the 26th. after passing up us. Comitig to good grass we stopped, as is the river bottom, crossed over a spur of the our practice, and gave our teams good feed mountain and our road was very rocky and and rest. Near us was a new grave, as was dangerous for wagons, but we are safely over reported, "found drowned June 30th." them. We had plenty of cold snow water, but Had to camp without water. Allis was sick feed was poor. We have reached a branch of and I had to drive all day, with a roaring the Sweet Water and have good grazing. headache. The ferryman says there is a good Heard from Barker, Carter and Pierce, and road by Salt Lake, and report says, "Gold is they are about two days behind us. plenty in California." Green River is a deep On the 27th. we left the Sweet Water and and rapid stream."'' passed over the dividing ridge of the South July 4th., was awakened by a discharge of Pass, and are now camped on the Pacific small arms, but no booming of cannon. Not Creek which flows into the Pacific Ocean." much like our fourths in the East. Met some We now begin to go down stream. We are men from Salt Lake to-day, and they say there now 7,085 feet above the ocean. Not good air is a good wagon road from the Lake and for a foot race. I am sorry for those coming plenty of grass and timber, and what is also behind, as the grass is getting scarcer and the good news, if true, that their boys got from teams wearing out. But we are over half way one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars to the mines and have had good luck, thanks a day. Doubt it. Camped about two miles to Him who rules all things. We have decided from Ft. Bridger, which is composed of four to leave the main trail and take to the Salt big houses with an enclosure for horses. It Lake route."' was built and is occupied by Mr. Bridger who The company has split again and now there has lived in the mountains for twenty years. are but four wagons in it. Only made twenty His business is trading with the Indians. The two miles and are now camped on Little Sandy. country we have passed over has been up and On the 29th. only traveled eight miles, when down hill all day and some of them are very on striking Big Sandy and good feed, we went rough and steep. See but few emigrants. Mr. into camp. On [Sunday] the 1st. of July, Bridger says this route by Salt Lake is about about 10 o'clock, we arrived at Big Green 160 miles shorter than the other and a better River, but could not cross. Drove our cattle road."" down the river, crossing a big miry place. About 5 o'clock we went after the cattle. T left the train on a borrowed mule Saturday On the 2nd. of July we crossed and at 10 -*• night [July 7] after they had crossed Bear o'clock we were all safely over. Here the Ft. River. This is an 80 mile ride on mule back, Atkinson boys came up and will travel with and it touches in a new spot. But I made it in a little over two days, and at 5 o'clock I ar­ rived in this wonderful city of Salt Lake."" I will mention one of the incidents on the trip. °° South Pass was the providential cut through the I was riding down the mountains and my mule mountains only a few miles from where the trail left was so small that my feet were not far from the Sweetwater. The pass marks the Continental Divide, and just beyond it flows aptly-named Pacific the ground. All of a sudden the mule hit a Creek. Stewart, California Trail, 132-133; Loomis, Journal, 51-52; Clayton, Emigrants' Guide, 16. '" Fifteen miles beyond Pacific Creek, the Mormon Trail divided from the usual California Trail. Travel­ ers who chose to head "straight" west took Sublette's ^ Leaving the Green River, the trail crossed over­ Cutoff, which traversed about forty-five miles of de­ land for about fifteen miles until it reached Black's sert-like country. Then they headed for Ft. Hall, Fork, a tributary of the Green. Traveling southwest, the Snake River, Goose Creek, and the Humboldt emigrants crossed the Fork several times on their River, making a loop to the north around Great way to Fort Bridger. Clayton, Emigrants' Guide, 17. Salt Lake. About one-third of the emigrants stuck "" It was to Bridger's financial advantage to per­ to the Mormon Trail, which took them about five suade emigrants that his route was better than the days longer than the Sublette Cutoff. The Salt Lake other. Each had its advantages and disadvantages. Cutoff, as it was known, turned north from Salt Lake Stewart, California Trail, 135, 194, 244-248. City, then angled west to reach the Humboldt River. ^° By leaving the wagon train, Hillyer eliminated See map in Loomis, Journal; Stewart, California numerous fordings and a rather difficult stretch of Trail, 135, 194, 244-248. road for wagons. Clayton, Emigrants' Guide, 18-20.

237 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

' "* >S3I»

, - .; .,^s.^r •^ '^ Society's Iconographic Collection Fort Bridger. small stone and [in his] stumbling, the girt sustaining a large population. They now num­ of my saddle broke, and I found myself on ber about 8,000. They appear to be a happy my back with the saddle some rods down the people. mountain. I was not laughing when I sat up, I have slept most of the time I could get but I think the mule was, for he stood there since I came, and am not rested yet. Went at the other end of the lariat not in the least out to the warm sulphur spring where it comes excited or in a hurry. We soon joined forces out of the mountains, and is a little above and with strings in the boy's pocket repaired blood heat. Just where it comes out, the city damages, and for a while we walked on in has built a dam, making a pool large enough company. It was a lucky overturning. Some so that 25 or 30 people can bathe at one time. bruised spots but no broken bones. No other The stream is quite large and, running in at adventure on the way, but it will take some one side of the pool, runs out at the other, days before my lacerated feelings will become keeping it always clean. The men can use it quiet. five days in the week, and the women two. I soon found a boarding place in a smallish The water is so impregnated with sulphur that home with a man and three wives and children. you cannot use soap in bathing. If you do you I had been here but a short time when I found have to use other water to get it off. Stay Mr. Evans sick. I sat up with him and did in long enough and your pores will all be what I could for him, and I am happy to say cleaned out, and you will feel like a new man. that my company was good for him, and in This warm spring is one mile from the city, a few days he was out. One of our party, and one mile beyond is the hot spring. This Jacob Rappelgee, died here a few days ago. water is so hot, as it comes out of the moun­ He was from Milwaukee. The road over the tain, that it will cook anything placed in it. hill is very bad and so down into this valley, The vegetation is all killed that it touches. and such dust. The city is pleasantly situated The teams got in about 11 o'clock and all in a valley surrounded by mountains, and is well."' finely watered by mountain streams which they turn by canals from their course, and so on to each side of the streets, and by "cut offs" turn into their gardens. This water is " The teams probably trailed Hillyer by two or three days, arriving in Salt Lake City between July fine, soft and sweet. The valley is capable of 11 and 14. HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL

Had an introduction to President [Brig- through, they will be with us. Our pack horse ham] Young, and I like him very much. I got his pack loose, and strung things about also was introduced to several of their Bishops promiscuously, and it cost us three fourths of and had a strong invitation to join their an hour to catch and pack him again. About church, by them and several ladies, but [I] 5 o'clock we saw McClosky coming back with declined until better acquainted with their some water, and those who could raised a doctrines. shout. My tongue was swollen and clove to July 17th., have traded our teams for pack the roof of my mouth so that I could not horses, and started for California again, and speak. He soon came up, but what a disap­ in good spirits."" Dr. Barker and his party pointment, when we found the water to be got in last Saturday [July 14]. Last night we brackish. But it was cool and we all drank and had a good dance on a puncheon floor."'^ I drove on, and soon reached [the water]. When like the people very much, and should like to our animals snuffed it in the air they made live among them. We are now 1,070 miles a quick time and drank as I never saw ani­ from the Missouri River and 4,300 feet above mals drink before. the level of the sea, in a valley with high We have overtaken the boys who had start­ mountains entirely surrounding it. Having ed out one day before us. They had found changed our cattle for pack horses makes our a cooler spring, though it was also brackish. management entirely different, and almost We had no alternative but to stay here all every one is for himself. Our mess is an ex­ night and the more we drank the more thirsty ception and Allis, Marvin, and myself still we became. In sleep we forgot all about it travel together. and were glad. The first day we made about 15 miles, and We have been on the old Ft. Hall road for altogether about fifty miles since we left Salt four days, and have passed many teams, and Lake City. Most of the company are still using among them some of my old company."" All the wagons for shelter. No houses in sight. are well and I learn by cards strung up along On the 20th. we crossed Bear River, which the road that some of them are six days ahead. here is very deep, but we crossed safely. Some I have been unwell ever since I was at the of us filled our canteens, and others deferred salt springs, and yesterday I had to give up. it until we reached Mud Creek [Malade Marvin and Allis stayed with me, but no River?]. This creek they found to be salt others. I am very weak but with a good consti­ water, and their empty canteens were still tution and pluck, I was able to resume my empty, and from here we had a desert of twen­ journey the next day. I was homesick, you ty miles to cross and no water, and the sun may imagine. came down blazing hot."' My canteen of water Six hundred miles away from civilization, did not hold out long for I could not refuse with but two acquaintances and not a cover a companion a drink when he asked for it. for my head except the heavens above, and When almost half way across this plain, no way to travel except on horse back. I was some of the men left all, and went ahead say­ very weak but we made thirty two miles. Ten ing, "We can never get the stock through." miles of the last of the journey we had no But Allis and myself stayed with the stock, saying we will not forsake them, and if we go

"" The Salt Lake Cutoff rejoined the California Trail near Cathedral Rocks or City of Rocks, near '" Such exchanges in Salt Lake City were common Almo and Moulton, Idaho. Beyond the Rocks was and one of the reasons for choosing that route. Many Junction Valley. Hillyer calls the trail the Fort Hall emigrants merely acquired fresh oxen and did not trail because it led from Fort Hall to California—the switch their wagon loads to pack horses, as Hillyer route taken by the majority of emigrants. The trail did. Stewart, California Trail, 246. followed Goose Creek for several miles, then crossed '•" A puncheon floor was constructed from the slab several other streams and springs, including Thou­ cuts of logs, the bark side down and the top side sand Spring Creek, before it reached the Humboldt smoothed for an inexpensive floor. headwaters. Hillyer calls the Humboldt River by its ** Probably the stretch between the Bear River and earlier name, Mary's River, not to be confused with a Blue Springs, with water and grass of "poor quality." present-day Humboldt tributary of the same name. Loomis, Journal, 178. Loomis, Journal, 74, 79, 178-179.

239 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 water over a hilly road, but here we struck the ing finds us all tired and hungry. Roads are head waters of the Mary's [Humboldt] River heavy. Met a man returning who reports no and went into camp. grass after thirty miles for sixty five miles, The next day we traveled thirty miles, down and but one place where we can get water. Mary's River and had excellent feed all the This report was not encouraging. way. Passed many teams and about ten o'clock Our horses have had but little grass for came up with the boys who were laying up two days, and not much prospect for any for for the day, and we remained with them. Our some days to come. We foot it beside them and horses had good grass and they and myself relieve them all we can. Dark times. Camped feel better. on the river but not a spear of grass and all Heard of Mr. Moody of Cincinnati, whom the horses could get was to browse the willows, we met on the road, with a fine four mule and they were pretty well browsed. team, and now has to foot it. There are a We have made seventeen miles and gave great many who are footing it and carrying our horses a chance at the willows again. their provisions. This is not a pleasant way Every face is long, and I fear that many of getting through the world, but hardship is will be longer before they get through. I foot a common thing on this journey. it most of the way and expect before I get My horse stumbled and threw me off, but through to carry my provisions. Towards [I] only bruised my hip a little. My horse is night we struck off from the trail and went lame. Marvin trades horses often. Our pack about five miles, and saw a happy sight, plenty horse has given out and now I have to foot of good grass. Even the horses laughed. Here it. We left him in as good feed as we could we expect to stay several days. We had to find, and said good bye old horse. You may carry the grass about two hundred yards on depend that the hours grow darker daily, and our backs, as the ground between the camp we have 400 miles yet to make. Camped near and it was soft and miry, and the horses could a mule train. Came up with the boys not long not get to it. We also brought out a lot to after sunrise, but they asked us to take break­ cure and carry with us on our way across the fast with them and we did not refuse. Allis desert."" and I have one horse each, and we change It was hard tough work, but must be done. about; as one is needed for a pack horse we There are as many as 200 teams camped here take turns in riding the other. Tried to make recruiting and coming and going all the time. a bargain with a "Dodle Family," in all eleven We keep securing grass. Bought some hard men, to board us for the balance of the trip, biscuit, and are getting ready for an advance. but did not succeed. On the 10th. the Michigan boys got in, also Pierce. He left Carter with a team and passed On [Friday] the 3rd. of August we came Dr. Barker on Bear River. He reports an im­ up to a train and found Marvin. His horse had mense crowd of teams. We started at 2 o'clock given out and he had given his mule to be at night and traveled by the light of the moon, taken through. We left him with them and and arrived at the "Sink" at 9 o'clock in the this leaves Allis and myself alone. We ar­ morning. ranged with the "Dodle Family" to take all I walked all the way and blistered my feet the traps we could spare through for us. This so that I had to lay up for repairs. Mary's, left us a blanket apiece, a tin cup each, and Humboldt's or Ogden's river when we first a frying pan. We had a little bacon, coffee, struck it was a very pretty streain, having a sugar and flour, and lots of pluck, which was firm bed. But as you go down it, it becomes light. On the 5th. we overtook the Michigan muddy and the water poor, and it gets worse boys and they made us stay with them until as you go down until it spreads over the sur- Monday, and we all feel better. Before leaving them we bought a pack horse. Up to noon we had made twenty miles, but found feed quite scarce. Then made ten miles, but could find •'•" Emigrants' guides recommended halting at Big but litde grazing. [With] no feed and poor Meadows or Lassen's Meadows near the Humboldt Sink in order to acquire grass for crossing the desert. water [we] do not tend to sleep and the morn­ Loomis, Journal, 180; Stewart, California Trail, 138.

240 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL face, and finally disappears as a stream. It the river no power could keep them out of is so with the grass. At first pretty good, then the stream, and sometimes they would drink better, and then worse. until they floated. I have seen men who seem­ The [Humboldt] valley is from three to ed to have lost all reason, rush to the water twenty miles wide and but little part of it pro­ and, lying flat, drink until they could not duces grass, or any kind of vegetation except rise. I am thankful that we are safe across it, wild sage, or grease wood, and this is all you for we and our animals were nearly exhausted, have for feed except willows. and could not have gone much further. We If I had time I would be sick. Started were so much better off than many others [crossing the Sink] yesterday at four o'clock that we are truly thankful. A.M. and kept it up until two, when we turned What will become of those behind? We out and gave our horses hay. I was tired and hear that many are dying, even after they get spread my robe on the sand and was soon across. We have passed graves every day. asleep. Many teams passed but they did not disturb me. After an hour we again started \V/^E arrived at Truckee River at two o'clock and came to a Hot Spring. Here we halted. '' [Sunday] August 12th. and glad we The water of the spring is very hot. It is not were. This sight of running water and green good to use this water even for tea or coffee trees was fascinating indeed. Many are camped as its effects are debilitating."' here and how changed is their appearance We traveled from daylight until two o'clock from yesterday. over very heavy roads. The road is lined on We went up the river a short distance and both sides with dead oxen, horses and mules, found a little fresh grass. On the 13th. of also abandoned wagons and almost everything August we started late and have crossed the else. Bedding, blankets, clothing, etc., etc. It river several times. It has a very stony bed is impossible for some to go through with and a swift current running from point to their wagons, and they have to turn out and point of rocks, and this is the reason we have leave them, and drive their teams before them to cross so often for we cannot go around to water, and then return for their wagons, the bends. We got across finely with one ex­ and many never come back. We have passed ception. Mr. Skinner, a young man, when a good many left in this way. I can give no about half way across was leading a poor pack idea of the suffering here, but after one starts horse, which fell down broadside. Skinner he must go ahead or die. The faces all wear coolly dismounted from his horse into the a woe begone look, and seem as though hope swift current, the water coming up to his had fled. I am thankful that I am across that middle, and began pulling the horse towards dreadful desert. When we were miles from the the shore by the lariat. The first sound he [Truckee] river and the stock almost perish­ made was to cry out, "Boys, boys, don't he ing for water, and [it] seemed as though they make a fine raft?" It was so different from could never take another step, the smell of what most would have said and he was up the water would seem to be borne to them to his waist in the water, that it caused a and they would raise their heads, open their general laugh. We soon went into camp and tired eyes, and seem to have new life, and he dried out his traps. Having good grass, make for the river. The nearer they came the water and wood, we all felt finely. faster they would walk, and when they reached Yes, with trees, grass and even birds, . . . the heart is made glad. . . . Our journey was still down the river, cross­ '" Fifteen miles from the start of the Sink, hot ing it often. We crossed the river twenty seven springs were encountered. Then came the Forty Mile times and on the sixteenth we struck the foot Desert, which usually was crossed during the cool of the mountains, and into beautiful pine hours. Travelers had a choice in crossing the desert: they could either go west to the Truckee River or go forests. It is charming. I am happy as I look southwest to the Carson River—a longer journey. up to the tops of the majestic pines, pointing About 7,000 emigrants, including Hillyer, chose the Truckee River route, which was not as arduous. towards heaven with their slender tops, whilst Stewart, California Trail, 138-139, 265-281, 292. beneath my feet is spread a rich carpet of

241 .4 Hi•INIfe-. ' J.*5w -^.i^3.^„-'^^Sasf .ii .y .'.-Yj^*?^:'^

Wagons descending the Bear River Mountains, August, 1849. green, and in my ears sounds the rush of many with big ropes, one end around the axle, and waters, whose course is downward to the the other around a tree, letting the rope out mighty ocean, and birds are singing in the as they could manage the wagon in front, and shades. . . . in some places almost perpendicular. Some We are now camped in a beautiful valley, of the boys suggested that we had better "lock with a fine spring of cold water, and we re­ our horses" to get them down safely. Going joice to see our poor animals so happy crop­ down, which says we shall soon be in the min­ ping the grasses. Where we struck the Truckee ing country. Grass is scarce on this side. River there is but little timber or grass, as the On Saturday the 19th, arrived at some of bottoms are narrow, but as we go down they the diggings, and concluded to try our luck. become wider and trees larger, and verdure Went to a store (tent) and found my face good luxuriant. Then we lose it. for all we wanted. Secured our supplies, and On the 17th, we began to travel over spurs started the next morning for our camp, pack­ of the mountains, and then into little valleys, ing our tools and provisions on our backs. rich in grass and water, and yet the roads have Took the wrong trail and did not reach our been very rough, almost too rough for a horse camp . . . until noon, and a tired set of boys to travel over without any load, and then to we were. I cooked for a mess of six, and think of getting wagons over them, and it helped make a rocker [mining device], which seeiTis almost impossible, but we still see them took us two days. pushing ahead. . . . We have wound our way After working a few days at mining I con­ up the mountains at least 30 miles and are cluded that I would like to do something else. now in a pleasant valley, with good grass I decided to make for the city and try my and water and magnificient pines. Have passed fortune there. We sold our rocker for forty many teams, some of them letting their wagons dollars and I had half an ounce in dust. Allis down on the opposite side of the mountain took our supplies and assumed our debt. Three

242 HILLYER: GOLD RUSH JOURNAL of my chums offered, if I would stay and T ITTLE is known about Hillyer's Cali- cook, that I need do nothing else. Too good ^-^ fornia adventures after he left Sacramen­ to last, and I declined. to. For a time, he operated a packet boat ex­ On [Sunday] the 26th. of August I started press between San Francisco and Sacramento, for the city. The country to-day has been proving that he put to good use the practical mountainous but as we neared Johnson's ranch knowledge he had gained during the arduous it became less broken and before we quite trip. Like Sam Brannan, he mined gold from reached there it ended in rolling prairie. the miners. Later, however, he became part From the mountains we leave the pines, and owner of a mine at Syracuse Bar. In 1851, then the timber is mostly oaks, which are Hillyer divested himself of his California hold­ more scattered and short, but have very long ings and returned to Ohio. He recalled that he limbs, thickly covered with leaves making had not made the fortune he sought, but it is splendid shade. obvious that he had earned a wealth of ex­ perience. We did not reach Johnson's until 10 o'clock at night."" We remained here all day, and find Mrs. Hillyer was simultaneously shocked many teams recruiting. We are now in Sac­ and delighted when her husband appeared un­ ramento valley and expect soon to see the city. announced at the door in Ohio. He was a It is very hot in the middle of the day, but "bronzed and bearded stranger," she wrote, the evenings are delightful. How soundly one and his "hirsute ornament" was the talk of can sleep in this night air. Portage County. But she adored her husband and when he returned to Wisconsin, she tar­ I have neglected my journal since I left ried only briefly in Ohio before joining him. Johnson's ranch, but there has nothing oc­ Hillyer also had to make the acquaintance of a curred since that is worth mentioning. I remained in Sacramento over a week. Howland was there at work at ten dollars a day. Pierce also came in but soon left for the mines. Carter came in on foot, having lost everything. Marvin has not been heard from, or Barker, Wheeler, or Hinkley, since I left them in the Black Hills. Sacramento ... is a cloth city, built by nailing cloth on to the poles for both roof and sides, and dirt floors except in some aristo­ cratic saloon or store. Not even a frame building in all the city, at this writing. Lum­ ber is worth fifty cents a foot. I close my journal sailing down the [Sac­ ramento] river in a schooner, as a steamer has never yet paddled on its waters. I send this to my father and say good bye to all traveling companions, on the plains. May we meet asrain.

°* Johnson's Ranch, about forty miles north of Sac­ ramento or Sutter's Fort, was considered the end of Society's Iconographic Collection the journey. It was on the Bear River, near Wheat­ Where il all began. Suiter's Mill, where on January land, California. Stewart, California Trail, 173-175, 24. 1848, James Marshall (standing in foreground) 186, 189. discovered gold.

243 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

bute to his new-found maturity. He also served as deputy warden of the state prison at Wau­ pun, and he was one of the founders of the Waupun library, which he served as librarian for many years, operating the library out of his office. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a captain in Company K of the 10th Wis­ consin Volunteer Infantry. Hillyer was not the only forty-niner who re­ turned to Waupun. In 1901, he wrote that all of the nine argonauts eventually came back to Dodge County. In 1860, A. D. Allis, thirty- one, was a neighbor of Hillyer's and owner of a prosperous wagon works. Hillyer recalled that Allis eventually moved to Minnesota. Francis Carter, thirty-two, a fanning mill owner in Waupun, may well have been the Frank Carter of Hillyer's narrative. No trace has been found of the other six men. In his declining years, Hillyer devoted much of his time to historical pursuits. He wrote a series of local historical sketches for a Wau­ pun newspaper, and in 1903 he prepared his ociety s nographic Collection Gold Rush journal. Five years later, in Decem­ Edwin Hillyer, photographed in Waupun in 1898, at the time oj the Hillyers' golden wedding anniversary. ber, 1908, he died while vacationing in St. Petersburg, Florida. baby daughter, Edna, who had been born dur­ ing his absence. The couple later had four more children, and three of the five reached adulthood: Mrs. Edna Hillyer Ford of Wau­ EDITOR'S NOTE: In addition to the Hillyer diary and other published Gold Rush manuscripts owned by the pun; Henry L. P. Hillyer of Topeka, Kansas; Manuscripts Library of the State Historical Society and Professor Homer Winthrop Hillyer, who of Wisconsin, the Society owns several unpublished manuscripts. A partial listing may be found in Joseph was a professor of chemistry at the Univer­ Schafer (ed.), California Letters of Lucius Fair- sity of Wisconsin and later was associated child (Madison, 1931), 200-203. Among later acqui­ with an industrial firm in Buffalo, New York. sitions are: Winslow Blake journal, March 23- August 25, 1852, overland from Jefferson, Wisconsin, Back in Waupun, Hillyer put to use his to California; David Brainard, "Journal of the Wal­ California-won business acumen. He rejoined worth County Mutual Mining Company, Commencing March 20, 1849, and Ending Jan. 1, 1851," overland his brother in the general store, but soon sold from Delavan, Wisconsin, to California, typewritten his share in order to subsidize and build the copy only; Samuel Chadwick diary, 1852, overland from Dane County, Wisconsin, to California, type­ first railroad between Waupun and Horicon. written and original copies, including list of ex­ Then he helped establish the Dodge County penses; Joseph C. Kiser papers, March-September, Insurance Company and later he became a 1850, overland from West Liberty, Ohio, to California, and return via Panama, December 1, 1850, several loan agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life letters and sketchy diary; David Knapp Pangborn Insurance Company. He extended his finan­ diary. May 27, 1850-November 22, 1873, ocean voyage from New York via Panama to California, typewrit­ cial dealings to Iowa, where he operated a ten copy, more complete than the edited version in 1,100-acre farm in the midst of the fertile corn American Historical Review, IX; 1 (October, 1903), belt in Grundy County. 104^115; Charles G. Schneider diary, April 15, 1852- December 21, 1856, in German, overland from Mil­ Hillyer also had a strong sense of public waukee to California, typewritten translation and original, including lists of expenses; and William duty. In November, 1852, at the age of twen­ Turner diary, March-August, 1850, overland from ty-seven, he stood for election to the assembly Walworth County, Wisconsin, to California, type­ from Dodge County and won the seat—a tri- written copy only.

244 REVIEWS

The Revival of Fur Trade History: A Review Article

By ALICE E. SMITH

HE YEARS SINCE the close of World War This ferment of activity demonstrates that T II have seen a revived interest in the stu­ the subject of France in America is still a dy of the French in America. In the October, profitable field of research. Needs and op­ 1962, issue of the William and Mary Quarterly, portunities for renewed investigation with par­ under the title of "The Old Regime in Ameri­ ticular emphasis on the region of the Upper ca," John C. Rule notes the present-day absorp­ Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley are tion of scholars in the subject. He places them set forth in two recent guides to source ma­ in three groups: those in France who are con­ terials produced by a Washington historian centrating on the study of imperial adminis­ and bibliographer, Henry P. Beers. The vol­ tration and policy, both at home and in the umes are The French in North America: A colonies; those in the United States and Bri­ Bibliographical Guide to French Archives, Re­ tain, who, in their search for the key to the productions, and Research Missions and The triumph of Great Britain in the New World, French & British in the Old Northwest: A turn their attention to the weaknesses of her Bibliograpfiical Guide to Archive and Manu­ chief rival; and a school of writers in French script Sources. As the titles suggest, these are Canada who have been hard at work exploring as much historiography as bibliography. Far the domestic history of New France and who, more comprehensive than the standard guide despite instances of obvious partisanship, have to sources, the first of the Beers books pre­ produced "some of the most impressive works sents a history of the activities of American being published in North America." and Canadian institutions, historians, and others who were connected with the procure­ ment of reproductions in any and all forms from French official and unofficial collections Tfie French & British in the Old Northwest: and of the documentary compilations that re­ A Bibliographical Guide to Archive and Man­ sulted therefrom. uscript Sources. By HENRY PUTNEY BEERS. The second, broadly speaking, is a historical (Wayne State Universitv Press, Detroit, 1964. account of the acquisition, preservation, and Pp. iv, 297. .$11.50.) publication by Americans and Canadians of original official records relating to the French and the British through the eighteenth cen­ The French in North America: A Bibliogra­ tury. But it goes farther, describing govern­ phical Guide to French Archives, Reproduc­ mental and land-grant systems and church tions, and Research Missions. By HENRY PUT­ organizations, and includes records of eccle­ NEY BEERS. (Louisiana State University Press, siastical organizations, trading and land com­ Baton Rouge, 1957. Pp. xi, 413. $12.50.) panies, and traders, in each instance point­ ing out the extent, the forms, and locations of The French in the Mississippi Valley. Edited the records under discussion. With these by JOHN FRANCIS MCDERMOTT. (University guides in hand, the scholar can determine what of Illinois Press. Urbana, 1965. Pp. ix. 247. authority or agency may have created records .$6.75.) pertinent to his research and can locate repro-

245 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

duced or printed copies preserved in widely petition of error and myths." dispersed manuscript depositories, archival Dissimilar though these volumes are in de­ agencies, or libraries. sign and treatment, they have something in Useful as these guides are, and laborious common beside their theme. For those who and painstaking as the task of preparing them would take up the torch so ably carried in has been, the author is far from satisfied with Wisconsin by Frederick Jackson Turner, the results. The transcription and publication Reuben Gold Thwaites, and Louise Phelps of French and British records relating to Kellogg, and in neighboring states by other America has been selective, incomplete, un­ students of the rise and fall of New France, reliable, and repetitious, he declares, and the the publications furnish inspiration and assist­ need for a comprehensive publication of the ance. The range of articles in the volume on sources relating to the Old Northwest—a co­ St. Louis suggests the variety of subjects on operative project envisaged in the establish­ which productive research is possible. In ment of the Mississippi Valley Historical As­ methodology, too, the book provides helpful sociation in 1907—is as great today as it was guidelines. To cite only one example: an six decades ago. article by a distinguished architect, "Houses Another recent publication, entitled Tfie of French St. Louis," shows the results of a French in the Mississippi Valley, centers on careful analysis of official records, artists' a small area of French operations in America. views, travelers' accounts, and comparison It consists of a series of papers presented at with contemporary structures, when attempt­ a celebration of the two-hundredth anniver­ ing to reconstruct a picture of a village whose sary of the founding of St. Louis, and is as buildings had all disappeared beyond the varied in content as the articles written by memory of those now living. former students for the Festschrift of a retir­ Beers likewise, directly and by implication, ing professor. The essays, some rather remote­ constantly points up the need for renewed and ly connected with the city being honored, deal deepened research. The wealth of historical with French houses and colonial forts, with source materials outlined in his two volumes families, naturalists, and "mountain men"; is, to a large extent, unexploited, for the bulk with the work of a pioneer priest, an early of it has been available only within the present poet, and an early traveler; with French atti­ century. He calls for studies in many areas: tudes towards Spanish administration; and the fur trade, Indian relations and wars, pri­ with collections of records relating to St. Louis vate land grants, missions and churches, mili­ located in three outside depositories. John tary affairs, government administration, and Francis McDermott, widely known for his ex­ many other facets of social, cultural, and do­ tensive studies of the French in the St. Louis mestic life. The trend is encouraging, and it region, is the editor of the volume, and writes is to be hoped that the appearance of volumes the lead article, in which he takes occasion to such as these may signal the approach of a decry historical writings based on "unfound­ new era in the study of the Old Regime in ed assumptions, romancing, and uncritical re­ the Northwest.

Public Arcliives ol Canada ''Mending the canoe," a bivouac operation by Hudson's Bay fur traders.

246 BOOK REVIEWS

ers was only a hazy dream. Peaceful withhold­ ing was a total failure, although the antifore- closure movement or "penny" auctions may STATE AND REGIONAL have been more successful. Delays in early 1933, to allow the New Deal to initiate a farm relief program, stalled the momentum of success for FHA. The rebellion reached the Cornbelt Rebellion: The Farmers' Holiday As­ apex of its power in March, 1933. sociation. By JOHN L. SHOVER. (University Many earlier accounts of FHA suggest of Illinois Press, Urbana and London, 1965. that a close tie existed with extremist groups, Pp. viii, 239. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, notably the Modern Seventy-Sixers and the maps, index. $5.95.) Communists. Shover details this relationship and documents it with interviews and manu­ The Farmers' Holiday Association was the script evidence. Perhaps these disclosures are leading agrarian protest movement of the early his major contribution to this study. Well- 1930's. As a "strong-arm auxiliary of the known names such as Arthur C. Townley, Farmers' Union" its strength was concentrated Father Coughlin, Huey Long, Dr. Townsend, in Iowa's Missouri River counties around and William Lemke take over part of the later Sioux City, but it spilled over into the sur­ story. Actually, the Farmers' Holiday Asso­ rounding states of Nebraska, the Dakotas, ciation was a viable organization for only Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In an interesting about eighteen months and passed off the scene and well-written monograph Professor Shover before Reno's death in 1936. It would be con­ has used detailed analyses and interviews of jecture to state that Reno was the last of the present-day informants to present the unique ideological radicals of Populist flavor, but his qualities of this farmers' revolt. Leaders and connection with the Farmers' Holiday Associa­ strikers in northwest Iowa were generally tion produces an interesting historical account. farm landholders, and a high incidence of un­ rest was found in a corn-hog production area HOMER E. SOCOLOFSKY and among dairy farmers in the Sioux City Kansas State University milkshed. Thus, the 1932-1933 rebellion lacked some of the traits observed of early protest groups which were dominated by ten­ ants and small grain producers located on Protestants and Pioneers: Individualism and marginal farms. Conformity on the American Frontier. By T. Farmers in this area were already hard up SCOTT MIYAKAWA. (University of Chicago when the stock market crashed in 1929. The Press, Chicago, 1964. Pp. xii, 306. Notes, "Cow War" of Cedar County, in east-central bibliography, index. $7.50.) Iowa, was in Shover's terms a "harbinger of the rebellious spirit depression had set astir For the past several decades the ideas of in the countryside." Through Milo Reno, a Frederick Jackson Turner have been subjected leader in the Iowa Farmers' Union and presi­ to attack or modification. In this book Pro­ dent of the National Farmers' Holiday Asso­ fessor Miyakawa examines the idea of frontier ciation, a close tie developed between a formal individualism. In doing so he investigates the farm organization and the new insurgents. In actions of several religious groups and con­ addition, the holiday movement drew on a con­ cludes that frontier American society was siderable "reservoir of disaffected" farmers more group-oriented than individualistic. In who had seen better days. fact, he says that frontier church adherents Reno's panacea for farmers was "cost of "were members of disciplined groups and an production" to be achieved through withhold­ increasingly organized society." He contends ing agricultural products from markets and by that the most popular western religious de­ organizing farm strikes. The term was never nominations helped create a society of groups accurately defined, nor were methods to rather than a society of individuals. achieve the goal spelled out. Initial political Miyakawa examines four Protestant denom­ influence was far greater than could reason­ inations in this study. The Methodists and ably be expected. Early strikes spontaneously Baptists, as the largest and "perhaps most spread to other areas, and picketing demon­ characteristic," receive most thorough treat­ strated farmer attitudes. The public was gen­ ment. In addition there is a discussion of the erally tolerant, but immediate success for farm­ Presbyterians and the Quakers. These are in-

247 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 eluded to furnish examples of the two extremes and the popular dissenting religious groups, in beliefs and organization. The Presbyterians and has provided support to those who ques­ represent the formal church with a strong tion Turner's ideas concerning individualism emphasis on proper doctrines and a profes­ on the frontier. Individuals there were, but, sional ministry. The Quakers, on the other in order to gain their objectives, they had to hand, were the least formally organized, with join voluntary organizations. Thus joining a lay ministry. voluntary associations bridged the gap be­ The second major thesis of this book is tween individual action and that of the federal that the popular denominations helped to or state governments. spread certain ideas and traits that have come Those readers interested in the questions of to be regarded as typically western, and even anti-intellectualism, religious intolerance, and American. Some of these include participa­ the materialistic aspects of contemporary tion in voluntarv organizations, faith in the American society will find food for thought common man, "practical idealism," and equal- here. itarianism. Also there is a detailed discussion of the indifference and open hostility to ROGER L. NICHOLS scholarship and learning, to the fine arts, and University of Georgia to certain forms of recreation, which European travelers and even Americans from east of the Appalachians frequently noted when describ­ ing the American westerner. Selections from "Minnesota History": A Fif­ The author has limited his study to the set­ tieth Anniversary Anthology. Edited by RHODA tlements in the Ohio River Valley during the R. OILMAN and JUNE DRENNING HOLMQUIST. period 1800 to 1836. Most of his evidence and (Minnesota Historical Society. St. Paul, 1965. examples are taken from Ohio, Indiana, and Pp. X, 359. $6.95.) Kentucky, although a few from Illinois, Michi­ gan, and Tennessee are used. How do you celebrate the fiftieth anniver­ In discussing why the Protestant denomin­ sary of a learned journal? A parade or an ations of the early west acted as they did, auto-da-fe would seem inappropriate. A Miyakawa suggests that these were the dis­ plaque lacks appeal in this day and age. Sym­ senting groups in colonial society, and as such, posia have been organized around less im­ acted as sects rather than churches. That is, portant occasions. A dinner and self-congrat­ they were characterized by "intimate fellow­ ulatory speeches better served an earlier gener­ ship, rigorous discipline, and absence of uni- ation. If the magazine has been a good one, versalism and cosmopolitanism." Sect mem­ you might publish an anthology — and that bers regarded themselves as a select group of is just what the Minnesota Historical Society regenerates set apart from society as a whole. has done. The sects stressed active lay participation and The result is an impressive volume. Articles leadership in religious matters, practiced strict published in the quarterly of the Minnesota control over the personal actions of their mem­ Historical Society over the past fifty years bers, and were usually opposed to an educated have been carefully selected by the editors and professional clergy. These sects, rather than reprinted not in order of appearance but in being minority groups, came to be the dom­ order of the period with which each article inant Protestant denominations and helped to deals. The result is a rather comprehensive mold both the institutions and the outlook of history of Minnesota from the aborigines to the nation. Sinclair Lewis and Hubert Humphrey. Although this is an "essentially sociological But it is more than it pretends to be, more treatment of a historical topic," the author than just a commemoration of Minnesota His­ usually refrains from using the in-group jar­ tory's first half century. It is, in a very real gon of the social scientist. Therefore, this sense, a monument to the historical society study is understandable to the lay reader. On quarterly as a whole, and as such it deserves the other hand, the prose is repetitive, and special note from the historical profession. the major ideas discussed in the text should The twenty-seven authors include Theodore L. not be new or startling to students of American Nydahl, Louise Phelps Kellogg, Solon J. Buck, frontier or intellectual history. Miyakawa has Francis Paul Prucha, Grace Lee Nute, William performed a service in gathering supporting W. Folwell, Theodore C. Blegen, Bertha L. evidence for these ideas, has tried to show the Heilbron, Philip D. Jordan, Helen Clapesattle, connection between the Jacksonian movement George M. Stephenson, Henry Steele Com-

248 BOOK REVIEWS

mager, Everett E. Edwards, August C. Krey, Agnes M. Larson, Lester B. Shippee, Lucile M. Kane, John D. Hicks, John T. Flanagan. Clearly it is not just doctoral candidates and people who cannot publish elsewhere who con­ tribute to the historical society quarterly. Clearly Reuben Gold Thwaites was overly con­ servative in declining to establish such a quar­ terly in Wisconsin some years earlier, on the grounds that competent historians already had more outlets for their articles than they need­ ed. The calibre of most of the articles speaks eloquently to the same point. Only two appear to have been included to insure coverage of particular subject matter; one is an old- fashioned calendar-type article. This distinguished list of contributors of distinguished articles presumably could be equalled by a substantial number of other his­ torical society quarterlies. And this is par­ ticularly worthy of remark. These quarterlies have made and continue to make a substantial Uni\Lisit\ lU \\'ise()nsin Arcliives and important contribution to the bibliogra­ phy of American history. Jens Jensen, apostle of the prairie landscape. This, then, is not merely a happy commem­ lines were remembered as he patterned Amer­ oration of a milestone in the life of Minnesota ican gardens. Jensen's prairie landscapes and History; it serves a salutary function in point­ Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie houses are com­ ing up and emphasizing in unmistakable terms pared. To both men, lifelong friends until a the significance of the historical society jour­ bitter difference over basic landscape phil­ nals. The Minnesota Society is to be compli­ osophy divided them, the prairie was a symbol mented on the calibre of its own magazine of artistic freedom and regional rebellion. thus made manifest, and on the service it has Jensen, as well as other Scandinavian im­ rendered to historical societies everywhere in migrants, was impressed by American forests choosing this particular means to observe this with their autumn color changes. Settlers in golden anniversary. Wisconsin's St. Croix Valley were mystified by flaming maples in contrast to unfenced and CLIFFORD L. LORD unfriendly wilderness. Jensen learned to use Hofstra University indigenous flowers and shrubs, not the im­ ported flora popular with Chicago landscape experts of the 1893 World's Fair. He rejected formal gardens which reminded him of mili­ tary parades in Berlin and Hamburg. (Living Landscape Artist in America: The Life and in a disputed territory of Denmark on the Work of Jens Jensen. By LEONARD K. EATON. German border, he and his countrymen were (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1964. drafted for the Prussian army.) Pp. X, 240. Photographs, bibliographical es­ As superintendent of Chicago's west-side say. $10.00.) park system he devised prairie meadows and rivers in the midst of the city. In the 1890's Although Jens Jensen, Danish landscape he could secure cheap, foreign labor—immi­ artist and founder of the Friends of Our Na­ grants given jobs by political bosses—to build tive Landscape, did his outstanding work in his parks: Humboldt, Columbus, Garfield. Illinois, principally in Chicago, the fact that The parks emphasized beauty rather than his last sixteen years were spent in Wisconsin recreation. There was always open space for gives him a place in the state's development. vista and repose. But these landscapes were Jensen's work was influenced by the seacoast designed for streetcar and bicycle. With the of his South Jutland home. Broad horizons, advent of automobiles their original purpose blessed summer sunlight, and curving tree was doomed. Jensen always believed that ugly

249 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 cars should be forced to stay outside of the city where he envisioned only public convey­ ances and pedestrians. Jensen warred against political graft in park-building supplies and was ousted because COLONtAL AND REVOLUTIONARY he would not stand for it. He said nothing of HISTORY this at home, however, and Mrs. Jensen read of his dismissal in the newspaper. Because he landscaped the gardens of wealthy clients on the North Shore, he was able to support his The Enterprising Colonials: Society on the family until he was reappointed. He provided Eve of the Revolution. By WILLIAM S. SACHS Chicago with a huge area of park—the Cook and ARI HOOGENBOOM. (Argonaut, Inc., Chi­ County Forest Preserve along the Des Plaines cago, 1965. Pp. xi, 236. Notes, bibliography, River. Today this metropolis has more near­ index. $8.50.) by wild land than any other large American city. The stated purpose of this book is to demon- Jensen matured late and his style varied trate that the United States was from its in­ little over forty years. He had few architec­ ception dominated by pecuniary interests, tural tricks, although he always included a especially by businessmen. These men are council ring and fireplace in his gardens. depicted as selfish, predatory, and power- Man-made structures were hidden behind hungry. The authors' objective, therefore, is trees and shrubs, making the focal point the not scholarly but essentially propagandistic. out-of-doors. Footnotes in the rear of the book and a limit­ The naturalist retired to Ellison Bay in ed bibliography indicate that the writers re­ 1935 where, in a craggy setting that resembled lied almost entirely upon familiar secondary his Baltic homeland, he established The Clear­ sources, together with some merchants' manu­ ing, a school in which he expounded his ideas scripts. Little new material is presented. The on education and conservation and where he intended audience is not the specialist but "the wrote his testament of faith. The Clearing: serious student and intelligent layman." These A Way of Life, published in Chicago in 1949. are enticed by a lively style, an iconoclastic Jensen's adult classes in art, writing, and attitude, and an air of cynicism associated philosophy continue today under the auspices with a sort of shock technique. of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. The authors' prejudices are so blatant that This is a coffee-table-sized book with beaut­ anyone whose opinions are different from iful photographs, quotations about gardens theirs will be repelled rather than convinced. and conservation, and much pleasing white At the same time historians will resent the space. It is unfortunate that none of Jensen's distortions that result from overwriting. For gardens is reproduced in color. True, his example, colonial society is described as a private gardens are gone—recalled only in pyramid. At the bottom are slaves and in­ the black-and-white pictures of the early dentured servants, the latter "harnessed like 1900's—but public gardens in Springfield and beasts of burden, literally slaving to pay for Racine might have glowed in color. their passage" (p. 49). The next paragraph The author, Leonard Eaton of the Univer­ introduces us to the "aristocracy" which is sity of Michigan, visited scenes of Jensen's "aided by the specialized talents of intellectu­ Danish childhood and interviewed the artist's als and organization men," and which influ­ former clients. He has produced a delightful enced "the legislature, the courts, the police book in somewhat old-fashioned style about force and the church." In the following sen­ an old-fashioned giant. Wisconsin's Professor tence the upper class is contrasted with "lowly G. W. Longenecker suffers a misspelled name, commoners and slaves." We are informed, two and May Theilgaard Watts, botanist of the pages on, that opportunities to rise were limit­ Morton Arboretum, fellow Dane and disciple, ed, so that normally "the low-born ended their is simply missing. And there is no index. But days in poverty and filth," and "barefooted this biography should place Jensen, who has boys who came to the city seeking their for­ received little credit for his work, far in the tunes wound up in the slums." The authors lead of today's gray-flannel park planners. then assert that not a single member of New York's Chamber of Commerce was a "self- DORIS H. PLATT made man," although in fact at least one third The State Historical Society of Wisconsin were. For the most part such factual mistakes

250 BOOK REVIEWS are avoided, but the text is studded with political leaders and of generals and officers questionable generalizations, usually without on both sides of the Atlantic. There are hosts documentation. of extracts from newspapers and many a let­ The book contains three sections. The first ter from merchants trying to carry on business. sketches, with an economic twist, the found­ In addition there is much material on such ing of the colonies and their development into events as the capture of Ticonderoga, Lexing­ the eighteenth century. The second outlines ton and Concord, Bunker Hill, the "powder colonial society and social thought, stressing plot" at Williamsburg, and so on. In fact the class distinctions, and presents certain features volume contains much that is only remotely of the economic system and economic ideas, related, if at all, to conventional naval history. emphasizing entrepreneurial aspects and lais­ The October, 1965, issue of The William sez-faire doctrines. The authors are able to and Mary Quarterly contains a long and dev­ draw on their own research for some of this astating review of the volume in which the material, which is the most nearly original editor is charged with the random selection of portion of the book. Finally, three chapters documents, the frequent use of inadequate and deal with the economic relations between the incorrect transcripts rather than original colonies and England, ending in 1776. The sources, the giving of incorrect citations, and general tone of the work points toward an the like. The criticisms in that review are well economic interpretation of the revolutionary taken. The question is: Is the volume any movement, but the authors avoid any inter­ good at all? It does contain much that has pretation at all, and they end without drawing not been printed before which will be useful any conclusions. for scholars, if they use it with caution. And by reading through the documents as given, The purpose of the third section is doubtful one can acquire a very real appreciation of and that of the whole book is obscure. It is the confusion, uncertainty, and often sheer entertaining, but as history it is suitable chaos involved in the breakup of a once or­ neither for students nor for the general public, dered society as it drifted toward revolution, while scholars will learn nothing from it. a revolution that very few indeed seemed to realize was upon them. JACKSON T. MAIN University of Maryland MERRILL JENSEN University of Wisconsin

Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume L Edited by WILLIAM BELL CLARK. (United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1964. Pp. xlii, 1,451. Illustra­ The War for America, 1775-1783. By PIERS tions, notes bibliography, index. $9.00.) MACKESY. (Harvard University Press, Cam­ bridge, 1964. Pp. XX, 565. Illustrations, notes, This is a new age in the publication of multi- maps, bibliography, index. $10.00.) volumed collections of the sources of American history. But most projects now under way Despite a renewed interest in the American seem destined to look like minnows compared Revolution by scholars, until recently there to the fifteen volumes, "at least," of the Naval have been few studies that focused on Great Documents of the American Revolution. The Britain's response to the colonies' bid for in­ first volume covers the nine months from De­ dependence. In the past two years, however, cember 1774 to September 1775 and is divid­ we have had an excellent biography of Sir ed into four sections: two on the "American Henry Clinton by William B. Willcox, Gerald Theatre," and two on the "European Theatre." S. Brown's study of Lord George Germain as The material included ranges from debates Colonial Secretary, and the volume under con­ in Parliament to the proceedings of local com­ sideration here. Piers Mackesy's The War for mittees in America enforcing the Association America. Of the three, Mackesy's study is of the First Continental Congress; from re­ certainly the most ambitious. He set for him­ ports of French agents setting up a spy ring self the task of examining "the making and in London to those of obscure local customs execution of strategy in one of England's officers in America beset by patriotic mobs. great eighteenth-century wars. ..." The re­ There are letters of British and American sult is an admirable study of the North min-

251 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 istry's attempt, and ultimate failure, to cope colonies were lost, not because of ministerial with a colonial insurrection which became incompetence, but because the strategic pro­ a world war. blems facing the North ministry after 1778 Mr. Mackesy (Fellow of Pembroke College, would have defied even a Pitt's energy and Oxford) presents a picture of the North ad­ ability. ministration which is in marked contrast to those found in older histories which often JONATHAN G. ROSSIE summarily dismissed North, Germain, and The St. Lawrence University Sandwich as a trio of incompetents. Judging the ministers, "in the light of circumstances rather than results," Mackesy concludes that they performed well under exceptionally dif­ ficult conditions. They had the task of main­ taining some 60,000 soldiers around the world, mostly in hostile country — "a feat The King's Friends: The Composition and never paralleled in the past, and in relative Motives of the American Loyalist Claimants. terms never attempted again by any power By WALLACE BROWN. (Brown University until the twentieth century." While Britain Press, Providence, 1965. Pp. xiv, 411. Tables, might have achieved a temporary solution to notes, select bibliography, maps, index. $7.00.) the rebellion of her American colonies, once France entered the conflict in 1778, Britain From October, 1782, until March 25, 1790, found herself embroiled in a world war with a British commission investigated and com­ her traditional Bourbon enemies, and, for the pensated the American Loyalists for losses suf­ first time, without allies on the Continent. fered during the Revolution. Mr. Brown in Then the North ministry was faced with the The King's Friends has used data from 2,908 impossible job of simultaneously quelling a claims, supplemented with other primary and colonial rebellion, securing control of the seas, secondary sources to answer two questions: defending Britain's far-flung Empire, and "Who were the Loyalists, and why were they meeting the threat of a French invasion of loyal?" He attempts to answer these questions the home isles. The resources at the command by including statistical information on occu­ of the government were simply not sufficient pation, residence, population, immigration, re­ for this Herculean task, and when those re­ ligion, wealth, social position, suffering, mili­ sources were exhausted, the North ministry tary activity, and motives of the claimants. A collapsed and the war came to an end. separate chapter is devoted to each of the thir­ Mr. Mackesy presents a convincing argu­ teen states, and a concluding chapter provides ment in support of his thesis, that circum­ a summary. The appendix contains nuiuerous stances rather than men were responsible for statistical tables that support his conclusions. Great Britain's losing the war for America. While the author has used many different However, in his enthusiasm for absolving in­ sources, he depends exclusively on the records dividuals of blame for the outcome of the war, of the British claims commission for his sta­ the author has tended to excuse indiscrimin­ tistical tables. Since these claimants amounted ately actions by members of the government. to less than 2 per cent of the estimated 160,000 This tendency is particularly evident when he Tories, the claims data is of questionable value deals with Lord George Germain whose ignor­ as a basis for generalizing about the Loyalists. ance of American conditions had disastrous Mr. Brown admits that these claimants are results for British attempts to subdue the "not synonymous with all the Loyalists," but colonies. Thus Mackesy, in his efforts to do seems to lose sight of this qualification in the justice to the North ministry, has at times been course of the book. Among other things the guilty of being too kind in his treatment of information provided by Loyalist petitioners its real failures. occasionally gives a distorted picture of the While some of Mr. Mackesy's assertions and geographical concentration of Tories. Mr. conclusions may be questioned by historians, Brown admits this is the case in New York there is no denying that this volume is a major City and in Delaware, but he ignores the contribution to the historiography of the strong Tory activity in Somerset and Worces­ American Revolution. By placing the Ameri­ ter counties of Maryland because they pro­ can war for independence in its proper con­ vided only two claimants. A small number of text of global conflict, the author succeeds in claimants from an area does not necessarily proving his contention that the American indicate that the Loyalists were weak; it may

252 BOOK REVIEWS result instead from ineffective Patriot activity The conclusion, occasionally expressed and or the fact that the Tories were too strong to often implied, is that Southerners who de­ be forced out. tested slavery because it corrupted the white The transcripts of the Loyalist claims re­ man and retarded the development of the veal a number of other problems. Despite the South might have found a rational solution rigid methods of the commissioners, the claim­ to the problem if left to their own devices. ants may have provided false information Professor Robert McColley demonstrates about the amount of their losses. An examina­ that this chain of assumptions rests largely tion of the testimony of supporting witnesses on the flimsy testimony of Virginians, who gives the impression that some collaborated paraded their reprobation of slavery in public on their stories. The author, moreover, has in order to forestall an external attack. Among been highly selective in the statistics he used. themselves, no Virginian except St. George He could have investigated the extent of prop­ Tucker advanced a practical proposal for the erty losses in terms of acres, carriages, slaves, elimination of slavery. Virginians were un­ vessels, or livestock. Nor has he examined in able to develop their antislavery views into detail the data on battles fought, fines paid, a program of action because of a fundamental length of imprisonment, and when and where belief in the racial inferiority of the Negro claimants joined the British. and because the institution was generally popu­ The book, nevertheless, is well written and lar in Virginia — an antislavery platform contains an interesting discussion of Loyalist would have been political suicide. The few motivations. The concluding chapter, maps statesmen like George Washington and John (which need dates) on each state, accurate Randolph, who freed their slaves in their statistical charts, and excellent organization wills, were not being honest with themselves, all increase its value. This book should serve the Negro, or posterity. Virginia Quakers, as an invaluable guide to those interested in who did believe in the equality of the Negro, the nature and motivation of the American freed their slaves during their lifetimes, made Loyalist claimants. an effort to educate them, and provided land, sometimes on a sharecropping basis.

DAVID E. MAAS Genuine antislavery sentiment was rare in University of Wisconsin Jeffersonian Virginia because the institution itself was stable and profitable, even without cotton culture. The price of slaves remained consistently high throughout the period from the Revolution to the War of 1812, despite CIVIL WAR HISTORY intermittent dislocation of trade. And the rapid expansion of the plantation system, which was inseparable from slavery, was re­ Slavery and Jeffersonian Virginia. By ROBERT sponsible for much of Virginia ideology and MCCOLLEY. (University of Illinois Press, Ur­ politics. The friendship that most Virginians bana, 1964. Pp. 227. Notes, bibliography, felt toward France in the 1790's was due, index. $5.00.) at least in part, to a search for new markets for tobacco on the Continent. After 1800 The observation that slavery was a mori­ France was a valuable ally in dispossessing bund institution, dying from its own waste­ Spain of Florida and Louisiana, which gave ful inefficiency until rescued by the invention the prosperous planters of the Southwest new of the cotton gin, has become almost a truism outlets to the sea. Thus, plantation slavery among historians. Acting on this assumption, was a viable, expanding institution through­ students of the "peculiar institution" have out the Jeffersonian period, and Virginians tended to focus their attention on the cotton were quick to promote and defend its inter­ plantations of the lower South in the 1840's ests long before the North began to criticise and 50's when slavery was viable, profitable, the institution publicly. and expanding. Similarly, historians who have Although generally convincing, McColley's examined the political background for the argument does have some minor flaws. Evi­ Civil War often blame the Northern assault dence from plantation records which he on slavery, beginning with the Missouri con­ has examined seems to be largely impression­ troversy and continuing in the columns of istic; he has made no effort to set up a sta­ The Liberator, for the solidification of South­ tistical balance sheet for the profitability of ern sentiment in defense of the institution. slavery. By stressing the fact that Virginia

253 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 planters were highly capitalized entrepreneurs, in starting that collection. It is worth mention­ he concludes that they were investing their ing that Michie was the No. 2 graduate in the capital intelligently and profitably. Yet no­ USMA Class of 1863; chief engineer of the where does he make a clear distinction be­ Army of the James at the end of the war; a tween monetary income from slaves and the member of the Military Academy staff from various intangible returns, such as increased 1867 onward; an outstanding student of mili­ status and leisure. McColley confines himself tary science: and author of an excellent, and to the observation that "Efficient or not impartial book. General McClellan (New slavery proved itself worthwhile for the slave­ York, 1901). holders who ruled Virginia. . . ." This begs Perry began by studying the torpedoes and the question, for it seems entirely possible that other objects related to them, as well as the slavery in Virginia was a dying institution notes and sketches, together with the three which was preserved only for psychological basic early printed works: (1) Captain W. reasons. R. King, USA, Torpedoes: Their Invention Though occasionally vague and ambiguous, and Use, From the First Application to the this book does offer some provocative ideas Art of War to the Present Time (Washington, concerning the importance of slavery in the 1866). This was intended for official use, and coming of the Civil War. Early abolitionists Michie assisted in the preparation, under the who sought the co-operation of Virginia plant­ supervision of General Richard Delafield, ers in limited schemes of removal or coloniza­ Chief of Engineers. (2) Lieutenant Com­ tion were confronted with the response that mander John Sanford Barnes, USN, Sub­ any attempt to meddle with slavery would marine Warfare (New York, 1869). (3) Lieu­ make a bad situation worse. The only solu­ tenant Commander Royal B. Bradford, USN, tion offered by Virginians was to protect the History of Torpedo Warfare (Newport, R.I., property rights of the planter and hope that 1882). the diffusion of slavery into the West would The author attempts to tell the story of the ameliorate the institution. When later gene­ development of what came to be called naval rations of slaveowners in the Southwest proved mines, and he has done as well as is possible as intractable as the early Virginians, North­ with the few documents which escaped de­ ern abolitionists were forced to adopt more struction. On the evacuation of Richmond, extreme programs and more extensive propa­ April, 1865, the files of the Confederate Navy ganda. The only alternative was acquiescence Department were deliberately destroyed, and in the institution, for the political leadership it is explained in these pages that various of Southern society from Virginia to Texas threats against all who were involved in the never demonstrated any ability to inhibit the production of mines or torpedoes induced ad­ expansion of slavery. ditional destruction. The work of Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury and his successor, NORMAN K. RISJORD Lieutenant (later Commander) Hunter David­ son, Lieutenant Beverly Kennon, and other University of Wisconsin naval officers is narrated. Brigadier General Gabriel J. Rains, CSA, who commanded a brigade at Yorktown, used shells with sensitive fuses as land mines and Infernal Machines: The Story of Confederate what came to be called "booby traps." The Submarine and Mine Warfare. By MiLTON F. Union Army encountered these "infernal ma­ PERRY. (Louisiana State University Press, chines" as it advanced up the Peninsula and Baton Rouge, 1965. Pp. xi, 233. Illustrations, through Yorktown in May, 1862. Rains had index. $5.95.) employed similar devices during the Seminole War in Florida, in 1840. Apparently the Milton F. Perry grew up on the shores of identical basic principles are being used in Hampton Roads, Virginia, with an interest in Viet Nam in 1966. Rains had to face opposi­ Confederate history from boyhood, but his tion among high-ranking Confederates who ob­ studies of the subject matter of this volume jected to such devices even against abolition­ began while he was on the staff of the West ists. He was taken from his brigade and made Point Museum. The only large collection of head of the Torpedo Bureau of the CSA. Confederate torpedoes is there, and the author The operations of torpedo boats at Charles­ had access to the notes and sketches of Gen­ ton and elsewhere, the submarine H. L. Hun- eral Peter S. Michie, who was instrumental ley, and the various forms of mine warfare

254 BOOK REVIERTS

in the James River, at Charleston, in Florida, the expansion of democracy, and some for the in Mobile Bay, and on the Western Rivers abolition of slavery. It is also a study of what are discussed. happens to men who get caught up in the ex­ Perry has made an evident and successful perience of war—how some become disillu­ effort to be realistic and factual. He summed sioned, how some change their minds, and how up the matter by writing that Confederate the convictions and power of some are strength­ mines and torpedoes did not materially affect ened. the course of the war, but they did demand Frederickson portrays men's shifting great daring, perseverance, and additional ef­ thoughts, from the mid-1850's to the end of forts on the part of the Federal forces. He the war, in chapters organized around the im­ shows, also, that the Confederates accom­ pact of specific events on the ideas of various plished wonders with their slender resources, men. The same men do not appear in every and their shortages of materials. chapter. Frederickson's emphasis is not so much on the men as on the range of reactions events elicited. John Brown's raid, the seces­ JOHN B. HEFFERNAN, USN (Ret.) sion crisis, Lincoln's call for troops, the Eman­ Washington, D.C. cipation Proclamation, the suffering of sol­ diers, the Peace Movement—the impact of (Rear Admiral Heffernan is the former these events on such "prophets" as Emerson, head of the Naval History Division, De­ Garrison, and Moncure Conway, and on such partment of the Navy.) "conservatives" as Parkman, Henry Bellows, and Charles Eliot Norton luminously fill the first two sections of the book. The third section, a discussion of the war's The Inner Civil War: Northern Intellectuals "legacy" to American thought, is far less ef­ and the Crisis of the Union. By GEORGE M. fective. Frederickson loses the continuity of FREDERICKSON. (Harper & Row, New York, his story when he drops many of the men 1965. Pp. viii, 238. Notes, index. $6.95.) he has been discussing and introduces a lot of new ones. And his materials do not strong­ At the poles of Northern thought in the ly support his contention that the effect of the early 1850's stood two heterogeneous groups war on thought was "comparable" to its ef­ of thinkers with different ideas about the re­ fect on politics and the economy. Undoubtedly lationship between men and institutions. One Holmes' legal realism and William James' anti- group, composed of Transcendentalists, Aboli­ imperialism owed something to the Civil War, tionists, and other "prophets of perfection," but their backgrounds, temperaments, and the championed radical individualism and human­ force of contemporary ideas and events were itarian and moral reform. Generally anti-in­ much more influential in shaping their think­ stitutional, they called for the overthrow or re­ ing. Frederickson does not weigh these last vision of the imperfect governmental, eco­ factors against the impact of the war care­ nomic, and ecclesiastical institutions which fully enough and therefore paints a distorted were checking the progress of perfectible men. picture of the origins of their ideas. The other group, made up of some ministers, The subtitle of the book. Northern Intellec­ professors, and leisured patricians, the "con­ tuals and the Crisis of the Union, raises ques­ servatives" of this "radical age," were aghast tions. In the first place, is it really true, as at such notions. They wanted stronger in­ Frederickson's whole book implies, that there stitutions and a revitalized social elite to hold were almost no "intellectuals" west of Boston, the masses under control, to give guidance New York, Philadelphia, and Washington be­ to "fallible" men. fore and after the war? Frederickson seems Events during the 1850's shook both groups not even to have considered this a problem. and set their ideas about men and institutions And then, what is an "intellectual"? The in motion, until by the end of "the great seces­ author suggests that he is a person who has sion winter" the two had come together in a "a genuine interest in ideas and a powerful common cause: war on the South. George urge to find meaning and coherence in" his Frederickson's The Inner Civil War is a splen­ "experience." All this says is that an "intel­ did study of how and why these thoughtful lectual" is a man who thinks, presumably deep­ and informed Northern men for different rea­ ly, about broad human and social problems, sons made the choice for war—some to and with some knowledge. But this common- strengthen governmental institutions, some for sense and too-widely-used definition is inade-

255 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 quale for historical writing, because it says monographs and important primary sources nothing about a thinking man as a social be­ long out of print. The University of Alabama ing. Press should be commended for its new South­ An intellectual may alternatively be defined ern Historical Publications series which an­ merely as a person whose primary occupation nounces the reissuance of ten volumes cur­ is dealing with symbolic or verbal ideas at a rently to be found only in used book stores. fairly high level and for an audience of more The monograph by the late Ella Lonn, de­ than just people with specialized knowledge. spite its esoteric title, is a major contribution Abraham Lincoln and Oliver Wendell Holmes, toward understanding the plight of the Con­ Jr., were not intellectuals; they were learned federacy. The author of a number of studies and deeply thoughtful men of affairs, one a of the South and the Civil War, Miss Lonn lawyer and politician, the other a judge dur­ ably demonstrated the importance of salt in ing the most important years of his life. Also, determining the course of the war. The thesis intellectuals many times are associated with of the book is that the lack of salt in the Con­ certain institutions, such as universities and federacy created serious problems for the gov­ churches, or certain publications, such as the ernment and the people, and was one of the so-called little magazines of the 1920's and factors bringing about their defeat. Salt was 1930's. These are things a man does. They a necessary ingredient in the diet of the soldier give him a social and personal identity be­ and the civilian, the chief agent used in the yond just the fact that he thinks. preservation of foods and the tanning of These quarrels notwithstanding, Frederick- leather, and a basic element in the diet of son has written an important book on the ideas livestock. Necessity forced the Confederate of a variety of thoughtful and informed men. states to manufacture salt and then to defend Not the least of its merits is its revelation of the salt industry from the Union army. The men, human beings, being tested in the fires book clearly shows the lack of industrial de­ of war. No story could be grimmer or more velopment in the region and its dependence timeless and timely. on outside sources for basic needs. The re­ issuance of this monograph, first published STANLEY MALLACH in 1933, will delight the Civil War buff, but it will also aid the scholar concerned with The State Historical Society of Wisconsin the Confederacy and the economy of the South. In the period from Appomattox to the end of Reconstruction in 1877, a number of vis­ itors toured the South and recorded their im­ Salt as a Factor in the Confederacy. By ELLA pressions in magazine articles, newspaper LoNN. (Southern Historical Publications No. columns, and books. The importance of the 4. University of Alabama Press, University, travel accounts of Whitelaw Reid, Charles 1965. Pp. viii, 324. Notes, bibliography, Nordhoff, John T. Trowbridge, and others has maps, index. $5.95.) long been recognized. New editions of the writings of John Richard Dennett and Robert The Southern States Since the War, 1870-71. Somers have made available further narratives By ROBERT SOMERS. Introduction and index of post-1865 travelers. by MALCOLM C. MCMILLAN. (Southern His­ Henry M. Christman, a contributor to con­ torical Publications No. 1. University of Ala­ temporary periodicals, has edited the writings bama Press, University, 1965. Pp. xxi, 293. of Dennett, which first appeared as a thirty- Notes, maps, index. $5.95.) six-part series in The Nation. Dennett traveled extensively through the South talking to people The South As It Is: 1865-1866. By JOHN and gathering data. His "letters" to The Na­ RICHARD DENNETT. Edited and with an in­ tion began in July of 1865, and continued troduction by HENRY M. CHRISTMAN. (The through the following April. He became con­ Viking Press, New York, 1965. Pp. xi, 370. vinced that the Federal government had failed $6.95.) to accept the opportunity to bring about per­ manent change in the Southern states. His pes­ The appearance of these three books testi­ simistic reports conveyed the pathos of a peo­ fies to the fact that both scholars and general ple, living in a destroyed land, unable to accept readers are benefiting from the publications the physical and mental agonies of defeat. explosion. Not only are publishers making It is extremely unfortunate that editor Christ- available new manuscripts, but also the older man provided only a short biographical in-

256 BOOK REVIEWS troduction to The South As It Is; the absence The chief goal of the amendment's Republi­ of explanatory footnotes, and, more import­ can framers was enfranchisement of the North­ antly, of an index, is regrettable. ern Negro, with the preservation and protec­ Professor Malcolm McMillan of Auburn tion of Negro voting in the South being only University has provided a biography of Robert a peripheral objective. The Republican pre­ Somers and a comprehensive index to this occupation and concern with the Northern new edition of Somers' journal. In 1870, vote is readily apparent, and there seems lit­ Somers began a lengthy circuitous journey tle reason to dispute the point. By 1869, hav­ from Washington through the lower South to ing alternately wooed and coerced Negro New Orleans, and back to the national capital. voters, the Southern Democrats had destroyed A Scottish journalist, he kept a diary of his the Republican party's hopes for a reliable five months of traveling and with little polish­ Southern political base. The close presidential ing it was published in London in 1871. With vote of 1868 convinced the party of a greater no point of view to promulgate, Somers sim­ need to secure Northern Negro voting. In state ply reported the events of the trip, the sights after state, it was a fair assumption that Ne­ he saw, and the feelings of the people to whom gro Republican votes would have altered a he spoke. As Professor McMillan indicates, defeat or a close race into a clear Republican one of the major contributions made by victory. But the priority for Negro voting Somers was his detailed analysis of Southern directly affronted a widespread Northern de­ railroads. Somers wrote in a much more opti­ sire, as expressed in numerous referendums, mistic spirit than had Dennett four years for an exclusively white suffrage. The con­ earlier, and he saw conditions greatly im­ flict between party needs and constituent proved by Radical Reconstruction. The South­ wishes resulted in the limited language of the ern States Since the War should be a prime constitutional amendment, omitting any bans source for the revisionist historian. or guarantees relating to the right to vote except for racial discrimination.

KEITH L. BRYANT, JR. The Fifteenth Amendment, as the Supreme University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee Court later declared in United States v. Reese, did "not confer the right of suffrage upon anyone." The amendment merely proscribed racial restrictions and did not prevent states from instituting poll taxes, educational re­ GENERAL HISTORY quirements, and literacy tests. Inadvertent­ ly, Gillette's material scuttles the facile as­ sumption that the Court emasculated the aims and intentions of the amendment. Contempo­ The Right to Vote: Politics and Passage of rary opinion—conservatives, radicals. Demo­ the Fifteenth Amendment. By WILLIAM GIL­ crats, Republicans, supporters and foes alike— LETTE. (The Johns Hopkins University Press, recognized the amendment's limited and nega­ Baltimore, 1965. Pp. 181. Bibliography, in­ tive qualities. When the Court acted in 1876, dex. $4.50.) the justices implemented the underlying as­ sumption, if not the intent, at the time of pas­ sage in 1869. William Gillette's The Right to Vote is limit­ ed specifically to the background, passage, While Mr. Gillette has written a useful book, and ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment. he has, however, contributed to the current, Within the author's self-imposed confines, and somewhat distorted, historiographical there is much to praise. He is, for example, trend which views Reconstruction in one- alert to the subtleties and intricacies of intra-, dimensional fashion. Because today's head­ as well as inter-party, maneuverings. Then, lines and interests often center on the struggle too, he ably has chronicled the politics of for equality, historians eagerly grasp for roots ratification. He especially is to be congratu­ and antecedents. Indeed, they are to be found lated on his mastery of the complicated settings in the 1860's and 1870's; but for Gillette and situations peculiar to the individual states (among many others) to label efforts in be­ and various regions. Gillette's purpose was to half of the Negro as the "original purpose," qualify and supplement John Mabry Mathews's and the Fifteenth Amendment as the "key­ 1909 monograph on the same subject; to be stone" of Reconstruction, is to misconstrue the sure, Gillette offers a deeper analysis and un­ meaning and idea of Reconstruction. The derstanding of the problem. struggle for Negro freedom and equality is

257 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 merely one aspect of a complex, revolutionary the sidewalks — and penthouses — of New era. If Reconstruction properly is dated from York. Southern political leaders responded the Republican assumption of power in Con­ to Roosevelt's apparent commitment to Jef­ gress in 1861—not after Appomatox—and the fersonian states rights yet, as Freidel indi­ whole party program is taken into account, cates, Roosevelt would become "a prime agent" then the contemporary concern for the Negro of change in the South. The destinies of man might be seen in more accurate perspective. and region remained intertwined •— sometimes It is difficult to imagine a political party sin- constricting and sometimes liberating for gle-mindedly pursuing a goal which so alien­ each. Both the South and Roosevelt faced ated and violated the support and opinion dilemmas. For Southern politicians the temp­ necessary for success. As Gillette concedes, tation of federal aid was as irresistible as the Negro enfranchisement conflicted with North­ concomitant alterations in the status quo were ern white attitudes; ratification of the Fif­ threatening. The President, equally torn, in­ teenth Amendment was achieved only by sisted upon change, yet necessarily depended cracking the party whip, so to speak. Despite upon Bourbon leadership in Congress to the contradiction, the Republican program and achieve it. Freidel speaks of "the New Deal candidates persisted in attracting Northern versus Bourbonism," and suggests that North­ votes. Maybe, just maybe, that party had the ern pressure and Roosevelt's own convictions personalities, the organic program, and the kept the President "an energetic New Dealer purposes which appealed to other values, other in his Southern policies." Yet one wonders principles, and other prejudices. whether the categories "Bourbon" and "New Dealer" were as mutually exclusive as Freidel STANLEY I. KUTLER implies. Some Bourbons were New Dealers University of Wisconsin and, regrettably, many New Dealers were oc­ casionally Bourbons — the President not ex­ cluded. F.D.R. and the South. By FRANK FREIDEL. (Louisiana State University Press, Baton Race relations, the theme of Freidel's final Rouge, 1965. Pp. X, 102. $3.25.) essay, prove the point. Here, too, Freidel finds paradox: Roosevelt sought to avoid angering The Forgotten Farmers. By DAVID EUGENE the North or antagonizing the South; hence CONRAD. (University of Illinois Press, Ur­ his "civil rights dilemma." Yet the President, bana, 1965. Pp. 223. Tables, notes, index. Freidel concedes, was relatively uninterested $5.00.) in changing Southern mores and he refused to jeopardize any New Deal measures by Most Americans, wrote W. J. Cash, have pressing for a major Negro demand, anti- shared the conviction that the South is "an­ lynching legislation. Did Roosevelt, then, con­ other land," a region internally homogeneous front the dilemma — or did he avoid it? Was and emotionally at war with the nation. Two he the New Dealer who fought Bourbons, or recent volumes implicity test this proposition the New Dealer who held hands with them for the New Deal years. Frank Freidel, Har­ until they squeezed so hard that he had to let vard historian and Roosevelt biographer, de­ go, only to discover that he could no longer livered the Walter Lynwood Fleming Lectures escape? Freidel clearly demonstrates that the in Southern History at Louisiana State Uni­ New Deal changed, and was changed by, the versity; now published, these lectures probe South. But he proves, too, that there was no the uneasy alliance between Roosevelt and "South"; only Souths, none of which ever the South. In no area was this alliance so won Roosevelt's total commitment. severely put to the test as in New Deal agri­ There is no better example of this than cultural policy, one facet of which is the sub­ New Deal agricultural policy and its disas- ject of David Eugene Conrad's The Forgotten terous impact on Southern sharecroppers. Ig­ Farmers, winner of the 1964 Agricultural His­ nored when the Agricultural Adjustment Act tory Society Award. was framed, sharecroppers suffered when it Freidel's suggestive essays offer variations was implemented by county agents who spoke on the theme of paradox. Roosevelt appealed solely for planter interests. Arkansas became to the South as a "Georgia farmer-politician": a microcosm of the larger problem. There, the farmer with extensive acreage in Warm displacement of sharecroppers resulting from Springs; the patrician politician who offered acreage reduction generated volatile political deliverance in 1932 from a Democratic party protests, clearly manifested in the organiza­ dominated by Al Smith and his friends from tion of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union

258 BOOK REVIEWS in 1934. The union's bete noire was Arkansas make sound judgements." Frank Freidel's Senator Joseph Robinson, who had skillfully generalizations require careful monographic guided the Agricultural Adjustment bill studies that may either refute or reaffirm the through the Senate and just as skillfully author's hypotheses. The Forgotten Farmers, branded its sharecroppers critics as commun­ careless and ambivalent throughout, does ists and socialists (which only some of them neither. were). Robinson, of course, was Democratic JEROLD S. AUERBACH majority leader and Roosevelt's right-hand Brandeis University man. The sharecropper problem, a litmus test of the administration's commitment to power­ Turner, Bolton, and Webb: Three Historians less, as well as to powerful, interests, plagued of the American Frontier. By WILBUR R. New Dealers for years. Advocates of the JACOBS, JOHN W. CAUGHEY, and JOE B. sharecroppers' cause were purged from the FRANTZ. (University of Washington Press, Agricultural Adjustment Administration in Seattle, 1965. Pp. xiv, 113. Photographs, note 1935, when they attempted to rewrite cotton on sources, selected bibliographies, index. contracts to meet sharecropper grievances. $2.95.) Only after the 1936 election, however (when Robinson also faced a re-election campaign), Each of these essays began as a paper de­ did the administration do more than genuflect livered at the meeting of the Western History to the South's "forgotten farmers." Association at Salt Lake City in October, 1963. They were published the following year in If skillfully related and carefully analysed, the association's handsome new magazine. The these developments would contribute to our American West, and are now republished, understanding of the various New Deal conun­ somewhat expanded, in book form. In the drums that intrigued Freidel. But David main, the essays are shaped by their subjects. Eugene Conrad, of Southwest Texas State Col­ Jacobs' piece is an essay in historiography lege, has failed on both counts. His book is by a scholar who has come to know Turner artlessly written and suffers from an ambiv­ through his writings and through the Turner alent interpretative framework. Conrad is papers in various repositories. What emerge master of the banal sentence ("Franklin Roose­ most clearly were Turner's difficulties as a velt became President on March 4, 1933.") writer, his self-doubts about his capacity to and the awkward phrase ("The thing which master and synthesize his data, and his prob­ galvanized them. . . ."). Unfortunately, he is lems in explaining his view of history to his also the prisoner of contradictions within his colleagues in the profession. One is faintly own analysis. embarrassed by all of this—embarrassed that Early in his study Conrad concedes that Turner should be so exposed, embarrassed "there was probably no course open to AAA that the historian's scalpel should so remorse­ but the one it took. . . ." That is, political lessly peel away layer after layer of Turner's pressures made the sharecroppers expendable; outer shell, embarrassed that Turner should thus the strategy of liberals, who sought lose rather than gain stature in the process. amelioration, was "unwise and impractical." But few creative people—whether artists, But Conrad never is entirely convinced. On poets, novelists, or scholars—can survive such the one hand, he asserts, disruption of the dissection. The irony, of course, is that com­ tenancy system would have been a political mentaries on Turner are already far more disaster, yet on the other it was a "tragedy" voluminous than Turner's own writings, and that the system was maintained. He speaks that there are careers to be made in this sec­ of "unforeseen problems for which there are ondhand way. no solutions," but in the following sentence Caughey and Frantz, by contrast, offer un­ he insists that "most unforeseen difficulties pretentious appreciations of their respective [can] be overcome." Reinterpretation of the mentors. Each author writes with affectionate cotton contract probably would have been warmth; each writes out of his own first-hand "impossible to enforce," and Agriculture Sec­ experience with the man. Yet each neverthe­ retary Wallace "chose the easier path" by less succeeds in conveying an assessment of the purging the liberals, yet reinterpretation "was scholar, teacher, and man. One learns so much an action well calculated to disrupt the entire that is interesting or new or amusing or in­ cotton program, . . . and tear AAA apart." triguing that one is encouraged to reread Bol­ Perhaps realizing that he has only muddied ton and Webb. the waters of historical understanding, Conrad PETER J. COLEMAN lamely concludes that "it is still difficult to The State Historical Society of Wisconsin

259 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

Railroads and Regulation, 1877-1916. By Despite his use of previously untapped GABRIEL KOLKO. (Princeton University Press, sources, notably railroad trade journals and Princeton, 1965. Pp. viii, 273. Notes, index, congressional archives, Kolko fails to prove bibliography. $5.00.) his central contention that the internal needs of the industry forced railroad leaders to sup­ Why did politicians of the late nineteenth port federal regulation. Part of this failure and early twentieth centuries create so many results from his persistent assumption that commissions to regulate business? Who was railroad leaders presented a united stand on responsible for the enactment and operation issues of regulation. Although he sometimes of these regulatory agencies? Until quite re­ notes their disagreements, he consistently cently historians have assumed that federal writes of "the railroads" as though they were regulation of businesses proceeded from a a monolithic group. As a result, his discus­ widespread popular distrust of the practices of sions of railroad thinking are imprecise and the capitalists. vague; they fail to prove convincingly that A few recent historians are vigorously chal­ the railroads shared common thoughts. An lenging this assumption. None of them has equally important part of his failure stems received more attention than Gabriel Kolko, from his reliance on railroad journals. Had whose The Triumph of Conservatism (1963) he chosen to argue that farmers and shippers argued that federal regulation derived not were responsible for federal railroad regula­ from the "public interest," but from the very tion, he could have proved that thesis by re­ businesses to be regulated. In Railroads and lying on their sources. Boards of trade and Regulation, Kolko examines in detail the most chambers of commerce in Wisconsin, for persistent and famous area of federal regula­ example, repeatedly led battles against rail­ tion. roads in the courts and in the legislatures. He concludes that the railroads themselves Similarly, many farmer organizations and were primarily responsible for every piece of journals frequently lambasted railroad prac­ regulatory legislation from the Interstate Com­ tices. What he regards as minor concessions merce Act of 1887 to the Transportation Act by the railroads were sometimes major vic­ of 1920. Driven by their desire to lessen tories for shippers. And no matter what regu­ competition after the failure of voluntary rate lation the railroads accepted, they could gen­ agreements, the railroad leaders of the late erally count on the courts to mitigate any pos­ nineteenth century sought federal "regulation" sible harmful effects. which would, in effect, end disastrous rate wars. The railroads obtained their objective But the most fundamental criticism of his with the Interstate Commerce Commission, thesis that railroads actively sought federal which did their bidding throughout the 1890's, regulation to remedy internal problems is and roundly condemned the Supreme Court's offered by Kolko himself. He presents con­ decisions in 1897 and 1898 which prohibited siderable evidence—sometimes through the self-regulation (i.e., pools and rate associa­ back door—^that what motivated the railroads tions) by the railroads. Railroads formed an was the fear of aroused citizens, and especial­ alliance with principal shippers to secure the ly of state regulatory and taxation laws. Far Elkins Act of 1903, and while "shippers and from looking at regulation as a positive good, the general public were strangely apathetic," the railroads sought only the least possible the railroads, aided by the conservative Theo­ federal regulation to silence the voices of pro­ dore Roosevelt, rammed through the Hepburn test. The Union Pacific's Charles Francis Act of 1906 "to destroy rebating and stabilize Adams, Jr., for example, summarized railroad rates." The Mann-Elkins Act of 1910 was a motives behind the Interstate Commerce Act compromise between conservatives and in­ of 1887: "What is desired ... is something surgents, and it did nothing to harm the rail­ having a good sound, but quite harmless, roads, who actually favored it. No President which will impress the popular mind with the was a greater friend of the railroads than idea that a great deal is being done, when, Woodrow Wilson, and the Transportation Act in reality, very little is intended to be done." of 1920 "represents the final victory of the During the Hepburn Act debate, the Railroad railroads under the Wilson Administration, Gazette, a major trade journal, argued that and was the logical culmination of their more if the railways ignored "the strong public than forty years of agitation and education feeling against corporations, in general and for comprehensive federal railroad regulation the railroads in particular," "a national party designed to provide rationalization and sta­ will grow up, having as its principal platform bility to the industry." a basis of hostility to railroads . . . which will

260 BOOK REVIEWS do far more harm than any legislation now work of history written by someone who has contemplated." In 1912, another trade jour­ seen a great deal of the evidence on a particu­ nal, the Railway Record, summarized the im­ lar subject, and gone to the trouble of pre­ pact of state regulatory laws, an impact which senting it in narrative and analytic form, so Kolko also notes: "The supervision of the that the truth of it will be as apparent as pos­ Interstate Commerce Commission, in its ob- sible, will find this to be a competently edited noxiousness, is as nothing compared with what example of that form of historical writing the state commissions have sought to enforce." which they strangely prefer. Teachers of col­ This theme of persistent railroad attempts to lege and even high-school history classes will seek the minimum possible regulation, and find it to be a convenient source of interesting that on a federal level, to propitiate the de­ quotations and examples, with which to en­ mands of insurgents, especially in state legis­ liven their lectures. latures, recurs throughout Kolko's book. GORDON E. PARKS And it is this which is Kolko's contribution. Wisconsin State University—Whitewater He suggests that when historians focus on federal regulation they lose sight of the main thrust of progressivism, which was on the Father Coughlin and the New Deal. By state level. That, at least, was where the rail­ CHARLES J. TULL. (Syracuse University Press, road leaders feared the progressives. Syracuse, New York, 1965. Pp. x, 292. Illus­ trations, notes, appendices, bibliographical DAVID P. THELEN note, index. $6.50.) University of Wisconsin There were so many colorful individuals during the depression decade who demanded and held the spotlight for a time that there is The Making of the American Party System: always the possibility that the role of one or 1789 to 1809. Edited by NOBLE E. CUNNING­ another will be overlooked. Father Charles E. HAM, JR. (Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Coughlin of Royal Oak, Michigan, is such Cliffs, N. J., 1965. Pp. xiv, 177. Editorial a figure. One of the most obvious of person­ notes. Paperbound. $1.95.) alities during the thirties, the noisy priest's significance has become progressively dimmer This is a selection of documents and parts as he lives out his own life quietly performing of documents illustrative of the conclusions pastoral duties. Charles J. TuU's book, then, which Professor Cunningham has already pre­ is timely, for it would just not do for Father sented in two excellent books. Those familiar Coughlin to become a footnote. with Cunningham's books on the American Here was a man that radio made, a brilliant party system during the period covered by this orator who discovered that he was just as volume will find little that is new in it except, effective as a voice in a box as he was in a perhaps, a larger sampling than they gave of pulpit or, perspiring and stripping off his the flavors of American political thought and clerical collar, before a crowd of thousands. expression in the late eighteenth and early Coughlin's first broadcast was in October, nineteenth centuries. 1926, on the "Golden Hour of the Little Those unfamiliar with those two books Flower," a children's program which was de­ would do well to read them, for they will learn signed as a means of raising funds for church much more from the full work of a good his­ building. Only occasionally did the priest torian than they can from a small sample of interject political or economic asides on the the data he consulted in the course of his "Golden Hour," but by 1932 politics and eco­ labors. Those who are inclined to doubt what nomics had taken over the show. The Sunday others assert may enjoy having this volume afternoon broadcasts were no longer for chil­ handy while they read Professor Cunning­ dren, or even religious, but excoriations of ham's other books, so that they may verify for the Hoover Administration for its seeming in­ themselves at least some of the many insights difference to the plight of depression America. he has gained into the origins and early opera­ Coughlin was one of Franklin D. Roosevelt's tion of the two-party system in the United earliest supporters, booming "Roosevelt or States. Those—they must exist, for publishers Ruin!" over his large radio network. But must sell books like this to someone—who Coughlin, who seemed to view himself as a prefer a small sample of historical evidence, member of the administration (he often ad­ made by someone else, to a more orthodox dressed Roosevelt as "boss" or "chief"), soon

261 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 soured on the New Deal. As Tull points out what extent were Coughlin's ecclesiastical su­ in one of his best sections, the priest con­ periors responsible for the priest's vicious ceived of the depression almost exclusively as anti-Semitism during his "Christian Front" a financial problem. When Roosevelt ignored period? Tull gingerly evades the question. He his incoherent, crazy-quilt economic advice, recounts how Archbishop Mooney of Detroit Coughlin broke with the President. tolerated Coughlin's diatribes for several years TuU's account is factually informative, an without comment although the Archbishop excellent source from which to learn about spoke up promptly in 1937 to censure Coughlin Coughlin's public career. The book traces that for calling Roosevelt "stupid." TuU's implica­ career meticulously and is at its best in exam­ tion that Mooney feared Coughlin's great ining Father Coughlin's relationship with power is not entirely convincing. Tull himself Roosevelt and the grotesque confusion of approvingly cites an essay by James Shenton Coughlin's thought. (Never has there been in the Wisconsin Magazine of History (Au­ a more inept demagogue. Coughlin constantly tumn, 1960) which demonstrates that Cough­ contradicted himself and, carried away by the lin's power was negligible after his break with hysteria of his own oratory, frequently made Roosevelt. rash statements which he later had to retract TuU's assertion that one priest could not humbly and publicly—only to return to name- speak for the American Catholic Church is calling and retractions once again.) true as far as it goes, but he also writes that The weakness of the book is its super­ "it is clear that Coughlin's radio talks were ficiality. While Tull has skillfully and com­ being preread by Church authorities." The pletely narrated the external story, there is implication is ugly, but it is also difficult to little analysis in depth of questions of con­ avoid. Tull manages the evasion by adding siderable historical interest. In fairness, it with fatuous perplexity: "What is not clear is must be noted that TuU's research was handi­ why the censors failed to tone [the anti- capped "by the refusal of Father Coughlin and Semitic broadcasts] down." Such delicacy is the Detroit Archdiocese to cooperate in any not a very recommending virtue in the writing way." But while this explains the book's fail­ of biography. ings, it does not necessarily excuse them. JOSEPH R. CONLIN For example, an inevitable question is: to Rider College

BOOK REVIEWS: Beers, The French & British in the Old Northwest: Oilman and Holmquist (eds.). Selections from A Bibliographical Guide to Archive and Manu­ "Minnesota History": A Fiftieth Anniversary An­ script Sources, reviewed by Alice E. Smith .... 245 thology, reviewed by Clifford L. Lord 248 Beers, The French in North America: A Biblio­ Jacobs, Caughey, and Frantz, Turner, Bolton, and graphical Guide to French Archives, Reproductions, Webb: Three Historians of the American Frontier, and Research Missions, reviewed by Alice E. reviewed by Peter J. Coleman 259 Smith 245 Kolko, Railroads and Regulation, 1877-1916, reviewed Brown, The King's Friends: The Composition and by David P. Thelen 260 Motives of the American Loyalist Claimants, re­ Lonn, Salt As a Factor in the Confederacy, reviewed viewed by David E. Maas 252 by Keith L. Bryant, Jr 256 Clark (ed.). Naval Documents of the American Revo­ McColley, Slavery and Jeffersonian Virginia, reviewed by Norman K. Risjord 253 lution, Vol. 1, reviewed by Merrill Jensen 251 McDermott (ed.). The French in the Mississippi Val­ Conrad, The Forgotten Farmers, reviewed by Jerold ley, reviewed by Alice E. Smith 245 S. Auerbach 258 Mackesy, The War for America, 1775-1783, reviewed Cunningham (ed.). The Making of the American by Jonathan G. Rossie 251 Party System: 1789 to 1830, reviewed by Gordon Miyakawa, Protestants and Pioneers: Individualism E. Parks 261 and Conformity on the American Frontier, reviewed Dennett, The South As It Is: 1865-1866, reviewed by Roger L. Nichols 247 by Keith L. Bryant, Jr 256 Perry, Infernal Machines: The Story of Confederate Eaton, Landscape Artist in America: The Life and Submarine and Mine Warfare, reviewed by John Work of Jens Jensen, reviewed by Doris H. B. Heffernan 254 Piatt 249 Somers, The Southern States Since the War, 1870-71, reviewed by Keith L. Bryant, Jr 256 Frederickson, The Crisis of the Union, reviewed by Sachs and Hoogenboom, The Enterprising Colonials: Stanley Mallach 255 Society on the Eve of the Revolution, reviewed by Freidel, F.D.R. and the South, reviewed by Jerold S. Jackson T. Main 250 Auerbach 258 Shover, Cornbelt Rebellion: The Farmers' Holiday Gillette, The Right to Vote: Politics and Passage of Association, reviewed by Homer E. Socolofsky 247 the Fifteenth Amendment, reviewed by Stanley I. Tull, Father Coughlin and the New Deal, reviewed Kutler 257 by James R. Conlin 261

262 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Bibliographical Notes State University-Stevens Point, tells the story of the streetcar's rise and fall in a paperbound Unless otherwise noted, all publications listed booklet replete with graphs and appealingly are available for use in the Society's Library. nostalgic photographs. Interested persons may borrow these and other publications by requesting their local libraries The John R. Commons Labor Reference to obtain them on inter-library loan. Where no Center, sponsored jointly by the Society and local library exists, they may write directly to the University of Wisconsin and housed in the Society. the Society's building, has just issued the first number of a mimeographed "Labor Resources On the afternoon of July Fourth, 1899, the in the Libraries: A List of Selected Recent first streetcars bravely left Waupaca on the Acquisitions." Individuals or libraries wish­ five-and-a-half-mile run to the GAR Home ing to be put on the list to receive the present at nearby King and thence to the Grand View and future issues of this bibliographical aid Hotel, headquarters for many visitors to the may do so by writing to Mrs. Esther Thelen, twenty-two small bodies of water which com­ Labor Co-ordinator, John R. Commons Labor prise the Waupaca Chain of Lakes. At the time Reference Center, State Historical Society of streetcars were metropolitan phenomena; the Wisconsin. Waupaca Electric Railway, serving an area Wisconsin: A Students' Guide to Localized of less than 6,000 inhabitants, was distinctly an History (Bureau of Publications, Teachers anomaly. Nevertheless, in good years and bad, College, Columbia University, New York, running at a maximum speed of twenty-five 1965. Pp. X, 35. 75^) is the seventh pamphlet miles an hour, dimming all the town's electric to appear in the Localized History Series which lights as they negotiated the Fulton Street hill, will ultimately cover thirty-three states and the streetcars continued to run until improved three major cities—New York, Chicago, and roads and the automobile killed them off in Los Angeles. Its author is Doris H. Piatt, the 1925. In The Waupaca Electric Railway Society's Supervisor of Museum education; (Wisconsin State University Foundation, Inc., the editor of the series is Clifford L. Lord, Stevens Point, 1965. Pp. 33), Ted Fonstad, formerly the Society's director and now presi­ a senior majoring in geography at Wisconsin dent of Hofstra University; and several of the

Courtesy Ray Specht A trolley crew of the Waupaca Electric Light & Railway Company.

263 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 authors of forthcoming titles are former mem­ Galloway, Howard S., The Shelby Family bers of the Society's staff. In his brief intro­ (Mobile, Alabama. Printed for the author duction Dr. Lord seeks to enlist the student's by GiU Printing Co., 1964.) interest in the history of his own community Haen, Ula (Elwell), The Wisconsin Branch of and describes the rudiments of historical in­ Elwells and Minors (n.p., 1963.) vestigation. In the fluid and readable text Hartsough, Mary Mae, History of the Har- which follows. Miss Piatt summarizes Wiscon­ tough-Hartsough-Hartsock Family (Winona sin's history in seven sections, each followed by Lake, Indiana, Free Methodist Publishing suggested materials for the student or school House, 1964 [?].) library, a list of suggested field trips to points Hein, Harold William, Harriet Trenchard's of interest, and a listing of museums and his­ Family (Brookfield, Wisconsin, 1963.) toric houses—all connected with the period Howell, Clara Hortense (Fowler), Fowlers which has just been discussed. While the and Kindred Families of Meigs and Mason teachers, students, and librarians for whom it Counties (Middleport, Ohio, Quality Print has been designed will find this pamphlet of Shop, 1964 [?].) greatest use, the general reader can also peruse Kroeker, Irvin, The Wiens Family Register it with profit. Miss Piatt's capsulizations of (Winnipeg [?], Manitoba, 1963.) complex areas of state history, such as her Love, William De Loss, Hamilton College and section on "Politics and Progress, 1895- Her Family Lines (San Francisco, 1963. 1935," are particularly well done. Distributed by Publishers' Book Service.) A useful and increasingly popular type of McCann, Robert Lee, Family of Eliza R. historical publication is the compact, pocket- McCann, Who Married Lytle Griffing size map and guide called a "Walking" Tour." (Hopewell [?], Virginia, 1963.) Under the auspices of the Burlington Historical Mitchell, Harry E., A Mitchell Group . . . and Society and the local chamber of commerce, Some of Their Descendants (Long Beach 0. C. Hulett has compiled a small brochure [?], California, 1963.) which lists and describes twenty-seven points Pennsylvania (Colony), Provincial Secretary's of historic or natural interest in Burlington. Office •— Names of Persons for Whom Somewhat more ambitious in format and lib­ Marriage Licenses Were Issued . . . Previ­ erally illustrated is Guides to Historic Mil­ ous to 1790 (Baltimore, Genealogical Pub­ waukee: Juneautown Walking Tour, by Mary lishing Company, 1963.) Ellen Pagel and Virginia Palmer, a twenty- Ramond, Charles Knight, The Ramon Family page pamphlet published by the University of and Related Lines (New Orleans, 1964.) Wisconsin Extension Division. Sausaman, William Amel, The Sausaman- Sassaman Family in America (Springfield, Louise Miller, in Just People of the Friend­ Illinois, 1964.) ly Valley (Bookmaster, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1965. Pp. 145) has hit upon a novel and ef­ Scoville, Lester S., Ancestors of the Bingham fective means of presenting and preserving Family of Utah (n.p., 1963.) various aspects of local history. Her smoothly Sigworth, Harrison William, Genealogy of written newspaper feature stories—plus an Sigworth-Neely Families; 1786, 1779 (Ana- occasional contribution from other area mosa, Iowa, 1921 [?].) authors—have been brought together in a Slaton, Arthur J., The Slaton Family (Los well-bound, clearly printed volume which in Angeles, California, 1964.) effect constitutes a scrapbook about the peo­ Thomas MacKay Family Organization, De­ ple, places, and history of the lower Chippewa scendants of Thomas MacKay, Utah Pion­ Valley. eer (Murray, Utah, 1964 [?].) U.S. Census Office, 4th Census, 1820 - 1820 Federal Population Census: Ohio. Index Genealogy (Columbus, Ohio Library Foundation, 1964.) The following titles have been added to the Ward, Doris (Cline), Colonial Grandparents Library's genealogical collections during the and the Intervening Generations of the period August to December, 1965: Fairbank-Blood Family, 1630-1800 (Kala­ mazoo, Michigan, 1964.) Gage, Clyde Van Tassel, John Gage of Ipswich, Whitfield, Vallie Josephine (Fox), Whitfield Massachusetts, and His Descendants (Wor­ History and Genealogy of Tennessee (Wal­ cester, New York, 1964.) nut Creek[?], California, 1964.)

264 »_ \ ACCESSIONS

Services for microfilming and photostating all but certain restricted items in its manu­ script collections are provided by the Society. For details write Dr. Josephine L. Harper, Manuscripts Librarian. '3^fe^,,, Image suppressed rA Manuscripts pending copyright clearance

Labor Papers. Few students of John R. Com­ mons contributed so much to public service as did William M. Leiserson, and none became better known in the field of labor relations. '-• -4 Born in Estonia in 1883 of Russian-Jewish ''•iff. parentage, William Leiserson migrated to New York City seven years later with his family. ^^'^ There in an immigrant neighborhood he at­ ..MmiMk^tS •*«. aBa.>. .cA tended school as he could, worked in a shirt New York Times factory, became a bookkeeper's assistant, and William M. Leiserson about 1929. studied at night. At the age of twenty-one he enrolled in the The New Deal took him to Washington in University of Wisconsin, where he received 1933 to become executive secretary of the Na­ his degree in economics in 1908. Moving back tional Labor Board under N.R.A. and a mem­ to New York to engage in graduate work at ber of the Petroleum Labor Policy Board. In Columbia University, he also served on the 1934 he was appointed chairman of the Na­ staff of the New York Commission on Em­ tional Mediation Board, but in 1939 President ployer's Liability and Unemployment. His Roosevelt persuaded him to become a member Ph.D. thesis (19ll) became the basis for the of the National Labor Relations Board. Four New York Employment Service System. years later he resumed direction of the Na­ Returning to Wisconsin as deputy indus­ tional Mediation Board and was concurrently trial commissioner. Dr. Leiserson established chairman of the National Railway Labor Wisconsin's state public employment bureau, Panel. and at the same time gained a reputation for Dr. Leiserson left government service in his ability to adjust industrial disputes. One 1944 to become visiting professor of eco­ of his first cases was a shoe workers' strike nomics at the Johns Hopkins University, where in Milwaukee. There followed half a century he directed a study of the internal government of service as a labor conciliator, member of of American labor organizations. In 1950 and government agencies involved with labor re­ 1951 he was a member of the President's Com­ lations, economics professor, and writer. mission on Migratory Labor, and was presi­ From Wisconsin he went to the U. S. Com­ dent of the Industrial Relations Research As­ mission on Industrial Relations, then to the sociation. Mr. Leiserson spent the years just faculty at Toledo University and back to prior to his death in 1957 as a consultant and Washington as chief of the division of labor arbitrator. administration in the Department of Labor. The William M. Leiserson Papers cover the Between 1919 and 1926 he was impartial entire period of his career. They begin with chairman for the board of arbitration of the his first articles in a settlement monthly on men's clothing industry in Rochester, New New York's east side at the age of eighteen, York, Baltimore, and Chicago; and for the and end with American Trade Union Democ­ next seven years was professor at Antioch racy, published posthumously in 1959. College, serving also as chairman of the Ohio Two-thirds of the Papers are composed of Commission on Unemployment Insurance. correspondence, both professional and per-

265 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966 sonal; and a large segment is made up of his Genealogy. Genealogical material relating to trade union files containing correspondence, the family of John Francis Appleby, Wiscon­ memoranda, reports relating to labor organi­ sin inventor of the basic knotting device for zations and their government, and annotated the grain binder, including information con­ handbooks of labor unions. In addition, there cerning the family of his wife, Jane Wishart are diaries, articles, speeches, clippings, manu­ Appleby, presented by Mrs. L. J. Totten, Dela­ scripts for two books, one of which was never van; "Minutes of Tinkling Springs Presby­ published, and decisions for many labor cases terian Church, Augusta County, Virginia, in which Dr. Leiserson participated. when it began as the south side of the con­ Other labor papers are those of the Textile gregation of the triple forks of the Shenando," Workers Union of America, 1918—1962, repre­ presented by Howard M. Wilson; genealogical senting one of the largest and most significant information concerning Col. Henry Franklin collections to be acquired in recent years, in­ Belitz, founder of the city of Kiel, Wisconsin, cluding files of the international office chiefly information provided by Mrs. Antoinette from 1938 to 1962, files of the New York Belitz Lammers, Baytown, Texas; typescript state director, 1937-1961, and files of the used in the preparation of a book giving his­ Quin State regional office, Newark, N. J., tory of the Cadle Family, presented by Mrs. 1951-1961, presented by the union. New Roy Palmer, Janesville; "Hull family, the first York, N. Y.; and papers, 1920-1962, of four generations by Donald Lines Jacobus, Roland White, editor of the Dubuque Leader, the American genealogist," compiled and pre­ labor newspaper, including business corre­ sented by Lisle Cottrell, Homer, N.Y.; gene­ spondence, 1932-1962, and subject files re­ alogical notes concerning the families of Wil­ lating to the Archie Carter case, the Iowa liam A. Morse and his wife, Orilla Hunter Cooperative Publishing Company, and the Morse, presented by Mary and Margarette Iowa Socialist party, presented by Mr. White, Morse, Viroqua; information concerning the Normal, Illinois. family of Bertha May Owen, Oak Grove, Dodge County, presented by the Protestant Home for the Aged, Milwaukee; genealogy of Henry L. Palmer, founder of the Northwestern Mass Communications Papers. Papers, 1931- Mutual Life Insurance Company, including 1965, of Alvah Bessie, news reporter and information on the ancestry of his wife, Mary screen writer, including chiefly correspond­ Jane Hayes, presented by Donald S. Bradford, ence, 1947-1963, legal materials, scripts, Glencoe, 111.; account of Harvey and Joseph speeches, and clippings relating to the "Holly­ Pember and their descendants, some of whom wood Ten," and miscellaneous articles, type­ settled near Emerald Grove, Rock County, in scripts for a novel, a screenplay, and poetry, the 1840's, written by John B. Pember and presented by Mr. Bessie, Mill VaUey, Calif, presented by Mrs. AUen F. Taylor of the state [restricted] ; papers, 1908-1964, of Herbert DAR Genealogical Records Committee; in­ Biberman, director, and his wife. Gale Sonder- scriptions in cemeteries in Winnebago, Fond gaard, actress, including correspondence, du Lac, and Dodge counties, recorded by Mr. 1908-1963, prose writings by both, play, and Mrs. L. S. Porter and presented by Mrs. movie, and radio scripts, speeches, clippings, Silas Allen, Green Bay; biography of Carl photographs, and materials concerning the Frederich Christian Rank, the first member "Hollywood Ten," presented by Mr. and Mrs. of the Rank family to live in Waupun, pre­ Biberman, New York, N. Y. [restricted] ; sented by Mrs. F. H. Rathe, Madison; "Faith papers, 1954-1960, of John Frankenheimer, of Our Fathers," 1839-1956, Johnstown Cen­ television and screen director, composed en­ ter Cemetery, Rock County records and mem­ tirely of scripts for television series, of which oirs, presented by Mrs. Clifford Zanton, Ava­ the most numerous are scripts for Climax and lon; letter. May 11, 1955, concerning the Playhouse 90, presented by Mr. Franken­ descendants of Philip Ryan, who was born in heimer, Malibu, Calif.; correspondence, 1959- Ireland, settled in Roxbury, Dane County, and 1961, of Ray Henle, newscaster and commen­ later in the town of Westpoint, Columbia tator, containing chiefly fan mail for Three County, presented by Alma Riedel, Madison; Star Extra and radio scripts for the series, genealogy of the family of Col. Samuel Ryan, 1956-1958, including some material produced who emigrated from Ireland and settled in by Henle's editorial staff, presented by Mr. Henle, Washington, D. C.; and additions to Menasha where he was land agent, presented the papers of Marquis Childs. by Dudley Ryan, Toronto, Canada, through the courtesy of George Banta, Menasha; births

266 ACCESSIONS

and deaths in the Snell and Bliss families, as school superintendent, to his parents in New recorded in the family Bible, presented by Art Jersey, presented by Mrs. Sidney F. Taliaferro, Haselow, Menasha; genealogical notes on the Washington, D.C.; manuscript for a proposed descendants of Aaron Stark, emigrant from book, "The Small Fire and How It Grew," Scotland who first settled in New England, by Lucia M. Pitts, dealing with her career in presented by Frank A. Insbuch, Milwaukee; government service and the role of the Negro genealogy of the Houghtons and Applebys, by in the New Deal, lent for copying by Lucia Cecile Houghton Stury, presented by Mrs. M. Pitts, Washington, D. C; papers, 1934- Stury; genealogical chart and copies of let­ 1964, of Toni Sender, International Confeder­ ters relating to the descendants of Joseph ation of Free Trade Unions' delegate to the Walker, who was born in Connecticut and UN, including correspondence, reports, memo­ served in the American Revolution, presented randa, and speeches relating to her work with by Richard L. Hayes, Winona, Minn.; notes the Office of Strategic Services, 1941-1944, on the descendants of William Watson, emi­ the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation grant from England in 1846 who later settled Administration, 1944-1946, and the Economic in Dover, formerly East Arena, Iowa County, Social Council of the United Nations, 1946- presented by Edna Hildreth, Portland, Ore.; 1956, presented by Leo Holz, New York, and "Something about the Woodward family," N.Y.; letter, December 10, 1843, from Josiah by W. L. Woodward, tracing the English an­ Smith describing his settlement and the land cestry of the author, presented by Mrs. Harry twenty-two miles west of Milwaukee in the Moseley, Madison. year 1843, presented by Mrs. Byron Dexter, South Woodstock, Vt.; "Walworth County in the War of the Rebellion," a history of the Miscellaneous Papers. Transcripts of letters regiments in which men from Walworth Coun­ and documents, 1831-1864, relating to Bishop ty served during the Civil War, presented by Frederic Baraga, Roman Catholic missionary the Walworth County Historical Society; and to the Indians at La Pointe, presented by the two letters, 1846 and 1847, from Algernon S. Bishop Baraga Association, Marquette, Mich.; Weston describing his work as a sawmill hand autobiography of Henry Belting entitled "How near Plover Portage, presented by J. Roland a Roman Catholic boy became a Methodist Weston, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. minister," presented by George B. Belting, Be­ loit; recommendations and petitions in behalf of Caleb Croswell, Delavan, for appointment Tape Recordings. Interview, April 7, 1965, as U. S. marshal for Wisconsin Territory and with David Biller, Loretta, concerning the later as Indian agent for the territory of Ore­ early history of Sawyer County and his experi­ gon, presented by Frazer F. Hilder, Birming­ ences as a logger for the Edward Hines Lum­ ham, Mich.; "Pennings of Pioneers," by Leona ber Company, interviewed by Dennis East, Dienst and dated April, 1948, copies of letters Society staff, and Joe Smith, Flambeau River written by members of the Fred A. Underhill State Forest; interview, April 27, 1963, be­ and William King families describing chiefly tween Jess C. Brabazon, early flyer of Wright life in Wisconsin in the 1840's and journeys airplanes, and Gordon Yadon, Delavan post­ to California in the 1850's, presented by Ellen master and historian, concerning Delavan cir­ Ewing, Milwaukee; speeches, 1961-1962, by cus history, and an interview with Brabazon Arthur J. Goldberg given while he was Secre­ by Ray Tetzlaff concerning Wright airplanes, tary of Labor in the cabinet of President John presented by Mr. Tetzlaff, Delavan; interview, F. Kennedy, presented by Newton N. Minow, April 9, 1965, with Marc Connelly, playwright, Chicago, lU.; letters, 1844-1845, exchanged concerning the playwright on Broadway, the between Norman C. Harmon and his wife, Green Pastures, and the staging of plays, inter­ Clara, who settled in the Town of Lyndon, viewed in New York City by A. B. Weiner of Sheboygan County, presented by Roger D. the Wisconsin Center for Theatre Research; Mclntyre, Milwaukee; papers, 1839-1909, of recording of the presentation, "The Golden John E. McConnell, La Crosse lawyer, includ­ Age of Radio," by Wayne Gratton, a Showcase ing letters relating to C. C. Washburn and program, WMVS Channel 10, Milwaukee, May letters from prominent Americans replying 14, 1965, presented by Mr. Gratton, Milwau­ to questions asked of them by McConnell kee; interview, June 8, 1965, with Stanley K. when he was a debater at the University of Hornbeek, Washington, D. C, concerning his Wisconsin, presented by Mrs. John E. McCon­ service with the U. S. State Department in nell, La Crosse; letters, 1854-1873, from China and as ambassador to the Netherlands, Henry B. Munn, Portage lawyer, mayor, and with special reference to his association with

267 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1966

Paul S. Reinsch, interviewed at Madison by cluding experiences in Cuba, interviewed by Prof. John De Novo and Noel Pugach, Uni­ Prof. Edward M. Coffman, Madison [re­ versity of Wisconsin; interview, April, 1965, stricted] ; and twenty-four recorded interviews with Larry Kasfia, director of Bajour and made in 1955 with members of the Jewish assistant director of Funny Girl, concerning community in Milwaukee, La Crosse, and the theater in general and Barbra Streisand Madison, for the Wisconsin Jewish Archives as an actress, interviewed by A. B. Weiner in at the Society. New York City; recording of the television performance of The Magnificent Yankee, writ­ Microfilm. Papers, 1884-1962, of the Apple- ten by Emmet Lavery, presented by Mr. La- ton, Wisconsin, Zion Congregation, including very, Los Angeles, Calif.; interview, June 29, minutes book, 1884-1923, an account book, 1965, with Russell G. Lynch, sports and out­ 1923-1942, and miscellaneous papers, lent for door editor for the Milwaukee Journal, inter­ microfilming by Louis J. MarshaU, Appleton; viewed by Dennis East; speech, July 23, 1960, clippings, 1964, from the Portland Reporter, by Ray Mack, sociologist, at the institute of concerning the formation of the Association the Public Relations Society of America, pre­ of Western Pulp and Paper Workers from dis­ sented by Scott M. Cutlip, Madison; interview, sident locals of two other unions, lent for film­ April 19, 1965, with Louis Oshesky at the ing by Burt WeUs, Portland, Ore.; autobiog­ Nevin Fish Hatchery, Madison, concerning raphy of Carl C. Burdick, Sr., including notes Oshesky's experiences in the enforcement of on the history of the Burdick family and Rich­ conservation laws in Wisconsin, 1929-1965, land Center, lent for filming by Mr. Burdick, interviewed by Dennis East; panel discussion, Long Beach, Calif.; correspondence, 1806- Nov. 9, 1964, at the Third World Congress of 1809, relating to the Aaron Burr conspiracy, Public Relations, Montreal, on "Post Election filmed from papers at The Historical Society Press Briefing," presented by the Public Re­ of Pennsylvania and presented by Nancy Jo lations Society of America, New York, N. Y.; Tice, Madison; letters, 1961-1963, from interview, Aug. 6, 1965, with Jean Santschi, George P. Clarke, Peace Corps volunteer in engineer, concerning his acquaintance with Nigeria, describing his experiences as a sec­ Dr. Rudolf Diesel and the development of ondary school teacher, lent for filming by diesel engines in the United States, interviewed Mrs. Edwin Clarke, Beloit; approximately by Donald N. Anderson, Society staff; inter­ 7,000 twentieth-century letters written by view, April 13, 1965, with Charles F. Smith, Finnish-American immigrants to the United Sr., relating to his service as a member of the States to relatives in the Satakunta region of Wisconsin State Conservation Commission, Finland, with questionnaires completed by 1945-1965, interviewed by Dennis East; in­ donors of the letters to the Finnish-American terview, AprU 6, 1965, with Ernest F. Swift Collection, filmed under auspices of the Insti­ concerning conservation in Wisconsin, the tute of General History, University of Turku, CCC, and Swift's service with the conservation Turku, Finland; genealogy of descendants of commission, 1935-1943, interviewed by Den­ Samuel Walker of Woburn, Mass., compiled nis East; and interview, June 22, 1965, with by E. W. Foster in a series of articles, appear­ Russell L. Williams, formerly engineer in ing in the Boston Evening Transcript, 1928, charge of roadside development of wayside lent for filming by Miss Bertha Walker, Oak parks in Wisconsin, interviewed by Dennis Park, lU.; record book of the St. Croix Bridge East; interview, 1964, with Clayton K. Slack, Company, Hudson, including notes on the his­ Hayward, concerning his experiences with tory of the company by C. E. Webster, lent the 33rd Division in World War I and for filming by the St. Croix County Historical his winning of the Medal of Honor at Con- Society, Hudson; papers, 1954-1965, of the senuaye, October 8, 1918, interviewed by International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite, Prof. Edward M. Coffman, Madison [restrict­ and Paper Mill Workers (IBPSPMW)—Rank ed] ; reminiscences, November 23, 1964, of and File Movement for Democratic Action Ernest Swift, Rice Lake, warden, ranger, and (RFMDA), lent for filming by the Association deputy director of the Wisconsin Conservation of Western Pulp and Paper Workers, Port­ Commission from 1926 to 1935; including land, Ore. [restricted]; papers, 1918-1945, recoUections of Aldo Leopold, interviewed for of the Marathon Paper Mill Company, Roths­ the Society by Dennis East; reminiscences, child, including chiefly correspondence with September 28, 1964, of Edmund L. Westcott, company executives relating to comparative Madison, sergeant with the 1st Wisconsin Vol­ wage schedules of pulp and paper companies, unteer Infantry, Spanish-American War, in­ lent for filming by Reinhold Ganzer, Neenah;

268 ACCESSIONS

scrapbooks, 1917-1942, relating to the life of At Oslikosh. Papers, 1921-1945, of Wisconsin William Mauthe, first chairman of the Wis­ state assemblyman, Clinton Ballard, including consin State Conservation Commission, lent personal and official correspondence, 1921- for filming by Mrs. Mauthe, Fond du Lac; 1929, and two speeches, 1941 and 1945, pre­ letterbooks, 1843-1846, 1853-1857, concern­ sented by J. E. Ballard, Appleton. ing the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Custom House kept by various U. S. agents, mainly H. W. Gunnison, purchased from the Buffalo His­ At River Falls. Papers, 1908-1953, of Behrend torical Society, Buffalo, N. Y.; letters, 1864, (Ben) Dannholz, resident of Wisconsin and of Thomas Morrison, Co. D, 22nd Regiment Minnesota, consisting chiefly of letters from Wisconsin Volunteers, mentioning his training Germany relating to daily family life in that at Camp Randall, Madison, and describing country in the period of World War I and army life and action in Tennessee and Georgia, during the inflation of the 1920's [in German lent for filming by Mrs. H. J. LiUibridge, with some translations] presented by James Delavan; papers, 1958-1961, of the Postal T. King, River Falls; papers, 1929-1939, of Union of Manhattan-Bronx Clerks relating to Clarence Julius Reiter, editor of the Hudson its withdrawal from the National Federation Star Observer, consisting chiefly of letters of Post Office Clerks to join other unions in from Congressman James A. Frear, Progres­ forming the National Postal Clerks Union sive Republican from the Tenth District, pre­ (NPCU), lent for filming by Sydney Good­ sented by Willis H. Miller, Hudson; compara­ man, president of the union, Washington, tive town studies of the history of Hudson and D. C; minutes, 1893-1920, 1926-1932, of River Falls, 1850-1880, written by students the board of directors of Central Wisconsin at Wisconsin State University—River Falls, College, a Lutheran school at Scandinavia presented by John Lankford, River Falls; formerly known as Scandinavia Academy, papers, 1918-1920, 1925, 1958, of Charles G. lent for filming by the Norwegian-American Stratton, River Falls, relating chiefly to his Historical Association, Northfield, Minn.; appointment as a cartographer on the staff of selected documents, 1945-1956, from papers the American Commission to Negotiate Peace, in the Harry S. Truman Library, dealing presented by James T. King, River Falls; and chiefly with international labor affairs, pre­ a history of the South Fork Ladies Aid Society sented by Henry Berger, Burlington, Vt.; cor­ of Pierce County, from the time of its organi­ respondence, 1831-1907, among members of zation in the 1880's to 1962, presented by the Whetten family, including several letters Mrs. Allen Herstrum, River Falls. of Harriet Douglas Whetten and genealogical information concerning the Whetten and Todd families, lent for filming by Eliot Fitch, Mil­ At Stevens Point. Papers written by members waukee; and papers, 1948-1957, of the Wis­ of the Waupaca Historical Society, Waupaca, consin Federation of Conservation Clubs, dealing with the history of townships, lakes, chiefly those of Les Woerpel, an officer, lent communities, churches, and families in the for filming by Mr. Woerpel, Stevens Point. county, presented by the Waupaca Historical Society and by Frank Hoffner, Weyauwega, and Mrs. Nina B. Smith, Waupaca. Manuscripts Accessioned for the Area Research Centers At Whitewater. Papers, 1958-1961, of Paul At Milwaukee. Papers, 1864-1919, of Gen­ P. Banker, including correspondence, and es­ eral Frederick C. Winkler, Milwaukee lawyer says dealing with the history of Fort Atkinson and trustee of Northwestern Mutual Insurance and the German-Americans in Wisconsin, pre­ Company, including scattered correspondence, sented by Mr. Banker, Fort Atkinson; and documents relating to service with the 26th papers, 1836-1893, of Truman Saunders and Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, a will, members of his family, Milton, including cor­ speeches, and petitions urging him to run for respondence, business papers, a family gene­ Congress, presented by William K. Winkler, alogy, and ephemera, source unknown. Milwaukee; and additions to the papers of the Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company.

269 mass communications, with emphasis on mass communications history. He is married to Monona Rossol, a lyric soprano, ceramist, and Contributors glassblower.

ESTHER S. THELEN was born DAVID P. THELEN, a frequent in Brooklyn, New York, in **•% contributor to the Magazine, 1941 and grew up in New Jer­ |;-v».- -7 was born in Berkeley, Califor­ sey. She attended Antioch nia, and was reared in Chica- College and holds the B.S. de­ ^d v- «^ go. He received his B.A. from gree from the University of • l« Antioch College in 1963 and Wisconsin. Since 1964, Mrs. his M.A. in history from the Thelen has been the head of the John R. Com­ University of Wisconsin in 1964. Mr. Thelen mons Labor Reference Center, a campus-wide has been employed by the Society both as a information and collection agency for library field representative and as research assistant materials in the field of labor and industrial to the Director. Last year he won the William relations which is jointly sponsored by the P. Lyons Master's Essay Award for his study. State Historical Society and the University of The Early Life of Robert M. La Follette, Wisconsin. 1855-1884, which has recently been published by the Loyola University Press. This fall Mr. Thelen will join the faculty of the history de­ JOHN 0. HOLZHUETER was partment of the University of Missouri. born in Menomonie in 1935. He attended the Menomonie public schools and the Univer­ CENATOR Gaylord Nelson will be the fea- sity of Wisconsin, from which ^ tured speaker at the Society's one hundred he received his B.A. in jour­ and twentieth annual meeting, to be held June nalism in 1957 and where he 9-11 at the Mead Inn, Wisconsin Rapids. was editor of the Daily Cardinal. Following Leonard K. Eaton of the University of Michi­ his graduation he worked as a reporter and gan, whose recent study of Jens Jensen is re­ copy editor for the Appleton Post-Crescent, viewed in this issue of the Magazine, will speak as a reporter and radio editor for the City on Jensen's contributions to the Wisconsin News Bureau of Chicago, and from 1961 to landscape, at the Women's Auxiliary luncheon, 1963 as a wire news editor for the Madison June 10. Two papers on the history of lum­ Capital Times. In the fall of 1963 he returned bering will be delivered—one on the Knapp- to the University as a graduate student and Stout Company, by Professor Dwight Agnew teaching assistant in news editing. He was of Stout State University, and one on the awarded his M.A. in journalism in January, John S. Owens Company, by Professor Duane 1966, and wrote his thesis on the early history Fischer of Wisconsin State University, Eau of the Wisconsin Editors' and Publishers' As­ Claire. The Wolf River will be the subject of sociation. Since June, 1965, he has been a a talk by ex-state senator Gordon Bubolz and student assistant to the editors of the Maga­ of a film. The Last River. At the final session zine, and this summer will join the Society on June 11, Curator James A. Riley will speak staff as a research assistant to William on Wisconsin's river valley improvement com­ Fletcher Thompson, Director of Research. panies. A tour of the cranberry bogs at Cran- Concurrently Mr. Holzhueter will work moor and of Consolidated Papers, Inc. of towards the completion of his doctorate in Wisconsin Rapids will be other attractions.

270 ^,*^^

.."^^••i *li^j%u

'^%;:^

lit I 'Id III ill

(.-»-i

•"•"^r-

Villa Louis, Prairie du C1.-L;. HISTORY... in your own back yard

Villa Louis Prairie du Chien Circus World Museum Baraboo The magnificent home of Hercules Dousman re­ The heyday of the circus comes to life in a museum captures the flavor of the fur trade and of Wiscon­ dedicated to preserving the gaudy splendor of the sin's pre-territorial days. greatest of American entertainment spectacles.

Old Wade House Greenbush Stonefield Cassville At a time when stagecoaches clattered over the The history of Wisconsin agriculture and small­ state's plank roads, this inn was an important way town life of the 1890's is set on the plantation farm station on the Fond du Lac-Sheboygan run. of Nelson Dewey, the state's first governor.

Make it a point this summer to visit the four historic sites maintained by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. A family membership ($7) admits both parents and chUdren. For details, write to the Society at 816 State Street, Madison. To promote a wider appreciation of the American heritage The Purpose with particular emphasis on the collection, advancement, of this and dissemination of knowledge of the history of Wisconsin Society shall be and of the Middle West.

State Historical Society of Wisconsin 816 State Street Second-class postage paid at Madison.v Wisconsin 53706 Madison, Wisconsin, and at Return Requested additional mailing offices.