An Old Pioneer Lost.-Among the bodies found and identified of the" lost on "The Lady Elgin, is that of William Farnsworth, of Sheboygan. Mr. Farnsworth was one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, having settled as an Indian trader in the neighborhood of Green Bay, some thirty-five or more years ago. He was well know to all the old settlers at Green Bay, and throughout the North-Eastern part of the State. He was one of the original proprietors of the city plat of Sheboygan,-
Daily Argus And Democrat
September 24, 1860
A Sketch of William Farnsworth, the Pioneer
The Green Bay Press publishes a sketch of William Farnsworth, who was among those lost by the accident to the Lady Elgin.
We subjoin the material portions:
The subject of this sketch first visited Mackinaw and Green Bay nearly forty years ago as a clerk of the American Fur Company. Of a bold, enterprising and independent character, he chafed under the restraints which were held with an iron grasp by their agents, over all persons in their employ, and soon found himself at the he«d of an establishment in opposition to the regular clerk of the company. At that period, it was no easy task to under take the prosecution of a trade with the native tribes of this region, except with the countenance at least of the government agent and the great Fur Company with as John Jacob Astor,and his immense wealth at its head,exercised almost despotic sway over them, as well as all others in the region now known as the State of Wisconsin. Everybody was in their interest, and their influence with the Indian tribes was so powerful that the man who undertook the hazardous task of thwarting their plans for profits, did so at the peril of his property, and even his life. But nothing daunted, Farnsworth secured his outfit of goods and provisions, for a winter supply, and planted himself alone in the midst of the Menominee country. He had scarcely located and sheltered himself by a rude log cabin, when a large delegation of the head men of the tribe called to pay him a visit, and to warn him that he must quit their country without delay, or that his stores would be sacrificed, as their lawful prize, and resistance would cost him his life.
There were fifteen or twenty of these stalwart sons of the forest seated around his cabin when these threats were uttered while he was attended by only a single man, so terrified, that his assistance could not be relied on, if force alone were to decide the contest. In this dilemma, Farnsworth sized a keg of powder, placed it in the center of the room, and fixed a stump of burning candle in the orifice at the top. He then addressed them in a calm but determined tone of voice, that he knew they were "braves,” he was also a'‘brave” of the white men, and if his property and life must be sacrificed, they must all suffer the same fate; no truly brave man should ever fear death. Nothing further was said,but as the candle had nearly, burned out, one after another of the Indians left the house in great haste, and the trader having got rid of his visitors, extinguished the lighted candle. The sequel of the matter was, that he continued his trade through many winters unmolested, and his plot made a large portion of the tribe his devoted friends. The danger of his position how ever, and the difficulties he had to endure continued for many years, for there was then no civil law by which rights could be enforced or wrongs redressed; but the establishment of our territorial government and the immediate influx of a large population, eventually destroyed the Indian trade, and Farnsworth with others, abandoned their old trading posts, emerged in to civilized life, and engaged in other pursuits.
For the last twenty-five years he has been a resident of Sheboygan, having been one of the first proprietors and settlers at that place. The first lumbering establishment on Menominee River was started under his auspices, as well as the first one upon Sheboygan River, and in all his plans
of business, a strength of will and a determination of character were exhibited, which under roost unpropitious circumstances, would ordinarily ensure success.
We have spoken of him only, as the fearless and enterprising pioneer; we can also bear our personal testimony to the cordiality of his friendship, and if his enmities were many and implaceable, we account for them rather as the fruit of the constant and unscrupulous warfare always attendant upon rivalry in the prosecution of the fur trade, than springing from natural bitterness of disposition or a cold and selfish spirit.
Madison Wisconsin State Journal
September 28, 1860 Pg2
Daily Argus And Democrat
September 24, 1860
A Sketch of William Farnsworth, the Pioneer
The Green Bay Press publishes a sketch of William Farnsworth, who was among those lost by the accident to the Lady Elgin.
We subjoin the material portions:
The subject of this sketch first visited Mackinaw and Green Bay nearly forty years ago as a clerk of the American Fur Company. Of a bold, enterprising and independent character, he chafed under the restraints which were held with an iron grasp by their agents, over all persons in their employ, and soon found himself at the he«d of an establishment in opposition to the regular clerk of the company. At that period, it was no easy task to under take the prosecution of a trade with the native tribes of this region, except with the countenance at least of the government agent and the great Fur Company with as John Jacob Astor,and his immense wealth at its head,exercised almost despotic sway over them, as well as all others in the region now known as the State of Wisconsin. Everybody was in their interest, and their influence with the Indian tribes was so powerful that the man who undertook the hazardous task of thwarting their plans for profits, did so at the peril of his property, and even his life. But nothing daunted, Farnsworth secured his outfit of goods and provisions, for a winter supply, and planted himself alone in the midst of the Menominee country. He had scarcely located and sheltered himself by a rude log cabin, when a large delegation of the head men of the tribe called to pay him a visit, and to warn him that he must quit their country without delay, or that his stores would be sacrificed, as their lawful prize, and resistance would cost him his life.
There were fifteen or twenty of these stalwart sons of the forest seated around his cabin when these threats were uttered while he was attended by only a single man, so terrified, that his assistance could not be relied on, if force alone were to decide the contest. In this dilemma, Farnsworth sized a keg of powder, placed it in the center of the room, and fixed a stump of burning candle in the orifice at the top. He then addressed them in a calm but determined tone of voice, that he knew they were "braves,” he was also a'‘brave” of the white men, and if his property and life must be sacrificed, they must all suffer the same fate; no truly brave man should ever fear death. Nothing further was said,but as the candle had nearly, burned out, one after another of the Indians left the house in great haste, and the trader having got rid of his visitors, extinguished the lighted candle. The sequel of the matter was, that he continued his trade through many winters unmolested, and his plot made a large portion of the tribe his devoted friends. The danger of his position how ever, and the difficulties he had to endure continued for many years, for there was then no civil law by which rights could be enforced or wrongs redressed; but the establishment of our territorial government and the immediate influx of a large population, eventually destroyed the Indian trade, and Farnsworth with others, abandoned their old trading posts, emerged in to civilized life, and engaged in other pursuits.
For the last twenty-five years he has been a resident of Sheboygan, having been one of the first proprietors and settlers at that place. The first lumbering establishment on Menominee River was started under his auspices, as well as the first one upon Sheboygan River, and in all his plans
of business, a strength of will and a determination of character were exhibited, which under roost unpropitious circumstances, would ordinarily ensure success.
We have spoken of him only, as the fearless and enterprising pioneer; we can also bear our personal testimony to the cordiality of his friendship, and if his enmities were many and implaceable, we account for them rather as the fruit of the constant and unscrupulous warfare always attendant upon rivalry in the prosecution of the fur trade, than springing from natural bitterness of disposition or a cold and selfish spirit.
Madison Wisconsin State Journal
September 28, 1860 Pg2
An Old Pioneer Lost.-Among the bodies found and identified of the" lost on "The Lady Elgin, is that of William Farnsworth, of Sheboygan. Mr. Farnsworth was one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, having settled as an Indian trader in the neighborhood of Green Bay, some thirty-five or more years ago. He was well know to all the old settlers at Green Bay, and throughout the North-Eastern part of the State. He was one of the original proprietors of the city plat of Sheboygan,-
Daily Argus And Democrat
September 24, 1860
A Sketch of William Farnsworth, the Pioneer
The Green Bay Press publishes a sketch of William Farnsworth, who was among those lost by the accident to the Lady Elgin.
We subjoin the material portions:
The subject of this sketch first visited Mackinaw and Green Bay nearly forty years ago as a clerk of the American Fur Company. Of a bold, enterprising and independent character, he chafed under the restraints which were held with an iron grasp by their agents, over all persons in their employ, and soon found himself at the he«d of an establishment in opposition to the regular clerk of the company. At that period, it was no easy task to under take the prosecution of a trade with the native tribes of this region, except with the countenance at least of the government agent and the great Fur Company with as John Jacob Astor,and his immense wealth at its head,exercised almost despotic sway over them, as well as all others in the region now known as the State of Wisconsin. Everybody was in their interest, and their influence with the Indian tribes was so powerful that the man who undertook the hazardous task of thwarting their plans for profits, did so at the peril of his property, and even his life. But nothing daunted, Farnsworth secured his outfit of goods and provisions, for a winter supply, and planted himself alone in the midst of the Menominee country. He had scarcely located and sheltered himself by a rude log cabin, when a large delegation of the head men of the tribe called to pay him a visit, and to warn him that he must quit their country without delay, or that his stores would be sacrificed, as their lawful prize, and resistance would cost him his life.
There were fifteen or twenty of these stalwart sons of the forest seated around his cabin when these threats were uttered while he was attended by only a single man, so terrified, that his assistance could not be relied on, if force alone were to decide the contest. In this dilemma, Farnsworth sized a keg of powder, placed it in the center of the room, and fixed a stump of burning candle in the orifice at the top. He then addressed them in a calm but determined tone of voice, that he knew they were "braves,” he was also a'‘brave” of the white men, and if his property and life must be sacrificed, they must all suffer the same fate; no truly brave man should ever fear death. Nothing further was said,but as the candle had nearly, burned out, one after another of the Indians left the house in great haste, and the trader having got rid of his visitors, extinguished the lighted candle. The sequel of the matter was, that he continued his trade through many winters unmolested, and his plot made a large portion of the tribe his devoted friends. The danger of his position how ever, and the difficulties he had to endure continued for many years, for there was then no civil law by which rights could be enforced or wrongs redressed; but the establishment of our territorial government and the immediate influx of a large population, eventually destroyed the Indian trade, and Farnsworth with others, abandoned their old trading posts, emerged in to civilized life, and engaged in other pursuits.
For the last twenty-five years he has been a resident of Sheboygan, having been one of the first proprietors and settlers at that place. The first lumbering establishment on Menominee River was started under his auspices, as well as the first one upon Sheboygan River, and in all his plans
of business, a strength of will and a determination of character were exhibited, which under roost unpropitious circumstances, would ordinarily ensure success.
We have spoken of him only, as the fearless and enterprising pioneer; we can also bear our personal testimony to the cordiality of his friendship, and if his enmities were many and implaceable, we account for them rather as the fruit of the constant and unscrupulous warfare always attendant upon rivalry in the prosecution of the fur trade, than springing from natural bitterness of disposition or a cold and selfish spirit.
Madison Wisconsin State Journal
September 28, 1860 Pg2
Daily Argus And Democrat
September 24, 1860
A Sketch of William Farnsworth, the Pioneer
The Green Bay Press publishes a sketch of William Farnsworth, who was among those lost by the accident to the Lady Elgin.
We subjoin the material portions:
The subject of this sketch first visited Mackinaw and Green Bay nearly forty years ago as a clerk of the American Fur Company. Of a bold, enterprising and independent character, he chafed under the restraints which were held with an iron grasp by their agents, over all persons in their employ, and soon found himself at the he«d of an establishment in opposition to the regular clerk of the company. At that period, it was no easy task to under take the prosecution of a trade with the native tribes of this region, except with the countenance at least of the government agent and the great Fur Company with as John Jacob Astor,and his immense wealth at its head,exercised almost despotic sway over them, as well as all others in the region now known as the State of Wisconsin. Everybody was in their interest, and their influence with the Indian tribes was so powerful that the man who undertook the hazardous task of thwarting their plans for profits, did so at the peril of his property, and even his life. But nothing daunted, Farnsworth secured his outfit of goods and provisions, for a winter supply, and planted himself alone in the midst of the Menominee country. He had scarcely located and sheltered himself by a rude log cabin, when a large delegation of the head men of the tribe called to pay him a visit, and to warn him that he must quit their country without delay, or that his stores would be sacrificed, as their lawful prize, and resistance would cost him his life.
There were fifteen or twenty of these stalwart sons of the forest seated around his cabin when these threats were uttered while he was attended by only a single man, so terrified, that his assistance could not be relied on, if force alone were to decide the contest. In this dilemma, Farnsworth sized a keg of powder, placed it in the center of the room, and fixed a stump of burning candle in the orifice at the top. He then addressed them in a calm but determined tone of voice, that he knew they were "braves,” he was also a'‘brave” of the white men, and if his property and life must be sacrificed, they must all suffer the same fate; no truly brave man should ever fear death. Nothing further was said,but as the candle had nearly, burned out, one after another of the Indians left the house in great haste, and the trader having got rid of his visitors, extinguished the lighted candle. The sequel of the matter was, that he continued his trade through many winters unmolested, and his plot made a large portion of the tribe his devoted friends. The danger of his position how ever, and the difficulties he had to endure continued for many years, for there was then no civil law by which rights could be enforced or wrongs redressed; but the establishment of our territorial government and the immediate influx of a large population, eventually destroyed the Indian trade, and Farnsworth with others, abandoned their old trading posts, emerged in to civilized life, and engaged in other pursuits.
For the last twenty-five years he has been a resident of Sheboygan, having been one of the first proprietors and settlers at that place. The first lumbering establishment on Menominee River was started under his auspices, as well as the first one upon Sheboygan River, and in all his plans
of business, a strength of will and a determination of character were exhibited, which under roost unpropitious circumstances, would ordinarily ensure success.
We have spoken of him only, as the fearless and enterprising pioneer; we can also bear our personal testimony to the cordiality of his friendship, and if his enmities were many and implaceable, we account for them rather as the fruit of the constant and unscrupulous warfare always attendant upon rivalry in the prosecution of the fur trade, than springing from natural bitterness of disposition or a cold and selfish spirit.
Madison Wisconsin State Journal
September 28, 1860 Pg2
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
