JAMES AND ISADORA MARRY – MEET THE SWIFT FAMILY

James Bruce Cartter and Isadora Swift were married in Black River Falls, Wisconsin July 7, 1855 not long after arriving there from Kenosha County. Their first home was made in the village on property purchased July 23, 1855 from Oliver Swift. Oliver had preceded the other family members to Black River Falls. An additional lot of about one-eighth acre, adjacent to the first property, was purchased March 25, 1856 from Jacob Spaulding. It was on these properties that James and Isadora began their married life and started out to select the farm land which was to serve them as a home for the rest of their lives.

Now that Isadora has become a part of the Cartter family it may be well to know more about her own family, the Swifts. The reader will remember that John Swift and his family had arrived at Wheatland, in Racine County in 1845 just two years after James had settled there. The Swift family, like the Cartters, trace back to New England, their arrival dating to about 1634. Their movement westward is interesting to follow.

From George Henry Swift’s book The Swift Family written in 1820 we have constructed the following abbreviated sketch of the first six generations of Swifts in America.

THE SWIFT FAMILY

1st GENERATION
WILLIAM SWIFT of Sandwich, Massachusetts came from England to America in the great ‘Boston Immigrations’ of 1630-1631. Savage says that he ‘probably came from Bocking County, Essex, England or its vicinity. He was in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1634 – had been there some time. Sold his property in Watertown in 1637 and probably moved to Sandwich, where he died January 1644.’

His wife Joan _______ survived him 20 years. They had brought three children with them from England, Hannah, Easter or Ester, and William Jr.

2nd GENERATION
WILLIAM JR. – born in England, lived all of his life in Sandwich. He married Ruth _____ and they had eleven children.

3rd GENERATION
EPHRIAM, 1st son of William Jr. b. 6-6-1656 – married Sarah _____ who died before him. They lived their entire lives in Sandwich where he was a carpenter and cooper by trade, d. 1742. They had seven children.

4th GENERATION
MOSES, youngest son of Ephriam b. 9-15-1699 – married Mary Foster of Sandwich b. 9-1-1697. They had nine children and lived in Sandwich.

5th GENERATION
CAPT. WARD, youngest son of Moses b. 12-1-1735. He married Remember Troy of Sandwich 1-9-1755. He was a prominent man in the town and took active part in raising men and serving his country during the Revolutionary war. They had nine children.

6th GENERATION
WARD JR., second son of Capt. Ward, married Fear Nye of Falmouth, Massachusetts 1-1-1799. They too lived in Sandwich and had three sons.

7th GENERATION
JOHN FREEMAN, second son of Ward Jr. and Fear Nye was born 10-27-1802 ‘went west and is heard of no more.’”

This last entry in George Henry Swift’s genealogical account was evidently made by a New Englander whose world was wrapped up in Massachusetts. It is interesting to note that for six generations the direct line of descendants had not moved away from Sandwich or Falmouth at the base of Cape Cod.

Some pioneering influence must have played upon John to direct his attentions westward. He married Chloe Price in 1827. She was born at North Falmouth on 5-24-1803. They with their four children broke the family record of 211 continuous years of residence in the Sandwich-Falmouth area and started a long westward trek in 1838. Their migration took them first to Cayuga County in the Finger lakes region of New York State. Their second move in 1854 was to Wheatland in Racine County, Wisconsin. When traveling on the Erie Canal they had quite a scare. The youngest child, Maria Jeanette, fell out of a port-hole on one of the canal boats. She was rescued however and the family continued its journey, no doubt by lake-boat, from Buffalo, N.Y. to Kenosha in Wis. They next moved to Black River Falls as related in the last chapter.

All of these moves, ending at Black River Falls in 1855, had been made in a period of seventeen years. For some members of the family this was still not the end, for the Dakota Territory and California were later to beckon sons Charles and Oliver. John died 6-11-1867 at Black River Falls; Chloe died 4-27-1884 at Castlewood in Dakota Territory. Their four children will be introduced later in this story.

Back now with our attention on James and Isadora as their search for land is rewarded. It is quite evident that James wasted no time in exploring the countryside located in Jackson County. His fancy seemed to be satisfied as he explored that area of land later known as “Disco Valley.” It was a relatively flat to rolling area, surrounded by hard-wood ridges and occupying approximately thirty-six sections of land fairly adaptable to agricultural use. This land was being made available through the U. S. land office at La Crosse for the uniform price of $1.25 per acre. The location was a little south of west from Black River Falls, a matter of about 10 miles and located in parts of Towns 20 and 21 N. in Range 5 W.

Interest seemed to center in the area located in Town 21 for it had fairly level land. A small stream, fed by springs, ran through it and a reasonable amount of marsh land was available which could be depended upon for marsh hay in case of drought years. There existed a few small groves of white pine but most of the wooded area was covered in hard wood, good for fuel, fence posts, and timbers for building. There already existed, through the center of this valley, a trail leading easterly to Black River Falls and one at right angles leading to what later became Melrose and Irving at the south and to Hixton, Sechlerville, and Taylor on the north. All of these villages were just being settled and were within a distance of ten to twelve miles. The cross-roads area looked like a logical trading site and in fact became known as Disco Corners.

At the same time a block of government land was made available in Town 20 N Range 5 W lying almost directly south form the above-mentioned crossroads. Here the land became more rolling, with less open areas and with heavier growth of hardwoods meaning richer soil but harder work to bring it into agricultural production.

James did not hesitate long, for at $1.25 per acre and with an influx of settlers coming, land was a good investment. By 1857 James had secured 460 acres of land in his name and Isadora had 160 in her own name for a total of 620 acres. 280 acres of this land was in T. 20 and the balance in T. 21 at the Disco Corners and north. Isadora’s 160 acres was located 80 acres on each side of the Black River Falls road, one forty deep, and extending to the east of the four corners.

We can well imagine James’ insistence that Isadora hold property in her own name, for you will remember that a clause in the first Wisconsin constitution, which he helped to frame, had favored this right for women to hold property in their own name. Though voted down, it had become an amendment very soon after the state was formed. The author has in his possession the “Cash Patent” issued Mar. 10-1857 for certificate No. 7847 issued to Isadora F. Cartter and described as follows: “The S W 1/4 of the S W 1/4 of Sec. 28 and the N W 1/4 of the N W 1/4 of Sec. 33 in Township 21, N. – Range 5 W in the district of lands subject to sale at La Crosse, Wis. containing 80 acres
Signed: Isadora F. Cartter
James Buchanan – President of the U.S.
J. N. Granger – Recorder of the General Land Office.”

The years 1855 through 1857 saw an almost complete settlement of lands in the Disco valley. The possessors of names that were to be common well into the 1900’s, when the author was growing up there, had newly arrived. The first to come to the valley and settle were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Harmer and Miss Harriet Harmer. They had come over from England in 1848. Theirs was a trying voyage, for the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Harmer died enroute and were buried at sea. They arrived in 1855, after a short sojourn in Fond du Lac County and chose land west of the Disco Corners. James Bruce and Isadora were the second settlers to acquire property in this location and adjacent to the Harmers. They were to be joined during the next two or three years by the Kimballs, Caldwells, Swifts, Vincents, Deuels, Crawleys, Caves, Dunns, and others.

Chester Daniels entered seven forties in 1855 as did Charles Ryder. Chester Daniels Jr. was drowned while crossing the river at Irving. Mr. Ryder was killed during the siege of Vicksburg. Both properties were acquired by D. J. Spaulding and operated as the largest single farm in the valley.

The Swift family, John and son Oliver, acquired 400 acres in one block about one and a half miles north from the Cartters. Here Oliver settled with his family. John settled in Black River Falls where he made his home for the remainder of his life. Charles, the other son, was a carpenter. He lived in Black River Falls. We can imagine that he was kept busy at house and barn building both in the rural and village area. Lumber was plentiful so most houses were of frame construction although occasionally a log house was still being built.

Turning our attention back to Black River Falls we find that James in the short period that he lived there while building a farm home, was making sound acquaintance of men with whom he associated all through his remaining years. He was one of the members to organize and sign the charter for Masonic Lodge No. 74 on June 12, 1856. He remained an active member until his death. Isadora became a member of the Eastern Star.

The first newspaper in the county was started in 1856 by Frank Cooper under the name Badger State Banner.

Carl C. Pope, a pioneer lawyer, was a specially close friend of the family. He arrived in 1856 and was later to serve as district judge and a member of both the State Assembly and Senate.

The Republican Party, having been organized in 1856 was increasing in membership and the push was being exerted in Black River Falls under the leadership of William T. Price. He secured many converts but was never able to move James Bruce from his Democratic views. Price referred to James Cartter, James Davis, and James McLoughlin as “The three immaculate Jims” for taking this steadfast stand against growing odds. Although James showed a keen interest in political issues and was free to express himself, he avoided any involvement in elective office. He was a great reader and student of history.

There were interesting years at home for James and Isadora. Julie Elizabeth, their first child, was born April 27-1856, followed by a son David Kellogg on January first-1857. These were to be their only children.

Together they had reviewed the layout of their new property in order to determine the site of their first real home.

The site they selected could hardly have been better for it was on a slightly raised piece of ground near two of the springs which helped feed the marsh areas. The first section of the new home was to be built facing south thus affording an unobstructed view of Disco Corners and areas both east and west. The home was to be only one-half mile from the Corners where a cluster of their nearby neighbors would live. In a spacious yard were three Burr Oak trees which were allowed to remain. Those oaks seemed ageless to a little boy looking at them some fifty years later and even more so now that 118 years have come and gone since the Cartter home was established. The three oaks are still standing as if to keep watch over the occupants.

Between the house and the springs was an area which would allow ample space for James to build his own fully equipped blacksmith shop, and to provide for a spacious home garden in which he was to take much pride. Back of the house and away from the road was a north-easterly slope which would be ideal for an apple, plum, and cherry orchard. The woods northwest of the proposed barn site would provide winter protection for the building site as well as a very adequate patch of wild blackberries. At the north end of the farm was a row of hills on which blueberries grew in abundance. These hills also were to supply the building stones for the future basement barn.

Time flew by with but little in the way of recorded information to relate. James Davis who operated the Davis ferry across the Black River at a point later known as Irving was instrumental in laying out the road from Sparta, over Davis Ferry and on to Eau Claire. This road passed through Disco; in front of the Cartter homestead; past the Swift home, and on northward. Until the time that the railroad came through Black River Falls in 1869, this road was to carry a large amount of traffic, bringing supplies to the settlers and in turn hauling farm produce to the nearest railroad which was then at Sparta.

Oliver Swift built a large house on his farm, which, as traffic increased, was used as a stop-over place for travelers. Such a place was then called a “tavern.” If numbers were too large to be accommodated in the house, room could be made for travelers in the barn.

In 1860 the Disco Valley saw its first two barn raisings both accomplished in one day. The Cartter barn was raised in the forenoon and the one at Charles Harmer’s in the afternoon. The end of the day was of course celebrated with the aid of a keg of beer.

Much community cooperation was observed. The degree to which this cooperation was expressed is illustrated by the way in which James and Isadora sensed the needs which nearby neighbors had for more strategic blocks of land in order to provide economic units for farm operation, or to gain direct access to the highways. As examples, can be sighted first the sale of 100 acres of land to the Kimball family as a homestead site on the highway and acreage large enough for good operation. Kimballs were the nearest neighbors to the north. They lived with the Cartters until their new house was built. The Charles Harmers’ original holdings at Disco were also too small for economic operation so Isadora sold them 120 acres of her property that they might have a compact block of land and access to the main highway. These sales were made in T 21 N. The Cartter farm was at that time reduced to 400 acres of which one forty belonged to Isadora who held it until near the time of her death.

In T 20 N – R 5 W similar sales were made from the 280 acres located there. These were made to F. A. Caldwell, James Harmer, and Charles Harmer. This left the Cartter holdings at that location 120 acres as shown in the 1870 plat book. Little had James and Isadora realized when they secured this 280 acres that the area in which it was located would later be recognized as providing to archeologists and the public in general “The best collection of well preserved Indian rock-carvings (petroglyphs) in the middle west.” Gullickson’s Glen in which these carvings were found is less than one-fourth mile from the early Cartter holdings.

The Winnebago Indians living in the region at the time of early settlement seemed to have no knowledge as to which tribe of Indians made the carvings. An archeological dig was made in 1958 by Dr. Warren L. Witty, Curator of Anthropology at the State Historical Society. His findings suggested that although Indians were occupying the cave as long as two thousand years ago, the petroglyphs probably do not date back further than 800 years to the early Iowas and Winnebagos. The Wisconsin Trails Magazine in its summer issue 1971 carried a good description of this cave along with picture of the petroglyphs. The following is their word picture.

“The figures on the cave wall include about three cozen carvings, including humans with arms outstretched, chunky elk with large antlers, deer, wild turkey in flight, eagles, a buffalo cow with an arrow in her side nursing a calf, swans, a trio of geese with long curved necks, a huge fish with a formidable set of jagged teeth, a comical catfish with drooping whiskers, even what looks like a pet dog.”

The archeological dig mentioned above also uncovered a large number of arrow heads, pottery pieces, stone knives, scrapers and rills left by the early Indians and covered up by the years’ accumulation from erosion.

This glen is today part of the County Park System thanks to a gift of the land made by Miss Florence Gullickson, descendant of one of the early settlers.

THE BLACK RIVER COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN

What was the Black River Country like? What of its past and of its potential as viewed by new settlers? The Black River Country is the drainage area for the Black River which flows some 140 miles in a southwesterly direction and empties into the Mississippi river near the present city of La Crosse. This was Indian country, heavily covered with some of the finest white pine timber in the state. In 1843, when James Bruce had first come to the Wisconsin Territory there were no settlements in all of this region. Not being prairie soil it had failed to attract the central European or the New Englander looking for available agricultural land. But there were those who were looking for other resources such as furs and timber to meet eastern demands; and away from the river there were indeed hardwood areas and openings which might be conducive to those settlers.

The question of who came first to this country is not easily answered. “History tells us that less than 30 years after the notable explorations of Nicolet in 1634, two of his countrymen visited the Black River, in the winter of 1659-’60” so says Horace Merrill in his U. of W. thesis entitled An Early History of the Black River Region.

In 1818 or ’19 a French trader by the name of Rolette headed an expedition, which was fitted out at Prairie du Chien. He succeeded in reaching the present site of Black River Falls where he erected a saw mill on Town Creek, supposed to be the first built in Wisconsin. It was burned by the Winnebago Indians before it could be put into operation, and the lumbermen were driven down the river. This was Indian territory until 1838 when it was ceded to the government by the tribe. 1839 saw the first real settler arrive in the valley. Abner D. Polleys, in his Pioneer Days In The Black River Valley relates this arrival quite in detail. He tells how Robert Douglas disembarked on the sand beach where the Black River joins the Mississippi just north of La Crosse. He follows Douglas’ journey up the river to the point where the Village of Melrose now stands. Polleys writes as follows:

“Robert Douglas claimed squatters rights on land 30 miles up the Black River from La Crosse in 1839. His brother joined him later and together they hitched the first yoke of oxen to the first breaking plow to turn the first furrow on the first farm in Jackson County and also the first farm above Prairie du Chien on the Wisconsin side of the Father of Waters.”

Douglas had come to America in 1837, then 22 years old, from Dumfries, Scotland. He became one of the early influential citizens of Jackson County. Readers would find Polleys’ account of Douglas’ overland trip on foot to Prairie du Chien, the nearest settlement, for supplies most interesting.

The extremely fine growth of white pine for which the Black River valley was famous proved a strong attraction to early lumbermen. Jacob Spaulding, the first to actually settle at the Falls on the river, arrived the same year that Douglas broke ground at Melrose. With a crew of seventeen men Spaulding founded the settlement of Black River Falls and constructed for himself a double log cabin. He also built a sawmill and began to cut timber. Spaulding became the second farmer in Jackson County when in 1841 he established a farm at the settlement.

Early in 1841 a group of Mormons, followers of Joseph Smith, who proposed to build a worship center at Nauvoo, Illinois, left their City for the pine woods along the Black River; their aim being to cut timber for their new Temple. Traveling up the river by boat they selected a good area to cut. Unfortunately they started cutting trees in an area supposedly staked out by Jacob Spaulding. By the time Spaulding and his men arrived they had already cut over 300 trees. A battle ensued ending in the Mormon’s return to Nauvoo. They came back to the Black River Country however and bought part interest in Spaulding’s mill. By the summer of 1843, one hundred fifty Mormons, many with their families, were working in the woods twelve miles above the Riffles, north of the Village of Hatfield. On October 12, 1842 a raft containing 90,000 board feet of lumber and 24,000 cubic feet of logs arrived at Nauvoo from the Black River Country. When Joseph Smith was killed, June 27 – 1844, and the word reached the camp, work ceased and the Mormons left, abandoning the logs that were cut. Some of the Mormon families however returned to the Black River region and settled permanently in Jackson and Clark Counties.

Transportation at this time was largely by river. Long, narrow-keel boats were used to bring in supplies from La Crosse. Steamboats were tried but not proved to be practical. The first extended highway was surveyed and built from Prairie du Chien during the years 1846 to 1848 by way of Viroqua and Sparta to Black River Falls. This road was extended north in 1850 to Stillwater, Minnesota and became a mail route with a post-office at Black River Falls. Postage on a letter at that time was 25¢.

The covered wagons and stage coaches began to appear on this road in 1854 and by the mid-sixties as many as 100 coach and drayline teams might spend the night at Black River Falls. From here they crossed on the ferry, at Dumfries, later known as Melrose. After the bridge was built at Black River Falls they would continue their journey southward to New Lisbon or Sparta, there to reach the nearest railroad.

In Jackson County Dates with Destiny, Mrs. Betty Epstein adds this interesting note, “So important was the need to water these teams that a tax relief was granted to those settlers who would set up and maintain watering troughs along the highway.” The railroad did not come to Black River Falls until 1868, thirteen years after the Cartters and Swifts arrived.

For a look at early agriculture we turn again to Merrill’s thesis:

“Little was done to advance farming along the river during the early 1840’s but an added inducement to agricultural settlement came with the completion of the Government Land Survey of this area in 1847. Land was entered for sale at the government land office, first at Mineral Point in 1848, later at La Crosse, price $1.25 per acre.”

Merrill continues, “In 1855 (according to census figures for Jackson County) there were 1098 people in the county and 5 years later in 1860 there were 4,170 a gain of 280%. Most of this increase came in 1855 and ’56 by people interested in agriculture. Contributing to this influx of settlers was the added price of wheat which took a phenomenal jump as a result of the Crimean War. Eastern families had a desire to get west where better wheat could be grown. Dairying was also coming into the east and farmers were revolting against having to change to a new economy. The majority of farmers moving into the Black River Falls area were from western New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. They were coming by 3 main routes.
(1) Up the Mississippi river as far as La Crosse or Trempeleau following from there the Black or Trempeleau rivers.
(2) By land routes from the north.
(3) From across the state. – – –

The panic of 1857 and crop failures checked further settlement during the decade.”

Many families spent some time in the settlement known as Black River Falls before moving onto the land. In 1856 the population of that town was 1,000 and in 1860 it was only 600. But Black River Falls itself was developing fast. Arletta L. Jones in her 1924 thesis entitled Settlement and Development of Black River Falls, Wis. says:

“Visitors to the village in 1856 went home and reported that ‘what Pittsburgh is to Pennsylvania, we believe the Falls and its additions will be to Wisconsin.’ The reason for this now apparent rash statement was that a blast furnace was being built just north of Black River Falls. One of the first deposits of iron ore in Wisconsin to attract attention has been uncovered here. As late as 1846 no other body of iron ore seems to be known of in the state. – – – Forty men were employed after the company was organized in 1846.”

The deposit proved to be to difficult to mine economically due largely to the perpindicular nature of the veins of ore.

Lumber production was near its peak in 1856, totaling in that year 35,000,000 bd. ft. By 1853 the entire area was part of the Town of Albion as it had existed when a part of Crawford County. It had been established in 1849. By the end of 1856 six towns had been organized in the county, namely – Albion, Price, Alma, Bristol (later called Melrose), Springfield, and Hixton. The twenty-first town was not organized until 1939.

The first towns organized from the original town of Albion were all located on the west side of the Black River and it was in this area that James Bruce centered his attention in search of a likely home site.

Here it is Monday again, and my supporters are probably saying to themselves, “Didn’t Cary say he would have this to me by Friday, so I could look it over before posting it?”

Well, yes, I did say that. I also said to a friend a while back that I thought I could handle being a Dad, involved in the church, work full time, AND campaign for president – never mind actually be president – without running into overtime.

Overtime has been run into. My apologies. Life has a habit of getting in the way of living sometimes, and for a working stiff like me that means that sometimes my goals have to be modified.

One goal I will not modify is that of getting the Career Politicians to pay attention to We the People. Last week, the Senate failed to pass the “comprehensive immigration reform” measure – or, as I like to call it, the “giving away what so many wait their turn for” measure – and President Bush has the gall to claim that he will “talk to the GOP members” who voted against the measure. Funny, but it seems to me that those who voted against the measure were doing something a lot of people on the Hill haven’t been doing – they PAID ATTENTION TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS – you know, the people they supposedly “represent” – and decided that maybe the American People really don’t want to give away the farm.

I have been accused of being against immigration. Quite the contrary, I am all for immigration – legal immigration, within the boundaries and quotas that are currently in place. I have been reminded (see the comments) that my ancestors were immigrants. I have reminded right back that they were LEGAL immigrants. Oh, and they were self sufficient, created value from the natural resources, provided employment for others, were involved in government, and generally added to the country, instead of taking away.

I say all of that to say this: I care very deeply for this country. I will not allow this country to be sold up the river, given away in an immigration scandal dressed up as “reform”, or corrupted any more from within. It is time for We the People to once again wrest control of this nation away from those who are making their living from the political machinations of the Hill and hand it back to the general populace, where it can be safeguarded better than it has been.

If you feel you are Out of Voting Choices, then choose to Make a Difference – write in Cary Cartter for President in November 2008. Please help me get the word out.

If you would like to know more about my stand, please look around my blog. If you have any questions you would like to see addressed, or if you would like to help spread the word about my campaign, you can e-mail me here.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

The Height of Arrogance

If there is any doubt in your mind about who your “representatives” are really representing, watch the vote for cloture on the immigration bill today – or, as I like to call it, the “Unexclusive-ing of United States Citizenship” bill. That’s right – just like in 1986, the “leaders” of this country feel that the only way to solve the illegal immigration issue is to make them all legal.

This would be similar to Brentwood Country Club allowing the course hoppers to become members to avoid having a course-hopper problem, instead of firing up the course rangers and security personnel to keep the hoppers off the course in the first place.

When Reagan signed the first amnesty bill in 1986, he had the assurances of all involved that enforcement would be forthcoming. Oddly enough, the Career Politicians who gave him (and, by extension, the country) that impression lied through their teeth. I know, it’s shocking to find out that people who make a habit of misleading the voting public would turn around and not tell the truth on any other subject, but there you have it. At any rate, the enforcement sections never materialized – with the result that today, nearly three times the number of illegal invaders will be handed citizenship if this bill passes. I urge you to contact your representative at (national switchboard) 202-224-3121.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States, it is time to wrest control away from the self-serving spoiled millionaires running the country for their own amusement and hand it back to We the People. It is time for the citizens of this country to stand up and be counted, to let the “leaders” know that they are not representing the majority will of those they owe their position to – and I am not referring to the political string-pullers with deep pockets.

I am running a write-in campaign for President of the United States. If all I do is piss off the incumbent, lazy, good-for-nothing Career Politicians, then so be it – but I want to make sure these same representatives know that it is not just my voice alone – that there is, indeed, a majority of citizens who want their country to remain sovereign.

If you feel you are Out of Voting Choices, then choose to Make a Difference – write in Cary Cartter for President in November 2008. Please help me get the word out.

If you would like to know more about my stand, please visit my blog. If you have any questions you would like to see addressed, or if you would like to help spread the word about my campaign, you can e-mail me here.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

PROSPECTING FOR LAND IN IOWA

Our first real evidence of James’ inner feelings can be secured from a series of letters written to him by Isadora Swift who later was to become his wife. She saved these letters and thanks to the careful and efficient handling by one of James Bruce’s great grand-daughters, Mrs. Ruth Knapp Forssen of Missoula, Montana, they are summarized as to content and indexed for all those who are interested to read. It is unfortunate that Isadora’s letters to him in response were not saved.

These letters were written when James made a trip, starting early in May 1854, which took him into the new state of Iowa. It was so declared in 1846. James is traveling by light wagon with a team of horses and is definitely in search of new land on which to settle. The state of Iowa had only recently been opened for settlement. The quotes being used are selected first of all to give a better picture of the man, James Bruce, his inner thoughts, his human concerns and his longings for a place he could call homes with a life’s companion at his side. In addition we may get from these letters a glimpse of that mad rush by many people who were seeking land they might call their own. We can thus know better the accompanying hardships these people faced as witnessed by a personal observer.

The letters were sent from a settlement then known as Bradford in Chickasaw County located in the northeastern corner of the state of Iowa, almost due west from Prairie du Chien, Wis. Today’s maps do not show a Bradford there, indicating that the name may have been changed to avoid conflict with a Bradford now located in Franklin County, Iowa. Its present name is New Hampton, the county seat of Chickasaw County.

The quotes which follow are copied just as written and the dates of letters are given.

Letter – May 25 – 1854 – “Another week is past in this new land. It has been a lonesome one to me among strangers not anyone that I am acquainted with, none to converse with but strangers. They have no sympathy in common with me. It makes my spirits sad when I think of those that I have left behind but I suppose I shall get over it as we get over all the ils of life. Home-sick I am not, sad I am. I should like to see you more than enny one. If I could talk with you but for a few minutes I should feel better. It would seem like home and oald times. – – – We have had some very bad weather since I crossed the Mississippi. I never saw such bad roads. The streames were so high that they had to be swam if crossed. But it is very pleasant now. This is one of the most beautiful days that I ever saw. The sun shines bright, the air is pure, my body feels strong.

Tomorrow in company with George Tower I shal go up the east branch of the Seder (Cedar) river some twelve miles for the purpos of looking at the country before I make up my mind whear to setle. Mest weak I intend to go up the mane branch of the Seder River some thirty or forty miles and then on the Shelrock River some twenty miles west of Seder.

– – – This is a new cuntrey but time will make an oald cuntrey as it makes us oald. What mater whether it be an oald or a new cuntrey – contentment is all. This makes one happy. – – – This little village some two years oald has some twenty houses in it. There is three large houses building in the place and lots of small ones. I think it will be a smart town in a few years.”

Letter – June 1 – 1854: ” – – – Their stands in the road in front of the barn four covered wagons with movers bound west up the Seder and the Shelrock rivers. You can see morestrangers here in one day that you would with you in one year, all hunting for homes. This country is settling verry fast. It mite be settles as thick as Wheatland in a short time. – – – Inhabitance most of them from the East, New York and New England, is largely represented hear, some from the South. There is a school in this place with some sixty schollars and a prospect of a large town someday. – – – Oald Rock and Charley (his horses) are wel they send their best repects to you. They are out in the pasture today. – – – There is not the least danger of their jumping over the outside fence for the one is the Atlantcik and the other the Pasifick. – – “

Letter – June 22 – 1854: ” – – – Since I came to this state I have when the weather would permit spent moast of the time in looking at the cuntry; I want to finde a place that sutes me. When I make another home I want to make it for life. – – – -You wish to know when I will come back. I will come as soon as it is consistent. You must not be unesy I shall come if life is spared to me. I want to see you but we must be reasonable. When you come hear I want you to come and be comfortable. – – – -Thousands come here and suffer very much, they come unprepared, come before they have a place to lay their heades, they have to live in their wagons and lay on the ground. – – – – Imigration has been verey great this year to this state. You have know idea what a number of strangers there is in this state. Thousands are coming and will continue to come till this state is filed up. – – – – I think I shall be one of the number. – – – “

Letter – July 5 – 1854: – “- – – For the last three weeks it has been the hottest weather I ever saw this season of the year. It has fairly prostrated me. I have not done much since hot weather commensed, I could not. – – – – I have often wished that I was in your front room with the doors and windows open and fresh breeze blowing on me from the lake. – – – – I often think of that old rocking chair and seated in it with you on my lap, your arm around my neck, your cheek against mine and the sweet kiss impressed on my cheek. I wish I had one now. I would give one in return loved one, but we must wait a little longer. – – –

I have maid up my mind to stay in this country – today I have bought a peace of property in this state. It is in the village of St. Charles 15 miles northwest from Bradford in the county of Floid (Floyd). You have been anxious for me to buy some property here. I have done it. I think the reason you had for wishing me to buy here was the fear of my going to California. I do not think I shall go there at present dear one. – – – Your friend Sarah Grifeth lives thirty miles from this place in Rock Grove in Floid County. Her faterh is building a mil in the grove. There is a great excitement in this part of the state at the present. Theres about 800 Indians at Clear Lake at the present time and at Rock Grove the families have gathered into one hous for difence at the difrent points. The whites, about twenty-fice at Clear Lake, sent out for help. About one hundred have gone to their relief. Folks threw this county are badly scairt. – – – – – The name of the Indians is the Sues (Sioux) they have killed one Winabago that they found at Clear Lake. – – – “

Letter – July 6 – 1854: – – – “Time flys fast, you are thought of often and always with love. – – – My thoughts are in Wheatland, they are with you. How often I have drwn you to my breast and imprinted a sweet kiss on your lips and cheek. I hope to repeat the same love token often again if nothing happens this fall. – – – – The second month of summer comes. It will soon be gone then comes the falling leaves – with them the chil blasts. – – – – I have not written to Oliver (Isadora’s brother) yet but will as soon as I am settled as to what business I shall follow. When you write to him give him my compliments I should like to hear from him and see him. He could get wages in this country. Carpenters and Joiners get twelve shillings a day here and a great call for them at present, but lumber is scarce. – – -“

Letter – July 29 – 1854: “- – – If nothing happens tomorrow I shall start from St. Charles a few miles from hear. I may go to Clear Lake some 60 miles from hear before I return. – – – – I shall be home sometime in September. God willing, perhaps before, I am anxious to see you but shall not come till I have looked this country threw to my satisfaction. When I settle down I mean to make it a perminant home. I want Oliver when he comes home, if it is before I return, to stay at home until I return. If I settle west I want him to settle with me. We should be lonesome if there is not some of our friends with us. Price is homesick bad, I think he will be home soon. I pity anyone that is homesick. – – – – I have seen many of your sex sit down and have a harty cry for their home that they left. I hope that if it should be your lot to some west you will not be homesick. Many a lonesome hour have I passed among strangers here. If you had been with me I think it would have been different. One cause of my lonesomeness here is that most of the time lately I have been sick, but you must not be scared at that I feel better now. – – – – I want to see Oliver and tell him of this country and all about it and the rest of them.”

Letter – Aug. 16 – 1854: “This will be the last letter you will get from me at present from Bradford. Next week Monday, nothing hapning to prevent, I shall start for Manasota (Minnesota) territory north some one hundred miles from this place. I am going to look at that country before I return. Then I shall go home to my Isadora crossing the river at Prairie La Cros to Wisconsin, from there to Madison to Janesville and from that place to Wheatland. It will take some three or four weeks to make the journey clear around on the account of the health on the main traveled roads from here to east. – – – – there is a great deal of sickness all threw the west as well as with you. The Colery (Cholera) small pox and other diseases to numeris to mention. It is healthy in this place at present how long it may remain I can’t say.”

He closes this last letter in the series written in Bradford, Iowa as follows:

“I have written you once a week ever since I came here. You have been a good dear one in answering them for which I am grateful. I don’t know what its to write but that I love you.

From you dear friend always – J.B. Cartter”

From the tone of these letters one may make several suppositions some with clear assurance of correctness others without sufficient evidence or certainty. We can be sure that James’ return to Wheatland must have been a joyous one for our two major characters. Did James arrive home with any firm conviction as to Iowa being his choice for a future home? His letters gave indication that he had some hesitation about taking Isadora into this new territory without part of her family also making that move. We are not aware of the reason why James was so interested in making contact with Oliver, who was Isadora’s next older brother. Oliver had evidently just been married and had strong feelings favoring a move to Black River Falls in Jackson County.

What would the Swift family decision be? It seems evident that James, having found comfort in his association with the Swift Family, would hesitate to strike off by himself even though Isadora might agree to accompany him. It is very evident that health was a prime factor which influenced many decisions. James himself, through a relatively young man of 39 years, had been plagued with many health problems and seemed especially cautious.

It was doubtless George H. Cartter, James’ youngest brother, who had, by his enthusiasm, stimulated James to consider California and a move further west. However an immediate decision as to the best course to follow was postponed when George stopped by Wheatland while on his return trip to Sacramento from a visit to the family home at Rochester, New York. He brought news of their mother’s critical illness which prompted James to make an unplanned trip to Rochester, N.Y. in September of 1854 after returning from Iowa. James had not seen his mother for several years although he had been kept informed of her health by members of his family living in Rochester.

On his return from visiting his mother James stopped to see his older brother David who then lived at Masillon, Ohio. The following excerpts are taken from his letter to Isadora written while at Masillon on October 16, 1854.

“When I left you my intention was to be back within two weeks but was disappointed. When I arrived where my mother was, I found her very feeble. I am afraid she has but a short time of her life at best. – – – – Time is making us all old. She will soon pass away and we must follow.” (Though critically ill at the time, Elizabeth Cartter lived until 1876 outliving three of her sons)

He continues, “For two weeks of the time since I left I have just been able to sit in a chair. I have had the worst attack of my throat disease that I have ever had. – – – – I have got out as far as my brother’s (David Kellogg Cartter) in Ohio and am with him at present. I am hoping soon to be with you. Give my love to your family.
Yours ever, J. B. Cartter”

After returning from his trip to Rochester James and the Swift family must have held a conference to determine their future plans. Oliver and Charles Swift as well as their father John evidently favored the Black River Falls area which James had also explored. No definite record was made of their decision, if in fact one was made, but on December 14, 1854 James did purchase a lot from D. J. Spaulding in the new settlement of Black River Falls.

Perhaps James wasn’t yet sure which way to turn now that he had property in both Bradford, Iowa and Black River Falls, Wisconsin. We find him next in Madison on March 3, 1855 explaining in a letter to Isadora:

“When I left Wheatland my health was comparatively good. On my second day out my right arm began to pain me. It grew worse from day to day. On the fifth I arrived at Madison. The nite I came here I passed without sleep. My arm began to swell and continued for five days.”

On March 17th he writes: “I have been here (Madison) four weeks and have been in bed more than half of the time. If I do not get well enough to travel and look at the country I shall return home to Wheatland, – – -I have not hardly made up my mind which way to go from here, North or West.”

The decision must have been made soon after that for July, 1855 finds the entire Swift family and James Bruce in Black River Falls, the frontier country seat of Jackson County. This county had been organized in 1853 having first been a part of Crawford and then of La Crosse counties.