Bio: Horel, Isaac (1831)

Transcriber:  Stan

Surnames: HOREL HOWARD HURST

----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 01/06/1906

Horel, Isaac (10 FEB 1831)

I was born in Banwell, England in 1831. Being a descendant of nobility I can trace my lineage through several generations.

When three years of age our family came to America in a sailing vessel, which took six weeks to cross the Atlantic. The only incidents I remember were the porpoises and wreckage of a floating vessel. We located near Albany, N.Y., where my father died soon after our arrival, leaving my mother a widow with seven children. The oldest child from whom she could expect support was Robert, then 14, consequently each had a part in the struggle. I, the youngest, was frequently employed as errand boy.

When 14 years of age, we immigrated to the territory of Wisconsin, settling in Washington Co. We were all greatly interested in hunting and trapping. Brother Elisha and I made frequent hunting expeditions to the north, at one time nearly to the center of the state.

We resided there ten years, and in 1856 I was married to Miss Elizabeth Howard, a native of England, so if spared to see Feb. 13, 1906, I May have the pleasure of celebrating my golden wedding.

I began thinking of taking up land. Elisha resolved to take a trip to the Trempealeau valley, as this place was then called, prospecting for land for the family, so setting out made his way to Mr. Curtiss', who was living in Garden Valley, thence to an old hunter's shanty named Walden, on the farm now owned by Mr. Wm. Myres, thence to the hil where the Catholic Church now stands. Seeing the land to the south was level and free from timber he decided to look no father, go to La Crosse, enter this land and return home.

In June 1856 the family, consisting of my sister, Mrs. Hurst, and her husband (who held the first post office and hardware store in Humbird), my brothers, Robert, Elisha, Elijah, myself and wife, started for our new home. We were accompanied by our cousins, the Horels, who settled in the Eau Claire Valley and logged for years along that stream.

When within a mile of Watertown we overtook Mr. Turnel, father of Mrs. Joseph Ringrose, fast in the mud. After helping him out he informed us he thought of going to Bad Ax County. We asked him to go with us, so to decide the matter Mr. Turnel said he would place a stick upon his finger and whichever direction it fell he would go. It fell pointing toward the Trempealeau valley. They came and settled in Garden Valley.

Next day after our arrival I went over to the Rocky Mound and found an elk trail, which I followed to the bluff where Humbird now stands. With this pleasure before us it was difficult to labor and our shanties were left unfinished; blankest were substituted for doors, for in those good old days there was nothing to disturb the quiet except the howling of wolves, which frequented our dooryard at night.

During the winter I killed 50 deer, 8 elk, 7 bears, 40 beavers, and 30 mink. The marketing of this was most difficult, for it had to be taken either to Sparta or La Crosse.

During the winter of the "deep snow" my brother and I drove an elk home, which we kept in captivity. On sight the elk coming into their yard, the three yoke of oxen took to light and did not stop until they reached Mr. Heyden's near Alma Center.

Others now began to settle around us. Messrs. Brandstedter, Kendell and Friddle came about the same time as wee and Mr. Clark the year following. I entered several pieces of land, but having made the acquaintance of Uncle Elihu and Auntie Clark, whose memory will ever be held sacred by all who know them, and land being of no object in those days, my wife and I decided to lived on the land adjoining Mr. Clark, which I yet occupy.

The early people had a struggle for existence, had no railroads, telephones or other means for exchange of thought, and as they viewed the broad expanse of timber it became the oft repeated remark, "This timber will not be consumed in a thousand years." But the creamy lumbering age left no inheritance to the succeeding generations, except to dig. Mr. Theiler and other appearing on the scene at the time needed, taught the farmers how to dig in the dairy business. The influence spread to the town, and the cry went out for the right kind of businessmen. The call was responded to and those remaining took on new life. The cattle buyers began to frequent the streets, and so the digging went on.

While we gaze, not in "mind's eye" but in reality, at the canning factories, etc., and when the heirs of the great railroad man shal bestow a public library upon their namesake, the city of Humbird, and as we look with pride upon our educational advantages, May it not be forgotten that the influence for some of this was sown in the homes of the early pioneers, and the two little red school houses of many, many years ago. (Isaac Horel)

Responses

I remember my great-aunt Mary well.  Of course you know she was an accomplished artist and poet--I will never forget her wonderful black and white seagull studies.  She sent me a copy of her poetry not long before she died.

Anyway, actually there were eight siblings:  Mary was born in 1882, Esther, (called Rube for some reason I never understood) in 1883, Margaret (Aunt Mag) in 1884, Edith (Dessy), my grandmother, in 1886, James, in 1889, Walter, in 1891, Katherine (Aunt Kate) in 1893, and Evelyn in 1899.  I remember them all, except for Evelyn who died quite young after having her second son (the boys were Walter and James Cornish, and my grandmother raised them after Evelyn's death, the father not being interested.)  All were born on Salt Spring except Katherine and Evelyn, who arrived after they moved to Victoria.

 

I remember going up to see Aunt Mary in the early 1940's before they paved the roads.  We went out blackberrying and she always told me to look out for the bears (I was only about four, so I'm not sure if she was just teasing!)

Anyway, my knowledge of the family pretty much stops with Esther Horel and Henry Nelson Rogers.  I am pretty sure his parents were James and Mary, from Wiltshire, and there was a family rumor that she was a Nelson, related to the Admiral, but who knows?  I was told Esther Horel was born in Wisconsin, but I can find no record of her before she and Henry Nelson emigrated to Canada in 1880 or 1881.

Anyway, that is about all I know of that generation.  Donna (Mason) Hames

 

Bio: Horel, Isaac (1831)

Transcriber: Mary Jo Enerson-Stoutenburg
 

My Gr-gr-gr-grandfather. Pretty fiesty according to family history.

Re: Bio: Horel, Isaac (1831)

Transcriber: Donna Hames

I am attempting to locate any information on my great-grandmother, Esther Horel, who I believe was born in October, 1863, in Wisconsin. She migrated to British Columbia Canada in 1880 and married Henry Nelson Rogers. If you know anything about this person, I would appreciate your help. Thank you. Donna Hames

Re: Bio: Horel, Isaac (1831)

Transcriber: John Caldicott
 

My mother is Margret Esther Caldicott nee Anderson. Her mother was Mary Anderson nee Rogers. Mary Rogers mother was Esther Horel.That means my great grandmother is Esther Horel. Mary Rogers grew up on Saltspring Island and after a marriage that didn't last long she spent the rest of her life in Powell River, passing away at the age of 96. Mary Rogers had I believe 2 sisters and 1 brother. I live in Powell River, and my mother Margret E. Caldicott is 95 and has dementia so doesn't remember much of the past.

 

 


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