Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin,
1917":
Chapter 10:
The Banner Robbery
-As
transcribed from pages 177 - 178
In the spring of 1860 there arrived in the Big Tamarack Valley an
Englishman who called himself John Banner. He seemed to have
means and bought for cash eighty acres of land described as the south
half of the southeast quarter of section five, township numbered
nineteen, range nine (S. ½ of S. E. ¼ 5-19-9). For
this he received a deed which he confided to the care of a
neighbor. On this land he built a shanty and ox-shed, hired some
breaking done, planted sod, corn and potatoes, bought a yoke of oxen
and a cart, plow and a few other implements and tools. In the
fall of 1860 he sowed six acres of winter wheat.
Mr. Banner passed the winter of 1860-61 in the neighborhood, getting
acquainted with the settlers, having a good time and being a good
fellow generally. In the spring of 1861 he prepared to plant corn
and make further improvements on his farm. About the middle of
May, 1861, another Englishman, calling himself Nathan Mitchell, came on
from England to visit his friend Banner, and incidentally, to invest a
few "sovereigns" in American unimproved real estate.
Mr. Mitchell arrived at Mr. Banner's on Friday. Saturday and
Sunday Mr. Banner entertained his friend by walking with him from farm
to farm and introducing him to the neighbors as "My especial friend,
Mr. Mitchell, direct from Liverpool, looking for land," etc. On
Monday morning Mr. Banner proposed to initiate his visitor into the
American art of planting "maize," and, after getting started and
working a while, asked to be excused "while he went to a neighbor's for
some seed potatoes."
Mr. Mitchell worked away at his new job until hunger and thirst warned
him the mid-day lunch ought to be due. On going to the shanty the
first thing he saw was his carpet-bag with the side cut open, and,
lying near, was his "friend's" razor with lint on the edge. A
hasty examination showed that a package containing one hundred and
thirteen gold "sovereigns" had been taken, and that it was very evident
that his friend Banner was the robber. After "a nine days'
wonder" and unavailable efforts to trace the missing appropriator of
his coin, Mr. Mitchell took legal process against Banner's personal
belongings that were left behind, such as the oxen, cart, plow, cooking
stove, shotgun, grindstone, bedding, etc., including the growing crop
of winter wheat, sold the whole at sheriff's sale, pocketed his loss,
shook the Big Tamarack dust from his square-toed gaiters and returned
to Old England.
Thus closed the John Banner-Nathan Mitchell "tragedy."
The first Polish settler in Dodge, Michael Chisin of Winona, was, in
the spring of 1862, piloted to the John Banner farm by Charles J.
Cleveland. To that farm he brought his bride, there his children
were born, there he passed the rest of his life, and there he
died. Several other Poles came into the Tamarack in the fall of
1862 and later. One of the later arrivals was also named
"Michael" (Kolodsey or "Collins") and, as everybody was called by the
person's given name, to distinguish the two "Mikes," Mrs. Chas.
Cleveland gave Chisin the nickname of "Tamarack Mike" and Kolodsey was
called "Winona Mike." The two men were very proud of their
American names, announcing themselves to English speaking strangers
always thus.
(By E. H. Cleveland.)