This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: DeLONG, HOYT, WELLS, SMITH Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/gFC.2ACI/1352 Message Board Post: My grandfather (Forest Henry CASSEL/WOOD) grew up in the Missouri Valley outside of Eau Galle, Dunn Co, Wisconsin in the 1870s. He lived close to the DeLONG family and married Louisa DeLONG in 1896. This valley was also known as Buttermilk Coulee and a charming newpaper article was published in the Spring Valley Sun in July 1914 about Angeline Matilda SMITH WELLS HOYT DeLONG (1840-1931), mother of Louisa DeLONG. Here is a transcription: "The subject of this sketch is 74 years old and is an early settler to the town of Eau Galle, Dunn Co., Wisconsin being known to everybody in the town. With her husband John HOYT she came to Eau Galle May 22, 1862, they moved at once onto a farm, here they had to do the work which fell to the lot of all the settlers in the woods - clearing away the timber to build their cabin, and for a patch of land to raise enough to live on. Their cabin had a "shaker" roof-so named probably because in the winter they all shook with cold. The nearest store was 6 miles away through the unbroken woods and there were two tribes of Indians between to say nothing of the bears. Mrs. DeLONG says. 'John had to work out in good weather to earn money to buy a team of oxen. When he was gone I would burn the brush and log heaps which he cut and piled up in the rainy spells. During the winter I knitted 101 pairs of socks and mittens which sold for $1.00 a pair.' 'My husband enlisted in the army and on December 5 he died at Buford Hospital, leaving me with four small children to support. I had to carry flour and other supplies home from Eau Galle on my back, for at that time there were only 3 horses in the township.' 'Being all alone this way I dared not even sleep soundly at night. When I would sleep, I would put my elbow on the bed and support my head in my hands and take short naps. I could hear every noise. One night I heard something outdoors and my heart seemed to stop, for I said to myself, there are the Indians. They are planning to kill my children. Then I called on God for help and as quick as a flash God took all the fear from me and after that I could go to bed with my 4 little children and sleep soundly.' 'After I was alone, I chopped off 2 1/2 acres lot and plowed and raised grain and cut it and made flour, but I do not like bring those days back to my mind for in New York State, where I came from, it was considered a disgrace for a woman to work as I did, but a woman will do anything for the sake of her children.' She latter married George DeLONG, who also preceded her in death. Grandma DeLONG is the main stay of West Chapel for a great many years and is an earnest Christian. She's president of the Ladies Aid Society and is an active worker in the Sunday school. We are apt to read of the pioneer days and to consider them as belonging to a bygone day, when in fact many of the men and women who worked and suffered in those days are very vigorous and active members of the community.