About this record
In the first half of the nineteenth century, southwestern Wisconsin was primarily known for its rich stores of lead. Depression and the depletion of easily accessible ore, coupled with the discovery of gold in California, hastened the region's transition to agriculture. Many farmers continued to mine, though, to supplement their income. In this piece, Walter Pollock describes the lives of these "farming miners" and the process of mineral extraction and smelting about 1890.Citation
Walter, Pollock. "Wisconsin lead mines: a region once the mecca of hosts of fortune seekers.";