September 15, 2011 at 3:16 p.m.
Civil War Scrapbook
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The following two stories were shared with us by Karen Anding Crooks. Two of her great grandfathers served in the Civil war (John F. Anding (Wis Inf 14th Reg. Company K) and Hector Evans (Wis Inf 12th Reg. Company C)). These two articles appeared in the Dodgeville Chronicle 63 years after the Civil War. Peter Crook served in the Dodgeville Rangers (Wis Inf 31th Reg Company C) was the Great Grandfather of her husband. They show a lasting impact of the war on Iowa County that one might over look.
Dodgeville Chronicle-Oct. 18, 1928
CIVIL WAS EXPERIENCE STARTS SORGHUM INDUSTRY
For the past two weeks Robert Crook and wife assisted by the W. E. Walker family, have been busy making sorghum, ten miles northwest of this city. A powerful cane mill driven by a tractor crushes the cane, extracting the sweet juice, and the refuse is cut into short bits and used during the winter to bed livestock. Mr. Crook not only raises considerable cane himself but farmers for miles around bring theirs to his farm to have it converted into delicious country sorghum. After the juice is extracted it is tested with a hydrometer so that individuals get back just what sorghum belongs to them. The huge pans are kept boiling over a wood fire while the artist watches carefully and with dipper and ladle caresses it to a rich golden texture. Sixteen to eighteen hours a day is the length of shift when the sorghum season is on and this year about one thousand gallons of finished product were turned out. This means that many thousands of gallons of sap were boiled down. The Crook sorghum plant dates its birth to the close of the Civil War. At that time, two older brother, Peter and John, returned from the conflict with vivid memories of sorghum as made by southerners. The next spring a patch was sown to cane and in the fall a crude cooking plant was started. Year in and year out for over sixty years, each fall sees the Crook sorghum plant in action and Robert Crook can justly lay claim to the title of "Sorghum King" of Iowa county. It is interesting to note that a knife brought back from the war by one of the brothers is still used to top the cane*. Its steel is of such texture and hardness that it will cleave the modern hardware store butcher knife.
Mr. Walker, the younger member of the firm has watched the sorghum process from earliest boyhood so that when Mr. Crook gives up the sorghum crown the youngest man will be well fitted to carry on the industry. Fortunate are those privileged to eat of the choice sweet this winter.
*Albert Thomas Crook, great grandson of Peter Crook has the knife that has been passed down in the family (2011).
Dodgeville Chronicle-Pick-Ups-Oct. 3, 1929
Well, the Crook sorghum headquarters was finally reached and sure enough operations were well underway. The fires had been started that morning and the first batch of the rich delicacy was already in the pails although yet warm. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Walker were stirring and skimming the bubbling pans while Mr. Crook went to supper. The season is short and the shifts long so they work well into the night. Neighbors for miles around bring cane there to be crushed and the sap made into sorghum. During the war time as much as 3300 gallons were made in a season. This means that there were many thousands of gallons of green sap extracted as a gallon of sorghum represents many gallons of juice.
Lucky is the home which has a supply of Crook's sorghum and the Pick-Up-Man made sure of his share right then and there. It was a fitting climax for the end of a perfect autumn day.
To share your story, write it up and drop it off at the Iowa County Historical Society Museum 1-4 p.m. any weekday or E-MAIL it to IowaCountyScrapbook@gmail.com. If you would rather, you can call the Iowa County Historical Society at 935-7694.
