The Walker House
Cache
Adjacent to this cache location is the Walker House, built in 1836
as an upscale inn providing fine dining and a pub. It was
built onto a pre-existing miner's former stone house. This
inn has been remodled several times but has closed with each
venture. On 1 November 1842 a man named William Caffee was
executed by a public hanging in front of the Walker House for the
murder of Samuel Southwick at Gratiot's Grove in February
1842. It is said that Willaim lost his head during the
hanging. It is believed that William haunts the Walker House
in a grey suit, headless, holding his head....
William Caffee's
Story
On February 23, 1842 William Caffee attended a housewarming
party at Captain Fortunatus Berry's house in Gratiot's Grove,
Wisconsin. After spending much time at the bar room he missed
his name being called to dance. When he showed up to dance he
was informed that he had missed his chance. Outraged he
grabbed the dance list shoved it in his pocket and stormed out of
Captain Berry's residence. Sam Southwick pursued him picking
up a stick motioning it at Caffee to stop. Caffee yelled
"Stand back or I will kill you!" With that Caffee shot Samuel
Southwick in the chest. Witnesses proclaimed
Caffee then yelled, "That's what you get for fooling with
me!" then he took off running. He was sentenced to
death on September 24, 1842. On November 1, 1842 reports of
three to four thousand people arrived to witness the
execution. Caffee was led from the jail in a grey suit.
He walked up to the wagon and seated himself on the coffin, a death
march was struck up and the procession moved forward to the place
of execution. It is said that Caffee beated upon the coffin
to the beat of the death march.....