t u I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. I jj UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Q WISCONSIN ITS GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY, Qistorjj, Oology, cuttr ilTiucralogy : TOGETHER WITH BRIEF SKETCHES OF ITS ANTIQJJITIES, NATl HISTORY, SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, POPULATION, AND GOVERNMENT. BY I. a/'LAPHAI, SECOND EDITION, GREATLY IMPROVED. MILWAUKEE: I. A. HOPKINS, 146 U. S. BLOCK. NEW YORK:— PAINE & BURGESS, AND SAXTON & MILES ST. LOUIS :— NAFIS, CORNISH & CO. 1S46, ,U3 Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1846, by INCREASE A. LAPHAM, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court, in the Third Judicial District of the Territory of Wisconsin. S. W. BENEDICT, Ster. & Print., 16 Spruce St., New York. PREFACE A new edition of this work being called for, the Author has revised it, adding such important or useful information as he has been able to collect since the publication of the first edition. The work was originally given to the public with the hope, not only of furnishing the thousands of new comers, who are annu- ally flocking to our Territory, and to others, in a cheap and con- venient form, a large amount of useful information, which it would be difficult for them to obtain from any other source ; but also te preserve for the future historian many interesting facts which might otherwise soon be forgotten and lost. The Author is fully sensible of its defects and omissions, but hopes that due allowance will be made, when it is considered that this is the first attempt of the kind relative to a country more than twice the extent of the great state of New York, which has been made public. Many parts of the country are but thinly peopled, and little communication exists between them and other settlements, so that it is difficult to ascertain what are their extent, population, improvements, &c. New settlements are commenced almost every day, and soon grow into important places without any notice being taken of them by the public. Towns and vil- lages spring up so rapidly that one has to " keep a sharp look out" to be informed even of their names and location, to say nothing about their population, trade, buildings, &c. The build- ing of a town has in a great degree ceased to be a matter of much interest — as much so as an earthquake formerly did in some parts of Missouri, where a traveller having stopped at a log cabin was much concerned to hear the dishes begin to rattle on the shelves, and make a disagreeable kind of music, at which the chairs and other furniture set up an unnatural and very alarming kind of dance ! The good lady of the house attempted IV PREFACE, to allay his fears by saying, " Don't be afraid, Sir ! — it's only an 'arthquake ! !" Hence it may be expected that some towns are not as fully noticed in this work as their importance would seem to deserve ; and others even entirely omitted. It is proper to add here, that the Author has made free use of such publications as he could find, containing anything to suit his purpose — whether in books, magazines, or newspapers ; but has been careful to admit nothing unless entitled to the fullest credit. Milwaukee, May, 1846. CONTENTS. Altitude of places, 48 Calmus, 153 Albion, 179 Calumet county, 159 Antiquities, 16 " town of, 159 Apple river, 92 Calumetville, 158 Arena, 186 Cass's expedition, 23 Ashippun, 152 Cassville, 190 Aztalan, 148 Canal lands, 35 Catfish river, 176 Bad Axe river, 195 Centre, 142 Ball river, 195 Ceresco, 157 Bash river, 116 Chester, 153 Beaver Dam, 150, 15?. Chippewa county, 196 Belmont, 183 " river, 196 Beloit, 140 Climate, 75 Benton creek. 92 Clinton, 142 Black river, 195 Clyman, 153 Bloomfield, 137 Colleges, 37 Blue Mounds, 178 Columbia'county, 169 Blue river, 192 Como lake, 139 Bois Brule, 201 Concord, 148 Botany, 71 Copper, 68 Boundaries, 11 Counties, 81 Brighton, 126 Crawfish river, 148 Bristol, 126 Crawford county, 192 Brookfield, 107 Crooked lake, 118 Brown county, 82 Buffalo lake, 165 Dane county, 172 Burlington, 126 Darien, 137 Burnett, 152 Delafield, 107 Butte des Morts, 163 Delavan, 138, 139 Dells, 171 Caledonia. 126 Depere, 85 VI CONTENTS. Dodge county, 149 History, 18 Dodgeville, 186 Historical summary, 26 Dunkirk, 179 Howard, 87 Hubbard, 153 Eagle, 108 Hudson, 138 Early History, 18 Hustisford, 153 East Troy. 137 Elba, 153 Indians, 27 Elkhorn, 138 Internal Improvements, 42 Embarrass river, 93 Iowa county, 181 Emily (lake), 149 Ixonia, 148 Emmett, 153 Janesville, 140 Erin, 106 Jefferson county, 143 Jackson, 146 Fever river, 188 Jefferson, 145 First lake, 175 Johnstown, 142 Fond du Lac county, 155 Fort Atkinson, 146 Kakalin, 84 Fourth lake, 176 Katakittekon, 95 Fox lake, 149 Kauchee, 118 Fox river (of Green Bay), 90 Kewaunee, 85 Fox river (of Illinois), 127 Kickapoo, 195 Franklin, 142 Koshkonong, 146 Fulton, 142 Labraugh lake, 118 Genesee, 108 La Fayette county, 182 Geneva, 138 La Fayette, 138 Geneva lake, 139 La Grange, 138 Geology, < 52, 179 Lake (town of), 108 Germantown, 106 Lakes, 14 Gold lake, 118 Lake Mills, 146 Government, 28 Lancaster, 191 Governor, 28 La Pointe county, 200 Grafton, 106 Land Offices, 31 Grant county, 188 Latitude and Longitude, 51 Grant river, 192 Lead mines, 68, 57 Granville, 108 Lebanon, 153 Green Bay, 86,97 Legislature, 28 Green county, 180 Le Roy, 153 Greenfield, 108 Limestone district. 61 Green lake, 165 Lisbon, 103 Long's Expedition, 25 Health, 80 Lowell, 153 Helena, 185 Linn, 138 CONTENTS. Vll Madison, 173, 178 Pensaukee, 94 Manchester, 159 Peshtego, 94 Manitowoc county, 98 Pewaukee, 120 Marquette county, 164 Pewaugonee, 95, 163 Mauvaise river, 201 Pike, 126 Memee creek, 102 Pishtaka river, 127 Menomonee river, 88, 117 Platteville, 191 Menomonee, 108 Platte, mounds, 183 Mequon, 107 Pleasant Prairie, 126 Mequanigo. 108 Plover Portage, 94 Meteorology, 79 Polk, 107 Michigan (lake), 129 Population, 38 Milton, 142 Portage county, 171 Milwaukee, 112,116 Portland, 153 Milwaukee county, 107 Port Washington, 107 Mineralogy, 63 Potosi, 190 Mineral district, 56 Pre-emption, 33 " lands, 34 Prairie du Chien, 194 Mineral Point, 186 Prairieville, 108, 111 Monish lake, 119 Primitive district, 52 Montgomery county, 182 Productions, 40 Montreal river, 202 Public lands, 30 Mount Pleasant, 126 Pucka wa lake, 165 Mullet river, 102 Muskego, 119 Racine county, 122 Muskos, 93 Railroad, 45 Musquewoc lake, 105 Rainy Lake river, 201 Red Cedar river, 196 Nagowicha lake, 119 Richfield, 107 Nashotah lakes, 119 Richland county, 166 Natural History, 70 Richmond, 138 Neenah river, 90 Rivers, 15 Nemahbin lake, 119 Rochester, 125 New Berlin, 108 Rock county, 139 " river, 150,153 Oak creek, 108 " (town of) 142 Oakland, 148 Rockport, 141 Oconomewoc, 108 Rome, 179 Oconto river, 94 Root river, 128 Ossin river, 150 Rubicon, 150, 153 Ottawa, 108 Rum river, 199 Rush lake, 164 Paris, 126 Rutland, 179 Peckatonica, 187 viii CONTENTS. Saint Croix county, 197 Union, 148 Saint Francis river, 199 University lands, 36 Saint Louis river, 201 Salem, 126 Vernon, 108 Salt, 64 ^Vieux desert (Lac), 95 Sandstone district, 55 Sauk county, 168 Walworth county 136 School lands, 37 Warren, 108 Second lake, 175 Washington county, 104 Sharon, 138 Water spout, 77 Sheboygan county, 101 Waterford, 126 Showanno lake, 97 Watertown, 148 Silver, 69 Waukesha county, 127 Silver lake, 121 Waapun, 159 Sinipee, 191 Wauwatosa, 108 Sinsiniwa, 191 Wesacota, 94 Southport, 124 West bend, 107 Spring prairie, 138 Wheatland, 126 Statistics, 39 Whitewater, 138 Stockbridge, 160 William stown, 153 Suamico, 94 Wind lake, 127 Summit, 108 Winnebago county, 161 Sun prairie, 179 " lake, 162 Winters, 75 Taycheeda, 157 Wisconsin river, 167, 178 Third lake, 175 Wolf river, 95 Topography, 12 Wright, 107 Trempaleau, 195 Trenton, 153 Yorkville, 126 Twin rivers. 94 WISCONSIN. The Territory of Wisconsin, as established at present, is bounded as follows : commencing in the middle of Lake Michigan, in north latitude forty-two degrees and thirty minutes ; thence north along the middle of the Lake, to a point opposite the main channel or entrance of Green Bay ; thence through said channel and Green Bay to the mouth of the Menomonee river ; thence through the middle of the main channel of said river to that head nearest the Lake of the Desert ; thence in a direct line to the middle of said Lake ; thence to the source of the Montreal river ; thence through the middle of the main channel of that river to its mouth ; thence with a direct line across Lake Superior to where the Territorial line of the United States last touches said lake northwest ; thence along said Territorial line to a point due north of the head waters or source of the Missis- sippi river, in longitude ninety degrees and two minutes west from Greenwich ; thence due south to the Missis- sippi ; thence along the middle or centre of the main channel of said river to latitude forty-two degrees and thirty minutes north ; thence due east to the place of beginning. It therefore embraces all that portion of the United States lying between the State of Michigan on the east, and the Mississippi on the west, which separates it from the Terri- tory of Iowa ; and between the State of Illinois on the south and the British possessions on the north ; extending from forty-two and a half to the forty-ninth degree of north latitude, and embracing about ten degrees of longitude. Taking the length of a degree of latitude and longitude in 2 10 EXTENT OF TERRITORY. this part of the globe, it is ascertained that Wisconsin is about five hundred and fifteen miles from east to west, and four hundred and forty-nine miles from north to south , measuring from the extreme points. But the average or mean extent of the Territory in longitude is only about one hundred and eighty-five miles, showing, therefore, a super- ficial area of eighty-three thousand and sixty-five square miles or sections ; equal to twenty-three hundred town- ships of six miles square each. Wisconsin is, therefore, more than one-half larger than Virginia, and more than twice as large as the State of New York. This calcula- tion, however, is only an approximation to the truth, for so little is accurately known of the course of the Menomonee, Montreal, and a part of the Mississippi rivers, that no ac- curate estimate can be made of the extent of territory em- braced within the limits of Wisconsin. The Menomonee has been ascertained to have a course very different from what was supposed, at the time it -was selected as a part of the boundary ; and a revision of that portion of the boun- dary between Michigan and Wisconsin which lies between Green Bay and Lake Superior becomes necessary, and will probably soon receive the action of Congress. A survey was made in 1840 and 1S41, by Captain Cram, and it now only remains for Congress to decide upon the exact boun- dary. The Wasecota, a branch of the Menomonee, is as- certained to have its source nearest the Lake of the Desert, and will therefore probably be established as a part of the boundary. Wisconsin being a part of the " Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river," claims, and indeed, Congress has by direct action confirmed to her* all the ♦In the act establishing the Territory of Wisconsin, section twelve, where it is expressly declared " that the inhabitants of the said Territory shall be entitled to enjoy, all and singular the rights and advantages granted and secured to the people of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river, by the articles of DISPUTED BOUNDARIES. 11 rights and privileges secured by the ordinance of Congress of July 13, 1787, one of which is, " that Congress shall have authority to form one or two States in that part of said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan ;" thereby fixing unalterably (without common consent) the southern boundaries of Michigan and Wiscon- sin. Notwithstanding this plain provision of the ordi- nance, which is declared to be " articles of compact be- tween the original States, and the people and States in the said territory, and for ever to remain unalterable unless by common consent," yet Congress, in establishing the bound- aries of the State of Illinois, extended that State about sixty miles north of the line thus unalterably established by the ordinance. This is claimed to be obviously unjust, and contrary to the spirit and letter of the compact with the original States. The subject of reclaiming this portion of our territory has been agitated in the Legislative Assembly. Michigan was compelled by superior influence to submit to a compromise by which she obtained, besides other valua- ble considerations, a much larger portion of territory than that in dispute ; and Wisconsin may from the same cause be obliged to submit to wrong for want of ability to enforce her rights. It is also contended by many that the portion of country set off to Michigan on Lake Superior, between the straits of Mackina and the Montreal river, as a compensation in part for the strip of land given to Ohio from her southern border, should also have constituted a portion of Wiscon- sin ; and especially as Michigan never made the least claim to it, and as the convenience of the inhabitants (when it becomes inhabited) will be best consulted by uniting them with Wisconsin. The validity of our claim to this territory, compact contained in the ordinance for the government of the said Territory, passed on the thirteenth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven." 12 TOPOGRAPHY. however, may be questioned ; for it cannot be made out as clearly as in the case of the territory given to Illinois. The difficulties which it has been apprehended might at some future time arise between the United States and Great Britain relative to that portion of our northern boundary lying between Lake Superior and the Lake of the Woods, have been prevented by the settlement of that question in the treaty of 1S42, usually known as " Webster's Treaty." Great Eritain claimed all that portion of our Territory lying north of the St. Louis river, while we claimed that the Kamanistaquia, or Dog river, should be the boundary. By the treaty, an intermediate route was agreed upon ; and here again it is contended that the general government has given away a portion of the territory which should properly have belonged to Wisconsin. It is not probable that Illinois, Michigan and Great Bri- tain will be very ready to surrender the territory now claimed by them, and hence it becomes an important ques- tion to determine in what manner these disputes shall be settled. As in all cases of a similar nature, we may expect some difficulties to arise. It has been proposed in the Legislature to abandon all claims of this kind, upon condi- tion that Congress shall construct certain works of internal improvement which are at present very much needed ; and if the whole subject can be thus easily disposed of, it is un- doubtedly the best policy for the United States to accept of this very reasonable compromise. It is to be hoped that these questions of boundary may be settled to the satisfaction of all concerned, before they become of such importance as to create much excitement, trouble or difficulty in their adjustment. There are no mountains, properly speaking, in Wiscon- sin ; the whole being one vast plain, varied only by the river hills, and the gentle swells or undulations of country usually denominated "rolling." This plain lies at an elevation of from six to fifteen hundred feet above the level TOPOGRAPHY. 13 of the ocean. The highest lands are those forming the dividing ridge between the waters of Lake Superior and the Mississippi. From this ridge there is a gradual descent towards the south and southwest. This inclination is in- terrupted in the region of the lower Wisconsin and Neenah rivers, where we find another ridge extending across the Territory, from which proceeds another gently descending slope, drained mostly by the waters of Rock river and its branches. These slopes indicate, and are occasioned by, the dip or inclination of the rocky strata beneath the soil. The Wisconsin hills and many of the bluffs along the Mississippi river] often attain the height of three hundred feet above their base, and the blue mound was ascertained by Dr. Locke, by barometrical observations, to be one thou- sand feet above the Wisconsin river at Helena. The sur- face is further diversified by the Platte and Sinsinawa Mounds, but these prominent elevations are so rare that they form very marked objects in the landscape, and serve the travel- ler in the unsettled portions of the country, as guides by which to direct his course. The country immediately bor- dering on Lake Superior has a very abrupt descent towards the lake ; hence the streams entering that lake are full of rapids and waterfalls, being comparatively worthless for all purposes of navigation, but affording a vast superabundance of water power, which may at some future time be brought into requisition to manufacture lumber from the immense quantities of pine trees with which this part of the Territory abounds. There is another ridge of broken land running from the entrance of Green Bay in a southwesterly direction, form- ing the " divide" between the waters of Lake Michigan and those running into the Bay and Neenah, and continuing thence through the western part of Washington county, crossing Bark river near the Nagowicka lake, and thence pass- ing in the same general direction, through Walworth county, into the State of Illinois. The irregular and broken ap~ 14 LAKES. pearance of this ridge is probably owing to the soft and easily decomposed limestone rock of which it is composed. On our northern border is Lake Superior, the largest body of fresh water in the world, and on the east is Lake Michigan, second only to Lake Superior in magnitude, forming links in the great chain of inland seas by which we are connected with the " lower country" by a navigation as important for all purposes of commerce as the ocean itself. Besides these immense lakes, Wisconsin abounds in those of smaller size, scattered profusely over her whole surface. They are from one to twenty or thirty miles in extent. Many of them are the most beautiful that can be imagined — the water deep and of crystal clearness and purity, surrounded by sloping hills and promontories covered with scattered groves and clumps of trees. Some are of a more picturesque kind, being more rugged in their appearance, with steep, rocky bluffs, crowned with cedar, hemlock, spruce, and other evergreen trees of a similar character. Perhaps a small rocky island will vary the scene, covered with a conical mass of vegetation, the low shrubs and bushes being arranged around the margin, and the tall trees in the centre. These lakes usually abound in fish of various kinds, affording food for the pioneer settler ; and among the pebbles on their shores may occasionally be found fine specimens of agate, carnelian, and other precious stones. In the bays where the water is shallow and but little affected by the winds, the wild rice (Zizania aquatica) grows in abundance, affording subsistence for the Indian, and attracting innumerable water birds to these lakes. The rice has never been made use of by the settlers in Wisconsin as an article of food, although at some places it affords one of the principal means of support for the red men. It is said to be about equal to oatmeal in its qualities, and resembles it in some degree in taste. The difficulty of collecting it, and its inferior quality, will always prevent its use by white men, except in cases of extreme necessity. RIVERS. 15 The Lake of the Woods, and Rainy Lake, near our north boundary, have been so often described as to need only to be mentioned here. Their thousand small wooded islands give them a peculiarly interesting and picturesque charac- ter not to be found in any other scenery in the world. Among the small lakes may be mentioned Lake Winne- bago, St. Croix (upper and lower), Cass Lake, Lake Pepin, the Four Lakes, the Mille Lac, Ottawa, Pewaugan, Pewaukee, Geneva, Greene, Koshkonong, and many others, all more fully described in other parts of this work. The Mississippi, the great river of rivers, forms, as before remarked, the western boundary of Wisconsin. It is aug- mented in this Territory by the waters of the Wisconsin, Black, Chippewa, St. Croix, and St. Francis rivers, which alone would be sufficient to form a very respectable " Father of Waters," but which scarcely swell the mighty flood of the Mississippi ; these with Rock river, which empties into the Mississippi in Illinois, and the St. Louis, Bois Brule, Mauvaise and Montreal rivers, tributaries of Lake Superior; and the Menomonee, Peshtego, Oconto, Pensaukee, Fox or Neenah, and Wolf rivers, tributaries of Green Bay ; and Manitowoe, Sheboygan, and Milwaukee rivers, tributaries of Lake Michigan, are the principal rivers in Wisconsin. Innumerable smaller streams and branches run through the whole extent of the Territory, so that no portion of it is without an abundant supply of good, and generally pure water. The Mississippi is navigable as far up as the Falls of St. Anthony. The Wisconsin is navi- gable as far up as the pine region above the Portage by small steamboats, at certain seasons of the year ; and they have been up Rock river as far as Aztalan, in Jefferson county, but these- streams are comparatively of little value for the purposes of navigation. All the principal rivers are , however, navigable for canoes. Their waters usually originate in springs and lakes of pure and cold water. Many of them, especially in the northern or primitive 16 ANTIQUITIES. region, are precipitated over rocky barriers, forming beauti- ful cascades or rapids, and affording valuable sites for mills and manufactories of all kinds. The falls of St. Anthony, on the Mississippi, seven miles above the mouth of the St. Peter's, are only surpassed by the great Niagara, in pic- turesque beauty and grandeur ; and are now becoming a place of fashionable resort for summer tourists. The rivers running into the Mississippi take their rise in the vicinity of the sources of those running into the lakes, and they often originate in the same lake or swamp, so that the communication from the Mississippi to the lakes is ren- dered comparatively easy at various points. The greatest depression in the dividing ridge in the Territory is supposed to be at Fort Winnebago, where the Wisconsin river approaches within half a mile of the Neenah, and where, at times of high water, canoes have actually passed across from one stream to the other. Some of the rivers are sup- plied from the tamarack swamps, from which the water takes a dark color. Wisconsin does not fall behind the other portions of the western country in the monuments it affords of the exist- ence of an ancient people who once inhabited North Ame- rica, but of whom nothing is known except what can be gathered from some of the results of their labors. The works at Aztalan, in Jefferson county, are most known and visited, but there are many other localities which are said to equal them in interest and importance. The substance called brick at this place, is evidently burned clay, showing marks of having been mixed with straw, but they were not moulded into regular forms. There is a class of ancient earth-works in Wisconsin, not before found in any other country, being made to represent quadrupeds, birds, rep- tiles, and even the human form. These representations are rather rude, and it is often difficult to decide for what species of animal they are intended ; but the effects of time may have modified their appearance very much since they ANTIQUITIES. 17 were originally formed. Some have a resemblance to the buffalo, the eagle, or crane, or to the turtle or lizard. One representing the human form, near the Blue Mounds, is, according to R. C. Taylor, Esq., one hundred and twenty feet in length : it lies in an east and west direction, the head toward the west, with the arms and legs extended. The body or trunk is thirty feet in breadth, the head twenty- five, and its elevation above the general surface of the prairie is about six feet. Its conformation is so distinct that there can be no possibility of mistake in assigning it to the human figure.* A mound at Prairieville, representing a turtle, is about five feet high ; the body is fifty -six feet in length ; it represents the animal with its legs extended, and its feet turned backwards. It is to be regretted that this interesting mound is now nearly destroyed. The ancient works are found in all parts of the Territory, but are most abundant at Aztalan, on Rock river, near the Blue Mounds, along the Wisconsin, the Neenah and the Pishtaka rivers, and near Lake Winnebago. The mounds are generally scattered about without any apparent order or arrangement, but are occasionally arranged in irregular rows, the animals appearing as if drawn up in a line of march. An instance of this kind is seen near the road seven miles east from the Blue Mounds, in Iowa county. At one place near the Four Lakes, it is said that one hundred tumuli, of various shapes and dimensions, may be counted — those representing animals being among others that are round or oblong. Fragments of ancient pottery of a very rude kind are often found in various localities. They were formed by hand, or moulded, as their appearance shows evidently that * The reader is referred to the " Notice of Indian Mounds, &c, in Wisconsin," in Silliman's Journal, vol. 34, p. 88, by R. C. Taylor; and to the " Description of Ancient Remains in Wisconsin," by S. Taylor, vol. 44, p. 21, of the same work, for more detailed descriptions and drawings of these interesting animal mounds. 2* 18 EARLY HISTORY. these vessels were not turned on a " potter's wheel.** Parts of the rim of vessels usually ornamented with small notches or figures, are most abundant. A mound is said to have been discovered near Cassville, on the Mississippi, which is supposed to represent an ani- mal having a trunk like the elephant, or the now extinct Mastodon. Should this prove true, it will show that the people who made these animal earthworks, were contempo- raries with that huge monster whose bones are still occa- sionally found ; or that they had then but recently emigrated from Asia, and had not lost their knowledge of the elephant. The first white persons who penetrated into the regions of the upper Lakes, were two young fur traders, who left Montreal for that purpose in 1654, and remained two years among the Indian tribes on their shores. We are not in- formed as to the details of their journey, but it appears that they returned with information relative to Lake Superior and perhaps Lake Michigan and Green Bay ; for in 1659 the fur traders are known to have extended their traffic to that bay. In 1660 we are informed that Rene Mesnard explored the southern shore of Lake Superior ; and while crossing the Portage at Keweena, was lost in the forest. The first settlement of Wisconsin, may be dated back as far as 1665, when Claude Alloiiez establisheda mission at La Pointe on Lake Superior, four years before any perma- nent establishment was made at Green Bay. This was be- fore Philadelphia was founded by William Penn, and before the settlement of Charleston, in South Carolina. The first account we have of a voyage along the west shore of Lake Michigan (or Illinois Lake as it was then called) was by Nicholas Perrot, who, accompanied by some Potowatomies, passed from Green Bay to Chicago, in 1670. Two years afterwards, the same voyage was undertaken by Alloiiez and Dublon. They stopped at the mouth of the Milwaukee river, then occupied by Mascoutin and Kickapoo Indians. EARLY HISTORY, 19 In 1673, or four years after the establishment at the Bay of Puans, now Green Bay (1673), Father Joseph Mar- quette, accompanied by Joliet, went up the Neenah (Fox) river, crossed the portage, and descending the Wisconsin, discovered the Mississippi on the 17th of June.* The Le- gislature has very properly named a country on the Neenah in memory of the first white man who ever saw the " Fa- ther of Waters" in this part of its course. It was six years after this discovery that La Salle made his voyage up the lakes in the first vessel (the Griffin) built above the Falls of Niagara, and who claimed the honor of having first discov- ered the Mississippi. An interesting account of this voyage was published by Louis Hennepin, in Paris, and is preserved in the Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society. The Griffin was about sixty tons burden, and carried five small guns. She sailed on the 7th of August, 1679, with thirty-four men, and on the 2d of September, they left Mackina, for the Bay of Puans. "Mr. La Salle," says Hennepin, "without taking anybody's advice, resolved to send back the ship to Niagara, laden with furs and skins, to discharge his debts. Our pilot, and five men with him, were therefore sent back. They sailed on the 18th, with a westerly wind. It was never known what course they steered, nor how they perished, but it is supposed the ship struck upon the sand, and was there buried. This was a great loss to Mr. La Salle, and other adventurers, for that ship, with its cargo, cost about sixty thousand livres." Thus the want of harbors on Lake Michigan began to be felt more than a century and a half ago, and the fate of the Griffin was only a precursor of a thousand similar disasters. The adventurers continued their voyage in four canoes, along the coast of the lake by Milwaukee, to " the mouth * Marquette was not the first discoverer of the Mississippi — that honor belongs to Hernando de Soto, who crossed it in 1541. See Bancroft's Hist. U. S., i., p. 51. From this work we have taken many of the facts and dates given above. 20 EARLY HISTORY. of the river Miamis " (Chicago 1) where a fort was erected. During this voyage they experienced one of those severe storms which are still so much dreaded on this lake. " The violence of the wind obliged us to drag our canoes some- times to the top of the rocks, to prevent their being dashed to pieces. The stormy weather lasted four days, during which we suffered very much, and our provisions failed us ; we had no other subsistence but a handful of Indian corn, once in twenty-four hours, which we roasted or else boiled in water ; and yet rowed almost every day from morning till night. Being in this dismal stress, we saw upon the coast a great many ravens and eagles, from whence we conjec- tured there was some prey, and having landed upon that place, we found above the half of a fat wild goat which the wolves had strangled. This provision was very accepta- ble to us, and the rudest of our men could not but praise the Divine Providence who took so particular care of us." From this place La Salle returned, and Hennepin with two men (Picard and Ako) crossed over to the Illinois, and descended that stream and the Mississippi, to the Gulf of Mexico, being thus the first to discover the mouth of that mighty river. While returning they were taken by a party of Indians, and travelled with them nineteen days up the Mississippi to within six leagues of the Falls of St. Antho- ny, a name then first applied to this romantic place in honor of the patron saint of the expedition. From thence they travelled for sixty leagues, on foot, to the habitations of the Indians, where they were joined by Sieur de Luth, and five men. Towards the end of September (16S0), they de- scended the river named by them the St. Francis, to the Mississippi, and passing by way of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, arrived at Green Bay, where they found many Cana- dians, come there for the purpose of trade. The Baron La Hontan, who published an account of his wanderings in 1703, visited Green Bay in 1689 ; from thence he went across to the Mississippi. His account of EARLY HISTORY. 21 Long river, a branch of the Mississippi from the west, has been supposed to be entirely fabulous, but according to Mr. I. N. Nicollet the Cannon (or Canoe) river of Iowa agrees very well with this account. We have no data at hand from which to estimate the quantities of furs' purchased by the French at this early pe- riod, and sent to Europe. This constituted almost the sole motive for " locating " in these wild, and till then unknown shores. The French are possessed of the peculiar faculty of making themselves " at home " with the Indians, and lived without that dread of their tomahawks which is so keenly felt by the pioneers of English settlements. They were not able, however, to maintain friendly terms with all the different tribes into which the Indian population was di- vided, for before the close of the seventeenth century we find them united with the Chippewas and Menomonees, contending with the Sauks and Foxes for a free passage across the country from Green Bay to the Mississippi, in which they met with complete success, by a decisive battle fought at Butte des Morts, or the Hill of the Dead. " The Ottagamies (Foxes) had selected a strong position upon the Fox river, which they fortified by three rows of palisades and a ditch. They here secured their women and children, and prepared for a vigorous defence. Their entrenchment was so formidable that De Louvigny, the French com- mander, declined an assault, and invested the place in form. By regular approaches he gained a proper distance for min- ing their works, and was preparing to blow up one of the curtains, when they proposed a capitulation. Terms were eventually offered and accepted ; and those who survived the siege were preserved and liberated.* No further diffi- culties existed between the French traders and missiona- ries, and the Indians, from that period down to the present time. How different would it probably have been, had al- * Cass— Hist, and Sci. Sketches of Michigan, p. 22 (1834). 22 EARLY HISTORY. most any other nation attempted to penetrate so far into the country of these " wild men of the woods ! " P. De Charlevoix made a voyage through Lake Michi- gan, and thence by way of the Illinois and Mississippi to New Orleans, and published his journal ; and also a " His- tory of New France," as this part of the world was then named, in 1721. • Wisconsin remained in possession of the French, and constituted a portion of " New France," until 1763, when it was surrendered to Great Britain, and became subject to her government. This change of government, it may be supposed, produced but little change in the condition of things in places so remote from the seat of government. Green Bay and Prairie du Chien were then the only posts occupied within our limits. British authority was exer- cised over us from this period until the northwestern coun- try was transferred to the American government, in 1794, being seven years after the date of the ordinance for the es- tablishment of a " Territorial Government" in the same. During this period of thirty-one years, but little change took place in Wisconsin — the Indian continued to hunt the deer, and to trap the beaver unmolested, and bartered his furs at Green Bay, or Mackina, for the trifles, or " fire water" of the trader. As early, however, as 17S0, Peosta, the wife of an Otta- gamie warrior, discovered lead near the Mississippi river ; and in 177S, Julian Dubuque obtained from the Indians at Prairie du Chien, a grant of land, extending seven leagues on the Mississippi, and three leagues deep. This grant was recognized by the Spanish government in 1796, but was not confirmed by our own. For several years the min- ing operations were quite limited, as may well be sup- posed ; and in 1S05, Mr. Dubuque informed Lieut. Pike that he raised from twenty to forty thousand pounds annu- ally. Schoolcraft informs us that the settlement of Prairie du Chien was first begun in 17S3, by Mr. Giard, Mr. An- oass's expedition. 23 taya and Mr. Dubuque, but that there had formerly been an old settlement about a mile below the site of the present village, which existed during the time the French had pos- session of the country. Governor Cass, in 1819, one year after this country was annexed to the territory under his authority, proposed to the Secretary at War (J. C. Calhoun) that an expedition be fitted out to explore it, which was accomplished the following year. The party consisted of Lewis Cass, Go- vernor of Michigan Territory ; Dr. Alexander Wolcot, phy- sician ; Capt. D. B. Douglass, civil and military engineer ; Lieut. iEneas Mackay, commanding the soldiers ; James D. Doty, secretary to the expedition ; Robert A. Forsyth, Charles C. Trowbridge, Alexander R. Chase, and Henry R. Schoolcraft, mineralogist, whose " Narrative Journal," pub- lished in 1821, is replete with valuable information relative to this country. From this work we learn that Wisconsin was even then but little more than the abode of a few In- dian traders scattered here and there throughout the Terri- tory, as at Lapointe, Fond du Lac — on the Bois Brule — the St. Croix — Sandy Lake — Leech Lake — Milwaukee — and many other points. These posts were usually protected by a stockade, enclosing, perhaps, a hundred feet square ; that at Sandy Lake had bastions at two of its angles pierced for musketry. " The pickets were of pitch-pine, thirteen feet above the ground, a foot square, and pinned together with stout plates of the same wood. There were three gates, which are shut whenever liquor was dealt out to the In- dians. The stockade enclosed two rows of buildings, con- taining the provision store, work-shop, warehouse, rooms for the clerks, and accommodations for the men. On the west and southwest angles of the fort were four acres of ground enclosed with pickets, and devoted to the culture of potatoes." This fort was first erected in 1794, by the Northwest Fur Company. The garrisons at Prairie du Chien and at the mouth of the St. Peter's were first estab- lished and occupied in 1819. 24 CASS'S EXPEDITION. At this time but little was known of the value of the lead and copper mines on the upper Mississippi — only three places being known besides the Dubuque mines, where lead could be obtained, and these were worked exclusively by the women of the Fox Indians, assisted perhaps by the old men — the young men and warriors holding themselves above it. " They employ the hoe, shovel, pick-axe and crow-bar, in taking up the ore. These things are supplied by the traders, but no shafts are sunk, not even of the sim- plest kind, and the windlass and the bucket are unknown among them. They run drifts into the hill as far as they can conveniently go, without the use of gunpowder, and if a trench caves in, it is abandoned. When a quantity of ore has been got out, it is carried in baskets by the women to the Mississippi, where it is purchased by the traders, at the rate of two dollars for a hundred and twenty pounds, paya- ble in goods at Indian prices." The settlement at Green Bay is mentioned by Schoolcraft upon his approach down the Fox river, as a country of exceeding beauty, " check- ered as it is with farmhouses, fences, cultivated fields, the broad expanse of the river, the bannered masts of the ves- sels in the distant bay, and the warlike display of military barracks, camps and parades. The scene burst suddenly into view, and no combination of objects in the physiogno- my of a country could be more happily arranged, after so long a sojournment in the wilderness, to recall at once to the imagination the most pleasing recollections of civilized life. The settlement now consists of sixty dwelling-hou- ses, and five hundred inhabitants, exclusive of the garrison. They are, with few exceptions, French, who have inter- married with Indian women, and are said to be indolent, gay, intemperate and illiterate. They are represented to have been subservient to the interests of the British, during the late war. This settlement is now the seat of justice for Brown county, in the Territory of Michigan, and the ordi- nary courts of law are established." Prairie du Chien con- long's expedition. 25 tained a similar population, of about five hundred, occupy- ing about eighty buildings, the principal part of which were of logs, arranged in two streets, parallel with the river. On the 26th of August, the party encamped at the mouth of the Milwaukee river, where they found" two American families, and a village of Pottowatomies : it is the division line between the lands of the Menomonees and the Potto- watomies ; the latter claim all south of it." At the por- tage between the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, they found " a good wagon road, and a Frenchman lives on the spot, who keeps a number of horses and cattle, for the transportation of baggage, for which twenty-five cents per hundred-weight is demanded." In 1S23, Major Long commanded a party, on an expedi- tion similar to that of Governor Cass, that traversed the country from Chicago to Prairie du Chien, where they found only about one hundred and fifty souls. From thence they went up the Mississippi and the St. Peter's, and back by the north shore of Lake Superior. In 1832, another expedition passed through the country, under the direction of Schoolcraft, and from his pen we have a volume published in 1834, being a " Narrative of an expedition through the upper Mississippi to Itasca lake, the actual source of that river." The Sauk war, which broke out this year (1832), per- haps did more than anything else to turn the attention of emigrants and others to this country, by bringing it into notice. It is not proposed here to enter into details con- cerning this Indian disturbance, having but little to add to what has already been published upon the subject. Soon after these troubles were ended, the lands were sur- veyed by order of the Government, and not till then was commenced that rapid settlement of the country which has now filled it with a population of more than one hundred THOUSAND SOULS. Mr. I. N. Nicollet, with his barometer and astronomical / 26 HISTORICAL SUMMARY. instruments, has, within the last few years, explored the regions adjacent to the upper Mississippi, under the authority of the United States Government ; and his report published in 1843 is replete with valuable information relative to that remote, unsettled region. The latitude and longitude of many points were ascertained and their elevation above the ocean ; and his map of the upper Mississippi is supposed to be very nearly correct. The observations made at the source of that stream are important, as showing our western boundary north of that point. Since this country became a portion of the United States, Wisconsin has successively been under the government of Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. The territory once belonged to Virginia, or at least she has now the full credit of having ceded it, together with all the " territory north- west of the Ohio river," to the United States. Up to the year 1800, Wisconsin was under the authority of the Ter- ritorial Government established in Ohio. In that year she was attached to " Indiana Territory," and remained so until 1809, when the " Illinois Territory" was organized, extend- ing north to Lake Superior, and of course including Wis- consin. When Illinois took her place in the Union, in 1818, our Territory was finally attached to Michigan, and remained so until the organization of the present Territorial Government, in 1836. We see, therefore, that within the space of one hundred and sixty-six years, Wisconsin has been successively ruled by two kings, one State, and four Territories, and we have finally set up for ourselves, without any great and exciting events to produce these revolutions. The people have submitted to each change without a struggle or a murmur. They have been under the government of France from 1670 to 1763, or 93 years. Of Great Britain, from 1763 to 1794, - 31 " Of Virginia and Ohio, from 1794 to 1800, 6 " Of Indiana, from 1800 to 1809, - - 9 " INDIANS. 27 Of Illinois, from 1809 to 1818, - 9 years. Of Michigan, from 1818 to 1836, - IS " Total, - - - 166 years. In the more settled portions of the Territory, but few In- dians are now to be found ; most of them having removed to the north, or to the west side of the Mississippi. Occa- sionally a band of Menomonees take up their winter quar- ters on the head branches of Rock river, and other places, and bring their peltries to Milwaukee for sale. The Chip- pewas are the most numerous, occupying the country bor- dering on Lake Superior, and about the source of the Mis- sissippi. The Sioux or Dacotas, whose country lies prin- cipally on the west side of the Mississippi, occasionally cross that stream and occupy a portion of our Territory at the north.. These, with a few Winnebagos, and an occa- sional Pottowatomie, make up the tribes of Indians occupy- ing or inhabiting Wisconsin. The Stockbridge and Brothertown Indians on the eas* side of Lake Winnebago in Calumet County, have been admitted to all the rights and privileges of citizens of the United States ; being the first case of this kind in the his- tory of our government. With the Oneidas, located a few miles west of Green Bay, they emigrated from New York about the year 1833. They are in character and habits much more like the whites than like the wild Indian. They are sober, honest, and industrious farmers, and occupy fixed places of abode. They have one member in the Legislature. The Chippewas and Sioux are at enmity with each other, and have been (notwithstanding all the efforts made to reconcile them) as long as they have been known by white men. Their deadly hatred will probably become satisfied only by the entire extermination of one of these powerful and warlike tribes. The warriors on both sides are distinguished for many acts of daring bravery. In two 28 GOVERNMENT. battles fought in the summer of 1S39, between these tribes, it is estimated that two hundred Indians, mostly of the Chippewas, were killed. The Indians have, by various treaties, ceded to the United States all their lands in Wisconsin, except a portion lying between the west end of Lake Superior and the head waters of the Mississippi. This, therefore, is all that now remains in possession of the original owners — the Indians. The Governor is appointed for three years, by the Presi- dent of the United States, by and with the advice and con- sent of the Senate. He is, ex officio, Superintendent of Indian affairs within the Territory ; and his salary is two thousand five hundred dollars per annum — paid by the General Government. The Governor is required, by the " organic law " establishing the Territorial Government, to reside within the Territory ; is commander-in-chief of the militia ; and has the power of vetoing the acts of the Legis- lature. He may at any time be removed by the President of the United States ; is required to commission all officers under the laws of the Territory ; and it is his duty to take care that the laws are faithfully executed. The Secretary is appointed in like manner, and holds his office for four years, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. It is his duty to record and preserve all the laws and proceedings of the Legisla- tive Assembly, all the acts and proceedings of the Governor in his executive department ; to transmit one copy of the laws and one copy of the executive proceedings to the President of the United States, and at the same time two copies of the laws to the Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives. He is authorized to act as Governor, in case of the death, removal, resignation, or necessary absence of that officer. His salary is twelve hundred dollars. The Legislature consists of the Governor, a Council of thirteen members, elected for two years, and a House of GOVERNMENT. 29 Representatives, of twenty-six members, elected for one year. The members are apportioned among the different counties, according to the population (Indians excepted). The Legislative power extends " to all rightful subjects of legislation " — but no law can be passed interfering with the sale or disposal of the public lands. No tax can be im- posed on the public lands, and the property of non-residents cannot be taxed higher than that of residents. All laws have to be submitted to, and if disapproved by, the Con- gress of the United States, they become null and void ; and laws incorporating banks do not take effect unless approved by Congress. The members of the legislature receive three dollars per day, when in session, and three dollars for every twenty miles trayel in going to and returning from Madison. They meet annually, on the first Monday in December, and their sessions are limited to seventy-five day, or rather by the amount of the appropriations made by Congress. The Judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts, and Justices of the Peace. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and two associate Judges, appointed during good behavior, who hold a term annually, at Madison, the seat of Government, on the third Monday in July. The salary of the Judges is eighteen hundred dollars. The District Court is held twice a year, in each county, by one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, at such times as are prescribed by law. The Territory is divided into three Judicial Districts. The First, Charles Dunn, District Judge, consists of the counties of Crawford, Grant, and Iowa. The Second, David Irwin, Judge, consists of the counties of Walworth, Rock, Green, Dane, Jefferson, Sauk, and Portage. The Third, Andrew G. Miller, Judge, consists of the counties of Brown, Milwaukee, Racine, Washington, Dodge, and Fond du Lac* * The remaining counties are not organized for judicial purposes, but are attached to some one of those here named. 30 PUBLIC LANDS. The Supreme and District Courts possess Chancery, as well as common law jurisdiction. The Judges of Probate, and Justices of the Peace, are elected by the people. The Justices have no jurisdic- tion where the title of land is in dispute, nor where the sum claimed exceeds fifty dollars. A Delegate to Congress is elected every two years, who is entitled to a seat in the House of Representatives, and the privilege of speaking, but has no right to vote on any question. An Attorney, and Marshal, are appointed by the President, for the term of four years, unless sooner remov- ed : and the Legislature have created the office's of Trea- surer, Auditor, and Superintendant of public property. Wisconsin has now a population sufficient to entitle her to claim an admission into the Union, as an independent State, on an equal footing with the other original States, that population being fixed by the ordinance of 1787, at sixty thousand ; and a very general disposition is now manifested among the people to organize a State govern- ment without delay. We are then entitled to a place in the Union on an equal footing with the other States. There are three Land Offices in Wisconsin, for the dis- posal of public or government lands ; at Milwaukee, Mineral Point, and Green Bay. The Milwaukee Land District includes all the land from range number nine east, to Lake Michigan ; and from the Illinois State line, to town ten, inclusive ; and also towns eleven and twelve, in the ranges number twenty, twenty-one, and twenty-two. The first public sale at this office was held in the early part of the year 1839, and the amount of money received was nearly half a million of dollars. The Green Bay Land District includes all the country north of the Milwaukee District, and the first public sale was in 1835. The Mineral Point District lies west of the Milwaukee PUBLIC LANDS, 31 District, extending to the Mississippi river, and including all the " Mineral Lands." The first sales at Mineral Point also took place in the year 1835. The following table shows the amount of land sold in Wisconsin, and the amount paid for it. It is made from the reports of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, at Washi no-ton: Years. Acres. Amount. 1835 217,543.91 $316,709.07 1836 646,133.73 808,932.32 1837 178,783.45 223,479.45 1838 87,256.31 109,416.14 1839 650,72282 819,909.90 1840 127,798.34 159,848.48 1841 101,731.17 127,446.31 1842 127,895.58 163,778.60 1843 167,746.30 214,294.00 1844 260,440.85 332,392.24 1845 392,540.00 491,900.00 Total, 2,958,592.46 $3,768,106.51 It thus appears, that Wisconsin has already contributed nearly four millions of dollars for the support of the general government, from this item alone ; and that the ave- rage price paid for lands here, is less than two cents over the minimum price of $1,25 established by the government; and also that the sales have been rapidly increasing for the last few years, so that they now amount to nearly half a million of dollars per annum. It is gratifying to learn that a large proportion of the entries is made for the purpose of actual cultivation, as is indicated by the fact, that they are mostly for the smaller subdivisions. Thus, of 5255 entries made at Milwaukee in 1845, no less than 4159 were for lots not exceeding forty acres each, and only 442 were for lots exceeding eighty acres each. In a late report from the general land office, it is stated that there were on the 30th day of June, 1845, in Wisconsin, 5,737,085 acres of land, that had been offered at public sale, and were then sub- ject to entry at the minimum price. The public lands in Wisconsin are, as elsewhere in the 32 PUBLIC LANDS. west, surveyed into townships, six miles square each, and subdivided into sections of one mile square, or six hundred and forty acres. The townships are numbered from the base line, which is the south line of the Territory, and the ranges of townships are numbered east and west, from a line in the Mineral Point District running between the counties of Grant and Iowa, called the fourth principal me- ridian. Thus, Milwaukee is said to be in township number seven north, and in range number twenty-two east; and Cassville is in township number three north, and in range number five west of the fourth principal meridian. The sections in each township are numbered from one to thirty- six, beginning at the northeast corner, as shown in the following figure. The section numbered sixteen is in all cases reserved for the use of schools in the township : NORTH. 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 School IS 17 16 15 14 13 H Section W * 19 20 21 22 23 24 30 29 28 27 26 25 31 32 33 34 35 36 SOUTH. PUBLIC LANDS. 33 At the corners of each section, four trees are marked (one standing on each section) by the Surveyor, with the number of the township, range and section, thus : T7 T7 T7 T7 R 14 R 14 R 14 R14 S14 S 15 S22 S23 These marks represent the corners, at which sections 14, 15, 22 and 23 come together. By means of these marks, aided by a " sectional map," a person can, at any place in the woods, find his exact po- sition, and relative situation, and the distance from other places. The sections are divided into quarters of one hundred and sixty acres ; and the quarters are divided by a line running north and south, into two equal half quarters, or eighty acre lots. They are designated as the east or west half of the quarter. Great inducements are now offered by government to those who wish to purchase the public lands for actual im- provement and cultivation. By the pre-emption law approved September 4th, 1841, it is provided that every person who shall make a settlement in person on the public land and erect a dwelling, shall be authorized to enter a quarter section or one hundred and sixty acres, at the mini- mum price, before the public sale ; and thus secure the same against competition : and if any person shall settle upon and improve land subject to private entry, he may, within thirty days, give notice to the register of the land office of his intention to claim the land settled upon, and may within one year make proof of his right, and enter the land at the minimum price. He may thus be considered as a purchaser at a year's credit ; but if he fails to give the notice, or to make the requisite proof, his land again be- comes subject to private entry. At the land sales in the Mineral Point District, all those 3 34 MINERAL LANDS. tracts on which lead mines or diggings were found, or on which they were supposed to exist, were reserved to the United States, and have not yet been sold. These lands are claimed or occupied by miners, who hope to obtain a pre-emption to them from Congress. They were at first leased, under certain regulations by the government, for a rent of ten per centum of all the lead raised. The whole amount of land so reserved from sale is now estimated at about one million of acres. Owing to the difficulty of col- lecting this rent by the United States, it was, for several years, abandoned. Within the last four years, efforts were made by the government to collect lead rents, and resulted., according to the message of President Polk, as folldws : Amount expended in collection, - $26,11111 Value of lead collected - - '" - 6,354 74 Zoss to the government in four years 19,756 37 Many veins or mines of lead have been discovered since the sale, on lands belonging to individuals ; and it is sup- posed that these now yield as much lead as those on the reserved or public land. The attempt, therefore, to collect these rents reduced the value of the mines on the reserved lands below that of their neighbors, who have no rent to pay; a course of policy obviously unjust. To remedy this evil it is only necessary for Congress to dispose of these reserved lands, as other public lands are disposed of; and it is believed that the efforts now making to induce the gov- ernment to adopt this policy, will be successful. It is sup- posed that this course would have a very beneficial effect upon the state of the mines, and even upon the character of the miners themselves. The Register of the Land Office at Mineral Point, in a letter to the Commissioner of the General Land Office,* says, that " among the regulations for the government of the mining country, there was one which required that a mining lot should be L\vo hundred and twenty yards square (ten * Dated March 23, 1838. CANAL LANDS. 35 acres), and bounded by lines running due east, west, north and south. The usual course adopted by persons wishing to try their fortunes in the business of mining, was to seek out an unoccupied spot, where they supposed they could find lead, and commence digging. If they found ore in sufficient quantities to warrant a continuance of labor, they would measure off their ground and fix their corner stakes, and then continue their works until they traced their dis- covery to a valuable vein or sheet, or found it to be delu- sive. In a vast majority of cases the labor expended in these attempts to discover lead ore was entirely lost ; and there are instances where men have expended years of la- bor, and large sums of money, and have never had the good fortune to discover a valuable vein or sheet of ore ; consequently the property of the miner, in a valuable vein or discovery of lead ore, is held inviolable by most of the residents of the country ; its sacredness is recognized by the courts and juries of the country ; and he clings to it with a tenacity which will admit of no relaxation. The lots claimed would probably embrace about three thousand acres. They are the sole dependence of numerous fami- lies ; their value has been discovered by the labor and per- severance of the miners ; and were they dispossessed of them by government, their families would be reduced to want. Jt is thought that the miners have an equitable and just claim on the government for aid and protection ; they ac- cepted its invitation to labor upon its territory and to deve- lope its wealth ; they have staked off, and labored for years upon some five or six hundred ten acre lots, and have paid the government about two hundred and thirty thousand dollars for the privilege." The. Milwaukie and Rock River Canal Company, in 1838, in pursuance of authority granted in their charter, applied to Congress, on behalf of the Territory, and secured a grant or donation oY land, consisting of all the " sections and fractional sections which are numbered with odd num- 36 UNIVERSITY. bers on the plats of public surveys within the breadth of five full sections, taken in north and south tiers on each side of said canal, from one end thereof to the other." This grant is made to the Territory to aid in the construc- tion of the canal ; and the land (as well as the even num- bered sections within the same distance from the canal) cannot be sold for less than two dollars and fifty cents per acre, being double the usual minimum price of public lands. Consequently the government, by taxing double price for the even sections, realize exactly the same amount of money from the sale of these lands as if the grant or do- nation had not been made. In July, 1S39, a sale of Canal lands was held at Milwau- kee, at which forty-three thousand four hundred and forty- seven acres were sold to the occupants of the land, at the minimum price of two dollars and fifty cents per acre. The purchasers at this sale, and other persons occupying these canal, and reserved lands, feeling the unjustness of be- ing compelled to pay double price for their lands, have induced the Legislature to remit the interest due ; to re- peal all laws authorizing further sales ; and even to decline having anything further to do with the grant, and to ask Congress to repeal the act making the same, so that the lands may revert back to the general government, and be sold as other public lands, at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. A donation of two townships, or forty-six thousand and eighty acres of land, has been made by Congress to the rerritory, to be selected by the legislature, from any un- sold public lands, for the purpose of establishing a Univer- sity in the Territory ; and in 183S, a law was passed " to establish the University of the Territory of Wisconsin," which is to be located at or near Madison, the seat of gov- ernment. It is under the direction of a J3oard of Visitors, consisting of twenty-one members, of which the Governor, Secretary of the Territory, and Judges of the Supreme SCHOOLS. 37 Court, are members. This board held one meeting at Madison soon afterwards — but all subsequent attempts at meeting have failed, on account of the great number neces- sary to form a quorum, — consequently nothing has been accomplished in relation to this important subject. The Legislature, a few years since, appointed Commissioners to select a portion of the lands, who made a selection of ten thousand two hundred and fifty acres in the Milwau- kie Land District, and an equal quantity in the Green Bay District. In 1845, provision was made for selecting the remainder of the land. If this subject could be placed in the hands of a few discreet and practical men, it is believed that the lands donated might be made to produce a fund sufficient to establish, in a few years, an institution which would be a great honor and blessing to the country. Why is this matter so neglected in this enlightened age and country ? One thirty-sixth part of the whole Territory, being the section numbered sixteen in each township, is set apart for the use of schools. These sections are reserved from sale by the general government, and are to be transferred to Wisconsin whenever she becomes a State. School Com- missioners are appointed in each town to take charge of these lands — to lease them for a term of years — and to at- tend to other matters relative to common schools. A tax is levied upon all the taxable property, for the purpose of erecting schoolhouses, and of paying the incidental ex- penses of teaching. Already have a great number of school- houses been erected in the different towns and school dis- tricts. The number of scholars taught in 1840, according to the census then taken, was nearly two thousand. A college has been commenced, at a most beautiful lo- cation, on the Twin Lakes, twenty-seven miles west from Milwaukee, under the management of the Episcopalian Church. The energy which has characterized its com- mencement gives promise of much future usefulness. 38 POPULATION. The preliminary arrangements have been made for the establishment of two other colleges, one at Beloit, in Rock county, under the direction of the Presbyterian and Con- gregational Churches, and one at Prairieville, Milwaukee county, to be called " Carrol College." Both are incor- porated. The Legislature, on the 5th of April, 1S43, adopted reso- lutions asking an appropriation of land by Congress, for the purpose of establishing within the limits of this Terri- tory, institutions for the instruction of the deaf and dumb, and blind, and an asylum for the insane. It is much to be regretted that no notice has been taken of this subject by Congress. In 1830, the United States census shows a population of three thousand two hundred and forty-five, in the counties of Brown, Crawford and Iowa, then constituting that por- tion of Michigan which is now established as a separate Territory of Wisconsin. In 1836, the population was over eleven thousand; in 1838, eighteen thousand; in 1840, thirty-one thousand; and in 1842, the date of the last enu- meration, it was forty-six thousand six hundred and seven- ty-eight. Since that census was taken, the flood of new comers, by every arrival, has been such that there cannot be a reasonable doubt that the present population of Wiscon- sin exceeds one hundred thousand souls. The following table shows the population of each coun- ty, at the date of the several enumerations : POPULATION. 39 COUNTIES. Brown, Calumet, .... Chippewa, . . Crawford, . . . Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, La Pointe,. .. Manitowoc, . Marquette, . . Milwaukee, . Portage, .... Racine, Richland, . . . Rock, Sauk, ...... Sheboygan, . . St. Croix, . . . Walworth, . . Washington, . Winnebago, . 1830 1836 ,964 692 2,706 ,854 1,589 5,234 2,892 1838 3,048 1,220 ..172 ...18 2,763 ..494 3,21 ..468 3,131 2,054 480 1,019 ...64 1840 1842 1845* 2,107 ..275 1,502 ..314 ...67 ..139 3,926 ..933 3,978 ..914 . .235 ...1 5,605 1,623 3,475 1,701 ..102 ..133 ..809 2,611 ..343 ..135 2,146 ..407 1,449 ..776 ..149 ..295 5,937 1,594 5,029 1,638 ..263 ...59 9,565 ..646 6,318 2,867 ..303 ..221 1,200 4,618 ..965 ..143 . 2,500 ....800 ,...800 . 3,000 . 4,500 . 5,000 . 1,800 10,000 . 5,000 10,000 . 5,000 . 1,500 ....600 ....600 25,000 . 2,000 12,000 ,...100 . 7,000 . 1,100 . 1,200 . 1,500 10,000 . 5,500 ... 500 3,245 11,686) 18,149) 30,945 46,678 117,000 By this table there appears to be a diminution of popu- lation in the county of Brown, between 1S3S and 1840, and in Portage county between 1840 and 1842 : the first was occasioned by setting off new counties from Brown, and the last by the omission, in 1842, of the soldiers and officers of the garrison at Fort Winnebago. In 1842, the population of Milwaukee county was nearly one-fourth of the whole number in the Territory. In 1840, the number of males was . . 18,757 females . . . 11,992 showing an excess of males of 6,765 The number of free colored persons was . . 185 " slaves . . . . 11 * Estimated by members of the Legislature, in January, 1846. 40 PRODUCTIONS?. The number of deaf and dumb ... 5 " blind .... 9 " insane and idiots .' . . 13 Employed in agriculture .... 7,047 e « mining ..... 794 " commerce .... 479 " manufactures and trades . . 1,814 " learned professions . . . 259 Number of white persons over twenty years of age who could not read or write .... 1,701 Scholars in common schools . . . 1,937 Until very recently lead, copper, shot, and furs, were the chief articles of export from Wisconsin — nearly all her other products being consumed within herself for* the sup- port of those engaged in mining, and of the immense im- migration which is so rapidly flowing in upon us ; thus cre- ating that best of all markets, a home market, for all the surplus produce. We may now add to this list, wheat, flour, pork, hides, wool, rags, beer, potash, saleeratus, brooms, and many other articles of produce and manufacture, exported by way of the Lakes, to the eastern markets ; and lumber sent down the Mississippi, from the pine regions of the Wiscon- sin, St. Croix, Chippewa, &c. The following table shows the products of Wisconsin during the year 1839, as exhibited by the United States census of 1840 : Pounds of lead produced, 15,129,350 " wool, 6,777 " wax, 1,474 " hops, 133 " tobacco, 115 " silk cocoons, i " maple sugar, 135,288 " soap, 64,317 " tallow candles, 12,909 Value of produce of quarries, $968 " poultry, 16,167 PRODUCTIONS. 41 Value of dairy produce, $35,677 " orchard produce, 37