STATE OF WISCONSIN, BRIEF SKETCHES OF ITS IHISTORY, POSITION, RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES, AND A CATALOGUE OF ITS EXHIBITS AT THE CENTENNIAL AT PHILADELPHIA. I876. MADISON, WIS.: ATWOOD & CULVER, PRINTERS AND STEREOTYPERS. 1876. Ilw I fo I: I = THE /I R EMBRACING I STATE OF WISCONSIN. INTRODUCTION. In presenting a catalogue of the several exhibits of the state of Wisconsinaat the International Exhibition at Philadelphia, in 1876, it has been deemed advisable to give brief sketches of the History, Position, Resources and Industries of the state, in connection with it. The time for the preparation of such matter was so limited, that nothing more than a mere reference to some of the important interests nca be given. It is to be regretted that the subject had not been taken in hand early, by some competent person, so that the vast and varied natural and acquired resources, and wealth of the state, could have been prepared in detail. But it is hoped the matter contained in the following pages will be found of interest to the reader, and will be the means of attracting the attention of the people of other states and nations, and of causing many of them to become inhabitants of our excellent state. In what has been written, accuracy of statement has been kept constantly in view, and the effort has been to present facts in as concise form as it could be done. With these introductory remarks, the compiler asks the attention of the public to the presentation of the condition and resources of the state, as contained in this pamphlet; and especially to the catalogue of the various articles in the several departments of the great Centennial Exhibition. POLITICAL HISTORY. The territory, of which Wisconsin forms a part, was originally under the French and British Dominion, and was politically asso "~ ~l,I 4 TERRITORIAL HISTORY- STATE GOVERMENT. ciated with the Canadas. It became a part of the territory of Virginia at the close of the Revolutionary War, but was not formally occupied by the United States until 1796. In the meantime, Virginia ceded to the government all of her territory northwest of the Ohio river, and congress, by the celebrated "Ordinance of 1787," provided for its government as the "Northwest Territory," and it was enacted that "there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory," and that there should be formed from such territory, as the population should justify, "not less than three nor more than five states." Wisconsin was the fifth state thus organized from the territory - Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan having been previously admitted into the Union. TERRITORIAL HISTORY. In 1800, the Indian territory was organized, including Wisconsin. In 1809, Illinois territory was organized, and Wisconsin was included in it. In 1818, Illinois was organized as a state, and Wisconsin territory was attached to Michigan. In 1823, Wisconsin was made a separate judicial district. In 1836, Wisconsin territory was organized, with Henry Dodge as Governor, and the first legislature met at Belmont in October of that year. In December, the seat of government was located at Madison, where it has ever since remained, and where the legislature met for the first time, November 26, 1838. STATE GOVERNMENT. In April, 1846, the people voted in favor of a state government On the 16th of December a constitution was adopted in conventions which was rejected by a vote of the people. February 4, 1848, a second constitution was adopted in convention, which was ratified by the people on the 13th of March in that year, and on the 29th of May, Wisconsin became a state in the American Union, being the 17th admitted, and the 30th in the list of states. CONSTITUTIONAL PRO VISIONS- GO VERNORS. R. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS. All males twenty-one years of age, who have resided in the state one year next preceding an election - foreigners must have declared their intentions to become citizens- are entitled to vote. The executive power is vested in a Governor, who is elected every two years, by a plurality of votes. The Legislature consists of a Senate and Assembly. The former body shall have not less than one-fourth nor more than one-third the number of members as the latter; and the number of the lower house shall never exceed one hundred. The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, Circuit and County Courts. All judges are elected by the people. Except in case of war, no debt shall be contracted exceeding one hundred thousand dollars. Slavery and imprisonment for debt are prohibited. GOVERNORS OF WISCONSIN. The following named persons served as during the terms indicated: TERRITORIAL. Henry~~~~~~~ Dog_ — -frm13 o14 - from 1836 JmsDnDy - - - from 1841 N P - from 1844 Her- - - - from 1845 N n e- - I from 1848 L Fal- from 1852 m a- - - - from 1854 oss — - from 1856 A. R,- - - from 1858 oi.r - - - from 1862, died April 19th Ewrn - - - from April, 1862 to 1864: J e- - - from 1864 to 1866 LcuFihl.- from 1866 to 1872 C.C,- - - from 1872 to 1874 W.R.Ty-.- - from 1874 to 1876 Harioo, - - from 1876 to 5 governors of Wisconsin Henry Dodge, James Duane Doty, N. P. Talmadge, Henry Dodge, - to to to to 1841 1844 1845 1848 Nelson Dewey, L. J. Farwell, - Wm. A. Barstow, Coles Bashford, - Alex. W. Randall, Louis P. Harvey, - Edward Solomon, James T. Lewis, - Lucius Fairchild, C. C. Washburn, Wm. R. Taylor, Harrison Ludington to to to to to 1852 1854 1856 1858 1862 SITUATION AND BOUNDARIES-SOIL- POPULATION. SITUATION AND BOUNDARIES. Wisconsin is situated between latitude 42~ 30' and 47~ N., and longitude 87~ 30' and 92~ 30' W. It is bounded north by Britisk possessions, east by Michigan, south by Illinois, and west by Iowa and Minnesota. Lakes Superior and Michigan, two of the largest bodies of fresh water on the globe, form portions of the northern and eastern boundary lines, and the Mississippi river flows on the western border. Extreme dimensions of the state both north and south and east and west, 300 miles; area, 56,000 square miles, or 35,840,000 acres of land. SOIL AND CLIMATE. The soil of the state is divided into prairie, oak openings, timber and marsh lands; and most of it is well adapted to agricultural purposes. Details in regard to the character of the soil will be found in the sketches of the several counties. The climate is remarkably healthy. The winters are cold, but the air is bracing-. The summner seasons are mild and of sufficient length to producemost of the staple crops. POPULATION AT DIFFERENT TIMES. To show the rapidity with which the population has increased, the census at different periods give the following results. In 1840, - - ~~~~m -. - 0,4 30,945, - - 305,391 8 — 775,881 - - 1,054,670 - 1,236,729 From the census of 1870, the nativity of the population was as follows: natives, 690,171; foreign born, 364,490; having one or both parents foreign, 717,832; having foreign father, 700,402; hav — ing foreign mother, 688,189;- having foreign father and mother, 670,759... In 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1875, POPULATION BY COUNTIES. The following table shows the population of each county in 1875, and the places of nativity: vn o: o Adams, Ashland, - Barron, - Bayfield, - Brown, - - Buffalo, - Burnett, - Calumet, - Chippewa, - Clark, - Columbia, - Crawford, Dane, - - Dodge, - Door, - - - Douglas, - Dunn, - - Eau Claire, Foid du Lac, Grant, - Greer, - -, Green Lake, Iowa, - - Jackson, - Jefferson, - Juneau, - Kenosha, - Kewaunee, ~a Crosse, - La Fayette, Lincoln, - Manitowoc, - Marathon, Marquette, - Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, - Outagamie, - Ozaukee, - Pepin, - Pierce, - Polk, - - Portage, - Racine, - Richland, - Rock, - - St. Croix,Sauk, - - Shawano, - Sheboygan, - Taylor, - Trempealean, Vernon, - Walworth, - Washington, Waukesha, - Waupaca, Waushara, - Winnebago, Wood, - Total, 222 59 48 12 2, 027 309 '2 612 702 95 1,332 273 2, 939 2,368 372 44 321 724 29792 1,318 879 477 1,218 202 1,094 1,365 860 445 576 2, 295 18 1,306 177 579 6,293 815 70O 1,098 505 147 640 201 515 1,115 475 2,871 1, 630 1,068 50 1,011 11 400 353 1,747 880 1,658 654 314 1,690 265 55,168 131 27 285 9 3, 841 2, 520 '2 3,995 1,614 496 2 774 736 6, 241 13, 022 696 40 1,192 1,239 8,004 3, 690 832 3,049 1, 423 369 8,660 640 2 202 2,292 3 340 713 341 10, 761 3,847 1,794 39, 669 2,034 1,323 4 525 4, 701 374 681 339 1,709 4,142 531 1,142 398 3, 875 2, 298 9,105 58 1,084 764 , 186 193 4, 511 1,571 834 6, 355 464 192, 682 Total, - 1,236,729 802,720 33,969 45,968 Jss158, 192,682' 50,472.58,354 j16567 I i I 7 23 11 614 11343 j 223 13 175 658 594 543 145 5 91 114 1,034 843 1,207 13 401 70 526 32 132 2,999 1,069 40 4 8,062 43 6 4,269 185 294 1,257 167 42 156 73 84 967 181 149 64 799 50 2,077 1 119 403 138 566 245 144 15 486 41 30,472 560 11 681 3 1,155 711 1,136 so 773 172 1,564 892 6,694 432 693 64 1,963 1,325 276 572 960 49 1,6-.2 1,393 409 537 106 200 3,186 974 10 1,680 126 39 1,046 730 632 129 121 606 1,624 1,160 1,176 2, 5t7 266 1 1480 11372 115 352 260 21 3,691 31672 616 42 796 2,252 602 1,794 244 58,354 6,502 750 3,737 1,032 35,373 :219 456 085 13,995 7,282 18wli 15,035 52,798 48,394 8,020 741 13,427 15,991 50,241 39,086 22'027 1 r), 2-14 24,133 11,339 34,.908 151300 13,907 14,405 23,945 22,169 '895 38,456 10,111 8,597 l2,927 21,026 13,812 25,558 16,545 5,816 15,101 6,736 14,856 28,702 17 353 39,039 14,966 26,932 6,635 34,021 849 14,992 21,524 26,259 23,862 29,425 19,646 11,523 45,03-3 6,048 1,236,729 51271 575 1,709 864 20,701 8,,762 298 9,368 7,954 5.8m 19,653 11,0.53 33,268 2.9,537 4,575 470 8,870 10,979 34,177 29,398 17,289 10 1531 1.5,109 8,502 22,802 11,577 9,590 6,602 13,798 15,590 477 19,441 5,394 5,536 65,200 15,896 7.621 16,282 9 278 4,182 li,313 4,426 10,077 17,119 15,392 30,719 10,105 19,536 3'537 20,,564 677 8,855 15,705 21,052 13,836 19,115 13,921 8,890 30'452 3,943 802,720 126 40 882 69 2,371 222 8 203 2,420 417 511 456 680 581 473 87 618 1,138 1,904 397 254 336 340 429 378 416 145 226 684 182 33 698 371 163 1,208 452 2,731 1,104 117 260 470 876 560 290 185 755 1,106 436 237 347 56 2.92 210 395 97 345 642 270 1,882 988 33,969 167 17 21 75 ra4l 232. 10 220 268 209 2,681 273 2 1086 11564 183 31 280 441 1,748 2,800 604 764 3,922 369 1,145 590 824 '89 803 2,344 10 317 128 486 3,384 760 256 355 70 150 206 442 2,395 295 1,884 280 983 66 370 24 456 327 1,081 146 2,567 406 662 2,026 118 45,968 2 1 14 3,123 120 41 13 Ila 25 296 347 883 31 306 68 2 ra5 98 15 894 143 48 1,552 489 31 2 1,291 25 94 1,858 154 255 808 1,586 55 33 293 117 28 39 11 120 46 28.7 1 96 90 44 102 188 56 36 348 15 16,567 I STATEINDEBTEDNESS - A GRIC ULTURE. STATE INDEBTEDNESS. The total indebtedness of the state is $2,252,057. This debt was created by the issuing of bonds to raise money with which to prosecute the war for the suppression of the late rebellion. Since the conclusion of the war $2,238,000 of these bonds have been purchased with the trust funds of the state, and there is due the several funds, as follows: Tscolf, - - - - $1l559,700 Tnrashlfd - - - 515,700 T i i u-. -. 111,100 Toariut, - - - 51,600 - - - - $2,238,000 The only outstanding bonds are as follows: 880, - - - $12,000 886, - - i,000 888, - - - - 1,000 Toa, - - - - - - $14,000 ,__,.i AGRICULTURE. The agricultural interest is the leading one in Wisconsin, and the nature of the climate and soil is well calculated to promote this interest. In the southern and western portions of the state, the whole country is susceptible of cultivation. It is mostly prairie or oak openings. The prairies are not so large as they are in Illinois and some other states, nor are they so flat. They are generally what are known as rolling prairies; and the soil is very rich and productive, capable of producing almost any crop. The soil in the oak openings is not so deep, but it is deemed by many the best farming land. On all the lands, wheat, corn, oats, barley, the various root crops, etc., are cultivated with success. In. the southern part of the state, tobacco is raised in large quantities and of good qual 9 To school fund I To normal school fund, - To university fund, - To agriculturaj fund, Total, Bonds maturing in I Bonds maturing in 1 Bonds maturing in I Total, DAIRY PRODUCTS -STOCK RAIS$1NG. ity. Hops are produced in great abundance in this state. In short the country is well adapted to diversified farming. From the Agricultural Statistics, returned to the office of the secretary of state, it is found that the number of acres devoted to the cultivation of the leading crops in 1876, in this state, is as follows: ..e. - - - - 1,612,932 acres. *ats, _ - - - - 909,153 Corn, - - - - - - 840,882 - 187,423 ye - - - - - - 128,935 " _lp, -- - I - 10,932 Tobacco, - - - - - - 3,296 " - The number of acres of grass or meadow land, was not returned; but it is large, as much attention is devoted to stock raising of late years, and less to the raising of grain than formerly. THE DAIRY PRODUCTS. The state is becoming largely interested in the dairy business. It is a fine grazing country and stock thrives remarkably well. Within a few years cheese factories have become quite numerous in the state, and those who run them meet with excellent success. Wisconsin cheese commands the highest price in market, and large quantities are exported and find ready sale in foreign markets. Butter is also made in great abundance, and of a superior quality. At the June exhibit of butter and cheese, at the Centennial, Wisconsin had by far the best show there was on the ground. No other state produced as many or as fine cheese as were presented by our Dairymen's Association. STOCK RAISING. Much attention is given to the raising of fine stock. Tnere are many very superior blooded horses in the state, and a large number of herds of cattle, of the various classes, are to be found in most of 9 Wbeat, Oats, Corn, - Barley, Rye, _ ][lops, Tobacco, I. 10 MINERAl RPESOURCES- LUMBERING INTERESTS. the counties. Sheep do remarkably well in this state, and many persons are giving much attention to this branch of stock raising. It is claimed that no finer sheep can be found in any other state, than can be found in Wisconsin. It is expected that, through the exertions of the Sheep Breeder's Association, our state will prove - its superiority in sheep at the exhibition at Philadelphia, in October. Swine also do well here and are found in large numbers in every part of the state. MINERAL RESOURCES. The mineral resources of Wisconsin are very great. Lead, zinc, iron and copper ores are found in large quantities in various sections of the state; and are a source of vast wealth to our people. This subject is referred to at some length in the "Mineral Catalogue," in another part of this pamphlet, to which the attention of the reader is respectfully directed; and further mention will not be made in this connection. LUMBERING INTEREST. The lumbering interest of the state is scarcely second to that of any other. The Wisconsin pineries in the northern part of the state are very extensive, and the lumber produced is of the best quality. It is estimated that there are eight million acres of pine land in the state. There is also a large amount of hard wood timber in the state. It is found in various sections, and is of a very superior quality. Black walnut, the several kinds of oak, maple, ash, butternut, etc., etc., are found in many places in the northern and central parts of the state. Indeed, Wisconsin has few rivals among the states, in the extent and quality of her lumber. Its manufacture, within the bounds of the state, is immense, and affords employment for a vast number of laborers. We have not at hand, figures in detail of this great interest; but the few aggregates we have, will suffice to show that the lumber interest in Wisconsin, is one of vast magnitude, and of great importance to the country. 6., * I., d .d od* 6- ~ . d4. I, - THE STATE INSTITUTIONS. The full capacity of the saw mills in the state, is given in the following figures. These figures indicate the capacity of the mills, when run in the day time only. During the past two years, the lumber trade has not been brisk, so that the mills have not run to their full capacity, as the following figures indicate: Capacity of mills (day sawing), 1874, " " 4 & 1875, - 1, - - 1,278,000,000 - 1,487,650,000 The following figures give the actual amount of lumber manufactured in the same years: Lumber manufactured in 1874, " "' 1875, 15, - - - 983,631,402 - - 1,097,443,681 This gives a reasonable idea of the lumber interest in the state; and there is timber enough to last for many years to come. Indeed, our forests may be considered inexhaustible. THE STATE INSTITUTIONS. Though Wisconsin is comparatively a young state, it has made rapid progress in the building up of its state institutions. The United States had erected at Madison a capitol, among the first buildings in the place. It was ample for territorial purposes, but it was soon found inadequate for the uses of a growing state. In 1857, the work of building a new capitol was commenced, and, in a few years, a magnificent structure was completed in the centre of the beautiful park in the city of the lakes. It is a very tasty buildinrg in appearance, and is so arranged as to meet the wants of the state in a satisfactory manner. Its cost was about $550,000. In the erection of penal and benevolent institutions, great liberality has been exercised. Few states have done more for the comfort of the unfortunate classes- the deaf and dumb, the blind and insane- than has Wisconsin. In 1850, an institution for the education of the blind was established at Janesville, and there has been expended for the maintenance of this institution, $546,760.50. The deaf and dumb institute is located at Delavan, and was incorporated in 1852; and there has been expended in its support, $576,424.83. 11 THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The Wisconsin Hospital for the Insane, near Madison, was opened in 1860, and there has been expended in the buildings and support of the institution, $1,377,292.62. The Northern Hospital for the Insane, at Oshkosh, was opened in 1873, and the cost of construction and support thus far, has been $792,400.00. These two hospitals have the capacity to accommodate about 900 patients in a comfortable manner. The buildings are substantial structures, and furnished with all the modern improvements. The Soldiers' Orphans' Home was established in 1866, at Madison, and closed in 1875. There was expended upon this noble institution, $342,010.91. The State Prison was located at Waupun in 1852, and is one of the best prisons in the country. Its cost thus far has been $1,050,760.50. The Industrial School for Boys was located at Waukesha in 1860, and has been the means of doing much good to young offenders. It affords instruction and confinement to male children, between the ages of ten and sixteen, who may be legally committed to it as vagrants, or on conviction of any criminal offense, or for incorrigible and vicious conduct, by any court having authority to make such commitment. Its cost thus far has been $471,000. LThe total cost of these state institutions up to the commencement of the year 1876, has been $5,706,486.80; and the money has all been paid without the creation of a state debt of a single dollar. THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. There are but few states that have as prosperous a historical society as has Wisconsin. It has a valuable collection of books and pamphlets, numberingo about 70,000 volumes. In addition, the society has a large number of portraits of early settlers and distinguished men of the state; and an immense museum of curiosities. It also has the largest collection of copper and stone implements of the pre-historic age there is in the world. This society is very valuable in itself, and an honor to the state. The State Library is very completes made up of law and miscellaneous books. It is well supplied with English and America works of reference. 12 WISCONSIN FISHERIES- WATER POWERS. Both the Historical and State Libraries are located in the State Capitol. WISCONSIN FISHERIES. Surrounded as the state is by water, and the large number of its interior lakes and rivers, render the fishing interest one of its prominent features. A board of fish commissioners has been organized, and it is doing excellent work in fish culture. A hatching house has been erected near Madison. It is expected that the people will derive great benefit from the operation of what is deemed a modern art -fish culture. It is an industry that deserves state attention and aid, and the legislature has acted wisely in granting it encouragement and money. No state is better situated for an enterprise of this kind than Wisconsin. WATER POWERS. Although in large part, Wisconsin is a prairie state, and having no portion mountainous or very hilly, it abounds nevertheless in very superior and available water powers. On most of its large rivers, falls are formed sufficient to furnish large mechanical force. The Fox, the two Menominees, the Wisconsin, the Black, the Chippewa, the Rock, the St. Croix, and their tributaries, are thus characterized. We note: 1. THE LowER FOX RIVER. This stream has a series of rapids and falls through nearly its whole extent, from its source in Lake Winnebago to its entrance into Green Bay, a distance of over thirty-five miles. It furnishes some of the best facilities for manufacturing enterprises in the whole country. One great and special advantage is found in the immense reservoir furnished by Lake Winnebago, embracing about 350 miles of area. This precludes all liabilities from freshets and drouths. The fluctuations in the amount of water are very slight} never varying more than a few feet. This steady flow, at all seasons, is of vast advantage. 13 WATER POWERS. The height and power of the several falls on this stream areas follows: Height of Horse Fall. Power, 10 3,000 - 38 11,000 - 10 3,000 - 38 11,500 40 14,500 - 8 2,300 - 8 2,300 - 8 2,300 150 50,400 Names of Places. Neenah and Menasha, Appleton, - - Cedars, - - Little Shute, - Kaukauna, - Rapid Crosche, - Little Kaukauna, DePere, - - The figures represent the amount of power available at all seasons of the year, the estimate being based on the minimum flowage of water, which is 150,000 feet per second. Many improvements, or preparations for them, have been made by the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company within the last twenty-five years. Dams have been built, canals and locks constructed, and other facilities which are very valuable. The property and work formerly carried on by this company have been transferred to the United States government, and large designs have been formed, and are now in process of execution, looking chiefly to a comprehensive system of internal navigation along the water ways of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, connecting the Upper Mississippi with Green Bay, thus furnishing easy means of transportation from the far northwest to the Atlantic coast. This, together with the almost unrivalled facilities for manufacturing furnished by this region, promises to make the valley of the Lower Fox one of the most populous and wealthy regions of the country. The water issues from Lake Winnebago in two large channels, which unite about a mile and a half from the lake, and form the Fox river. This stream furnishes extensive power at Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, and in fact, nearly the whole distance to Green Bay. Hon. Wm. B. Ogden declared that "there is more value in dollars and cents in the water power at Appleton, than any other 14. WATER POWERS. I have ev.er known." Hlon. Hiram Barney, of New York, says its natural advantages exceed those of Lowell, Patterson and Rochester combined. The water power of the Fox river has been improved to a considerable extent, but its full capacity has hardly been touched. Considerable manufacturing is done on the stream at different localities. This immense power has attracted much attention, and no doubt is entertained but it will be utilized, and in a few years the hum of machinery, propelled by it, will be heard the entire thirtyfive miles from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay. There is power enough on this line to run all the machinery in New England if properly brought into use; and much better facilities are afforded on it for manufacturing than can be found in any of our large eastern cities, devoted to this branch of industry. The country in this valley is a rich agricultural region, though its resources are as yet only partially developed. Excellent hard wood timber is abundant, with considerable tracts of pine, while in the northern section of the region on either side, there are vast pine forests of most valuable timber. The communication with the rich mineral regions of Lake Superior is easy and ready, and a large part of their natural outlet is by this way. 2. THE WISCONSIN RIVER VALLEY. This great central river, from which the state takes its name, rises in the extre'me northern part of the state, and has its source in a great number of small lakes. The upper portion of it abounds in water powers, many of which are but little known, and only a few of which are at all improved. The most northern one of which we have any intelligence, is at Jenny, in the county of Lincoln. There are a large number of saw mills, and other machinery running upon the power of this river. At Wausau, are the "Big Bull Falls," on the main channel of the river. These furnish a very superior water power. The fall is about 221 feet in 60 rods. The capacity is that of about 8,000 horse power. There is a dam at the head of the rapids, 500 feet across, creating a pond of the same width, and about three miles long. The power here is only partially improved. Probably not more than one-tenth of the power is used. 15 WATER POWERS. There are several other water powers in Marathon county, and in the vicinity of Wausau - some partially improved, others unimproved. On the Eau Claire river, about six miles from Wausau, there are three large saw mills. On the Big Rib river there are two fiouring mills and one shingle mill. At Little Bull Falls, twelve miles below Wausau, there is a fall of 18 feet in 50 rods. This power is only partially used. At Grand Rapids, there is a continuous descent of the river at the average rate of about 30 feet to the mile. At any one point, the power is equal to that of 5,000 horse, and may be repeated many times. Kilbourn City, has good manufacturing facilities, by reason of its water power. By the construction of a race, a very large amount of power for manufacturing porposes can be obtained. At Portage City, there is a fall of about seven feet to the mile, furnishing a power of about 1,000 horse. It is but slightly im proved. It is at this point that the canala! connecting the Wisconsin and Fox rivers was constructed several years ago. It is only about two miles in length. At Baraboo, in Sauk county, there is a very excellent water power. At the rapids of the Baraboo river, the fall is forty-six feet in two miles and a half. There are now four dams, with opportunity for a fifth, making a fall of over fifty feet in three miles and a half. Not more than one-fourth of the power is used. There are some thirty other good water powers in the county of Sauk, and as yet scarcely any of them are improved. Richland Centre, on the Pine river, a tributary of the Wisconsin, has two water powers, one at the Centre, the other about three miles above. The former has a capacity of forty horse power, the latter of twenty-five. The fall averages about seven feet to the mile. The power at this point is only partly improved. 3. THE CHIPPEWA YALLEY. The Chippewa river is formed from a large number of small streams, all rising in the northern counties of the state. The principal of these, are the Thorn Apple, Manedonish, Deer Tail, and Yellow. There are doubtless a large number of water powers 16 WATER POWERS. on these upper branches; but, as the country through which they run, is as yet unsettled, very few of them have been located on the mnaps. Brunette Falls, and Amiger Falls, a short distance above Chippewa City, must furnish considerable water power, but its extent is not known. At Chippewa Falls, there is an excellent water power. There are contradictory reports in regard to it. An enthusiastic reporter, states it to be "the best in the world." One writer represents the fall as twenty-six feet in three-fourths of a mile, while another puts it eight feet to the mile, and reckons its capacity at 2,500 horse power. The power is somewhat improved, but nothing near to its full capacity. This power is on the Chippewa river. At Duncan creek, at the same place, there is a good fall, and a capacity of three hundred horse power. Eagle Rapids, five miles above Chippewa Falls, furnishes a capacity of 3,000 horse power. In its improvement $120,000 have been expended. The city of Eau Claire is situated at the confluence of the Chip, pewa and Eau Claire rivers. The following statements concerning the water power at this point have been furnished: 1. At the "Dalles," a few miles above the city, on the Chippewa, there is an improved power, with capacity of about 2,500 horse power. The fall is about eight feet to the mile. There are good -facilities for locating manufacturing establishments, and an immense reservoir for holding logs. 2. Two powers on the Eau Claire are partly improved. There are two dams owned by the Eau Claire Lumber Company. The ,capacity is about 350 horse power, and the fall twenty feet to the mile. 3. There are two powers on Lowe's Creek, with a fall of ten feet to the mile, and a capacity of fifty horse power. 4. On Otter Creek there is another power, the capacity of which is about fifty horse power. Partly improved. In Dunn county, on the Red Cedar, Chippewa and Eau Galle rivers, there are immense powers, on which lumber mills are springing up quite rapidly. There is also good power in Pepin county. 17 B WATER POWERS. 4. BLACK RIVER VALLEY. The Black river, with its tributaries, the La Crosse, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Beaver and Tamasoe, furnish numerous valuable water powers, but partially improved. At Black River Falls the water power is extensive, affording large facilities for manufacturing. At La Crosse and other points there are valuable water powers. 5. THE ST. CROIX VALLEY. The St. Croix river forms a part of the boundary between Wisconsin and Minnesota, and whatever advantages it furnishes must be shared by both these states. It has upon it several important powers, but we have definite account from only two or three. At St. Croix falls, in a distance of five miles, the water of the stream makes a descent of eighty-five feet. This, with such a volume of water, ought to be sufficient to move the machinery for an immense manufacturing business; and the banks present good facilities for building dams, and the river is not subject to freshets. River Falls furnishes a very large variety of water privileges, and they have been partially improved at several points. The main stream is the Kinnikinnic, into which a small stream called the South Fork empties. Beginning with the latter, there is a descent of more than seventy feet in one mile and a quarter. Below the junction, on the Kinnikinnic, the descent from the first dam above River Falls, to its entrance into Lake St. Croix, a distance of twenty miles, is not less than 200 feet, and the volume of water averages about 3,000 cubic feet per minute. The country around is excellent for agricultural purposes, and vast forests of superior timber are within easy reach. The means of transportation, both by land and water are abundant. Willow river and other streams in St. Croix county present excellent opportunities for business by means of water power. 6. THE RocK RIVER VALLEY. Rock river has its principal sources in Dodge county and it flows through the counties of Jefferson and Rock, and through the state of Illinois, and empties into the Mississippi. It affords a large 18 WATER POWERS. number of water powers which furnish a very great aggregate force for manufacturing purposes, and a considerable proportion, though by no means large proportion, of which is utilized. At Watertown the rapids give a fall of twenty-four feet, and the facilities are largely improved. There are also good powers at Beaver Dam and Horicon. -At Waterloo there is a small stream, called Waterloo creek, that affords a considerable amount of power. Its whole capacity is about fifteen horse power. At Janesville there are two dams, with a capacity of about 1,000 horse power each. This affords a most excellent power for manufacturing purposes, and is about one-half improved. Beloit has an excellent water power, and it is largely improved. 7. MISCELLANEOUS. There are many other water powers scattered through the state not alluded to in the foregoing. In Manitowoc county there are several good water powers, on the Manitowoc and other rivers, all partially improved. In Marquette county, on the Fox and Montello rivers, there are considerable facilities for manufacturing by water power, only partially utilized. In Washington county, at West Bend, Barton and Cedar Creek, there are good water powers, but as yet are mostly undeveloped. In Walworth county Whitewater is favored with large manufacturing facilities by water power, and they are quite extensively improved. In Dane county, there are water powers, at Madison, Stoughton, Belleville and other points, that afford considerable facilities for milling and manufacturing. In Grant county, there are a large number of good water powers, situated in the towns of Beetown, Waterloo, Cassville, Glen Haven, Bloomington, Millville, Lancaster, Potosi, Annaton, Ellenboro, Boscobel, Blue River, Woodman, Marion, Platteville, Harrison and Hazel Green. Most of these powers have been well developed. In Racine county, there are water powers, of fair capacity, at Waterford, Rochester and Burlington, all which are considerably improved. 19 M MAN UFA C T URING. Oconto county is said to abound in water powers of large capacities, situated on the Oconto, Menominee and Peshtigo rivers and their various branches, and other smaller streams. The Upper Wolf river has scores of water powers on its main stream and branches, but much of the country is still a wilderness though containing resources which, when developed, will make a rich and prosperous country. This imperfect sketch will give the reader some idea of the immense facilities that are presented in the state for manufacturing purposes. It is believed no state in the Union has more or better water powers than are found in Wisconsin. They afford rare opportunities for a profitable investment of capital in their development. When thoroughly understood, itcannot be doubted but this state will become the center of immense manufacturing establishments. Most of the facts contained in this article on water powers have been drawn from an article written by G. M. Steele, D. D., president of Lawrence University, at Appleton, who has taken much pains in collecting information on this subject. MANUFACTURING. While Wisconsin does not claim to be, as yet, a larg,e manufacturing state- except in the manufacture of lumber- there are so many localities where manlufactories exist, that the aggregate amount of capital invested in this industry is quite large; and with the facilities afforded for its increase, there can be but little doubt that these facilities will soon be extensively improved. In Milwaukee there is a large amount of manufacturing done already, and establishments of various kinds are multiplying rapidly. Janesville also is making fine progress in the use of her excellent privileges. The "Janesville Cotton Factory," established in 1875, has the honor of making the first cotton cloth in the state of Wisconsin; and the enterprise has been enminently successful. No better cotton goods are made than at this factory, and the demand for them exceeds the capacity to supply it. There are also woolen mills, fine flouring mills, and numerous other manufacturing establishments at this point. The aggregate capital invested in the 20 RAILROADS. water power here is stated to be about $600,000. Beloit is also a point where a large amount of manufacturing is done. At Racine there is a large amount of manufacturing done, embracing many kinds of wares. Threshing machines, wagons, and all kinds of agricultural implements are manufactured at *this point in immense quantities. There is also a company manufacturing very superior silverware. This is an active manufacturing city. In Kenosha there is a considerable amount of manufacturing done, principally heavy wagons. At Whitewater, reapers, mowers, wagons, plows, and various other articles are extensively manufactured. Fond du Lac and Oshkosh do a large business in manufacturing, turning out immense quantities of wares of various kinds. At Madison, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Stoutghton, and many other points, manufacturing is carried on to a considerable extent. At Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, De Pere, and other towns on the lower Fox river, there is an active business in manufacturing, which is rapidly increasing. The limits of this work will not permit a detailed account of the numerous manufacturing establishments in the state. Suffice it to say, they are quite extensive; but there is plenty of room for more. RAILROADS. Wisconsin has a large amount of capital invested in railroads, considering its age, and, in many parts, its sparse population. The first charter granted for a railroad was from the territorial legislature to the Milwaukee and Waukesha Company, which was afterwards extended to Prairie du Chien- a direct route from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river, touching the Capital. In 1851, the road was completed to Waukesha, eighteen miles. In 1854, it was extended to Madison, ninety-five miles. In 1857, it was completed to Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi. This shows the time of commencement of our railroad facilities, and it is not deemed necessary to continue their h-istory in detail, but state their present extent. From this it will be observed that much has been done to develope the interests of the state in penetrating every part of it with the iron rail. The different lines of road can be readily traced on the map accompanying this pamphlet. 21 RAILROADS. CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE AND ST. PAUL RAILWAY. The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway (which has grown out of the first charter) now runs fourteen hundred and fifty-eight (1458) miles of road, seven hundred and twenty-four (724) miles of which is in Wisconsin. We give a list of'the different branches of the roads of this company, so far as they are within the boundary of this state, in the following table: Length From To Name of Division. ienWih in Wis. Milwaukee......... Chicago........... Milwaukee & Chicago.. 38 Milwaukee......... Prairie du Chien... Prairie du Chien...... 193 Milwaukee......... La Crosse........... La Crosse............ 196 Milwaukee......... Portage City....... Northern............... 96 North Milwaukee... Schwartzburg..... do.............. 6 Horicon............ Berlin............ do.............. 43 Rush Lake.......... Winneconne....... do.................14 Watertown.......... Madison........... Watertown & Madison. 37 Milton.............. Monroe.......... Janesville & Monroe... 42 Madison *.......... Portage City.............................. 39 Ripon t............ Oshkosh................................ 20 724 The cost of this road, including the right of way, construction and equipments, is reported to have been $54,647,902.35. Total force employed in running it, 5,240. Earnings for the year ending June 30, 1875, in Wisconsin, $4,835,682.89. Earnings on the whole line, same time, $7,464,298.68. WEST WIsCONSI[ RAILWAY CoMPANY. The West Wisconsin Railway is all within the state of Wisconsin, and has two hundred and twenty-eight (228) miles of road, as indicated in the following table: From To Name of Division. Length in Wis. St. Croix Lake..... Elroy..... M.....ain Line....... 177.5 Eau Claire........ Chippewa Fall s........................ 11.0 North Wis. Junc'n.. End of Track......................... 40.0 228.5 * Owned by Madison & Portage R. R. Co., and operated by Chi., Mil. & St. Paul R. R. Co. t Owned by Oshkosh & Miss. R'y Co., and operated by Chi., Mil. & St. Paul R. R. C o. 22 RAILROADS. Earnings of this road during the year ending June 30, 1875, were $803,100.09. CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERW RAILWAY. The Chicago and Northwestern Railway traverses the state in many directions, and runs within its borders five hundred and sixty-three (563) miles of road; and its entire length of road is nineteen hundred and ninety-one (1991) miles. The following table shows its different branches within the state ,of Wisconsin. From To Length in Wis. Madison...................... Belvidere....................47.50 do....................... Elroy..................... 74.20 Elroy....................... Winona Junction............... 54.90 Winona Junction............ Winona..................... 28.00 Chicago...................... Milwaukee.................. 40.00 Milwaukee................... Fond du L ac........62.63 Kenosha..................... Rockford................... 27.50 Chicago...................... Fort Howard................ 171.40 Fort Howard.................. Michigan State Line.......... 49.45 562.28 The total earnings of this road in the year ending June 30, 1875, were $12, 597,094.61. WESTERI. UNIoN RAILWAY COMPANY. The road of this company starts from Racine, and touches the Mississippi river at Savannah, Illinois. The length of the whole road under its control is two hundred and thirteen (213) miles, eighty-five miles of which is in' Wisconsin. The following table shows its branches in this state: From To Length in Wis. Racine........................ Rock Island Junction........ 68.70 Elkhorn...................... Eagle....................... 16.50 85.20 Total earnings of this road for the year ending June 30, 1875, were $1,086,188.97. 23 RTAILROADS. GREEN BAY AND MINNESOTA RAILROAD COMPANY. The following is the entire length of road From Green Bay to Winona, - - From Marshland to Winona, leased, - Total length main line and branches, Cost of the road and equipment, - - Force employed, including officers and employ6s, Earnings during the year ending June 30, 1875, Chartered April 12, 1866, under the name of Green Bay & Lake Pepin Railway Co. Sept. 5, 1873, name exchanged to Green Bay & Minn. Railroad Co. Completed Dec. 18, 1873. Operates 4X miles of road leased from Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Co., between Marshland and Winona. WIscoNsIN CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY. This road, when completed, will reach from Menasha (situated at the foot of Lake Winnebago), to Lake Superior. It is now completed and trains running upon its line from Menasha to Worcester, a distance of 194 miles. When completed will open up the boundless wealth of the forests and mines of Wisconsin, more than any other road within its borders. Being unfinished, an estimate of its cost cannot here be given. It has leased and is operating the Milwaukee and Northern Railway, from Milwaukee to Green Bay, a distance of 129 miles. Its force employed numbers, in officers and employe6s, 401 men. Its earnings for the year ending June 30, 1875, from all sources, was $590,754.32. The road at present operated, is a consolidation of the Portage & Superior, the Winnebago Lake & Superior, the Portage & Stevens Point & Superior, the Manitowoc & Minnesota, and the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad Companies. This company is constructing a line of road from Portage City — to Stevens Point, about seventy miles, which is to be completed Ol the first of October, 1876. 24 213.00,L 4.50, 217.50,, - $6,0321944 62; 1 401 $300,883 39 RAILROADS. WISCONSIl VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY. This road extends from Tomah to Wausau, and is wholly within the state. Its entire length is about 89 miles; its total original cost and estimated value of line equipped, is $1,176,508.74. Force employed, 74 men. Earnings during the year ending June 30, 1875, $107,491.76. Chartered Oct. 3, 1856. Completed and put in operation in November, 1874. GALENA AND SOUTHERN WISCoNSIN RAILROAD COMPANY. This is a narrow gauge railroad, from Galena, Ill., to Platteville, Wis., 31 miles in length, 20 miles of which is in the state of Wisconsin. Its entire cost and equipment, was $444,251.89. Its entire force constantly employed numbers only 31 men, and at the date of last report was not in active operation, and the earnings of the year was not reported. It was chartered in Illinois in January, 1853, and in Wisconsin in March, 1857. The main line is not fully completed, but nearly so. The first train was run in April, 1875. It is purely a home road, built and owned by the people along the line, and is a little marvel of energy, economy and enterprise "of the people, for the people, and by the people." PAIRmIE DU CHIEN AND McGREGOR RAILWAY CoMPANY. This, road is a Pontoon Railroad Bridge across the Mississippi river, between the cities of Prairie du Chien in the state of Wisconsin, and North McGregor in the state of Iowa; it is the connecting link between the Wisconsin and Iowa and Minnesota portions of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. It is two miles in length, one and one-fourth miles being in the state of Wisconsin, and the balance in the state of Iowa; it was built andcl owned by John Lawler, Esq., of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, at a cost (exclusive of equipment) of $99,610. Equipment is furnished by the C., M. & St. Paul R'y Co. Its earnings in the state of Wisconsin during the year ending June 30, 1875, $47,285. Its current and operating expenses during the same period was $34,285. Chartered October 10, 1872. Completed and put in operation April 15, 1874. 25 I RAILROADS. MINERAL POINT RAILROAD. This road lies between Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and Warren, Illinois; the entire length of the main line is thirty-three miles, thirty-one miles in Wisconsin. It has a branch road from Calamine to Platteville, eighteen miles in length, which is entirely within this state, making in all of main line and branches in the state, forty-nine miles. Its entire force of officers and employes numbers 109. Its entire earnings during the year ending June 30, 1875, from passengers, freight, etc., $104,724.66. The main line was completed in May, 1857, and the branch in July, 1870, and its cost and equipment valued at $1,131,175. SHEBOYGAN AND FOND DU LAO RAILROAD COMPANY. This road traverses the region of country lying between the city of Sheboygan, on the western shore of Lake Michigan, and the village of Princeton, on the Upper Fox river; and passes directly through the cities of Fond du Lac and Ripon. The entire length of this road is seventy-nine.miles. It employs a force of officers and employees numbering 112 men. Its earnings from all sources for the year ending June 30, 1875, was $100,221.81. Cost of road and equipment, $2,839,097.65. It was originally chartered as the Sheboygan and Mississippi Railroad Company, in March, 1852, and it was finished through to Princeton in 1872. PINE RIVER VALLEY AND STEVENS POINT RAILROAD COMPANY. This is a narrow gauge road between the village of Richland Center and Lone Rock, in the county of Richland, and State of Wisconsin. With the exception of a mile or two at each end of the line, it is built of rails of maple wood, and is about twenty miles in length. It was completed and put in operation some time during the month of June, 1876; since which time up to the present it has been running two daily traihs. This miniature road is a perfect little prodigy of willingness and ability, as is duly made manifest by the vast amount of agricultural commodities which it is transporting from the rich and well cultivated farms surrounding and girting the beautiful village of Richland Center, to the great 26 THE EDUCATIONVAL SYSTEM. artery of railway communications (the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway) at Lone Rock. This, like the Galena and Southern Railroad (narrow gauge), is purely a home road; built by the contribution of the people, among whom the inhabitants of Richland Center are the leading spirits. THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. The history of the educational interests of the territory, now embraced in the state of Wisconsin, ante-dates that of the state itself, as such. But the "pre-historic" activities were of the nature of preparation and foundation work,,well and wisely prosecuted. The number of children of school age in the state in 1850, two years after its admission to the Union, was 70,457. The apportionmnent of the income of the school fund for the same year, amounted to $588. The number of children of school age in the state in 1875, was 461,829, and the apportionment of the income of the school fund for the same year, was $184,624.64. The number of school houses in the state in 1849, was 704; their total value, $75,810. The number in the state in 1875, was 5,260; their total value, $4,260,775. The total amount expended for school purposes in the state in 1849, was $45,080; the total amount expended in 1875, was $2,065,370. The school funds of the state, the incomes of which are devoted to the support of the various grades of schools, may be classified as follows: 1. The University Fund, consisting of proceeds of sales of lands granted by acts of Congress; state taxations; individual bequests and donations. Tuition is free. 2. The Normal School Fund, consisting of proceeds of sales of lands granted by acts of Congress; municipal and individual bequests and donations. 3. The Common School Fund, consisting of proceeds of sales of lands granted by acts of Congress; all moneys accruing from escheat or forfeitures; all fines collected for breach of the penal laws; all moneys paid for exemption from military duty; five per cent. of the sale of government lands within the state. 0 27 THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. The school system of the state embraces - A state university, located at Madison, the state capital. Four normal schools, one located at each of the following places: Platteville, Whitewater, Oshkosh and River Falls; others to be established as the fund will warrant. Graded schools, including primary, intermediate, grammar and high school departments. Free high schools, voluntary, encouraged by state aid. UJngraded, or common district schools. In all these schools tuition is free, and where income from funds is inadequate for their support, it is supplemented by voluntary local or state taxation. The supervision and management of the schools is vested in State superintendent of public instruction, elected biennially. Boards of regents- university and normal school. Boards of education and city superintendents (graded schools in cities)- elected or appointed by cities they serve. County superintendents - one or two in each county - elected biennially. School district boards - consisting of three in each district maintaining school. In addition, the state maintains large institutions for Education of deaf and dumb, at Delavan. Education of blind, at Janesville. Education of industrial school inmates, at Waukesha. Education of convicts in state prison, at Waupun. Legal school age in Wisconsin is from four to twenty years, and attendance voluntary. Of private schools, there are in the state Colleges, ten; academies and seminaries, eight; other private schools, 664. County superintendents are required to hold teachers' institutes, each at least one every year. The state appropriates, annually, $2,000, and the board of regents of normal schools, $4,500, for institute work, which is carried on by one professor from each of the normal schools, aided by assistants. Twenty-six cities in the state have graded schools under local . 28 SUMMER RESORTS. management, and report directly to state superintendent; all others report through district clerk, town clerk and county superintendent to state superintendent. Each district board and city board prescribes list of text books, and town or city may furnish same to pupils, by sale, loan or rental. Twenty days are a legal school month, and five months of school must be maintained to entitle any school district to share in the apportionment of the state school fund. Also, at least one-half as much as is received from this fund must be raised by tax in each county, to entitle it to participate. Teachers must be legally qualified, by holding first, second or third grade certificate from county superintendent; life or five-year certificate from state superintendent; or diploma of graduation from normal school, countersigned by state superintendent after one year of successful teaching. The Wisconsin State Teachers' Association, a vigorous and prosperous voluntary association, holds an annual meeting in July, and an executive session in December, annually, and has great influence in the state. SUMMER RESORTS. The healthfulness of the climate and the bracing air of Wisconsin, render it a popular place of resort in the summer season to the people of the southern states. Large numbers come annually to this state to spend the hot season, and those who come once, are very sure to come again. The sports of hunting and fishing are very attractive and invigorating. Our lakes abound in splendid fish of excellent quality during the entire season. There are also many mineral springs, whose waters possess curative qualities equal to any found in the country. The most popular places for a summer residence, and those most visited, are, Madison, Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Geneva Lake, Devil's Lake, Sparta, Palmyra, Sheboygan, Kilbourn City and Green Lake. Many other towns and cities present special attractions and receive many southern visitors. 29 3CON.CLUSION. CONCLUSION. In concluding these scattered remarks in regard to the interests of the state, the compiler would ask the reader to carefully examine the sketches of the several counties, and the catalogue of Wisconsin exhibits to be found in the following pages. The indulgence of the people is also asked for the meagre manner in which our interests are presented; the excuse for it is the want of time. But few statistics have been brought into these pages, because they could not be obtained with accuracy, and it was deemed better to deal in generalities; but it is confidently believed that the statemnents herein contained are reliable, and do not give more than facts will fully sustain. SEPTEMBER, 1876. 30 COUNTY HISTORY. ADAMS COUNTY. Adams is one of the interior counties of the state. It contains seventeen townships, with an area of 139,000 acres; of which about seventy per cent. is heavy timbered land, principally pine, oak, ash, maple, basswood, etc.; ten per cent., openings, covered with white, black and burr oak, and twenty per cent. marsh. Much of this marsh is meadow land, and is valuable for the hay it yields. On much of it the cranberry grows wild, and, with proper cultivation, the raising of this fruit will become one of the most productive interests of the county. The soil in certain portions of the county is too light for farming purposes, but far the greater part is well adapted to the raising of the usual farm products. Clover and timothy do well. But a small portion of the land is improved as yet. There are about 46,000 acres now under cultivation. In 1875, 6,976 acres were sown to wheat; 2,780, to oats; nine, to barley; 5,720, to rye; 11,638 acres planted to corn; two, to tobacco, and 635, to hops, giving an area of 27,760 acres in these crops. Considerable attention is being paid to fruit raising, to the production of which the many varieties of native fruits growing wild show a natural adaptation. The county is bounded on the west by the Wisconsin river, which, when the contemplated improvements in its navigation are made, will furnish a ready outlet for its products. There are many springs and running streams which furnish an abundance of water for manufacturing and other purposes. There are many good water powers yet unimproved. Valuable quarries of stone are found in different parts of the county, and good clay for brick is abundant. The population of the county, by the cen COUNTY HISTORY. sus of 1875, is 6,502; of these, 5,271 are native born, and 1,231 born in foreign countries. The nationalities principally represented are Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, England and Germany. The county has sixty school houses, and 2,486 children of school age, between four and twenty years of age. There is still much valuable land in the county owned by the state and government, which can be bought at from fifty cents to $1.25 an acre. ASHLAND COUNTY. This county is situated in the extreme northern portion of the state, on the shore of Lake Superior. The town of Ashland, the present terminus of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, is located on Ashland bay, and has one of the finest harbors on the lake. There are 1,200,000 acres of land in the county, a very large proportion of which is heavy timber, mostly pine, hemlock and cedar, with occasional belts of hard timber, oak, maple, ash, etc., on the rivers. The county is well watered with lakes and streams, which furnish abundant water powers. But little attention has, as yet, been paid to farming, but the soil is well adapted to raising most of the farm products. Grass does well. Plums and many varieties of small fruit grow wild in abundance; apples and pears do well in gardens, and can, doubtless, be successfully raised within reach of the influence of the lake. The Penokie iron range traverses the county about twenty-three miles from the lake shore. Here is found an inexhaustible amount of iron ore of the best quality and easy of access. This interest will soon attract the attention of capitalists, and, when developed, will add much to the wealth of the county. Copper and silver ore are also found. At present fish and lumber are the main products of the industry of the settlers, but as railroads are built and the land is taken up and improved, many new branches of production will be found profitable. Much of the most valuable land is still owned by the state and government, and can be bought at low figures. The population in 1875 was 730; 575 native born, and 155 foreigners, mostly from Ireland, Germany and British America. 32 COUNTY HISTORY. BARRON COUNTY. This county contains 516,000 acres of land, a large portion of which, about eighty per cent., is covered with heavy timber, about ten per cent. is prairie, and ten per cent. marsh. The surface is generally level or gently rolling throughout. In the southern part of the county the soil is a rich, sandy loam; in the northwestern and western portion, clay predominates. Pine lands are usually regarded as poorly adapted for cultivation, but here the soil is strong and rich, and will produce good crops of wheat, rye, oats, barley, hay, corn, potatoes, etc. Owing to the large number of men and teams engaged in lumbering, there is always a ready market for all the products of the soil, at high prices. Nine-tenths of all the land in the county is susceptible of cultivation, and will return large profits for the labor bestowed. There are many small lakes from two to ten miles in length in the county, and it is traversed by the Menomonee, Vermillion and Hay rivers, and their tributaries, by which the county is well watered, and an inexhaustible amount of water power is secured. It has been estimated that the water power of the county is more than sufficient to drive the wheels of all the manufactories of Massachusetts. A large amount of land is yet held by government, and can be obtained at $1.25 per acre, or under the homestead law. In the eastern portion of the county there are large deposits of pipe stone or catlinite, which will be very valuable when railroads are built to convey it to market, for building and ornamental purposes. Good quarries of building stone are found in various parts of the county. Population, 3,737; native born, 1,709; foreigners, 2,028; of these 882 are from Canada; 681 from Sweden, Norway and Denmark; 285 from Germany. Number of schools, 38; children of school age, 1,201. BAYFIELD COUNTY. Bayfield county is one of the northern tier of counties. It is bounded on the northern and most of the eastern side by Lake SLperior, has an area of about 800,000 acres, much of which still belongs to the state, and is known as school, university and swamp C 33 COUNTY HISTORY. lands. The surface is somewhat broken; the soil is of superior quality for winter and spring wheat and other cereals, vegetables and grass. There are but few acres under improvement yet, but as the county becomes settled and the Lake Superior system of rail — roads is completed, farming will be anl important branch of industry. The leading interests now are lumbering, and the fisheries located on the lake shore; these furnish employment for a large number of men and considerable capital and are a source of much wealth. Bayfield, the county seat, is a handsome village of 600 inhabitants, on the lake shore, and is becoming noted as a place of summer resort; it has an excellent harbor and will soon be connected with the southern portion of the state by railroad, and with the Northern Pacific at its eastern terminus. Government lands. are abundant and homesteads can be found in any number within the county. All kinds of products of the soil find ready sale at good prices. Aside from its fisheries and immense amount of tinmber, the county has important resources, which will soon be deve]oped. Valuable slate and brown stone quarries are found here;. iron, silver and copper are khown to exist, and the indications are that when a careful survey is made, they will be found in large quantities, and good clay, suitable for brick, is abundant. The timber is abundant and of the best quality, covering about ninety per cent. of the county; varieties are oak, maple, pine, birch, hem — lock and cedar. Population, 1,032; native born, 864; foreigners 186, mostly from England and Canada. BROWN COUNTY. The first settlements in this state were made by the French in this county in 1672. The limits of the county originally embraced. the whole eastern portion of the state, but is uow reduced to about: 450 square miles. Sitfuated at the head of Green Bay, where theFox river empties into the bay, it possesses commercial advantages. unequaled by any other county in the state. The completion of the water communication between the lakes and the Mississippi will still further increase these advantages and give a fresh impetus to its industry. The county is generally heavily timbered with 34 COUNTY HISTORY. hard wood and pine. Along the streams are found occasional patches of marsh, amounting to about twenty per cent. of the land, the balance of the county being covered with timber. Nearly all of the land is susceptible of cultivation. There is a variety of soil, all very fertile, producing crops of all varieties of grain and vegetables common to our climate. Fruit is also raised in considerable quantities. The number of acres of wheat sown in 1875, was 9,990; of oats, 8,992; of barley, 830; of rye, 777; corn planted, 1,126 acres; tobacco, 2; amounting to 21,715 acres. The amount of improved land in the county is over 52,000 acres. The agricultural resources of the county are great, but its commercial facilities, furnish an unlimited amount of water power and an abundance of material for manufacturing purposes which early directed labor and capital to manufactures and the same influences will tend to makc this the leading interest for years to come. The county is well watered; the principal rivers are the Fox, East and Little Suamico; beside these there are many small streams and living springs. The meadows on the banks of these streams yield large supplies of hay and feed, well adapted for stock and dairy purposes. The largest towns are, Green Bay, with a population of 8,037; Fort Howard, 3,610; De Pere, 1,911; West De Pere, 1,923; all are situated at the mouth of the Fox river, and are largely engaged in manufactures. Population, 35,373; of which 20,701 are native born; 14,672 foreigners; of these, 3,841 are from Germany; 2,371 from Canada; 2,027 from Ireland; 1,614 from Switzerland, Holland and Bohemia; 1,155 from Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Schools, 96; number of children, 12,927. BUFFALO COUNTY. This county contains about 460,000 acres of land, of which nearly 100,000 acres are now improved. Governmient still owns about 200,000 acres, much of which, owing to its broken, bluffy character, cannot be successfully cultivated, but is well adapted to grazing. Between the hills which abound in the western and southern parts of the county, there are fine fertile valleys, well adapted to raising all kinds of agricultural products. These valleys are nearly all un 35 COUNTY HISTORY. der cultivation. A short distance from the Mississippi river, on its western and southern boundary, the high bluffs become level table lands, having a rich and productive soil. This portion is nearly all owned by actual settlers. In the eastern and northern portion of the county, there is a large amount of land well adapted to cultivation, owned by government and railroad companies. Wheat and pork are the main articles of export. In 1875, 41,334 acres of wheat were raised, 10,532 of oats, 792 of barley, 54 of rye, 8,125 of corn, and 15 of hops; total, 61,152 acres. Much attention is given to fruit raising; apples and grapes do well. Cattle, horses and sheep are largely kept, and add much to the fertility of the soil and the wealth of their owners. The water power is good, but not much improved. About 15 per cent. of the land is covered with pine and hard wood timber; 65 per cent. are oak openings; 10 per cent. prairie, and 10 per cent. marsh. Population in 1875 was 14,219: native born, 8,762; foreigners, 5,457. Of these, 2,520 were Germans, 1,340 from Switzerland, Holland and Bohemnia, 711 from Sweden and Norway, 309 from Ireland, 232 from England and Scotland, and 222 from Canada. Number of children, 5,573; of schools, 72. BURNETT COUNTY. Burnett county lies in the extreme northwestern part of the state, in the valley of the St. Croix. This river forms its western boundary, and separates it from the state of Minnesota. It has an area of nearly 1,000,000 acres. About 50 per cent. of the surface is heavy timber land, mostly pine, oak, maple, basswood and elm; 30 per cent. opening, 5 per cent. rolling prairie, and 10 per cent. marsh land. The soil is a light, sandy loam, generally with a clay subsoil, which produces the best of wheat, oats, barley and vegetables. The weather in this latitude is much cooler than in southern Wisconsin, but the air is very dry and pure, and the cold is not felt as severely as there. The spring is usually as early and the summer as warm as in the southern part of the state, and crops mature early. A failure in crops has not been known since the first settlement was made. Many tributary streams flow through the county into the St. Croix, and furnish ample water power. Climate is very healthy, 36 COUNTY HISTORY. resembling that of Minnesota. The contemplated railroad to Superior will pass through the center of the county and open up a large and valuable tract of agricultural, mineral and timbered lands. Much of the land can yet be bought at government price. The county is settled mostly by Norwegians, 1,136 out of a population of 1,456 being of that nationality, and only 298 native born. The census of 1875 gives 681 acres as sowed to wheat, 419 to oats, 18 to barley, 51 to rye, and 159 in corn. CALUMET COUNTY. Calumet is the smallest county in the state, having an area of about 200,000 acres. It is heavily timbered with oak, elm, ash, maple, basswood, and in some portions, pine. Nearly 80 per cent. was originally covered with forests; the remaining 20 per cent. is marsh or lowland/prairie, which yields large quantities of hay. Not far from one-third of the land is under cultivation. The average price of improved land is about thirty dollars an acre; unimproved, from three to twelve dollars. The two leading agricultural products are wheat and butter. The commercial and market privileges of the county are excellent; lake Winnebago bounds it on the west, and furnishes direct water communication with lake Michigan, and there are a number of lines of railroads running through the county, by which the products of industry are readily taken to market. There are many excellent water powers. Marble, and good quarries of stone are found in the southern and western part of this county. Number of acres of wheat raised in 1875, 24,422; oats, 6,936; corn, 4,131; barley, 1, 547; rye, 149; hops, 29; total, 37,214 acres. Population, 15,085; 9,368 being native born, 5,717 foreign; of these 3,995 were from Germany, 612 from Ireland, 481 from Switzerland, Holland and Bohemia, 220 from England and Scotland, 203 from Canada. Number of schools, 66; number of children, 5,824. CHIPPEWA COUNTY. Chippewa is one of the largest counties in the state, embracing 114 townships, or over 2,600,000 acres of land. About two-thirds 37 COUNTY HISTORY. of the land in the county has been entered by actual settlers or by speculators for the timber. Some good land still remains in the possession of the state and government, and can be bought at prices ranging from 75 cents to $1.25 an acre, land grant lands. Wild land is held at from three to ten dollars an acre; improved lands at $25 and. upwards. About 15 per cent. of the county is prairie, 65 per cent. timber, and 20 per cent. marsh. The soil of the prairie is a rich, black loam; that of the heavy, hard timber is what is termed a clay soil; that of the pine land is lighter, but is very productive when tilled. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn, and all kinds of vegetables can be raised here of as good quality, as large a quantity, and with as much certainty as in any other part of the state; and owing to the demand to furnish supplies for the lumbermen, better prices can be obtained than at the markets on the lake shore. Census returns give 9,290 acres of wheat raised in 1875, 10,118 acres of oats, 3,435 of corn, 719 of barley, 60 of rye, 8 of hops, and 2 of tobacco; total, 23,632. Much of the marsh land is already started with cranberry vines, and by a small amount of labor could be made to yield a large profit. There is an abundance of wild hay, which, when cut, brings high prices in the pineries. Lumbering is the main industry of the county; many millions of feet are shipped each year, mostly pine. The hard wood timber is excellent and abundant. On the Chippewa river and its tributaries there are a large number of water powers, most of which, except near Chippewa Falls, are still unimproved. In the northern part of the county there are indications of copper, lead and silver, which further exploration may show to be valuable. Population, 13,995; native born, 7,954; foreign born, 6,041; from Canada, 2,420; from Germany, 1,614; Sweden and Norway, 773; Ireland, 702; England, 268; Switzerland and France, 223. CLARK COUNTY. This county joins Chippewa on the north and west, and has the same general features of soil, timber products and resources. It is as yet but thinly settled, but is rapidly filling up. Lumbering has been the principal business done in the county until quite recently; 38 COUNTY HISTORY. snow considerable attention is paid to agriculture. The lumbermen consume all the products of the soil, and draw largely from other counties. This interest also furnishes employment, at good wages, for all settlers who are willing to work. Many farmers of small capital thus secure work for themselves and teams during the winter season. There is still good government land to be had, and much held by the Fox River Improvement Company and nonresidents can be bought on reasonable terms. The pine and hard wood timber covers about 65 per cent. of the county; prairie, 10 per cent.; marsh, 25. Census reports for 1875 give number of acres of wheat, 800; oats, 1,429; corn, 634:; barley, 8; rye, 9; hops, 11. Population, 7,282; native born, 5,807; of these 496 are Germans; 417 from Canada; 172 from Norway; 95 from Ireland. Schools, 55; children, 2,489. COLUMBIA COUNTY. The general surface of Columbia county is gently rolling prairie and openings, with some level marsh. There is about 40 per cent. of the land that is styled openings, where the timber is mnainly white, burr and black oak, and the balance is nearly equally divided into prairie, timber and marsh land. The timber is principally oak, maple, basswood and elm. The county contains 492,500 acres; 485,580 acres of these are owned by actual settlers, which are assessed at an average value of $12.83 per acre. Nearly two-thirds of the land is now cultivated. There are sufficient water powers to meet home wants. Numerous quarries of lime and sandstone, and beds of clay furnish first class material for building purposes. The Tailroad communications are excellent; there is no point in the county more than twelve miles from a line of road, and it will also have, at no distant day, water communication with the Mississippi and Lake Michigan. The point where the Fox and Wisconsin -rivers approach and commingle in high water lies in this county. On the Wisconsin river, as it passes through the county, some of the grandest scenery in the west is seen. The Delles of the Wisconsin, near Kilbourn City, have become celebrated, and are much visited by tourists. Agriculture is the leading interest; the soil is fertile and easily tilled. There were 74,948 acres of wheat raised in 39 COUNTY HISTORY. 1875; 20,041 acres of oats; 35,056 of corn; 4,231 of barley; 5,069 of rye, and 690 of hops; total, 140,035 acres. Hay and some other important crops are not included in these census returns. Fruit is raised, more than sufficient to supply home wants. Good roads slave been built, and the farm buildings, both houses and barns, are generally first class, showing good taste and prosperity on the part of the owners. Much interest is taken in the schools, the buildings are neat and attractive. Number of school houses, 149; childrent 9,540; population, 28,803; of these, 19,653 are natives of the states, and 9,150 are foreigners, including 2,774 from Germany; 2,681 from England and Scotland; 1,564 from Sweden and Norway; 1,332, from Ireland, and 511 from Canada. Lead and iron ore have been found in different parts of the county, but not as yet in paying quantities. CRAWFORD COUNTY. Crawford county is near the southwestern corner of the state The Wisconsin river forms its southern boundary, and the Mississippi its western. Along these streams high bluffs rise from 400 to 600 feet above their level. These bluffs gradually diminish in height as they recede from the river, and soon form high table lands, and these in turn give place to a gently rolling surface or openings. Along the rivers and streams are low bottom lands, which are very fertile. Much of the soil of the county is of the best character for agricultural purposes. That of the high land is composed of a light clay mixed with sand, and covered with vegetable mold; that on the bottom lands is a light sandy loam, which is especially valuable for the early maturity of fruits and vegetables. These bottom lands and the upland prairies cover at least 10 per cent. of the county. The openings 55 per cent. There is very little marsh land. Only about 10 per cent. of the surface is heavy timber, but it is so distributed that each of the fifteen townships which comprise the county, has a good supply of the usual varieties of hard timber. Lead and copper ore have been found under conditions that indicate the existence of heavy bodies of these minerals, but they have not yet been found in paying quantities. Extensive quarries of excellent building stone are found in every town in the 40 COUNTY HISTORY. county, and large quantities are shipped every year from the bluffs along the Wisconsin river. Owing to good commercial facilities, much has been done in the furtherance of trade and commerce. The annual shipments of grain and produce are not very large, but farming is the great pursuit. Number of acres of wheat raised in 1875, 25,517; of oats, 9,137; of corn, 13,908; of barley, 832; of rye, 209; of hops, 21; total, 49,627 acres. Improved farming lands are held at fifteen to thirty dollars an acre; unimproved at from five to ten dollars. The public schools are good, and well attended. Number of school houses, 93; number of children, 3,442. Population, 15,035; of these, 11,053 are natives of the states; 3,982 foreigners, including 1,042 Irish; 892 Swedes and Norwegians; 736 Germans; 558 Swiss, Bohemians and French; 456 Canadians; 273 English and Scotch. DANE COUNTY. Dane county is situate equidistant between lake Michigan and the Mississippi river, in the southern portion of the state. The character of the surface is somewhat varied, combining the level of the upland and lowland, prairie, the undulating openings and hilly land. The Blue Mounds, the highest point of land in the state, are in the western part of this county. There is comparitively but little of the surface too broken for farming purposes. It has also nearly all varieties of soil; the stiff clay soil, the deep black loam of the prairies, the vegetable loam, with clay subsoil, and also with sand and gravel subsoil, and the light sandy loam. The area of cultivated land is larger than that of any other county (395,703 acres), and it usually produces the largest crops of wheat and other farm products, except, perhaps, corn. There are thirty-five townships, or 790,400 acres of land in its limits. There is no vacant land in the county. The amounts of the different varieties of land are 15 per cent. prairie, 35 per cent. timber, 35 per cent. openings and 15 per cent. marsh. The leading interest is agriculture. The number of acres of wheat raised in 1875 was 112,431; of oats, 63,431; of corn, 71,592; of barley, 13,507; of rye, 2,997; of hops, 274; of tobacco, 1,929; total, 266,161 acres. The county is throughout well watered by lakes and streams. Madison, the county seat, and the 41 COUNTY HISTORY. capital of the state, is beautifully situated on a ridge between lakes .Vendota and Monona. The charm of its location has made it a noted place of summer resort. The capitol building, with the surrounding park, the United States court house and post office, the fine hotels, the State University buildings and many handsome private residences, add much to the attractions of the place. There ared thirty-five towns and fourteen villages in the county. Six of the towns are largely settled by Norwegians, six by Germanls, and the different nationalities are more or less represented in all. Population, 52,798; natives of this and other states, 33,268; foreigners, 19,530, including 6,694 Swedes and Norwegians; 6,241 Germans; 2,939 Irish; 2,086 English and Scotch; 680 Canadians; 594 Swiss and French. Number of school houses, 250; number of children of school age, 20,755. There are many locations where valuable building stone can be easily obtained.' Iron ore is also found under such conditions as make it reasonable to hope that it will yet be discovered in paying quantities. For many years lead was dug in considerable quantities in the western part of the county, and further explorations will doubtless lead to new discoveries. DODGE COUNTY. Dodge county is situated in the southeastern part of the state. It contains twenty-five townships, or 576,000 acres of land. Nearly 400,000 acres are under cultivation. The average price of improved land is about $40 an acre. Nearly all the land is owned by actual settlers. The eastern part of the county is heavily timbered and is somewhat hilly. The northern part is prairie and openings, with a rich black loam soil and a gently rolling surface. The southern part is mostly what is called ridge land and marsh, and the quality of the soil is not so good. The county is well supplied with streams, which afford an abundance of water and good mill privileges. The largest of these is Rock river, which flows through the center of the county, furnishing several water powers of great value. The railroad privileges are unsurpassed. There are four roads running through the county, and thirteen of the twenty-two towns are on the line of a railroad. On the east side of Rock river 42 COUNTY HISTORY. there is an iron ore mine of great richness The ore is of excellent qualitv and immense in quantity. It is owned and worked by the Milwaukee Iron Company. A number of very thriving and prosperous manufactories are located in the county; two woolen mills, agricultural implement and machine.factories, cheese factories, etc. In population the county ranks the third in the state; in assessed valuation the fifth. Beaver Dam, a city of over 5,000 inhabitants, a portion of the cities of Watertown and Waupun lie in this county. Wheat raised in 1875, 126,230; of oats, 24,713; of corn, 25,447; of barley, 5,652; of rye, 991; of hops, 155; of tobacco, 17; total, 183,195 acres. Proportion of timber, 10 per cent.; of prairie 35 per cent.; of openings, 35 per cent.; of marsh, 20 per cent. Population, 48,394, including 29,537 natives of the states and 18,857 foreigners. Of these, 13,022 are from Germany; 2,368 from England and Scotland; 1,564 from Ireland; 581 from Canada; 543 from Switzerland and France. Number of school houses, 195; number of children of school age, 17,789. DOOR COUNTY. Door county is situated in the northeastern part of the state, on a peninsula formed by lake Michigan on the east and Green Bay on the west. The county is seventy miles in length, with an average width of ten miles. Amount of land in the county is about 300,000; of this, 230,000 acres are held by actual settlers. Average price of land is $15 per acre. Nearly 30,000 acres are yet owned by the state. The soil is a rich clay loam, occasionally mixed with portions of sand. Scattered through the county are large patches of rich bottom lands, where the soil is composed of alluvial deposits to the depth of six feet. On the uplands the depth of the soil is about ten feet, with a limestone base. The soil is very productive, and where tilled yields large crops of all the products common to this section. But a small portion of the land is yet improved. In 1875, 2,534 acres of wheat were raised; 1,563 of oats; 273'of corn; 149 of barley and 228 of rye; total, 4,747. Fruit is raised in abundance. The proximity of the lake is peculiarly favorable, as its infience modifies the asperities of the atmosphere and greatly 43 COUNTY HISTORY. lessens the extremes of the climate. Seventy per cent. of the county is heavily timbered with maple, oak, beech, basswood, pine, hemlock, spruce, tamarack, cedar, etc. A large number of the settlers are engaged in shipping cord wood, ties, logs, telegraph poles to the southern markets, and in the fisheries. The balance of the land is marsh or low bottom lands. There are a number of valuable marble and building stone quarries, from which building material can be easily obtained to export. Sturgeon Bay, an arm of Green Bay, extends far into the county, nearly dividing it. Government has commenced a canal across the neck of the land separating the bay from lake Michigan, which, when complete, will greatly shorten the route from the interior of the state to eastern ports, by way of the Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement. Population, 8,020; native born, 4,575; foreigners, 3,445; comprising 696 Swedes and Norwegians; 693 Germans; 473 Canadians; 372 Irish; 183 English and Scotch; 145 Swiss and French. There are 42 school houses in the county and 2,954 children of school age. DOUGLAS COUNTY. This county lies in the extreme northwest corner of the state, at the head of Lake Superior. It is forty miles square, and contains within its limits every variety of soil, timber and minerals to be found in the Lake Superior region. It is well watered by the St. Croix and numerous other streams flowing into the lake, and on these streams ample facilities for water power are found, which can be improved at a moderate cost. Along all the rivers are rich alluvial bottom lands, of the best quality for farming purposes. All kinds of grain, grass and vegetables thrive here. Lumbering and fishing are the principal departments of industry as yet. Ninety per cent. of the county is covered with heavy timber; the remaining ten per cent. is marsh or alluvial bottom land. Only about 1,200 acres are under cultivation. Nearly 300,000 acres are still owned by government, and over 90,000 by the state. Copper ore abounds in the mineral ranges which extend through a considerable portion of the county. The specimens found are of the richest quality. The appearance of the country and of the surface veins 44 COUNTY HISTORY. resembles that of the copper regions of Ontonagon. There are also large deposits of iron ore here which are not yet available, for want of railroads. Large quantities of building stone, both granite and red sandstone, are found in different parts of the county. Superior, the county seat, is situated at the head of Lake Superior. It has an excellent harbor, the largest on the lake, and many natural advantages for a commercial city. The Northern Pacific and Wisconsin Central roads will meet here. Population, 741; native born, 470; foreigners, 271, mostly Norwegians, Germans and Irish. The climate is very healthy; the air is dry and pure. Malarious diseases are unknown. DUNN COUNTY. Dunn county is located in the northwestern part of the state. It has twenty-four townships, or a total area of 554,960 acres. The eastern portion is mostly prairie, with a light, open soil, and some marsh suitable for meadow land. It is generally level and the soil productive. The western portion is more rolling and covered with extensive forests of maple, oak, ash, pine, butternut, basswood, etc. The soil here is a rich clay loam which yields hay and the usual farm products in abundance. About 80,000 acres are cultivated at present, and 280,000 are owned by actual settlers. The average price of such land is about eight dollars per acre. Many mill sites are located on the Chippewa and other rivers which flow through the county. Lumbering is the leading manufacturing interest. About 75,000,000 feet are got out annually. Quarries of limestone and of a beautiful sandstone supply all wants for building material. The amount of timber land is estimated at fifty per cent. of the whole; prairie forty per cent., and ten per cent. marsh. Wheat in 1875, 20,087 acres; oats, 11,899; corn, 8,617; barley, 545; rye, 354; hops, 63; total, 41,564. Population, 13,427; of these 4,557 were from foreign countries, and 8,870 from our own. There are 1,963 from Sweden and Norway; from Germany, 1,192; from Canada, 618; Ireland, 321; England, 280; Swiss and French, 91. Number of school houses, 84; number of children, 4,686. 45 COUNTY HISTORY. EAU CLAIRE COUNTY. Nearly fifty per cent. of the land in this county is covered with heavy timber, mostly pine. From 75,000,000 to 85,000,000 feet of pine lumber are annually manufactured here. The remainder of the county is about equally divided into prairie, openings and marsh. The surface is undulating, the soil is a mixture of all kinds, from the rich, clay loam to the worthless sand. The main interest, as in all the northern counties is lumbering, but an increased attention is being paid to farming; good crops of all the leading agricultural products have been obtained where the soil has been cultivated, and these, bringing high prices in the pineries, has made farming quite profitable. There are some 415,000 acres comprised in this county; about 60,000 acres are owned and cultivated by settlers. In the year 1875, 20,023 acres of wheat were raised; 11,058, of oats; 6,881, of corn; 571, of barley; 347, of rye, and 11, of hops; total, 38,891. The Wisconsin Central and West Wisconsin railroads and the Fox River Improvement Company own large tracts of land, which can be bought at reasonable prices. The county is generally well watered with clear streams of pure water, in many of which brook trout abound. The Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers pass through the western and central parts of the county and furnish an outlet for immense quantities of lumber. Eau Claire, the county seat, located at the junction of these rivers, is a thriving city of about 8,000 inhabitants. Number of schools in the county, 54; children of school age, 4,782. Population, 15,991, of which 10,979 are native born, and 5,012 foreigners; 1,325 representing Sweden and Norway; 1,138, Canada; 1,239, Germany; 724, Ireland; 441, England and Scotland. FOND DU LAC COUNTY. The county of Fond du Lac contains nearly half a million acres of land. The character of the surface is gently rolling, with a few bluffs or steep ascents near the limestone ledge which passes through the eastern and southern portion of the county. Many quarries of valuable building stone are found in this ledge. About 40 per cent. 46 COUNTY HISTORY. of the land is prairie, located for the greater part in the central and western portion; 25 per cent. heavy timber, mostly in the eastern part; 20 per cent. openings, and 15 per cent. marsh. These varieties of land are, to a great extent, intermixed, so that nearly every portion of the county has each near at hand. These sections have each their peculiar soil, the alluvial, clayey and the loam; but all are strongly impregnated with lime, which adds much to their productiveness. The land is nearly all owned by actual settlers, divided up into farms and fenced. Good improved farms can be bought for from $40 to $75 per acre. There are five lines of railroad traversing the county in different directions. Lake Winnebago enters its limits on the north, by which it has water connection with Lake Michigan through the Fox River Improvement, thus possessing excellent commercial facilities. The county is remarkably well watered, having springs or running streams on nearly every quarter section. Over a large portion of the county, flowing wells of cool,* pure water can be obtained by boring from 25 to 120 feet. The census reports 90,302 acres of wheat raised in 1875; 21,966 acres of oats; 16,755 of corn; 4,494 of barley; 234 of rye, and 50 of hops; total, 134,301 acres. Much attention is given to the dairy ancl stock, for which the county is especially adapted. It ranks as the first county in the state for hay production. The manufacturing interests of the county are well developed and constantly increasing. In value of manufactured products, it ranks fourth in the state. A bed of iron ore has been discovered in the northern part, of the county, and also indications of lead. Both may yet be found in paying quantities. Population, 50,241, including 34,177 natives of this country, and 16,064 foreigners, of whom 8,004 are from Germany; 2,792 from Ireland; 1,904 from Canada; 1,748 from England and Scotland; 1,034 from Switzerland and France, and 276 from Sweden and Norway. Schools, 192; children of school age, 19,750. GRANT COUNTY. This county lies in the southwestern corner of the state, and is bounded by the Wisconsin river on the north and the Mississippi on the west. The surface is undulating and in some sections hilly. 47 COUNTY HISTORY. Although usually regarded as a prairie and opening country, there are large bodies of hard wood timber in the southern and northwestern portions. The amount covered with timber is about 40 per cent. of the area of the county; the amount of prairie land, 15 per cent.; the remaining 45 per cent. openings. The country is well watered by numerous small streams, emptying into the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. The soil is fertile and well adapted to the various crops common to this latitude. Number of acres sowed to wheat in 1875, 66,292; to oats, 52,002; to corn, 76,889; to barley, 3,743; to rye, 739; to flax, 3,094; to hops, 201; total, 202,970. Fruit is cultivated with good success. The raising of stock, and especially sheep husbandry, is an important part of the industry. A number of woolen factories are engaged in making up the home clip of wool. The business of mining in the early history of the county was the leading interest, but there has been a decline in the attention given to it; there are immense deposits of lead and zinc still undeveloped, which will contribute greatly to the future prosperity of this section. The want of railroad communications has done much to retard the developement of its various interests, but it has steadily increased in wealth and population. The annual value of its farm products is estimated at $3,500,000; that of its manufactures at $1,000,000. It has a population of 39,086, including 29,398 natives of the United States, and 9,688 foreigners of the fbllowing nationalities: Germans, 3,690; English, Welsh and Scotch, 2,800; Irish, 1,318; Swiss and French, 843; Swedes and Norwegiens, 572; Canadians, 397. Number of schools, 215; number of children of school age, 15,918. The first normal school in the state was established at Platteville, in this county. GREEN COUNTY. One of the most noticeable and attractive features of this county is the extent and distribution of its forests. Nearly every town has belts or groves of heavy timber, in which are found oaks in variety, maple, basswood, black walnut and hickory, butternut and ash and elm. The largest tracts of timber are found in the southern part of the county. In the eastern part prairie or bottom lands predom 48 COUNTY HISTORY. inate, in many instances these lands are enclosed and sheltered by sharp narrow ridges of stratified rocks. In the southern and eastern part of the county the land is generally quite level, but it rises gradually and becomes high bluffy hills in the northern and western sections of the county. These bluffs give rise to numberless springs, rivulets and small streams which flow through every part of the county, and add to the fertility of the soil. There is an abundance of water power, which is sufficiently improved to meet the wants of the people. The county contains 367,723 acres in area, of which fully a third is now cultivated. The land is mainly held by settlers, and divided up into farms. Its assessed valuation averages $15 per acre. Crops of 1875 are, 14,317 acres of wheat; 32,848 of oats; 63,171 of corn; 932 of barley; 2,856 of rye; 62 of hops; 131 of tobacco; total, 114,317 acres. Stock raising, dairy farming and wool growing are largely engaged in. Three woolen mills in the county are engaged in the manufacture of cloth. Agriculture is the leading interest, but manufactures are not overlooked. In certain sections lead and zinc are found in large deposits. Total population in 1875, 22,027, including 17,289 natives of the United States, and 4,738 foreigners, as follows: Swiss and French, 1,207; Swedes and Norwegians, 960; Irish, 879; Germans, 832; English and Scotch 604; Canadians, 254. Number of schools, 133. Number of children, 8,594. GREEN LAKE COUNTY. Green Lake, one of the smallest counties in Wisconsin, is located in the central portion of the state. It embraces ten townships, or nearly 240,000 acres of land. The area of improved lands is about 100,000 acres. The surface is gently undulating, no part can be called broken or hilly, and but a small portion level. Brooks, creeks and small lakes are scattered over every portion of the county Green Lake, from which the county took its name, is a beautiful sheet of water 12 miles in length, and from two to three in width. The water is very deep and pure, and of a light green color. About one-fourth of the county is prairie, with a soil of unsurpassed fertility. The other three-fourths are openings and marsh, about 10 per D 49 COUNTY HISTORY. per cent. of the latter. The openings were originally covered with different kinds of oak, with an occasional grove of hard wood, maple, butternut, etc. The soil of the openings is generally rich and productive, a mixture of sand, clay and vegetable mold. The marshes in the northern part, near Berlin, are the home of the cranberry. The cultivation of this fruit has been very profitable to those engaged in it, and promises to be yet more remunerative in the future. The farm crops of 1875 were: 31,572 acres of wheat; 7,541 of oats; 14,391 of corn; 997 of barley; 2,776 of rye, and 95 of hops; total, 57,372 acres. The Fox River passes diagonally through the county, affording transportation facilities in a greater or less degree to the entire county. Railroad communications are good. Water power is found in nearly every town. Manufactures are confined generally to flour, lumber, agricultural implements and cloth. The census of 1875 gives a population of 15,274, including 10,531 natives of the United States; 3,049 Germans; English and Scotch, 764; Irish, 477; Canadians, 336, and a few French, Swiss, and Norwegians. Total foreign population, 4,743; number of schools, 74; number of children, 5,541. IOWA COUNTY. The county of Iowa is located in the southwestern portion of the state, in what is commonly known as the lead region. In the early history of the county, almost exclusive attention was given to the mining interests, which greatly retarded the development of its agricultural resources and its system of general industry, but within a few years great advancement has been made in this respect, and the county now ranks as the thirteenth in the aggregate value of its agricultural products. The best agricultural lands lie in the central and western portions of the county. There is some rough, broken land in the northern and southern portions, but the general character of the surface is moderately rolling. There is a divide running east and west through the central portion, from which the streams on the north flow into the Wisconsin, and on the south through Illinois into the Mississippi. On these streams there are many good water powers, which are generally improved enough to 50 COUNTY HISTORY. meet the wants of its inhabitants. The county contains some over 475,000 acres of land, of which about 65 per cent. is prairie, 10 per cent. timber, 20 per cent. openings, and 5 per cent. marsh. Nearly 175,000 acres are under cultivation. Crops of 1875 were: wheat, 38,187 acres; oats, 33,019; corn, 40,773; barley, 2,969; rye, 633; hops, 191; tobacco, 3 acres; total, 115,775 acres. Much attention is given to dairy farming. There are many beds of good brick clay, and an abundance of excellent sand and limestone. There are a number of lead furnaces in the county, where large quantities of lead ore are smelted. The annual shipments of lead from the county averages about 10,000 tons. There is an inexhaustible amount of zinc ore in this region, and large quantities are shipped to La Salle, Illinois, and St. Louis, and other places. The population in 1875 was 24,133, including 15,109 natives of this country; 3,922 English, Welsh and Scotch; 1,622 Swedes and Norwegians; 1,423 Germans; 1,218 Irish; 401 Swiss and French, and 340 Canadians. Total foreign population, 9,024. Number of schools, 125; number of children of school age, 10,084. JACKSON COUNTY. Jackson county embraces twenty-eight townships, containing 645,000 acres of land. Until the last few years, lumbering has been the main business of the county, and agriculture has been neglected. Some 80,000 acres are now used for farming purposes. Considerable quantities of land are yet owned by the state and government, but much of it is not suitable for cultivation. In the northern and western parts of the county the land is high and rolling, with oak timber on the ridges. About 35 per cent. of the land is timbered, 40 per cent. prairie, 10 per cent openings, and 15 per cent. marsh. A large portion of the marsh is naturally adapted to the cranberry; many persons have commenced to cultivate this fruit; many kinds of wild fruit grow wild. The soil of the east half is quite sandy, but is quick and productive where tilled. The soil in the west half is a rich black loam. The wheat raised here is of the first quality. The agricultural products common to this state all do well. Crops of 1875: wheat, 20,952 acres; oats, 11,502; 51 5COUNTY HISTORY. corn, 8,986; barley, 812; rye, 365; hops, 82; total, 42,690 acres. All the products of the soil find a good market with the lumbermen in this and adjoining counties. There is hardly a section but is well matured. The Black and Trempealeau rivers are the principal streams. These streams and their numerous tributaries are lined with pine, tamarack, and other valuable timber. The water powers are good and abundant. Near the center of the county there are very extensive deposits of iron of excellent quality. Occasional mounds of iron and indications of mineral are found over nearly the whole northern portion of the county. Population, as given by the census of 1875, 11,339, including 8,502 natives of this country, 2,837 foreigners; from Sweden and Norway, 1,393; from Canada, 429; from Germany, 369; from England and Scotland, 359; from Ireland, 202. Number of schools, 67; children, 4,294. JEFFERSON COUNTY. The general characteristics of Jefferson county are a gently rolling surface, with no deep valleys or barren hills; a combining of wood land, prairie, openings and natural meadows, all abundantly watered by lakes, rivers, creeks and springs; belts of heavy forests containing a choice variety of timber, sufficient for fuel and suitable for manufacturing purposes; an excellent supply of water powers, and a soil rich and well adapted to the production of all the varieties of grain, grass, fruits and vegetables common to this climate. The county contains 368,640 acres of land, two-thirds of which are now improved, and three-fourths of the balance are suitable for cultivation. The timber land is estimated to be about 40 per cent of the whole; openings 45 per cent; marsh 10 per cent., and prairie 5 per cent. In 1875, 41,188 acres of wheat were raised; 17,210 of oats; 27,159 of corn; 5,436 of barley; 3,646 of rye; 717 of hops, and 38 of tobacco; total, 95,394. Many farmers are engaged in the dairy business and in stock raising. Fruit is also largely cultivated. Attractive and flourishing villages are settled throughout the county, each built up by and engaged in manufactures, and contributing largely to the resources and prosperity of the county. Stone quarries are found in nearly every town, and in 62 COUNTY HIsTORY. some portions there are extensive beds of clay, from which the finest varieties of cream colored brick are made. The population in 1875 was 34,908; of these 22,302 are natives of this country;. 12,606 foreigners. Germans, 8,660; English and Scotch, 1,145; Irish, 1,094; Swiss and French, 526; Norwegians, 409, and Canadians, 378. Number of schools, 176; children of school age, 14,870. JUNEAU COUNTY. The area of Juneau county contains 550,000 acres of land, of which but a very small portion is yet used for agricultural purposes. The county has been settled comparatively but a short time, and for some years the sole occupation of its inhabitants was lumbering. The surface of the county is very level, except a bluffy range lying in the southern and southwestern section. These bluffs have a very rich soil, and are covered with a heavy growth of hard timber; between the bluffs are valleys having a deep, loamy soil, well adapted to raising all kinds of grain; north of the bluffs the level plain extends to the extreme northern line of the county. The soil in the middle section is of a clayey nature, but yields good crops of small grain; beyond the Lemonweir river it is a light, sandy loam. The northern and much of the western portions are marsh land, interspersed with ridges and islands of dry sandy land covered with a small growth of pine. Much of this marsh land is valuable for hay and grass, but the larger portion is alone valuable for cranberries. This interest bids fair to be the source of much wealth when. these marshes are properly cultivated. Fifty per cent. of the county is covered with timber, pine and hard wood; 10 per cent. openings, and the balance marsh. Amount of land cultivated in 1875 was, 11,541 acres of wheat, 8,211 of oats, 8,371 of corn, 156 of barley, 1,709 of rye, 701 of hops; total, 30,689. All kinds of native small fruits grow in abundance, and cultivated varieties have been raised with good success. Large amounts of lumber are manufactured from timber cut in the county, and from logs rafted down the streams from the counties above. Considerable deposits of iron are found in the middle and western portions of the county, but not in paying quantities. Population 15,300, including 11,577 natives of 53 COUNVTY HISTORY. this country, and 3,723 foreigners. Irish, 1,365; Germans, 640; English and Scotch, 590; Norwegians and Swedes, 537; Canadians, 416. Schools, 86; number of children, 5,941. KENOSHA COUNTY. The county of Kenosha lies in the southeastern corner of the state on the shore of lake Michigan. It is mainly agricultural in the direction of its industry. The city of Kenosha is the center of large manufacturing interests, mainly in wagons, agricultural implements, leather, boots and shoes, beer, pumps, etc. The making of cheese receives much attention throughout the whole county. There are over twenty factories engaged in this industry. The county is well adapted to stock raising, dairy farming, wool growing, and the best farmers are now engaged in these pursuits. A large amount of hay is produced annually. It is estimated that about 20 per cent. of the land is marsh or natural meadow, 20 per cent. timber, mostly oak, 10 per cent. openings, and 50 per cent. prairie. The prairies are generally small in size, and surrounded with openings or timber land. There are many small lakes and several streams which furnish a good supply of water for a large portion of the county. The soil is very productive, mainly black loam and sand, though all varieties are found in different localities. This variety in kinds of soil and a consequent better adaptation to varied crops has given greater diversity to the agricultural products of the county. The value of butter much exceeds that of the wheat raised. The wool product is large, also the cattle, sheep and swine fattened. Much has been done to improve the breeds of stock, both cattle and horses. The crops of 1875 were as follows: 5,724 acres of wheat, 13,597 of oats, 15,113 of corn, 1,262 of barley, and 493 of rye; total, 36,189 acres. Population, 13,907, including 9,590 native born, and 4,317 foreigners. Of the foreigners, 2,202 were Germans, 860 Irish, 824 English and Scotch, 132 French and Swiss, 145 Canadians, 106 Swedes and Norwegians. Number of schools, 63; of children of school age, 5,306. 51 COUNTY HISTORY. KEWAUNEE COUNTY. The county of Kewaunee is located on the shore of lake Michigan, 110 miles above Milwaukee. Its coast is lined with harbors, from which the products of its industry are readily shipped to market. The quality of its farming land is excellent, and all kinds of grain and vegetables are successfully cultivated. Winter wheat especially, does well. The soil in the eastern part of the county is a clay loam; this becomes miore or less mixed with sand and gravel on the west side. The county is heavily timbered, at least 90 per cent. being covered with maple, beach, oak, basswood, elm, cedar, pine, hemlock, tamarack, etc. The remaining portions are marsh, but nearly all of it can be cultivated. The average price of improved land is about $20 per acre; unimproved, $5 to $7. Crops 'of 1875, were: wheat, 11,734 acres; oats, 6,036; corn, 319; barley, 847; rye, 111; tobacco, 7; total, 20,754 acres. The dairy business is next in importance to wheat raising. Owing to shipping facilities and a ready market, timber has been the principal article of export. Population, in 1875, 14,405; embracing 6,602 natives of this country and 7,803 foreigners. There are 2,292 Germans; 2,999 Swiss and French; 445 Irish; 226 Canadians; 200 Swedes and Norwegians. Number of schools, 50; number of children of school age, 5,889. LA CROSSE COUNTY. The county of La Crosse has a large diversity of interests, and a great variety of the elements of wealth. It contains the richest and the poorest of soils, it has superior grazing and tillage land, good markets, thriving manufactories, transportation facilities, both of rail and water, and such a connection with commerce as tends to develop its varous branches of industry. The eastern half of the county is exclusively agricultural. Here stock raising and the dairy have received considerable attention, and have proved profitable to all concerned. The county contains about 300,000 acres of land, of which nearly one-half is under cultivation. The average price of improved farms is $15 per acre. The area of prairie landcl is estimated at 40 per cent. of the whole; timber, 35 per cent.; 55 oCOUNTY HISTORY. openings, 15 per cent., and marsh 10 per cent. The land along the Mississippi river on the west is rough and bluffy, but well adapted to stock and dairy purposes. The valleys between these bold bluffs are exceedingly fertile, and are the choicest farming lands. In 1875, 39,248 acres of wheat were raised; 10,651 acres of oats; 11,553. of corn; 1,534 of barley; 2,072 of rye; 204 of hops, and 6 of tobacco; total, 65,268 acres. La Crosse, the county seat, is a flourishing city of 10,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the Mississippi river, and being largely engaged in commerce, and also the base of supply and sale for a large portion of the lumber regions, it furnishes a home market for the agricultural products of the county. An extensive ship yard and various manufacturing industries are, located here. Population of the county in 1875, 23,945, including 13,798 natives of the states and 10,147 foreigners. Of the foreigners, 3,340 are Germans; 3,186 Swedes and Norwegians; 1,069 Swiss, and French; 803 English and Scoth; 684 Canadians; 576 Irish, and 489 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 73; of school children, 8,235. LA FAYETTE COUNTY. The county of La Fayette, forming one of the southern tier of counties, is situated in the southwestern part of the state, in the section known as the lead region. It contains 403,200 acres of land, a large portion of which is now devoted to farming purposes. The general surface is undulating, unbroken by cliffs or high hills. The southern and western portions of the county are mostly prairie lands, dotted with occasional groves of timber. The prairie land embraces about 40 per cent. of the whole area, and the balance is woodland, 35 per cent. heavy timber, 25 per cent. openings. The prevailing timber is oak, walnut, maple, hickory and ash. There are no swamps, marshes or waste land in the county. The Pecatonica and Galena rivers afford abundant water privileges, which are mainly used for flouring and saw mills. The county is well watered by these rivers and numerous springs and brooks. The soil is very fertile, composed of a black calcareous loam, with an admixture of sand, and a clayey subsoil. In limited sections a clayey and sandy soil is found. Fruits of various kinds are ex 65 COUNTY HISTORY. tensively raised, and with good success. The leading crop of 1875 was 24,203 acres of wheat; 47,212 of oats; 59,643 of corn; 6,280 of barley; 685 of rye; 21 of hops, and 3,130 of flax; total, 141,174 acres. Mining continues to be an important branch of production. Large quantities of lead are exported annually. In richness and amount of deposits the mineral resources are unexcelled. Lodes of great value are continually being discovered. Carbonate of zinc is found in large quantities. Copper has been worked, but with little success. The green carbonate is found in small quantities in the northern part of the county. In 1875 the total population was 22,169, including 15,590 natives of this country; 2,344 English and Scotch; 2,295 Irish; 974 Norwegians; 713 Germans; 182 Canadians, and 71 of other nationalities; total foreigners, 6,579. Number of schools, 119; number of children of school age, 9,079. LINCOLN COUNTY. Lincoln county is one of the newest and largest counties in the state. It is bounded on the north by Michigan, on the east by Oconto county, on the south by Marathon and Taylor counties, and on the west by Taylor, Chippewa and Ashland counties. It embraces the valley of the upper Wisconsin, which with its numerous tributaries furnishes numerous water powers, very few of which are improved. At least three-fourths of the county is heavily timbered. The high lands or ridges are mostly covered with hard wood, such as maple, oak, elm, ash, basswood, butternut, etc. Along the streams the timber is mainly pine and hemlock. In the southern and central portions of the county, on either side of the Wisconsin river, there are thousands of acres of fine cranberry land. Lumbering is as yet the main business, but the soil is of excellent quality and well adapted to all kinds of grain and vegetables raised in this climate. The soil is a rich black loam, with clay subsoil. But little attention has as yet been paid to agriculture. The mineral resources of the county are yet undeveloped. Iron has been discovered in inexhaustible quantities in different portions, and will no doubt become one of its principal products. -Copper and lead are known to exist. The census of 1875 gives 97 CCOUNTY HISTORY. 1,102 acres of the following crops: 319 acres of wheat; 698 of oats; 20 of corn; 29 of barley, and 27 of rye. Population, 895, mainly native born and Germans, 477 and 341 respectively. Number of schools, 6; children, 289. MANITOWOC COUNTY. This county lies in the northeastern part of the state, on the shore of Lake Michigan. It contains about 366,000 acres of land, of which nearly three-fifths are under cultivation. The general surface is rolling and well watered by rivers, creeks and small lakes. The rivers are short, being less than forty miles in length, but they furnish splendid water privileges, and are navigable for logs. The land was originally covered with heavy timber, pine, oak, beech, maple, cedar and hemlock. The pine has been cut off, but an abundance of hard wood yet remains. The bark of the hemlock is largely used in the manufacture of leather. There are about six sections of swamp lands in the county, which make excellent grass lands. On the lake shore the soil is sandy, but in the interior it is a clay loam and fertile. The farms are small, but well cultivated. A large area is annually sown to winter wheat, which does well. Peas and cucumbers are cultivated to supply eastern seed stores with seed. Corn does not usually ripen well, and hence is little cultivated. The average price of improved land is about $25 per acre. The following are given by the census as the areas sown to the crops specified: Wheat, 40,805 acres; oats, 20,913; corn, 892; barley, 2,772; rye, 3,771; hops, 2; total, 69,155. Excellent beds of clay are found along the lake shore, and large quantities of brick are annually exported. Marble and valuable stone quarries have been opened in various parts of the county. Many large specimens of float, copper and iron ore have been found in the county. Good water powers and an abundance of material have led to the development of manufactures. Tubs, pails, chairs, furniture, staves, hubs and spokes are made in large quantities at Manitowoo and Two Rivers. Numerous tanneries are located in the county. Two woolen mills are engaged in the manufacture of cloth and woolen goods. Ship building is carried on to some extent. Mani -58 COUNTY HISTORY. towoc and Two Rivers have excellent harbors andcl do a thriving commercial business. Population, in 1875, was 38,456, including 19,441 natives of the United States; 10,761 Germans; 3,062 Swiss and French; 1,680 Norwegians; 1,306 Irish; 598 Canadians; 317 English, and 1,291 of other nationalities; total foreign population' 19,015. Number of schools, 111; number of children of school age, 16,191. MARATHON COUNTY. The county of Marathon, situated in the valley of the Upper Wisconsin, contains forty-three townships, or 990,720 acres of land. It was first settled by lumbermen in 1840. Tilling of the soil was commenced in 1856, and has gradually increased in importance. The soil is very rich and well adapted to agricultural purposes; it is generally a black loam, resting on clay and covered with vegetable mold. Over forty bushels of wheat to the acre have been raised. Winter wheat has never failed. All kinds of grain do well. Good farming lands near settlements can be bought for four and five dollars an acre. There is still considerable land owned by the state and government, which can be taken under the homestead act or bought at low prices. In 1875, 3,356 acres of wheat were raised; 4,204 acres of oats; 181 of corn; 384 of barley; 59 of rye, and 2 of hops. In common with the other northern counties, the great interest is lumbering. Immense quantities of lumber are manufactured yearly, and still the supply seems undiminished. At least 75 per cent. of the county is timbered land; pine and hemlock along the streams, and maple, oak, elm, basswood, butternut and ash on the high lands. The Wisconsin river and many streams flowing into it furnish an unlimited amount of water power, of which but a very small portion is used. The undeveloped mineral resources of the county are very extensive. Iron, copper and lead are known to exist there, but have not received much attention. Good quarries of granite are found but not worked. Large areas of the marsh are stocked with the cranberry vine. Population in 1875, 10,111; native born, 5,394; Germans, 3,847; Irish, 171; Canadians, 371; English, 128; Norwegians, 126; other nationalities, 68. There are 65 schools, and 3,326 children of school age. 59,~ COUNTY HisToRY. MARQUETTE COUNTY. Marquette county has an area of about 320,000 acres. About flve per cent. of this is prairie, thirty-five per cent. timber, forty per cent. openings, and twenty per cent. marsh. Much of the marsh is fine cranberry land, and with a little labor, can be made to yield a large revenue. They are also valuable as natural meadow, yielding large crops of hay and mnuch feed. The county is well watered with springs, small creeks and large mill streams. The Fox river runs through the county, east and west, furnishing direct water communication with Lake Michigan. There are excellent water powers; one on the Montello river is sufficient to drive a half mile of machinery. Many of these mill sites are used to run flour and saw mills, factories, etc. There are four woolen mills in operation in the county. Land is worth from $5 to $20 an acre. The soil is diversified-loamy, clayey and sandy. In 1875, 11,149 acres were sowed to wheat; 3,388 acres to oats; 12,917, planted to corn; 148 acres of barley; 10,153 acres of rye; 162 acres of hops; total, 37,017. The population, 8,697; of these, 5,536 are native born; 1,794 Germans; 579 Irish; 486 English or Scotch; 163 Canadians, and 139 of other nationalities. Total foreigners, 3,161. Number of schools, 70; number of school children, 3,637. MILWAJUKEE COUNTY. Milwaukee county is situated on the shore of Lake Michigan. In its area it is one of the smallest counties of the state. The gent eral character of the surface is rather broken and uneven, though there is but little waste land. Originally, about eighty per cent. was covered with heavy timber, and the balance marsh. The greater portion of the timber has been cut off; what remains is regarded as having a higher value than the most valuable farming land in the county. Full four-fifths of the land is under cultivation. The average value of all the land in the county, both improved and unimproved, is $75 an acre. The soil is varied, but is mostly a calcareous loam, with a subsoil of clay. It is rich and productive. The area of specified crops in 1875 is, of wheat, 12,517 60~ COUNTY HISTORY. acres; of oats, 10,172; of corn, 6,580; of barley, 3,280; of rye, 2,687; of hops, 94, and of tobacco, one acre; total acreage, 35,331. The city of Milwaukee, the commercial metropolis of Wisconsin, is situated in this county. Besides being a great commercial center, it is largely engaged in manufactures of all kinds, giving employment to thousands of laborers, and adding greatly to the wealth and prosperity of the state and its industries. It is estimlated that the value of its manufactured products is from twenty to twenty-five millions of dollars annually. To indicate the amount of its commercial transactions and the productive resources of the state, a few items are taken from the report of the Chamber of Commerce for 1875, though much of the products of our industry has sought a market through other avenues: "Beans received, 20,311 bushels. Beer sold, 279,286 barrels. Butter received, 6,625,863 pounds. Cheese, 5,721,279 pounds. Cranberries, 10,752 barrels. Eggs, 40,742 packages. Fish inspected, 17,779 half barrels. Flour manufactured, 746,126 barrels; received, 1,443,801. Grain received- barley, 1,286,536 bushels; corn, 949,605; oats, 1,643,132; rye, 230,834; wheat, 27,878,727. Grass seed - clover, 16,088 bushels; timothy, 43,210. Highwines manufactured, 1,560,227 gallons. Hogs packed, 181,972. Hops re ceived, 10,774 bales. Hides received, 232,000. Iron- ore received, Wisconsin, 26,824 tons; Lake Superior, 32,044; pig, received, 7,419; pig, manufactured, 36,656; railroad, manufactured, 25,360. Live stock received -cattle, 46,717; hogs, 144,961; sheep, 45,429. Lumber received, 132,476,000 feet. Mill feed received, 29,964,000 pounds; shipped, 67,935,000 pounds. Peas received, 111,685 bush els. Sheep pelts received, 97,597. Shingles received, 204,378,000. Tan bark received, 16,255 cords. Tobacco, 2,743,854 pounds. Wool, 3,047,077 pounds. Wood, 83,797 cords." The fact that 559 new buildings were put up in the city in 1875, at a cost of $1,700,000, indicates its prosperity. An almost inex h1austable deposite of hydraulic cement, recently found near the city, will greatly add to the productive industry of the city. Population of the county in 1875, 122,927; including 65,200 natives of the states; 39,669 Germans; 6,293 Irish; 4,269 Swiss and French; 3,384 English, Welsh and 9cotch; 1,208 Canadians; 1,046 Swedes 61 COUNTY HISTORY. and Norwegians, and 1,858 of other nationalities. Total foreign population, 57,727. Number of schools, 88; number of children of school age, 42,194. MONROE COUNTY. This county lies in the western portion of the state. It contains 565,000 acres of land, of which about 175,000 acres are now culti vated. Improved land is valued at from $15 to $50 an acre. The general surface is somewhat broken in the central and southern portions; in others, gently rolling. Several ridges traverse the whole length of the county, which spread out and form high table lands. The soil in the southern part is rich clay loam and very productive, well suited to raising grain and fruit. In the northern part the soil is mostly sandy, with occasional clay ridges and black loam prairies. In the northeast corner are extensive tracts of pine and large natural hay and cranberry meadows. The marsh land forms about 25 per cent. of the whole surface; openings, 30 per cent.; timber, 35 per cent., and prairie 10 per cent. The timber in the northern part is oak, white and Norway pine, tamarack and spruce; in the southern, oak, hickory, maple, ash and linden. The crops, given by the census of 1875, are wheat, 29,506 acres; oats, 11,308; corn, 11,155; barley, 456; rye, 313; hops, 353; total, 53,091 acres. There are several cheese factories in the county, and farmers are engaging more in stock raising and dairying than formerly. Large quantities of blueberries and whortle-berries grow wild, and are an annual source of income. There are many valuable mill sites, some of which are not yet improved. No mining in the county; but there are indications of iron, lead, copper and plumbago. In the southern part of the county, valuable beds of fire clay have been found. The county is well watered by running streams, in many of which speckled trout and other fine fish are found. At Sparta, the county seat, there are two flowing wells, whose waters have valuable medicinal properties, and the town has become noted as a place of resort for invalids. A number of flourishing manufactories are located at Sparta and Tomah. Population in 1875, 21,026; including 15,896 natives of the states, and 5,130 62 COUNTY HISTORY. foreigners; from Germany, 2,034; from Ireland, 815; from England and Scotland, 760; from Sweden and Norway, 730; from Canada, 452; from Switzerland and France, 185, and 154 from other nations. Number of schools, 122; number of children of school age, 8,063. OCONTO COUNTY. Oconto is much the largest county in the state. It has an area of over 5,000 square miles, or over 115,200,000 acres of land. The state of Michigan forms its northern and a portion of its eastern boundary. Green Bay bounds it on the southeast. It is estimated that about 70 per cent. of the land is covered with heavy timber; the balance marsh and alluvial bottom lands. The timber is about equally divided between pine and hemlock, and hard wood, principally oak, maple, ash, elm, etc. The MNenomonee, Peshtigo and Oconto rivers, with many tributaries, traverse nearly every part of the county, furnishing abundance of water, and an unlimited amount of water power. In the northern and western sections there are numerous lakes well stocked with fish. Twenty years ago the county was almost an unbroken wilderness; now it is traversed in every direction by roads; gangs of saws are running in a hundred mills, and an army of men are engaged in hewing down its immense forests. All the main streams are used to raft logs and lumber to market. The surface in the southwestern part is rolling; near Green Bay, level. In the northern part, it is somewhat broken and rocky. The mineral range of Michigan enters the county on the north, and the mineral deposits it contains are destined to be come an important element of prosperity. Most of the soil is good for farming purposes; it is especially adapted to grain and grass. ,The wheat harvest is more certain, a better yield and plumper ber ries here than further south. A large amount of hay and grain is imported annually to supply the lumbermen. Hay is worth from $15 to $25 a ton; a large amount is cut on natural meadows, but not enough to supply the demand. Land near settlements is worth from two to five dollars an acre. The state and general govern ment still own a large amount of land which can be obtained by actual settlers under the homestead act, or bought at from seventy 63 COUNTY HISTORY. five cents to one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Population in 1875, 13,812. Of these 7,621 are natives of this country, 2,731 from Canada, 1,323 from Germany, 700 from Ireland, 632 from Sweden and Norway, 294 from France, 256 from England and Scotland, and 255 of various nations. Number of schools, 43; children of school age, 3,905. OUTAGAMIE COUNTY. The area of Outagamie county is sixteen townships. The sur face is generally level or slightly rolling, heavily timbered and well watered. Seventy per cent. of the county is timber land, and the balance, marsh or lowland prairie. Agriculture is the prominent interest of the county, for which the configuration of its surface, the fertility of its soil and its market facilities are especially adapted; yet it has equal advantages for manufactures, which will be developed at no distant day. The water power furnished by the lower Fox river, which passes through its southeastern corner, and by the Wolf river and its many tributaries, is unexcelled, either in extent or availability. There is also a great abundance of material for manufacturing purposes in the heavy timber with which a large portion of the county is covered. There is considerable low or swamp land in the county, but the greater portion of it is susceptible of drainage, and will eventually become the most productive land of the state. In 1875, 14,970 acres of wheat were raised; 6,356 of oats; 3,716 of corn; 411 of barley; 282 of rye, and 32 of hops; total acres, 25,667. The Fox river, in its present condition, furnishes a good outlet for the productions of a large portion of the county; but when the proposed ship canal is completed and the proposed railroad connections are made, the market facilities will be as good and direct as in any portion of the state. Appleton is the leading city of the county, and is the seat of a large and increasing manufacturing business. The water power of the lower Fox at this point is sufficient to run two thousand wheels. Population in 1875, 25,558; native born, 16,282; foreigners, 9,276; from Germany, 4,525; from Switzeriand and France, 1,257; from Canada, 1,104; from Ireland, 1,098; from England and Scotland, 355; from Norway, 129; other nationalities, 808. Number of schools, 101; number of children of school age, 9,871. 64 COUNTY HISTORY. OZAUKEE COUNTY. Ozaukee is one of the central lake shore counties, lying between Milwaukee county on the south and Sheboygan on the north. It has an area of 180,000 acres, over half of which is under cultivation. On the lake shore the surface is quite level, but becomes rather broken in the western part. Three-fourths of the county was originally covered with forests of hard timber, principally oak, maple, beech, ash, elm, hickory, etc. The remaining fourth was natural meadow and marsli land. The soil is clay, mixed with calcareous sand and gravel, the clay predominating in the eastern and the sand and gravel in the western part. The average price of land is from $25 to $40 an acre. In the valley of the Milwaukee river, which flows through the county north and south, the soil is a light loam. On this river and the Cedar Creek, one of its tributaries, there are many good water powers. A ledge of limestone runs through the county from northeast to southwest, which affords excellent and abundant building material. Quite a number of white sandstone quarries are in successful operation on the line of the railroads, and there are several brickyards engaged in manufacturing a cream colored brick, regarded by some as superior to the well known Milwaukee brick. With water communication on the lake and two lines of railroads running through the county, the market facilities are ample. The raising of grain, mainly wheat and rye, has been the leading agricultural interest, but more attention is now being given to a varied industry. More stock is kept, butter and cheese manufactured, wool raised and made up by manufactories, and fruit of the first quality is raised. Wild rasp berries, blackberries and, in some places, cranberries are very abun dant. The area of specified crops in 1875 is given by the census as 26,481 acres of wheat; 10,788 of oats; 3,111 of corn; 2,682 of bar ley; 226 of rye; 18 of hops; total, 43,306. Population, 16,545; native born, 9,278, and foreigners, 7,267, viz.: 4,701 Germans; 505 Irish; 167 French; 121 Norwegians; 117 Canadians; 70 English, and 1,586 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 59; children of school age, 7,531. E 65 COUNTY HISTORY. PEPIN COUNTY. Pepin county is situated in the western part of the state, on the Mississippi river. Its area is seven townships, or some over 160,000 acres. The soil is mostly of a sandy loam, mixed more or less with clay. Good water privileges are found in nearly every town. The Chippewa river and its tributaries flow through the county, affording an abundance of water and an outlet for its agricultural products. Ten per cent. of the land is prairie or high table land; 55 per cent. is heavily timbered with all kinds of hard wood; 20 per cent., openings, and 15 per cent., marsh. The average price of improved land is ten to fifteen dollars per acre; of unimproved, from three to five dollars. The crops of 1875 were, wheat, 9,201 acres; oats, 2,936 acres; corn, 5,958; barley, 134; rye, 326; hops, 28; total, 18,582. Population, 5,816; native born, 4,182; foreigners, 1,634. Of the foreigners, 374 are Germans; 260 Cana — dians; 606 Norwegians; Irish, 147; English, 150; French, 42. Number of schools, 36; children of school age, 2,209. PIERCE COUNTY. The valley of the St. Croix, in which the counties of Pierce, St Croix, Polk and Pepin are situated, has long been noted for theproductiveness of its soil and the healthfulness of its climate. Thelatitude of these counties is much higher than of any other county in the state engaged exclusively in agriculture, yet the crops mature with as much, and by some, it is claimed more, certainty than in southern Wisconsin. The air is very dry and pure, and the extreme degrees of cold as well as sudden changes in temperature are not so severely felt as in a moister climate. The soil is dry and porous, easily worked, early to start in the spring and quick to mature the growth of crops, so that they seldom fail. Pierce county has an area of 600 square miles, or 367,000 acres. It is divided into prairie, twenty per cent., timber, mainly oak, ash, maple, basswood and elm, thirty-five per cent., openings, thirty-five per cent., and ten per cent., marsh. The soil of the prairie and openings is a sandy loam, with a base of magnesian limestone; that of the tim 66 COUNTY HISTORY. bered land is a vegetable mold, with clay subsoil. Wheat is the main staple of production, for which the soil and climate seem peculiarly fitted. The county is well watered, as there are seven rivers running through it into the St. Croix river and lake, the Mississippi and Lake Pepin, which form its -western and southern boundaries. These are rapid flowing streams and have good mill sites at short intervals throughout their whole length. There are also many brooks and creeks flowing into these rivers which have sufficient fall for mill sites. All these streams abound in fish, especially with speckled trout. Ready market is found for all their surplus products at St. Louis and below and in the pineries above. The rates of transportation by water are low. The reported crops of 1875 are, of wheat, 36,106 acres; of oats, 8,678 acres; of corn, 7.558; of barley, 681; of rye, 128; total, 53,151 acres. Population in 1875, 15,101; natives of this country, 11,313; foreigners, 3,788, including 1,624 Norwegians, 681 Germans, 640 Irish, 470 Canadians, 206 English, and 167 of various other nationalities. Number of schools, 94; children of school age, 5,797. POLK COUNTY. The same peculiarities of soil and climate pertain to this as to the county last described; also, in a great degree, the same physical characteristics and conditions. The area of Polk county is 700,000 acres. Of this, about 30 per cent. is prairie land, 40 per cent. timber, 20 per cent. openings and ten per cent. marsh. The greater portion of the timber is hard wood, but the northern and eastern townships contain vast quantities of valuable pine timber, and the lumber business is carried on extensively. The county is watered by numerous rivers, brooks and clear spring lakes, which afford ample water powers, and abound in brook trout and other fine fish. Wild meadows are numerous and furnish large quantities of hay and feed for stock. The St. Croix river, a navigable tributary of the Mississippi, bounds this county on the west, affording a means of transportation for the producers of the county down the river, or to connect with railroads east and west. The acreage of specified crops in 1875 was, of wheat, 5,225 acres; of oats, 3,132; 67 COUNTY HISTORY. of corn, 1,784; of barley, 135; of rye, 112; total, 10,388. Total population, 6,736; native born, 4,426; foreigners, 2,310. Of the foreigners, the leading nationalities are, Swedes and Norwegians, 1,160; Canadians, 376; Germans, 339; Irish, 201; English and Scotch, 128; other nationalities, 106. Number of schools, 54; children of school age, 2,381. PORTAGE COUNTY. Portage is the most central county of the state, and although its resources are far from being fairly developed, it already holds the first rank on the upper Wisconsin in regard to location, soil, climate, agricultural products and commercial advantages. It is thirty miles in length north and south, and twenty-four in width. Th esouthern and eastern portions are much the most thickly inhabited, the northwestern part being mostly heavily timbered lands. The varieties of timber are pine, oak, maple, basswood and hemlock. It contains twenty-two townships, or 507,000 acres of lanid, 5 per cent. is prairie land, 35 per cent. timber, 50 per cent. openings and 10 per cent. marsh. There is very little waste land in the county. The few swamps and marshes it contains are susceptible of drainage, and may in this way be made equal if not superior to the best farming land in this section. The soil in some portions of the county is a light sandy loam, yet it is quite productive in favorable seasons, and with judicious management, will doubtless be greatly improved. The soil of the eastern portion of the county is probably as good for farming purposes as any in the northern part of the state. The area of land devoted to special crops is given by the last census as follows: Wheat, 12,128 acres; oats, 5,068; corn, 8,828; barley, 306; rye, 4,413; hops, 379 acres; total, 30,852 acres. But little attention has been given to fruit raising until quite recently, but enough has been done to prove that many of the hardier varieties of apples can be cultivated with success. A large number of fruit trees have recently been set out. There is a sufficiency of good stone for building purposes. The manufactures of the county are mainly confined to lumber, of which large quantities are exported annually. Population, in 1875, 14,856, comprising 10,077 native born 68 I COUNTY HISTORY, ,and 4,779 foreign citizens. Of the foreigners, 1,709 are Germans; 1,176 Norwegians; 560 Canadians; 515 Irish; 442 English and Scotch, and 377 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 80; number of children of school age, 5,278. Two lines of railroad. havc lately been built through the county, which will give greater impetus to every branch of industry. RACINE COUNTY. Racine county is one of the most thriving and prosperous counties of the state. Its thrift is seen in the diversity of its industry, both in its manufactures and its agricultural productions, and in this varied industry lies the great cause of its prosperity. In no other county, except Milwaukee, is there so great a variety of manufactured products. In its location on the lake shore in southern Wisconsin, it has excellent market facilities, and can command a large local trade. The general topography of the county is of an undulating character, rising 250 feet or more above the level of lake Michigan. The Fox river runs through the county from north to south, furnishing excellent facilities for water power. On the east side of this river the surface is nearly level, and the soil is a black loam with a marl, clay slbsoil. On the west side the land is more uneven and somewhat hilly, and the soil of a lighter character. There are 211,840 acres of land in the county. Of this, about forty-five per cent. is prairie land, the same of timber, three per cent. of openings and seven per cent. marsh. The timber consists of nearly all the different yarieties of hard wood known in the northwest. All kinds of grain, fruit and vegetables are successfully cultivated, but the character of the soil and a moist atmosphere during the spring, summer and fall, caused by the influence of the lake, are especially adapted to the growth of grass, and consequently many are engaged in stock raising and the dairy. There are many fine horses, herds of blooded cattle and sheep kept in the county. The crop items given by the census of 1875 are, wheat, 19,286 acres; oats, 16,668; corn, 15,865; barley, 2,063; rye, 683; hops, 38; total, 54,601 acres. Fattening stock for market is quite an important branch of the farm products. Also the packing and 69 COUNTY HISTORY. pressing of hay. An extensive business is done in the quarrying of stone, burning of lime and manufacture of brick. The limestone quarries near the city of Racine are of the best quality, and inexhaustible in extent. The city of Racine, the county seat, is situated on a promontory running out four miles into lake M[ichigan, at an elevation of about forty feet above the level of the lake. It has a good harbor and an extensive commerce, and is largely engaged in manufactures of various kinds. Population of the city is over 13,000. The population of the county in 1875, was 28,702; 17,119 natives of this country and 11,583 foreigners. Of the fbreigners, 4,142 are Germans; 2,557 Swedes and Norwegians; 2,395 English and Scotch; 1,115 Irish; 967 Swiss and French; 290 Canadians, and 117 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 84; number of children of school age, 10,397. RICHLAND COUNTY. The first settlements were made in this county in 1848. In population it has grown from about 1,000 in 1851 to over 17,000 in 1875. The county contains sixteen townships, or about 370,000 acres of land, eighty per cent. of which is covered with heavy timber; the balance is mostly openings. The most common varieties of timber are oak, maple, basswood, butternut, hickory, pine, ash and elm. The face of the country is somewhat uneven, consisting -of ridges and valleys, the ridges often terminating in bluffs near the streams. Along the Wisconsin river, which forms its southern boundary, the soil is quite sandy and is very light, The soil of the timber region is a rich, dark sandy loam, easy of cultivation, and producing a rapid growth of vegetation, especially of grass. This natural adaptation of grass has led to considerable attention being given to raising stock, and the business has been found much more profitable than the raising of grain. Much care has been taken to improve the breeds of all kinds of stock. Several cheese factories are in successful operation, and have proved profitable. The principal farm products exported from the county are wheat, fiour, pork, beef, butter, wool and poultry. The acreage of crops as given for 1875, is, wheat, 18,646 acres; oats, 7,795 acres; corn, 19, 70 COUNTY HISTORY. 585; barley, 195; rye, 981; hops, 553, and tobacco, 2; total, 47,757 acres. Much attention has been given to the cultivation of fruit, and it has been demonstrated that a great variety of fruit can be raised with success. The county is well watered with numerous springs, streams and rivers, most of which are well supplied with speckled trout. On the larger streams excellent mill sites are found, more than enough to meet the wants of the county. There are many excellent quarries of sandstone, limestone and marble; also large deposits of iron have been found in several localities; a vein of lead has been discovered and successfully worked in the southern part of the county; there are also indications of copper. Quarrying and mnining have received but little attention as yet, for want of facilities for transportation. Population in 1875, 17,353, including 15,392 natives, and 1,961 foreigners. Of the foreigners, 531 are Germans; 475 Irish; 295 English and Scotch; 266 Norwegians; 185 Canadians, and 209 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 122; children of school age, 7,094. ROCK COUNTY. This is one of the oldest and best agricultural counties in the state. The first settlements were made in it in 1835, and now nearly the whole country is occupied and improved by actual settlers. The surface is very regular and even. There is very little rough or broken land in the county, or scarcely an acre which cannot be used for farming purposes. Of the twenty townships contained in the county, about 60 per cent. is prairie, 20 per cent. hard wood timber, and 20 per cent. openings. It has quite a variety of soils, but all are remarkably productive. The county seems to be better adapted to grain than to grass, yet raising stock is largely engaged in. The exhibits of blooded stock at the fairs compare favorably with those of other sections of the state. Wheat has been the great staple of production, but of late years corn has taken the lead. All kinds of coarse grain and vegetables are raised in large quantities. Considerable attention has been given to the cultivation of fruit, and there are many thrifty and productive orchards in nearly every part of the county. Large quantities of 71 ICoUyTY HISTORY. butter are made and shipped to market. The county ranks the fourth in the state in this productive industry. The crops of 1875, as given by the census, were, wheat, 34,449 acres; oats, 52,239; corn, 71,991; barley, 18,821; rye, 8,158; hops, 57; tobacco, 2,211; total, 181,926 acres. The Rock and Sugar rivers with their tributaries flow through the county, furnishing an abundance of water for agricultural and manufacturing purposes. Rock river is one of the best mill streams in the state, and it furnishes motive power for a large manufacturing interest at Janesville, Monterey and Beloit. In the value of manufactured products the county stands the third in the state. At Janesville, there is the most extensive cotton manufactory in the northwest, where four hundred looms turn out thousands of yards of excellent cloth weekly. The educational advantages of the county are superior; good high schools are located in many of the towns; two colleges, one at Beloit, another at Milton, rank high among institutions of learning. There are also a number of good seminaries in flourishing condition. Population, 39,039; 30,719 natives of this country, and 8,320 foreigners. Of these, 2,871 are Irish; 1,884 English,.Scotch and Welsh; 1,480 Swedes and Norwegians; 1,142 Germans; 755 Canadians, and 188 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 176; children of school age, 13,931. ST. CROIX COUNTY. St. Croix is one of the northwestern counties of the state. It is bounded on the west by the St. Croix river and lake, which separate it from the state of Minnesota. The surface of the county is generally even or gently rolling, but in some parts there are quite large ridges. The soil is generally a black, sandy loam, but in the northern and eastern portions there is more or less clay. The different kinds of soil are very fertile, producing all kinds of cereals. Five rivers flow through the county and enipty into the St. Croix or Lake Pepin. All of these streams and some of their tributaries furnish valuable mill sites and are well stocked with speckled trout. About 35 per cent. of the county is heavily timbered land, and the balance is mostly prairie. The varieties of timber are mainly pine, oak, ash, elm, maple and basswood. The manufacture of lumber 72 I COUNTY HISTORY.' is extensively carried on, but the most important branch of productive industry is agriculture. Wheat is the main crop and is largely exported, both in the form of wheat and flour. Many farmers keep improved breeds of stock. Number of acres of wheat raised in 1875 was, 12,305; of oats, 3,435; of corn, 1,304; of barley, 483. The West Wisconsin railroad passes through the county to St. Paul and gives another outlet for its products. Population, 14,966; of which 10,105 are native born; 1,630 Irish; 1,372 Norwegians and Swedes; 1,106 Canadians; 398 Germans; 280 English and Scotch, and 75 of other nationalities. Total foreigners, 4,861. Number of schools, 89; children of school age, 5,529. SAUK COUNTY. Sauk county has a great diversity of soil and surface. Running through it is a range of high bluffs, from the northern slope of which the streams flow into the Baraboo river, and from the southern into the Wisconsin. Some of the soil, especially on the bottom lands bordering on the Wisconsin river, is light and sandy, but there is much calcareous matter mixed with the sand, which gives it considerable fertility. The soil of the prairies, which form about ten per cent. of the surface, is a dark, calcareous loam, very strong and productive. The timber, covering about twenty per cent., is well distributed over the county. The varieties are mainly oak, basswood, maple, ash, elm, birch, butternut, hickory and hemlock. The soil of the timber region is very rich and productive, and well adapted to the growth of wheat and all kinds of grain and grass. Some of the best wheat land in the state lies in this region. Of the balance of the surface, about forty per cent. is openings and twenty per cent. marsh and lowland prairie. The soil of the opeilnings is what is termed clay soil, with much sand and calcareous matter intermingled. A large proportion of the low prairie land is susceptible of cultivation and has a black, loamy soil, with a clay subsoil. There are many localities which are specially adapted to fruit, and large quantities of apples, pears, strawberries, grapes, etc., are raised. Crops of 1875 were 35,501 acres of wheat; 20,409 ,of oats; 29,227 of corn; 809 of barley; 3,160 of rye, and 2,538 of 73 COUNTY HISTORY. hops. The Wisconsin river forms the boundary line of this county for over sixty miles, and when it becomes a national highway between the lakes and the Mississippi river, will afford cheap transportation for its products. The Chicago and Northwestern railroad passes through the county and the Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad runs along its southern line. Nearly every part of the county is traversed with streams which furnish a great abundance of water for manufacturing and other purposes. The largest of these is the Baraboo river, which has many good mill sites. At Baraboo, the county seat, the river falls forty feet within a distance of two miles, and furnishes an immense water power. Quite a number of mills and factories are located here. Extensive deposits of iron are found in various parts of the county. Furnaces are established at Ironton and Cazenovia. The ore is the brown hematite, and seems to be inexhaustible, and makes the best quality of iron. Copper is also found in some portions of the county. There are many quarries where the best of building stone can be obtained, both sandstone and limestone. In the town of Woodland there is a fine quarry of sandstone, which makes excellent grindstones and whetstones, pronounced equal, by some, to the best Ohio stones. Clay, for pottery ware and brick, is abundant. The most romantic scenery in the state is found around the Devil's Lake, near Baraboo, and in the bluffs and dells of the Baraboo river. At the lake, huge, rocky cliffs have been thrown up, apparently by volcanic forces, some 500 feet in height. Population of the county in 1875,26,932, consisting of 19,536 natives of this country; 3,875 Germans; 1,068 Irish; 983 English, Scotch and Welsh; 799 French and Swiss; 436 Canadians; and 235 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 162; number of children, 10,383. SHAWANO COUNTY. Shawano county lies in the northeastern part of the state, in the valley of the Wolf river. This stream runs through the county from north to south, and is navigable to Shawano village, the county seat. Above this, and on its many tributaries, there are large numbers of mill sites, with a great abundance of power. Il 74 COUNTY HISTOR'r. the number and equal distribution of its water powers, this county surpasses any other portion of the state of the same area. Eighty per cent. of the surface is covered with heavy timber, and the balance is marsh. The timber along the streams is mostly pine; on the ridges and upland, oak, ash, maple, beach, basswood, hickory and hemlock. Immense quantities of pine lumber are manufactured annually and rafted down the streams to market. Lumbering has been the main business of the county. In 1859, the first attention was given to farming as a business, and since that time rapid progress has been made. The soil is fertile; yields very good crops of all kinds. Along the streams the soil is a sandy loam; on the uplands a black loam with a clay subsoil. Berries of various kinds grow wild in great quantities, and continue through the season, one variety following another: strawberries, red and black raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, whortleberries, and at the close, cranberries. There are large areas of the marsh lands specially adapted to the growth of the cranberry. Crops of 1875 were, wheat, 4,232 acres; corn, 1,464; oats, 3,770; barley, 67; rye, 503 acres. Considerable attention is now being paid to stock raising. Cattle,'sheep and swine thrive here, and there is a ready home market in the pineries for all that can be raised. Many farmers of small means have started in here within a few years, cultivating the soil in its season, and in the winter going with their teams to work in the pineries at good wages. Population, 6,635, consisting of 3,537 native born citizens, and 2,297 Germans, 352 Swedes and Norwegians, 237 Canadians, 66 English, 50 Irish, and 96 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 32; children of school age, 2,028. SHEBOYGAN COUNTY. This county is situated on the shore of lake Michigan. It contains fourteen townships, and parts of townships of two. Of this about seventy per cent. was originally covered with heavy timber, nearly half of which has been cut off; twenty-four per cent. openings, and five per cent. marsh. In the eastern part of the county, along the Sheboygan and Onion rivers, the timber is pine and hard wood; on the low lands, elhn, basswood, ash, etc; but in other port 75 COUNTY HISTORY. tions it is hard wood, in which oak, maple, beech and ash predominate. There are occasional swamps of tamarack and cedar. Along the streams in the eastern part the surface is rather broken, but becomes gently rolling as it retires from them. In the western part is a range of hills and hollows known as "The Kettles," where the soil is gravel or sandy loam. On this gravelly soil of the Kettles and on the clay soil of the heavy timber regions an excellent quality of wheat is raised. All kinds of farm crops are extensively raised, so that a large surplus is sent to eastern and southern markets. Hay is largely an article of export, thousands of tons being shipped annually to the lumber regions. The dairy and stock raising are becoming the leading business with many farmers, and will eventually be the most important branch of agricultural industry in the county. The native and cultivated grasses flourish and furnish the best of food for dairy purposes. Butter and cheese is extensively shipped to eastern markets. There are over twenty cheese factories in successful operation, and this branch of business is yearly extending. Of late years an extensive business has been done in raising peas for the St. Louis and Philadelphia markets. If cut at the right time and properly cured, they retain their green color and are canned and sold as green peas. For this purpose they bring double the price of ordinary peas. The acreage of crops for 1875 was, of wheat, 41,377 acres; of oats, 15,297; of corn, 7,539; of barley, 4,177; of rye, 1,061; of hops, 60; total, 72,511 acres. The value of the agricultural products are estimated as averaging about $2,000,000 yearly. The value of its manufactures amounts to nearly the same. The chief articles manufactured are flour, lumber, wagons, leather, furniture, woolen cloth and blankets, etc. Owing to superior commercial facilities, commerce is extensively carried on. Population in 1875, 34,021; consisting of 20,564 natives, 9,105 Germans, 2,077 Swiss and French, 1,011 Irish, 370 English and Scotch, 347 Canadians, 260 Norwegians, and 287 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 117; children of school age, 13,966. TAYLOR COUNTY. Taylor county was organized, in 1874, from territory detached from Chippewa, Clark and Marathon counties. It contains twenty 't76 COUNTY HIST'ORY. eight townships, of which sixty-five per cent. is covered with heavy timber, fifteen per cent prairie, and the balance marsh land. From the center of the county the water shed divides, the drains on the southern slope flow into the Black river and its tributaries, on the east into the Wisconsin, and on the west and south into the Chippewa river. The county is well watered, and has many excellent water powers. The timber on the bottom lands bordering on the streams is principally white pine of excellent quality. Some of the heaviest pine timber in the state is found here. The timber on the ridges between the streams is mainly sugar maple, basswood, butternut, oak, elm, and black birch. The soil of much of the pine land is poor, being mostly sand and gravel; that of the heavy timber is a heavy black loam, with a clay subsoil. In some portions of the county the country is flat and swampy, and the timber is mostly hemlock, cedar, balsam and spruce. But little attention is given, as yet, to farming, the whole productive energy of the settlers being given to lumbering. As far as tested, all kinds of farm crops do well, especially winter wheat and grass. Much of the marsh land is well adapted to cranberries, and is well stocked with vines. The population in 1875 was 849; consisting of 677 natives of this country, and 172 foreigners, mainly Germans, Canadians, English and Norwegians. TREMPEALEAU COUNTY. This county contains about twenty townships, and is situated in nearly the center of the western tier of counties. The Mississippi river forms its boundary on the southwestern corner; the Trempealeau river on a part of the west side, and the Black river on the south. It is well watered by these steams and their tributaries Besides these there are many trout brooks and innumerable springs of soft water. The surface of the land is uneven, with valleys along the streams on the west, with ridges between, rising into elevated table lands. These ridges are chiefly made up of Potsdam sandstone, with a strata rising 450 feet above the Mississippi, and capped with magnesian limestone, covered with vegetable loam and clay subsoil. The surface of these table lands and prairies is gently rolling. The soil on the river bottom lands is light and sandy, but o4 .~~~~~~~ ee' A*.eeA 4,~,e * * 7T GCOUNTY HIrsTORY. the elevations it is rich and produces good crops. All the vegetables and cereals common to the state are raised here. Winter wheat seldom fails to produce a good crop. Inland, most of the streams are lined with belts of hardwood timber, mainly oak, maple, ash and basswood. On some of the small creeks are belts of tamarack. The surface is about thirty-five per cent. timber, twenty-five each openings and prairie, and fifteen marsh. The acreage of crops in 1875 was 45,851 acres of wheat; 12,483 of oats; 13,080 of corn; 1,200 of barley; 243 of rye, and 33 of hops; total, 72,889 acres Many efforts have been made to raise apples and other fruits here, but in the main have not been very satisfactory. In some localities they have done well, and have received the first prize at our fairs. Population in 1875 was 14,992; consisting of 8,855 natives; 3,691 Swedes and Norwegians; 1,084 Germans; 455 English and Scotch; 400 Irish; 292 Canadians, and 215 of other nationalities. Number of schools, 77; children of school age, 5,631. VERNON COUNTY. The Mississippi river forms the western boundary of this county, for a distance of over twenty-two miles. The surface is for the greater part even, but in some parts broken into hills or ridges. The county contains 53,404 acres of land, divided into timber, openings and prairie, fifty per cent. of the first, and twenty-five each of the others. The timbered land contains all the varieties commonly called hardwood. Onl the openings it is mainly white and burr oak. The soil is good, and yields crops of small grain equal to any portion of the state, and especially excels in its vegetables. It is well watered by springs and brooks, with an abundance of water power on the larger streams. Like all timbered land, the soil and climate are natural to the cultivation of grass, and are well adopted to stock and dairy business. This is already largely engaged in, and much grass fed stock and butter and cheese are shipped to eastern and southern markets. The first attempts at fruit raising were disheartening, but those who have persevered have met with very good success. Improved lands are worth from $15 to $30 per acre; unimproved from $3 to $10. Deposits of iron and copper are found in I I78 t:: *. ~ * COUNTY HISTORY. various places, but have not yet been developed. Crops of 1875: wheat, 46,662 acres; oats, 18,273; corn, 16,915; barley, 1,445; rye, 156, and hops, 164; total 83,615 acres. Number of schools, 144; number of children of school age, 8,899. WALWORTI COUNTY. There are sixteen townships, or 368,640 acres of land contained in Walworth county, of which thirty-five per cent. is prairie, fifteen per cent. timber, forty per cent. openings and ten per cent. marsh. The central portion presents an elevated and nearly level plain, dividing the water shed into two nearly equal parts, that on the east flowing into the Fox river, and on the west into Rock river. Along some'of the streams and near some of the lakes there are belts of hard wood timber, which contain a variety of oaks, black walnut, butternut, maple, linden and elm. The general surface is slightly undulating, except in the eastern part, where is a range of bluffs where the land is very broken and the soil poor, but even this section is largely cultivated by foreigners. The soil of the county is of two marked kinds, that of the prairies, where it is dark loam, rich in vegetable matter and easily cultivated, but not quite so quick to promote early growth and maturity of crops as the other kind; that of the openings, which has more sand, lime and clay and sometimes iron mixed wihli the vegetable mold, with a subsoil of clay. Both these varieties of soil are very productive. Corn, oats and wheat are the main staples in grain, though all kinds of farm crops are largely raised. Of late years less and less attention is given to wheat culture, and more to the coarse grains and grass, and now the richest farms and the wealthiest farmers are those engaged in stock raising, dairying and sheep husbandry. In the production of wool this county is second in the state, Rock county taking the lead. Many cheese factories have lately been built and are doing a prosperous business. Fruit is largely and successfully cultivated. Apples, grapes and all kinds of small fruits are raised in abundance. Crops raised in 1875 were, 31,285 acres of wheat; 27,649 of oats; 40,173 of corn; 8,508 of barley; 2,807 of rye; 141 of hops, and 49 of tobacco; total, 110,612 79 CouN t'i.H Yr; acres. The:c6unty is well wtered, has numerous springs an::.' ~mill stts with numerous branches, affording abundance of water powmp There are also twenty fine lakes, of which lake Geneva, tenmiles long and two wide, is the most noted, bing, a fashion1e place of summer resort. Stratified limestone crops out in vario'us parts of the county, and-is valuable for lime and building purposes. Clay is also abundant. Population, in 1875, 26,259; comprisiug 21,052 native citizens; 1,741 Irish; 1,186 Germans;, 1,081 English, SCotCh and Welsh; 616 Norwegians; 395 Canadians, and 182 of the other nationalities. Number of schools, 129;: children of school age, 9,304. One of the state normals is located at Whitewater, a thriving manufacturing village in the northeastern part of the County. WASHINGTON'COUNTY. Washington county embraces in its limits twel-ve: townships, and is twenty-.four miles long by eighteen wide. Its soil is ma'!";!a mixed with sandy loam,'and is well adapted to the cultivi n of wheat. Nearly seventy-five per cent. of the county wa orig'P ly covered with timber, but a large amount has been. cut off.'The openings embrace about ten per cent., and fifteen isniarsh:and. Of the 276,480 acres in the county, all is owned by actual settlers, and five-eighths is under cultivation. Average price of land is $30 per acre. Cattle and horses are raised in considerable numbers, and' much attention is given to dairying, especially to the manufacture of butter. Lumber and flour are manufactured to some extent, but agriculture in its various branches is the main pursuit; ninetenths of the inhabitants are engaged in it. the Milwaukee river, Cedar and Rubicon creeks, with their tributaries, furnish abundant water for general purposes and for motive power. There are a number of fine water powers yet unimproved, The timber, consisting mainly of oak, maple, basswood, beech, elm, ash, etc., is well distributed. At Hartford, in the western part of the county, deposits of iron ore, equal in quality to that at Iron Ridge are found. When developed, these mines will be of great advantage to the industrial interests of the county and state. The following gives the amount in acres of the various crops in 1875: Wheat, 62,,.508.acres; oats,