USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics &c > Part 11
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There are many objects of interest to the tourist and the lover of the picturesque. The rivers abound in rapids and falls. In St. Louis river there is a series of cascades which have a descent of 320 feet in 16 miles. The Menomonee river at Quinnesec Falls dashes down over a perpendicular ledge of rocks 40 feet, and has a fall of 134 feet in a mile and a half. Among other noted falls are the St. Croix, Chippewa and Big Bull Falls in the Wis- consin river. Along the rivers are many grand views of bluffs, rising from 150 to 200 feet, and at one place in Richland county on the Wisconsin, where it passes through a narrow gorge, the cliffs have an elevation of from 400 to 500 feet. On the Mississippi, in La Crosse county, the rocks rise 500 feet perpendicularly above the water.
The great lead region extends into the southwestern part of Wisconsin. The deposit here is intermingled to some extent with copper and zinc, together with some silver. Copper is found in a number of places, and also some iron ore. The iron ores of the Lake Superior region extend into Wis- consin. Beautiful varieties of marble are found on the Menomonee river and in other localities.
On the upper Wisconsin river, and other tributaries of the Mississippi, north of the Wisconsin, are vast forests of pine, and immense quantities are annually floated down the Mississippi to supply the markets in other States. Among other forest trees are spruce, tamarack, cedar, hemlock, oak of sev- eral varieties, birch, aspen, basswood, hickory, elm, ash, poplar, sycamore and sugar-maple.
Wisconsin was visited at an early period by French missionaries, and a settlement was made in the latter part of the seventeenth century.
Madison, the capital of the State, is situated on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona, 80 mniles west of Milwaukee, and 132 miles northwest of Chicago. When the place was selected for the seat of government in 1836, there were no buildings except a solitary log cabin. The State capitol is a fine looking stone building erected at a cost of $500,000, and stands on an elevation seventy feet above the lakes. The city overlooks a charming country, diversified by a pleasing variety of scenery. It has steadily and rapidly increased in population.
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
The great city of Wisconsin is Milwaukee (called at an early day "Mil- wacky ") and next to Chicago may be regarded as the commercial metropolis of the Northwest. It is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan, about 90 miles north of Chicago. Milwaukee river empties into the lake at this point. The city is situated on both sides of the river, and has one of the best harbors on the whole chain of lakes. The fine water power of the Mil- waukee river is an important element in its prosperity. Being a port of entry, the government has expended large sums in the improvements of its harbor, and in the erection of public buildings.
In 1805 Jacques Vieau, a half-breed trader whose house was at Green Bay, visited the country at the mouth of the Milwaukee river for the pur- pose of trading with the Indians. This he did annually until in September, 1818, when he brought with him a young man named Solomon Juneau, who became his son-in-law. The young man established friendly relations with the Indians, and in 1822 erected a block-house on the site of the present city of Milwaukee. He remained for 18 years the only permanent white resi- dent, being visited occasionally by fur traders to whom he sold goods. In 1836, the village which has grown to be a large city, began to appear. Jun- eau died in 1856, at the age of 64 years, having lived to see the place he founded grow to a prosperous and flourishing city. In 1836 the population was 275; in 1840, it was 1810; in 1850, it was 19,873; in 1860, it was 45,286; in 1870, it was 71,640; and at the present time (1878) it is estimated at 123,- 000.
Among other important towns and cities of Wisconsin are Racine, Janes- ville, Oshkoslı, Fond du Lac, Watertown, Sheboygan, Beliot, Kenosha, La Crosse, Wauwatosa, Manitowoc, Portage City, Platteville, Sheboygan Falls, Beaver Dam, Whitewater, Port Washington, Green Bay, Mineral Point, Shullsburg, Monroe, Prescott, and Hudson.
The following table shows the population of Wisconsin at the close of each decade from 1800 to 1870:
YEAR.
WHITE.
COLORED.
AGGREGATE.
1800
115
..
115
1810.
....
1820
....
...
1830
1840
30,749
196
30,945
1850.
304,756
635
305,391
1860
773,693
1,171
*775,881
1870.
1,051,351
2,113
*1,054,670
*The above aggregate for 1860 includes 1017 enumerated as Indians, and the aggregate for 1870 includes 1206 enumerated as Indians.
MINNESOTA.
The eastern portion of Minnesota formed a part of the territory surrendered by the French to Great Britain at the peace of 1763, and subsequently by the latter to the United States at the close of the Revolution. The western portion is a part of the territory known as the Louisiana Purchase, ceded by France to the United States in 1803. It received a Territorial form of gov- ernment under an act of Congress which became a law March 3, 1849, and was admitted into the Union as a State May 11, 1853.
The extreme length of Minnesota north and south is about 380 miles, and
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
in width is about 300 miles. It embraces an area of 81,259 square miles, or 52,005,760 acres. The face of the country generally presents the appearance of an undulating plain, although it is the most elevated tract of country between the Gulf of Mexico and Hudson's Bay. There are no mountains, but the summits of the water-sheds rise to a height of nearly two thousand feet above the level of the sea.
Minnesota is one of the best watered States in the Union, being drained by many rivers and dotted over with innumerable small lakes and some of con- siderable size. The great Mississippi has its humble origin as a mere rivulet in Lake Itasca. This diminutive stream, here but a few feet in width, first meanders in a northeasterly direction, receiving tribute as it passes from a number of other small lakes, when it changes its course to the south, and after meandering a length of six hundred miles in Minnesota, dashes its waters down over the Falls of St. Anthony, then flows along the border of the State two hundred miles further, and thence grandly pursues its course to the Gulf of Mexico. Several tributaries of the Mississippi drain the southeastern portion of the State. The Red River of the North drains the northern part, passing off into Hudson's Bay. It is the outlet of a number of lakes, among which are Traverse, Otter Tail, and Red. This river also forms the west boundary of the State for about two hundred miles. That portion of the State sloping toward Lake Superior is drained by the St. Louis and its tributaries. St. Peters, or Minnesota river, has a total length of over four hundred miles within the State. Its principal branch is Blue Earth or Mankato river, which flows nearly north. The St. Peters, Crow- Wing and Crow rivers are tributaries of the Mississippi from the west.
Lake Superior forms a part of the eastern boundary, and the Lake of the Woods a part of the northern. Among other lakes of considerable size are Rainy, Red Lake, Lake Cass, and Leech Lake. Devil Lake in the north- west part is about 40 miles long and 15 miles wide, and is said to have no visible outlet. Lake Pepin is an expansion of the Mississippi in the north- eastern part of the State, and is a beautiful sheet of water. The State abounds in small lakes which are mostly clear and beautiful. Owing to the multitude of lakes Minnesota seldom suffers from inundations, as they tend to check the sudden rise and violence of the streams.
The elimate of the northern part of Minnesota is severe, but in the southern part is not so rigorous as to prevent fair crops of Indian eorn from being produced some seasons. Wheat and other winter grains succeed ad- mirably in nearly all parts. In the valleys of the rivers the soil is excellent, and even the valley of the Red River of the North is regarded as a fine agricultural region. Wheat is the great staple and the facilities for manu- facturing flour are unsurpassed, as the water power is practically unlimited.
A portion of the State is heavily timbered with pine, and one of the great industries is the manufacture of lumber. Extensive forests of pine grow on the Rum, St. Croix, and Pine rivers, and on the shores of the Mississippi, below Pokegamin Falls. Taken, as a whole, however, Minnesota cannot be called a well-wooded country. The river bottoms furnish some very good growths of oak, aspen, soft maple, basswood, ash, birch, white walnut, linden and elm. In the swamps or marshy places are found tamarack, cedar, and cypress.
Minnesota presents to the tourist many natural objects of interest, especially in her grand and beautiful scenery along the Mississippi and around her lakes. St. Anthony's Falls are celebrated, not so much for their magnitude as a
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
cataract, as for their geological interest and the wild scenery connected with them. Like Niagara, the falls are divided by an island, with the larger volume of water passing on the west side. This west division is 310 yards wide. The greatest perpendicular fall of water is but 163 feet, but in- cluding the rapids the descent is 58 feet in 260 rods. The rivers of Minne- sota have numerous picturesque falls and rapids, and are in many places bordered with perpendicular bluffs of limestone and sandstone.
So far as revealed by geological examination, Minnesota possesses no great mineral or metallic wealth. There is, however, a rich deposit of iron ore in that part of the State bordering on Lake Superior. A thin vein of lead was discovered by the geological corps of Prof. Owen on Waraju river, and some copper was found, but not "in place," having probably been car- ried thither by the drift. Stone suitable for building purposes exists in great abundance. In the southwest part of the State is a singular deposit known as "red pipestone." Of this the Indians made their pipes, and the place of its deposit was held in great sacredness by them. It is said that different tribes at enmity with each other, met here on terms of amity and smoked the pipe of peace. Longfellow has rendered this locality celebrated in "Hiawatha." It was here-
" On the Mountains of the Prairie, On the great Red Pipe-stone Quarry, Gitche Manito, the mighty, He the Master of Life, descending, On the red crags of the quarry. Stood erect, and called the nations, Called the tribes of men together."
The first white men who are said to have visited the country now embraced in Minnesota, were two fur traders in the year 1654. They returned to Mon- treal two years afterward and gave a glowing account of the country. This was followed by the visits of trappers and missionaries, and to the latter we are indebted for the first printed accounts of Minnesota. In 1805 an explor- ing expedition under Pike traversed the country. A military post was established at Fort Snelling in 1819. Excepting a British settlement at Pembina, which was not then known to be within the limits of the United States, no settlements were formed in Minnesota until after 1840.
St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota, is in Ramsey county, on the bank of the Mississippi, 2070 miles from its mouth, and 9 miles by land below the Falls of St. Anthony. The first settlement was made about the year 1840. The population has increased rapidly, and as a manufacturing, commercial and business place it has assumed considerable importance. Minneapolis, a few miles above St. Paul, is a rapidly growing city, and is noted for its great water power and manufacturing resources. Among other important towns are Stillwater, Red Wing, St. Anthony, Fort Snelling, and Mankato.
The following table shows the population of Minnesota at the close of each decade from 1850 to 1870:
YEAR.
.
WHITE.
COLORED.
AGGREGATE.
1850.
6,038
39
6,077
1860.
169,395
259
*172,023
1870
438,257
759
*439,706
* The above aggregate for 1860 includes 2369 enumerated as Indians, and the aggregate fox 1870 includes 690 enumerated as Indians.
6
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
NEBRASKA.
Nebraska is formed out of a part of the territory ceded to the United States by France by the treaty of April 30, 1804. It was erected into a separate Territory May 30, 1854, the limits subsequently being greatly reduced by the formation of Dakota Territory in 1861, a right reserved in the act creating the Territory of Nebraska. It was admitted into the Union as a State, March 1, 1867.
Nebraska is in its extreme length from east to west about 412 miles, and in breadth from north to south about 208 miles, embracing an area of 75,905 square miles, or 48,636,800 acres. The greater portion of the State is an elevated undulating prairie with a general inclination toward the Missouri river. There are no mountains or very high hills. The soil is various, but generally fertile, except in the western portion near the base of the Rocky Mountains. The bottom lands along the rivers are not surpassed in fertility by any in the United States, while the higher undulating prairie is equally productive with that of other western States. When the prairies are once broken they are easy of cultivation, the soil being light and mellow. The staple productions are wheat, Indian corn, oats, and other cereals common to the latitude. The climate is mild, as compared with that of the same latitude on the Atlantic. The summers are sometimes very warm, and the extreme western part is occasionally deficient in rain. Taken as a whole, however, this is destined to become one of the foremost agricultural States in the Union.
Nebraska is deficient in native timber, but the older settled portions are dotted over with groves of artificial or cultivated timber, which is so rapid in its growth as to require but a few years to produce enough for the ordinary wants of the settler. "The rivers and streams ale generally bordered with groves of native trees, including oak, walnut, hickory, cottonwood and willow. Along the Missouri river in places are some heavy growths of cottonwood.
The Missouri river forms the entire eastern boundary, and is navigable for steamboats throughout the whole extent of that boundary and for hun- dreds of miles above. Among the important interior rivers are the Platte, the Niobrara, the Republican Fork of the Kansas, the Elkhorn, the Loup Fork of the Platte, the Big Blue and the Nemaha. These rivers are so dis- tributed, as, with their numerous tributaries, to afford admirable drainage to all parts of the State, and as a consequence it is free from marshes, conduc- ing to the excellent health for which Nebraska is noted.
So far as yet revealed, the State is not rich in minerals. Coal, however, has recently been discovered in the southeastern part, in a vein sufficiently thick for mining. Near Lincoln are some salt springs of sufficient magni- tude to yield large quantities of salt. On Platte river and other streams both limestone and sandstone are obtained of suitable quality for building material.
Rapid progress has been made in the construction of railroads in Nebraska. Among them are the Union Pacific and its branches, the Burlington & Mis- souri River and its branches, and others, affording railroad advantages to a large portion of the State, and connecting the principal towns with the main lines, east, west and south.
Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, is in Lancaster connty, in the southeast- ern part of the State. Here are most of the State institutions. It is a thriving young city and is in the midst of a fine agricultural portion of the State. Near it, on a little stream known as Salt Creek, are a number of
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
salt springs, and considerable quantities of salt have been manufactured. Railroads connect it with all the great markets of the country.
Omaha is the leading commercial city of the State, and is located on the west bank of the Missouri river in Douglas county. It is 18 miles by land above the mouth of the Platte river. The principal portion of the city is situated on gently rising slopes extending from the river to the bluffs. The elevations are crowned with fine residences, and command pleasant views of the river and valley, with the city of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in the distance. Since the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad it has grown in popula- tion and wealth very rapidly. A costly iron railroad bridge spans the Mis- souri river at this point. As a produce, shipping and general commercial point it is rapidly growing into prominence. It was the first capital of the Territory and State, and takes its name from a tribe of Indians.
Among other important towns and cities are Nebraska City, Columbus, Kearney, Grand Island, Hastings, Plattsmouth, Tecumseh, and Niobrara.
The following table shows the population of Nebraska by the census of 1860 and 1870:
YEAR.
WHITE.
COLORED.
AGGREGATE.
1860 1870
28,696
122,117
82 789
28,841 122,993
In the aggregate for 1860, the enumeration includes 63 Indians, and in that of 1870, the enumeration includes 87 Indians.
MISSOURI.
Missouri was formed out of a part of the territory ceded by France to the United States in 1803. By an act approved March 26th, 1804, the French, or Louisiana purchase, was divided, that part embracing the present State of Missouri being at first designated as the District of Louisiana. The name was changed to Territory of Louisiana, by an act passed March 3d, 1805, and again by an act of June 4, 1812, Louisiana Territory was changed to Missouri Territory. By an act passed March 2, 1819, the southern por- tion was detached and organized as the Territory of Arkansas. During the same year the people of the Territory of Missouri, through their Legislative Council and House of Representatives, memorialized Congress for admis- sion into the Union as a State. On the 6th of March following an act was passed to authorize the people of the Territory to form a State constitution. Missouri being the first State formed wholly out of territory west of the Mississippi, the question of the extension of slavery came up and gave rise to a stormy debate in Congress while the Missouri bill, as it was called, was pending. The propriety and expediency of extending that in- stitution to the new States west of the Mississippi, was powerfully and earn- estly contested, and resulted in a compromise restricting slavery to certain limits, and prohibiting the extension of slavery to certain territory. The bill, however, of March 6th, passed without restrictions. The people on the 19th of July, 1820, adopted their constitution, which was laid before Con- gress November 16th of the same year. The Senate passed a joint resolu- tion declaring the admission of the State of Missouri into the Union. This was referred to a select committee in the House of Representatives, and on
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
the 10th of February, 1821, Mr. Clay made a report. The House rejected the resolution, and on motion of Mr. Clay, a committee on the part of the House was appointed to join a committee on the part of the Senate to con- sider the subject and report. On the 26th of February, Mr. Clay, from the joint committee, reported a "Resolution providing for the admission of the State of Missouri into the Union, on a certain condition." This resolution was passed and approved, March 2, 1821. The condition was that Missouri, by its legislature, should assent to a condition that a part of the State con- stitution should never be construed to authorize the passage of a law by which any citizen of either of the States in the Union should be excluded from the enjoyment of any of the priviliges and immunities to which such citizen is entitled under the Constitution of the United States. What was known as the "Missouri Compromise," was embraced in the act of the pre- vious session, which authorized the people of the State of Missouri to forin a State constitution, and consisted of a compromise section in the bill by which slavery was to be forever prohibited in that part of the territory west of the Mississippi (except the State of Missouri), lying north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes north latitude. Thus, after fierce and stormy debates, running through two sessions of Congress, Missouri came into the Union, and the exciting question of slavery was supposed also to have been settled. On the 10th of August, 1821, President Monroe issued his proclamation declaring the admission of Missouri completed, according to law.
Missouri in its greatest length from east to west is about 285 miles, and in width from north to south, 280 miles. It embraces an area of 67,380 square miles, or 43,123,200 acres. That portion of it north of the Missouri river is mostly undulating prairie and timber land, while that portion south of the Missouri river is characterized by a great variety of surface. In the southeast part, near the Mississippi, is an extensive area of marshy land. The region forming the outskirts of the Ozark Mountains is hilly and bro- ken. West of the Osage river is a vast expanse of prairie. The geological features of Missouri are exceedingly interesting. Coal, iron and several kinds of stone and marble for building purposes exist in great abundance. A vast region, in the vicinity of Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob, produces iron of the best quality, and exists in inexhaustible quantity. It is also found in other parts of the State. There is also lead, which has been mined in considerable quantities. Copper is found throughout the mineral region, but is found combined with other minerals. Silver is also combined with the lead ore. The bituminous coal deposits are mainly on both sides of the Missouri river, below the month of the Osage, and extending forty miles up that river. Cannel-coal is found in Callaway county.
Missouri possesses the advantages of two of the greatest navigable rivers in the United States-the Mississippi, which forms lier entire eastern boundary, and the Missouri, which flows along her northwestern border nearly two hundred miles, and crosses the State in a south-easterly course to its junc- tion with the Mississippi. As both of these rivers are navigable for the largest steamers, the State has easy and ready commercial intercourse to the Gulf of Mexico and the Rocky Mountains, as well as up thie Olio to Pitts- burg. Besides the Missouri, the State has several important interior rivers, to-wit: Grand river and Chariton, tributaries of the Missouri river from the north, and the Osage and Gasconade from the south ; also, Salt river and Maramec, tributaries of the Mississippi. The St. Francis and White river
85
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
drain the southeastern part, passing from the State into Arkansas. The Osage is navigable for steamboats about 275 miles.
Missouri as a State has many material resources, fitting her for becoming one of the most wealthy and populous States in the Union. The soil is gen- erally excellent, producing the finest crops, while.those portions not so well adapted to agriculture are rich in minerals. The greater portion of the State is well timbered. In the river bottoms are heavy growths of oak, elm, ash, hickory, cottonwood, sugar, and white and black walnut. On the uplands also are found a great variety of trees. Various fruits, including apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries and strawberries, are produced in the greatest abundance. Among the staple productions are Indian corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, hemp and tobacco. A great variety of other crops are also raised.
The State has an uneven and variable climate-the winters being very cold and the summers excessively hot. Chills and fever are common to some extent along the rivers.
The earliest settlement in Missouri seems to have been by the French, about the year 1719. About that time they built what was called Fort Orleans, near Jefferson City, and the next year worked the lead mines to some extent. Ste. Genevieve was settled in 1755, also by the French, and is the oldest town in the State. Missouri's greatest commercial metropolis, St. Louis, was first settled in 1764, the earliest settlers being mostly French.
Jefferson City, the capital of the State, is situated on the right bank of the Missouri river, in Cole county. It is 128 miles by land, and 155 miles by water from St. Louis. The location being elevated, commands a fine view of the river, with the pleasant and picturesque scenery which is presented at this point on the Missouri.
St. Louis, the great commercial city of Missouri, as well as of a large por- tion of the Northwest, is situated on the right bank of the Mississippi, twenty miles below the mouth of the Missouri, and 174 above the mouth of the Ohio. It is 744 miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, and 1194 miles above New Orleans. The city enjoys many natural advantages as a com- mercial emporium, being situated nearly midway between the two oceans, and centrally in the finest agricultural region on the globe. With the greatest navigable river on the continent, affording her a water highway to the ocean, and to many of the large inland cities of the country, St. Louis is rapidly and surely going forward to a grand future. Her already great and constantly improving system of railways, is tending every year to open up to her larger fields of business and commercial intercourse. Of late years a strong rivalry has sprung up between St. Louis and Chicago, in regard to population, etc., each claiming to be the third city in the Union. The in- crease of St. Louis since the war has been great, the ascendency being at an annual rate of about ten per cent. At this increase she is fast earning the noubriquet of the "Future Great City."
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