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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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GUTTENBERG
HISTORY
من٧ :١٨
OF
GRANT COUNTY,
WISCONSIN,
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF ITS SETTLEMENT, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES; AN EXTENSIVE AND MINUTE SKETCH OF ITS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES-THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTORIES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES; ITS WAR RECORD, BIOGRAPH- ICAL SKETCHES, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT MEN AND EARLY SETTLERS; THE WHOLE PRECEDED BY A HISTORY OF WISCONSIN, STATISTICS OF THE STATE, AND AN ABSTRACT OF ITS LAWS AND CON -. STITUTION AND OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
ILLUSTRATED.
.
--- .
WESTERN
CHICAGO : HISTORICAL COMPANY. MDCCCLXXXI,'
CORNELL RO UNIVERSITY H.V LIBRARY.
14
A719.230
ulver Hage money PRINTERS 18 &120 MONROE SI G CHICAGO G
PREFACE.
TN THE preparation of this work, the object sought after was to place upon permanent record the events which have given life and character to Grant County. The territory known as Wisconsin and the more circumscribed locality called the Lead Region have each been treated herein, briefly, but to a degree necessary in the complete development of the plan. The more local history is given ample space, and includes a biographical representation which will be rec- ognized as one of the most valuable portions of the book. The glorious war history of Grant County is elaborately preserved. The reminiscences of early settlers and the characteristic deeds of prominent men find place in the volume, forming interesting and instructive pages. Patient labor has been devoted to the compilation and arrangement of historic facts. Herein is furnished a reflex of the by-gone days. The publisher has endeavored to do all in his power to secure accuracy-that prime essential to value in a work of this nature. In the consciousness of honest intentions and unsparing effort, he presents the history with confidence. Thanks are hereby expressed to the scores of pioneers, to the county officials, to the clergy and to the press, for the uniform courtesy extended the compilers.
JULY, 1881.
THE PUBLISHER.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
PAGE.
Antiquities .
19
Indian Tribes.
21
Pre-Territorial Annale. 29
Wisconsin Territory ...
41
Wisconsin as a State.
52
First Administration ..
52
Second Administration 57 59
Third Administration
Fourth Administration.
62
Fifth Administration.
64
Sixth Administration
66
Seventh Administration
67
Agriculture
151
War of Secession Commenced ..
Mineral Resources
162
Eighth Administration
Ninth Administration.
162
Geology.
Tenth Administration
92
Copper ..
168
Climatology
232
Gold and Silver
168
Rain Character
233
Brick Clays.
168
Isotherme
234
Barometrical
234
WiodB.
235
Climatological Changes from Settling
in the State.
235
Influence of Nationalities.
237
Occupations-Food-Education, etc ...
.238
Ratio of Sickness, Ft. Howard and Win-
nebago ..
239
Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western ... 180 Education of the Blind. 241
Green Bay & Minnesota 181 Institute of Deaf and Dumb .241
Wieconein Valley. 181 Ioduatrial School for Boys. 242
Sheboygan & Fond du Lac.
181
State Prison
242
State Hospital for the Insane.
242
Northern Hospital for the Insane 243
City of Milwaukee.
243
Educational
140
Original School Code.
140
Agitation for Free Schoole .141
183
Pulmonary Diseases.
248
Statistics
249
Population, 1875, of Townships, Alpha- betically Arranged by Counties .... 249
Commerce and Manufactures.
198
Population by Counties.
258
Furs
199
Nativity by Counties
259
Lead and Zinc-Iron ..
200
Vaination of Property.
.200
Teachers' Institutes
146
Lumber
201
Graded Schools
146
Grain
202
PAGE.
Educational :
Township System.
146
Free High Schools.
147
Pork and Beef ..
203
School Offices ..
147
Hops ....
Tobacco-Cranberries.
205
Liquors
205
-
Miscellaneone
206
State Superintendents.
.148
Water Powers.
206
College Sketches.
149
Manufactures
208
Female Colleges.
150
Academies and Seminaries. 151
Commercial Schools 151 Health 230
Geographical Position
.230
Physical Features.
230
Drainage
232
231
Statistice of Volunteers.
165
90
Eleventh Administration
93
Twelfth Administration
94
Thirteenth Administration.
97
Cemeat Rock
170
Fourteenth Administration .. 99
Fifteenth Administration
104
Sixteenth Administration
109
Railroads
173
.pography and Geology
110
The Archæan Age.
112
Paleozoic Time-Silurian Age 115
Devonian Age ..
119
Glacial Period
120
Climatology ..
121
Trees, Shrubs and Vines.
128
Fauna ... 134
Fish and Fish Culture ..
.134
Mineral Point.
182
138 Peculiarities of the Bird Fauna ..... 139 North Wisconsin 183
Madison & Portage 182
Chippewa Falls & Western
Narrow Gauge.
184
School System under State Govern-
Conclusion
ment ...
141
Lumber
185
Banking.
191
School Fund Income. 142 State University 143 Agricultural College .. 144 Normal Schools. 144
HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.
PAGE.
Among the Rocks. 809
Centerville District.
375
Jesse Shull's Tradership.
399
Dr. Samuel C. Mnir
399
Linden District, 378 A. P. Van Matre .. 400
The Driftless Area. 336
Topography and Surface Geology
340
The Lead Region Described 347
Mineralogy ..
348
History and Character of the Mines 352 Beetown District 352 Copper.
Potosi District. 354 Settlement.
Hazel Green District.
359
Platteville District.
364
Buncombe Diggings .. 364
Dubuque Settlement. 394
A Missing Ieland. 394
Dubuque's Operations on the East Side. 395
Early Navigation and Commerce. 396
Davenport at Fever River.
396
Mifflin District
374 | The Buck Lead
399
PAGE.
PAOE.
Highland District .. 375
Dodgeville District. 383
Van Mater's Survey 384
Mineral Point District 385
Calamine District. 391
Wiota District
391
The First Marriage 405
Government Control of the Mines 408
Charles Bracken's Sketch 420
New Digging: District 366
Diggings on the Leakley Estate. 368
Shullsburg District. 369
Benton District
373
PAGE.
Commerce and Manufactures :
Dairy Products
203
204
State Teachers' Certificates. 147
Teachers' Association .. 148
Libraries
148
69 76 85 Lead and Zinc. Iron.
Limestone-Glass Sand .. 171
Peat-Building Stones. 172
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
.173
Chicago & North western .. .176
Wisconsin Central
178
History of Disease ..
238
Western Union ..
179
West Wisconsin.
180
Prairie du Chien & McGregor.
183
Health Resorts
244
183
Change of Diseases.
246
The First White Woman. 501
The First American History 401
The change in Management 402
Moses Meeker's Colony 404
392 The First Death 405 The First Birthe .. 405 Fairplay District ... 357 The First Explorer 392 392
The Missouri Diggings 392
The Margry Letters 393
Social Development.
405
The First Post Office. 400
Names of those who Mined prior to 1830 .. 423 Political History 423
R H. Magoon's Memoirs.
427
Stillman's Defeat, Kingston's Narrative
435
Conclusion ..
208
The Public Domain ..
210
Acreage of Principal Crops
.261,262
The Mineral District in Detail. 331 Death of Moses Strong. 831
Large Animals-Time of their Disap- pearance.
vi
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
-
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
Location and Boundaries 437 The Natural Drainage. 437 Topographical Features. 441
The Mound Buildara. 442
CHAPTER 11.
Indian Occupancy ... 450
First White Man in Grant County. 453
Other Early Visitore 455
Waterwaye.
456
The Winnebago War. 457
The Black Hawk Wer. 461
Haightain Grant County 472
Weather Raport. 473
CHAPTER III.
The First Occupant. 474
The Second Trader 476
Shaw'a Trip to the Minea. 476
Indian Mining. 477
The Advance of Whita Man 478
The First White Woman 479
Early Mining Experiencea. 479
First Mille .. 483
Graham's Wolf Fight .. 484
Primitiva Agricultura. 486 The Firat Thrashing Machina .. 489
The California Gold Fever 489
Mining Troubles 491
First Thioge 494 Storma ..
CHAPTER IV.
Early Govaromant. 496
Grant County Formad. 496
The County Saat. 497
Attempta to Divida the County. 408
Connty Officers ... 498
Territorial and State Representation. 503
Territorial Lagialature .. 503
State Organization. 504
Rapraseutativee in Constitutional Con- ventiona 507
Town Organizetion 507
Legal Jurisdiction 510
County Buildings. 515
Early Justice. 517
Capital Crimea
519
Jim Crow Murdar. 520
Ruseall Murder 522
Latimer Murder ... 522 Plattavilla in 1850
Da Lasseanx Murder 526 During War Timea
Harnay Murder. 527
Haggerty Murder
528
Killing of Milas K. Young. 530 Educational
CHAPTER V.
United States Land Diatricts. 532
Early Highways and Ferries 532 Secret Societles
Railroads In Grant County. 537 Telegraph Line .. 546
Cenaus of Grant County 546
Agricultural Association 549 Religious.
CHAPTER VI.
PERSONAL REMINISCENCEE .. 550
By James Gruehong. 550 Sattlamant. 734
By Col. Joseph Dickeon, in 1855 553 By Orria McCartney 554
By W. Davidson .. 554
By Samuel Druan .. 556
By Hawkina Taylor 557
668
Early Events
The Village in 1860. 562 By Ira W. Brunaon. 738
By T. M. Fullerton. 564
By J. W. Seaton ... 666
By Daniel R. Burt. 673
SOME OF GRANT COUNTY'S ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD 576
Jamee Gatea Percival. 576 Maj. John R. Coona. 581
M. de Tantabaratz. 584
Ase Edgarton Hough 688
Jehiel H. Hyde, M. D. 689
The Hazel Green Band .. 764
CHAPTER XI .- POTOSI.
Location 756
Origin of the Village 756
Settlement of the Village 759
The Poatmastar. 761
Early Lifa in the Mines 761
Murders 782
Potoai Receivea its Name 762
A Duel. 763
Incorporation of the Village 764
Tha Early Mining Interaats.
764
The Schoole.
765
The Village Post Office 767
Religiona.
767
Boainesa Enterprises Societies ... 769
Cematarlee. 770
Adjoining Settlements 770
British Hollow
771
Rockvilla
771
CHAPTER XII .- BOSCOBEL.
Early Sattlement. 773
Tha Firat Fire. 777
The War.
777
Municipal Mattars. 778
Village Officars 779
City Officers. 780
Fire Dapartment.
Wisconsin Rivar Bridge ..
Artaaien Well. 784
Schools. 784
Post Office ..
785
Boscobal Prass 785
Churches.
786
Hotals.
789
Masonic Ordars. 790
I. O. O. F
791
680
A. O. U. W
792
Tamperaoca Organizations.
792
Cemetery.
795
Boacobel Agricultural and Driving Aa- sociation 795
Light Guard Band 790
691 Manufactoriea. 796
692 Brick Yarde. 797
Elevators
798
Trout Pond 798
CHAPTER XIII .- MUSCODA.
Early Sattlament. 799
Town Organization 802
803
Poat Office.
804
Schools
804
Churches
805
Sociaties
806
The Presa.
807
Elevatora
807
725 Hotale 807
CHAPTER XIV .- TOWN OF BLOOMINGTON.
Early Settlement 809
Town Officers. 814
Village Officara .. 815
Schools and Churchaa. 815
The Praas.
818
Bloomington Bank
819
736 I. 0. 0. F 819
1.0. G. T ..
819
Blake'a Prairla Agricultural Sociaty 820
CHAPTER XV .- TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
Village of Jamestown .. 821
Villega of Georgetown. 824
Village of Big Patch 827
Churchae. 751 Elmo Station. 832
Hazal Grean Cematery 753 St. Roas Station. 832
Sacret Societies .. 764 Cuba City. 833
Village of Fair Play.
834
Thomas Pendleton Burnett. 590 Lightcap'e Mill .. 755 Cassville 838
PACK.
CHAPTER VII.
Grant County War History 593
Saving the Colors .. 598
Company C, Second Wie. Vole .. 599
Tha Draft. 604 Willia St. John .. 780
Sketchas of tha Regimenta 805
Soldiers' Monument. 633
CHAPTER VIII .-- LANCASTER.
Geographical 639
First Settlara. 639
The County Seat.
640
Early Buildings. 641
The Firat Poatmaster.
642
The Village Growe
643
First Fire ..
644
The War Period 653
Town and Village Government. 653
Official Roster
654
City Officers ....
666
Lancaster Press. 658
Schoole.
682
Religioua.
864
Camatery
671
Masonic Orders. 671
I. O. O. F 672
Fira Company. 873
Bueinass Intaraata
673
Town Officara.
779
674
CHAPTER IX .- PLATTEVILLE.
Location. 675
Early Sattlament. 676
First Marriage. 677
Firat Election 877
First Poat Office .. 678
Indian Troubles. 678
First Church and Schoolhouaa 679
An Early Tragedy. 680
Patriotiam in 1836 680
Hard Times ...
The California Fever
882
Town Officars.
683
City of Plattevilla. 687
Making the Village
687
Firat Brick Building
691
Small Pox Epidemic.
The Bevana Laad.
694 694
695
695
Tha Fir- Dapartmant.
897
898
The Poet Offica.
705
The Preaa.
706
Banka ..
710
Other Sociatiea
712
Manufactoriea 713
Elavators. 725
CHAPTER X .- HAZEL GREEN.
Location. 734
Hard Scrabble. 734
First White Woman 735
The Flrst Log Honaa. 735
First Agriculturists.
735
Establishment of the Village
736
Dr. James G. Percival
741
An Era of Prosperity. 742
Village Roster. 743
The Storm-Cloud Euroclydou 743
The Schoole .. 760
Tha Post Office. 751
709
Muecoda Bridge
780
782
First Court.
641
The Prasa.
767
768
Village Officers 866 Dutch Hollow. 770
Roster of Voluntars.
624
First Birth ..
761
PAGE.
By Mrs. R. Chambers,
Jordan Murder ... 526 Tha Preaant Condition Official Rostar
vii
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER XVI .- TOWNS AND VILLAGES- (concluded).
Beetown. 848
Mount Hope. 851
Patch Grove 854
Fennimore.
860
Village of Montfort.
860
PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
L. G. Armetrong, M. D.
811
Joseph Cover, Jr.
J. Allon Barber (deceased). 343
Edward Cronin, M. D.
703
C. H. Baxter. 541 C. K. Dean 775
Elijah Bayley (deceased) .. 379
George W. Eastman 505 M. P. Rindlaub .. 721
Luther Brown, 415 H. D. Farquharsou 613
A. R. Buehnell
523
George R. Frank 577
D. W. Carley, M. 1). 757 Hon. George C. Hazelton 397
John G. Clark 649 J. H. Hyde (deceased)
325
H. H. Virgin 595
685
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PAGE.
l'AGK.
Beetown.
PAGE. .1018
Hickory Grove. 1043 Parie. 1034
Bloomington .. 946
Jamestown .. 1032 Patch Grove .. 972
Boscobel 927 Lancaster. 883 Platteville
Cassville 979
Castle Rock 1044
Lima.
Little Grant. 1026 Waterloo. 1036
Elleo baro .. 1012
Marion 936 Waterstown
977
Fenolmore ..
983 | Millville. 1045 Wingville.
Glen Haven 1023 Mount Hope 1042 Woodmsn. 1046
Harrison
1038
Hazel Green .1007
Muscoda. 962
ABSTRACT OF WISCONSIN STATE LAWS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Actions 1
283
Elections and General Elections, 263
279
Limitation ol Actions .. 285
Attachment. .. 284
Exemptions 284
Marke and Brande 281
Adoption of Children ... 278
Fences.
280
Married Women. 283
Assignment of Mortgage.
.274
Aeseesment of Taxes.
288
Garnishment.
.284
Support of Poor .. 282
Bille of Exchange or Promissory Notes.
Highways aod Bridges. 270
Hours of Labor
.273
Capital Punishment. 278 . Interest.
Title of Real Property by Descent. 275
Collection of Taxes. 270
Intoxicating Liquors .271
Weights and Measures. 278
Commercial Terme. 285
Judgments. 284
Wille
.276
Common Schools 266
Damages for Treepass 279
Jurors.
.278
MISCELLANEOUS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Wieconeio State Constitutioo .. .. 287
Vote uf Wiecenein for Governor and Preei-
Population of the State.
......
... .. 308
U. S. Constitution. .297
dent. .306-307
PAGK.
Wyalusing.
865
Glen Haven 866
Town af Millville, 868
Woudman
871
Blue River Station.
874
Jared Warner. 880
Joseph C. Orr ... 881
Hon. Ben C. Eastman
882
PAGE,
PAGE.
631 J. B. Moore ... 793
D. T. Parker (deceased) 451
739
John .J. Poetel.
Charles G. Rodolf.
487
Joha H. Rouatree.
307
George W. Rylsud. 667
B. M. Coates (deceased)
433
S. C. McDonald
469
J. C. Cover (deceased). 381 P. B. Mclatyre. 559
CHAPTER XVII .- DISTINGUISHED DEAD. 875
Hou. J. Allen Barher
Joseph C. Cover. 876
Landlord and Tenant. 281
Arreet
283 Estraye ..
Forme of Conveyancee.
273 Stay Law. 284
Assessment and Collection of Taxee. .. 267
Forms of Mortgages
274
Surveyors and Surveye. 282
.. 272 Borrowed Money. 267
Suggestione to Persons Purchasing Book6 by Subscription. 285
.277
Jurisdiction of Courts 277
Wolf Scalpe.
278
991
Mount Ida
1039
Wyalusing.
1041
899
Liberty 1029 Potogi. 938
954 Smelser. 1015
('Jiftuo 1001
PAGE.
PAGE.
N. H. Virgin
Hou. Charles Dunn 878
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
BY C. W. BUTTERFIELD.
I .- WISCONSIN ANTIQUITIES.
The first explorers of the valleys of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi and its tributaries, seem not to have noticed, to any considerable extent, the existence within these vast areas of monuments of an extinct race. Gradually, however, as the tide of emigration broke through the barriers of the Alleghanies and spread in a widely extended flow over what are now the States of the Northwest, these prehistoric vestiges attracted more and more the attention of the curious and the learned, until, at the present time, almost every person is presumed to have some general knowledge, not only of their existence, but of some of their striking peculiarities. Unfortunately, these signs of a long since departed people are fast disappearing by the never ceasing operations . of the elements, and the constant encroachments of civilization. The earliest notices of the animal and vegetable kingdom of this region are to be found in its rocks; but Wisconsin's earli- est records of men can only be traced in here and there a crumbling earth-work, in the fragment of a skeleton, or in a few stone and copper implements-dim and shadowy relics of their handicraft.
The ancient dwellers in these valleys, whose history is lost in the lapse of ages, are desig- nated, usually, as the Mound-Builders ; not that building mounds was probably their distinctive employment, but that such artificial elevations of the earth are, to a great extent, the only evi- dences remaining of their actual occupation of the country. As to the origin of these people, all knowledge must, possibly, continue to rest upon conjecture alone. Nor were the habitations of this race confined to the territory of which Wisconsin now forms a part. At one time, they must have been located in many ulterior regions. The earth-works, tumuli, or "mounds," as they are generally designated, are usually symmetrically raised and often inclosed in mathematical figures, such as the square, the octagon, and the circle, with long lines of circumvallation. Besides these earth-works, there are pits dug in the solid rock; rubbish heaps formed in the prosecution of mining operations ; and a variety of implements and utensils, wrought in copper or stone, or moulded in clay. Whence came the inhabitants who left these evidences to succeed- ing generations ? In other words, who were the Mound-Builders ? Did they migrate from the Old World, or is their origin to be sought for elsewhere? And as to their manners and customs and civilization-what of these things? Was the race finally swept from the New World to give place to Red men, or was it the one from which the latter descended ? These momentous ques- tions are left for the ethnologist, the archaeologist, and the antiquarian of the future to answer- if they can.
20
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
Inclosures and mounds of the prehistoric people, it is generally believed, constituted but parts of one system; the former being, in the main, intended for purposes of defense or religion; the latter, for sacrifice, for temple sites, for burial places, or for observatories. In selecting sites for many of these earth-works, the Mound-Builders appear to have been influenced by motives which prompt civilized men to choose localities for their great marts; hence, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee and other cities of the West are founded on ruins of pre-existing structures. River terraces and river bottoms seem to have been the favorite places for these earth-works. In such localities, the natural advantages of the country could be made available with much less trouble than in portions of the country lying at a distance from water-courses. In Wisconsin, therefore, as in other parts, the same general idea of selecting points contiguous to the principal natural thoroughfares is found to have prevailed with the Mound-Builders; for their works are seen in the basin of the Fox river of the Illinois, in that of Rock river and its branches, in the valley of Fox river of Green bay, in that of the Wisconsin, as well as near the waters of the Mississippi.
While a few circumvallations and immense mounds, such as are common to certain other portions of the United States, are discoverable in Wisconsin, yet by far the largest number of earthworks have one peculiarity not observable, except in a few instances, outside the State. This characteristic is a very striking one. The fact is revealed that they are imitative in form- resembling beasts, reptiles, birds, fish, man. All these, for convenience, are usually classed under the general name of "animal mounds," although some are in the similitude of trees, some of war clubs, others of tobacco pipes. Generally, these figures are in groups, though sometimes they are seen alone. For what purpose these earth-works were heaped up-they rise above the surface two, four, and sometimes six feet-or what particular uses they were intended to subserve, is unknown. It is, however, safe to affirm that they had some significance. A number resemble the bear; a few, the buffalo; others, the raccoon. Lizards, turtles, and even tadpoles, are out- lined in the forms of some. The war eagle, and the war club has each its representative. All this, of course, could not have been a mere happening-the work of chance. The sizes of these mounds are' as various as their forms. One near Cassville, in Grant county, very complete in its representation of an animal, supposed to be of the elephant species, was found, upon measure- ment, to have a total length of one hundred and thirty-five feet. Another in Sauk county, quite perfect in its resemblance to the form of a man, was of equal length-a veritable colossus; prone, it is true, and soon to disappear, if it has not already been destroyed, by ravages of a superior civilization.
In portions of Wisconsin, as well as in a few places outside the State, are found earth-works of another kind, but quite as remarkable as the " animal mounds," which, from their supposed use, have been styled "garden beds," They are ridges, or beds, about six inches in height and four feet in width, ranged, with much apparent method, in parallel rows, sometimes rectangular in shape, sometimes of various but regular and symmetrical curves, and occupying fields of from ten to a hundred acres.
The Mound-Builders have left many relics, besides their earthworks, to attest their presence in Wisconsin in ages past. Scattered widely are found stone and copper axes, spear-heads, and arrow-heads, also various other implements-evidently their handiwork. As these articles are frequently discovered many feet beneath the surface, it argues a high antiquity for the artificers. Whether they had the skill to mould their copper implements is doubtful. Such as plainly show the work of hammering, indicate an art beyond that possessed by the Red men who peopled America upon its first discovery by Europeans. In a few instances, fragments of human skulls have been found so well preserved as to enable a comparison to be drawn between the crania of
21
THE INDIAN TRIBES OF WISCONSIN.
this ancient race and those of modern ones; the results, however, of these comparisons throw little, if any, light upon "the dark backward and abysm " of mound-building times.
The evidences of an extinct people of superior intelligence is very strikingly exhibited in the ancient copper mines of the Lake Superior region. Here are to be found excavations in the solid rock; heaps of rubble and dirt; copper utensils fashioned into knives, chisels, and spear and arrow-heads; stone hammers; wooden bowls and shovels; props and levers for raising and supporting the mass copper; and ladders for ascending and descending the pits. These mines were probably worked by people not only inhabiting what is now the State of Wisconsin, but territory farther to the southward. The copper was here obtained, it is believed, which has been found in many places, even as far away as the northern shore of the Gulf of Mexico, wrought into various implements and utensils. But there are no traces in Wisconsin of a " copper age " succeeding a "stone age," discernible in any prehistoric relics. They all refer alike to one age-the indefinite past ; to one people-the Mound-Builders.
II .- THE INDIAN TRIBES OF WISCONSIN.
When, as early, it is believed, as 1634, civilized man first set foot upon the territory now included within the boundaries of Wisconsin, he discovered, to his surprise, that upon this wide area met and mingled clans of two distinct and wide-spread families-the Algonquins and Sioux. The tribes of the former, moving westward, checked the advance of the latter in their excursions eastward. As yet there had been no representatives of the Huron-Iroquois seen west of Lake Michigan-the members of this great family, at that date dwelling in safety in the extensive regions northward and southward of the Erie and Ontario lakes. Already had the French secured a foot-hold in the extensive valley of the St. Lawrence; and, naturally enough, the chain of the Great Lakes led their explorers to the mouth of Green bay, and up that water- course and its principal tributary, Fox river, to the Wisconsin, an affluent of the Mississippi. On the right, in ascending this bay, was seen, for the first time, a nation of Indians, lighter in complexion than neighboring tribes, and remarkably well formed, now well known as the MENOMONEES.
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