USA > Wisconsin > Iowa County > History of Iowa County, Wisconsin > Part 1
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9
HISTORY 1 .
OF
IOWA 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.
.
CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY. MDCCCLXXXI.
Fix7 IGNO
tive page.fjoyne S PRINTERS 118 &120 JACNRCE S! 1
CHICAGO
PREFACE.
TI THIS WORK was commenced with a specific object in view, which was to place upon record, in a reliable manner and in permanent form, whatever incidents of importance have trans- pired within the region of which Iowa County is now a part. As a necessary preliminary to this work, a brief history of the entire district now known as Wisconsin is given, together with such valuable facts concerning the antiquities of the Northwest as science has revealed. Fol- lowing along this plan of labor, the history of the Lead Region, with an ample geological and mineralogical sketch thereof, is detailed from trustworthy sources. The more local records embrace the narrative of settlement in the early times that tried the courage and endurance of the heroic pioneers ; a recital of the bravery of Iowa's citizen-soldiers in the Indian wars ; a description of the characteristic deeds of the representative men of the county, and a complete delineation of the events of the past half-century. In the history of the county will be found incidents, reminiscences and anecdotes, which serve to spice the more statistical portions of the work. In the preparation of this volume, many men of experience have patiently examined record books, intelligently conversed with pioneers, and carefully compiled the fruits of their industrions researches. The chief value of the history lies in the fact that not only was the original matter gathered first-handed from the participants in many of the scenes, but in the fact, of still greater importance, that the proof-sheets have been submitted for correction to many of the oldest settlers. Herein is furnished a truthful reflex of the times and decds of by-gone days, and it is hoped that the present generation will feel that pride in the work which future gener- ations are surely destined to do. The publishers are aware that all persons cannot be pleased, but impartial and conscientious efforts must eventually be accepted at their true worth. Upon that faith is this volume submitted to the public with confidence.
Thanks are herein expressed to the scores of Pioneers, the County Officials, the Clergy and the Press for the uniform courtesy extended the compilers.
APRIL, 1881.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
PAGE.
Antiquities .... 19
Indian Tribes. 21
Pre-Territorial Annals, 29
School Offices 147 Hops .... 204 Wisconsin Territory. 11
Wisconsin as a State. 52
First Administration
52
Teachers' Associations 148
Liquors
205
Miscellaneous 2016
201
Water Powers ..
Manufactures
208
Conclusion.
The Public Domain .210
Geographical Position 230
Physical Features 230 Geology 231
Drainage
.232
Gold and Silver. IGS Rain Character ... >33
Isothermis .23-4
Barometrical 234
Winds 235
Climatological Changes from Settling in the State. .235 Influence of Nationalities 237 Occupations-Food-Education, etc .. .23> Ilistory of Disease ... .238
Ratio of Sickness, Ft. Howard and Win- nebago ..... 230
Education of the Blind ... 241
Institute of Deaf and Dumb 241
Wisconsin Valley .. 181 Industrial School for Boys. 242
Sheboygan & Fond du Lac. 18) State Prison .242
Mineral Point ..
State Hospital for the Insano. 242
Northern Hospital for the Insane 243
City of Milwaukee
.243
Prairie du Chien & McGregor 183 Educational 140
Original School Code. 183 Chippewa Falls & Western
183
Agitation for Free Schools
.141
Narrow Gange
Pulmonary Diseases .245
Statistics 249
Population, 1875, of Townsbips, Alpha-
betically Arranged by Counties ........ 219 Population by Counties. ..... .. 25x
Agricultural College. 141 Furs 199 Nativity by Counties .............. 259 Valuation of Property .. Normal Schools Lead and Zinc-Iron. ..... 260
Teachers' Institutes
146
Lumber.
.201
Acreage of Principal Crops
.261, 262
ABSTRACT OF WISCONSIN STATE LAW'S.
PAGE.
Actions .283
Elections and General Elections, .263
Arrest 283 Estrays .. 279
Attachment. 284 Exemptions .281 Adoption of Children. 276
Fences .. 280 Married Women. 2-3
Assignment of Mortgage. .274
Forms of Conveyances
273
Stay Law.
284
Assessment and Collection of Taxes. 267
Surveyors and Surveys. Support of Poor ... .. 2 2
Suggestions to Persons Purchasing Books by Subscription ....
Title of Real Property by Descent. .275
Weights and Measures. 27%
270
Common Schools
.266 Jurisdiction of Courts.
Wolf Scalps.
277
278
Damages for Trespass
279' Jurors.
MISCELLANEOUS.
PAGE.
Wisconsin State Constitution. ........
...... 287
U. S. Constitution
.. 297
dent. .306-307
PAGE ..
P'AGI.
Vote of Wisconsin for Governor and Presi-
Population of the State.
........
345
53
State Superintendents 148
College Sketches ...
149
Female Colleges 150 Fifth Administration ..
Sixth Administration
Seventh Administration 151 Health 230
War of Secession Commenced 69
Eighth Administration ...
Ninth Administration ...
Statistics of Volunteers. 90
Tenth Administration. 92 ('opper .. 168 Climatology 232
Eleventh Administration 93
Brick Clays. Twelfth Administration. 168
Thirteenth Administration 97
Cement Rock
170
Limestone-Glass Sand 171
Fifteenth Administration. Peat-Building Stones. 172
Railroads 173
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. 173
Chicago & Northwestern. 176
Wisconsin Central 178
Western Union ..
179
Climatology
Trees, Shrubs and Vines. 128
134
Fish and Fish Culture ...
134
Large Animals-Time of their Disap- pearance ...
138
Peculiarities of the Bird Fauna 139 North Wisconsin 183
Conclusion.
184
School System under State Govern- ment ... 141 Lumber 185
191
School Fund Tocome. 112 Banking.
Commerce and Manufactures. 198 State University 143
Forms of Mortgages. .274 Assessment of Taxes 26× Garnishment. .284 Bills of Exchange or Promissory Notew. 272 Borrowed Money. 267
Highways and Bridges .270
Hours of Lubor.
.273
277 Capital Punishment. 278 Interest
Collection of Taxes.
270
Intoxicating Liquors. 271 Commercial Terms 285
Judgments ..
284
Wills.
PAGE.
Educational :
PAGE.
Commerce and Manufactures :
Dairy Products. 203
Free High Schools ... 147 Pork and Beef .. 203
State Teachers' Certificates 147
Tobacco-Cranberries. 205
Second Administration 57
Tlurd Administration
Fourth Administration 62
Academies and Seminaries 151
t'ommercial Schools.
Agriculture ... 151
Mineral Resources 162
Lead and Zinc .. 162
Iron. 165
Fourteenth Administration. 99 Sixteenth Administration 109
.pography and Geology. The Archæan Age. 112 Devonian Age ... 119 110 Paleozoic Time-Silurian Age 115 Glacial Period. 120
West Wisconsin .. 180
1.21
Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western 180
Green Bay & Minnesota
182
Madison & Portage 182
Health Resorts 246 Change of Diseases.
Graded Schools 140 Grain 202
PAGE.
Landlord and Tenant .. 281
Limitation . Actions 285
Marks and Brands. .281
Fauna.
Township System. 146
Libraries 148
vi
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.
PAGE.
Among the Rock4. 309
The Mineral District In Detail. 331 Highland District. 375
Death of Mosra Strong .. 331 Linden District ... 378
A. P. Van Matre. 400 The Driftless Area. 336 Dodgeville District 353
Topography and Surface Geology.
340
The Lead Region Described. 347
Mineralogy. 318
History and Character of the Mines .. 352
Beptown District. 352
Potosi District 3.54
Fairplay District.
357
Ulazel Green District. 350
The Margry Letters, 393 Platteville District ..
Buncombe Diggings. 364
New Diggings District 366
Diggings on the Leakley Estate. 368
Shullsburg District. 369
Mifflin District.
374
CHAPTER I. PAGF.
Indian Occupancy' .. 437
Derivation of the Nanie. 438 Natural Vegetation ... 439 Water, Scenery and Soll. 410
Coon Bluff; n Romance of the Wis- con-in ... 440
Educating SIEVes 4-4.5
The Mysterious L'ave 449
Recovery of the Lost Child .. 457 the Road. 525
CHAPTER 11.
The Winebago War .. 461
Capture of Red Bird. 463
First Settlement, Dodgeville 465
Van Matre Survey .. 440
First White Woman. 460 l'eddler's Creek and Dallas 166
First Mill. 468 Blue River. 468 Rkigewny 471
First School and Physician. 471
Old Helena ... 4:1
A Visit to Helena in 1$36. 472
The Furnier' Guards 547 Furnaces, 1827 and 1828 478
The First Censi ....
Territorial Roads 475
First County Schools .. 475 County School Work since 1843.
CHAPTER III.
The Black Hawk War. 479
Dodge's Letter and the Mineral Point Messenger ... 479
First Military Movement and Forts, 4$0
Distributing Supplies.
Account of Arms Distributed at Mineral Point ....
Occurrences and Mound Fort. 482 Fort Jackson Alarmed. 4×3
Battle of the Peentonica 185
Battle of Wisconsin Heighta and Bad
486
Grignon's Recollectiona. 490
CRAPTER IV.
Mineral Discoveries and Limitations. 492
Indian Trenties and Abuses .. 493 First Minera and Early Deprivations 404 Life in the Diggings. 495 First Land Districta .. 496 Henry Dodge.
Claim Restrictions and First Entries .197 Projected Railroads and Canals. 408
Hard Money Wealth. 409
First Roads and Highways. 500
Chronicles of the Cholera, 1×49 and 1850, 501
The Second Visitation, 185I 5013 Land SwindHag Schemes. 504 CHAPTER V.
Official Record -... 508
La Fayette and Montgomery Countle .... 511
State Government and subsequent Re-
formy. 512
PAGE.
lIon. Levi Sterling 623
Capt. William Henry 623 John Messersmith
Robert S. Block 025 Judge L. M. Strong 625
Judge John Bonner 626
George Mulka_ 626
llon. George I .. Frost. 626
Schuyler Pulford 627
Maj. Charles F. Legate.
Edward D. Beouchard 628
George W. Burrall 629
CHAPTER XIL .- MINERAL POINT.
Uncle Sam's Donation. 652
First Surveys and Entries. 653
The Public Square Imbroglio ..
Mineral Point Before 1832 655 Who was the First Settler ? 656
The First Notable Events. 657
The Black Hawk War 650 The Legislature to the Rescue. 540 A Compromise Attempted and Opposed .. 641 Settlement Proceedings and Final Report 542 A Celebrated Tavern. 661 The Old Juil, and Other Notes. 662
CHAPTER NITI .- MINERAL. POINT AS A BonorGit.
Firat Ordinancesand Corporation Money, 665
Business Condition in 1-37 ..
666
An Englishman's Observations .. 669
The Bank of Mineral Point. 6.1
The Trinl und Hanging of Caffee.
6.3
Border Justice and Vendettas. $19
The California Exodus .. G76
A Mineral Point Craft and her Advent- Dres
California Emigrants
CHAPTER XIV .- MINFRAL POINT AS A VILLAGE.
Charter and Government.
Early Ordinances
Business in 1845. 65ł
A Temperance Move, Old Miners' Guard, 68) Newspaper Extracts ..
HIo, for California ! 643
Jail Breaking. 683
Miners' Honor ... 653
Incendiarics and Cholera
The Order of 1001 ..
GS 1
Ladies Cold Water I'nion
681
Business in 1856
G×1
Old Banka.
>7
Education.
Newspaper Comments
Early Telegraphic Communication ... 692
CHAPTER XV .- MINERAL POINT A8 CITY.
First Charter. 693
Hon. Henry M. Rillings. G19 Sreond Churter. 694
ITon. Elihu B. Goodsell GI9 Third Charter. 695 Gen. Charles Bracken 620 Statistics and Notes, 1860 to 1863. 695
Gen. John R. Terry 620 War Occurrences .. 696
Old Settlers' Re-union Celebration 697
C4 1. D. MI. Parkinson
621
Various Items.
698
Hon. Thomas Jenkins 622
Jessee Shull's Tradership 399
Dr. Samuel C. Muir. 399
The First White Woman. 501
The First American History
The Change in Management. 402
Moses Meeker's Colony 404
The First Marriage 405
The First Deuth 405
The First Births. 405
Social Development .. 405
The First Post Office. 406
Government Control of the Mines. 40S
Charles Bracken's Sketch.
Names of those who Mined prior to 1:30 423
Political History 423
R. II. Magoon's Memoirs .. 427
Stillmao's Defeat, Kingston's Narrative 435
IUSTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
PAGE.
Past and Present Conaty Buildings 514
Judicial Districts and First Casea 516
The County Seat War. 517
County Poor Honseand Farm 520
CHAPTER VI .- MINERAL. POINT RAILROAD. Company Charter and Projected Routes 522 First Contract and Commencement of
Official Returns of the Election. 5:27
Change of Contractors, 527 More Funds Raised and Road Completed, 529 The First Train, Company Re-organized 530
CHAPTER VII .- TOWA COUNTY BONOS.
Building Contracts 534
County Repudiation of Bond Indebted-
Mincial Pojat .... 465 noss. 53.5 Early Merchandising.
First Suit.
536
The Enemy Stornis Mineral Point 538
General Events. 547
Riotons Veterans.
550
The Draft.
55]
Bonaty Difficulties 552 A French Prince's Visit. 1:75
The C'amp and Field. 553
Roster of Volunteers 563
CHAPTER IX.
Torondo of 1-78 567
County Officers .. 572
Property Valuation 576
Farm Products 579
Towa Conaty Agricultural Society 579
Early Voting Pointe
Press
CHAPTER X .- PIONEER REMINISCENCES.
Memoir, by William R. Smith 589 The Pecatopica, by William Pena Smith, 590 First Impressions of the Mines. 592
594 By W. P. Ruggles .. 653
By T M. Fullerton.
A Bridal Trip ... 661
CHAPTER XI .- SOME AF FAYETTE COUN- TY'S ILLUSTRIOUS DEAn.
Gen. William R. Smith.
Hon. Moses Meeker.
Ilon. Charles Duna .. 612
lTon. Stephen P. Hollenbeck. 617
Col. Thomas Stephens G1:
l'AGE.
Centerville District 375
Van Mater's Survey. 38.1
Mineral Point District. 355
Calamine District 391
Wiota District. 301
Copper.
Settlement 39)
The First Explorer. 39-)
The Missoari Diggiogs, 392
Dabuque Settlement 344
A Missing I-land .. 394
Dubuque's Operations on the East Side .... 395
Davenport at Fever River ... 396
Early Navigation and l'ommerce ... 396 Renton DIstrict. 3,3
The Bock Lead. 399
PAGE .. .
CHAPTER VIII .- WAR RECORD.
Introductory 545
First Volunteer Company in the State ... 545
EST
John Falls O'Neill. 621
Old Settlers Still Living
609
First Marriage nad Rirth 467 First Farming .. 468
vii
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Town of Clyde. 790
Health of the Village. 747 | Town of Eden. 793
Zinc Works .. 700 War Items 748 Village of Eden 794
Post Office .. 701 Railroad Interests .. 750 Town of Highland 795
Manufacturing, Banks, etc.
702
Education.
753
Centerville ...
797
Industrial Association .. 705 Post Office. 754
Secular Societies .. 707
Religious ..
714
Cemeterice
724
Official Roster. 725
Business Summary and Conclusion. 728
City Directory
728
CHIAPTER XVI .- DODGEVILLE.
First Land Entries and Plats 733
Government and Official Roster 734
Early Settlement.
736
The First Fort and Dodge's Indian Re- ception ..
737
CHAPTER XVII .- TOWNS ANO VILLAGES.
Town of Pulaski 824
Village of Avoca .. 829
Town of Ridgeway 832
Troubles, 1828 and 1829 749 Town of Arena. 781 West Blne Mounds 839
After the Black Hawk War 742
Trade Resumed
743
New Arena 784
Helena
844
Town of Waldwick 845
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.
PAGE.
PAGE.
PAGE.
906 Ridgeway 960
Mineral Point
Clyde .. 953 Dodgeville .. SSO Mifflin 917
Eden ..... 956
Moscow 905
947
PORTRAITS.
PAGE
Joseph Bennett .. 487
John Harker .. 343
Thomas Kennedy. 559
577 M. J. Briggs 595 Owen King 721 M. M. Cotbren. 397
J. B. Moffett. 685
E. W. Sylvester. 667 George W. Cobb .. 649
John J. Ross. 613 John Toay .. 325
J. W. Rewey 739
C. Gillmano.
523
Moses M. Strong. 379
William T. Henry. 415 Moses Strong. 301
PAGE.
469 J. Montgomery Smith. 451 James Spensley ..
Harker Spensley 309
John H. Vivian 703
Village of Highland. 800
CHAPTER XVIII .- TOWNS AND VILLAGES -Continued.
Town of Linden 807
Village of Linden. 8122
Town of Mifflin. 813
Village of Dallas. $19
Village of Mifflin. 820
Village of Rewey 821
Town of Moscow 821
Village of Moscow
823
Directory 766 Adamsville ... 824
Mineral Point and Dodgeville Telegraph, 755 Fires and Fire Company. 756
Hotels ... 757
Manufactories.
758
Secular Societies
759
Religions .....
761
Cemeteries
764
General Summary 761
Professional Men. 766
First Claims and Notable Events. 738 Town of Mineral Point 768
Items of 1828 and 1829 741 Town of Dodgeville 773
Arena. .... 930
Linden
853. Wyoming. 938
Waldwick
96%
Highland 941 Pulaski
PAGE.
William Bainbridge.
Josph Gundry
505
Business, 1850 to 1870. 745
William T. Henry's Geological Collec- tion ...... 699
Banda. 754
The "Suckers " and their Successors 744 Helena Station 787
Old Arena .. 781 Town of Wyoming S11
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 carth 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.
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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
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