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:
FULLY
COURT HOUSE.
ELKHORN, WIS.
HISTORY
OF
WALWORTH 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 TIIE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO : WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY. MDCCCLXXXII.
-
ulver agenjoyne) PRINTERS 18 &120 MONROE ST CHICAGO
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 5309 Astor Linux and T den Found ations. 1895
PREFACE.
T THE writing of contemporaneous history is not easy. It can be but little more than a truthful chronicle of the times, as the color of local prejudice is too strong to become a part or parcel of the work. It has been the endeavor of the writers having the work in charge, to gather the historical facts, and put them in form for preservation, rather than to tell an inter- esting story with rhetorical display. So the work, if it has any value in the estimation of those for whom it was written, will find appreciation in the mass of matter pertaining to the early settlement of Walworth County, which it has rescued from oblivion, and preserved for future generations.
It has been the desire of the writers to incorporate all that could have any bearing on the growth and development of a prosperous and thrifty agricultural community, under the most favored conditions of the most advanced civilization the world has ever known. In this work the task has been more that of compilation than the gathering of facts. The people have co-op- erated in the work with a cordiality never before experienced by the editors in a wide and extended experience, and it is only to avoid invidious mention that they refrain from thanking personally the many friends who have without exception assisted them during the writing of the work. It is sufficient to say that during the period the work was in process of compilation, not a single instance occurred when information was asked or assistance desired, that it was not given cheerfully and without stint.
In the preparation of the work, the historians have availed themselves of all the printed matter which had been heretofore published of a historical character-Simmon's History of Geneva ; Dwinnell's Reminiscences; Beardsley's Newspaper Sketches, etc .- from which all has been culled necessary to complete the work, and for which invaluable aid acknowledg- ment is here given. In addition, the manuscript matter collected by the Old Settlers' Society has been fully collated, together with all that could be gathered from a careful search through all the county records, or gleaned from the memories of the early settlers still living.
To make sure that our history is full and complete, we read our manuscript to several of the most prominent officials of the Old Settlers' Society, and secured their written approval. The town histories were also read and approved by the best-informed resident we could find who took interest in the matter, and when put in type the proofs were all sent to several different persons for correction.
The biographies were all copied on a type writing machine and sent by mail to each person for revision. If omissions or errors are found, all we can say, is, we did all we could to prevent them.
It will be a matter of serious regret should the work resulting from the valuable material and aid furnished prove unsatisfactory to the many friends of the enterprise who will ever be remembered with heart-felt kindness by the
PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
PAGE.
Antiquities ..
19
Indian Tribes ... 21 Pre-Territorial Annals 29
Wisconsin Territory .. 41 52
Wisconsin as & State ...
First Administration. 52
Second Administration 57
Third Administration
53
Fourth Administration.
Fifth Administration ...
Sixth Administration
Seventh Administration
07
War of Secession Commenced
Eighth Administration ...
76 Ninth Administration ... 85 Lead and Zinc. Statistica of Volunteera 90 Iron 165
Tenth Administration. 92
Eleventh Administration. 93
Twelfth Administration 94
Thirteenth Administration
Fourteenth Administration.
97 99
Fifteenth Administration. 104 Sixteenth Administration 109 Railroads 173
Topography and Geology 110 The Archæan Age 112 Paleozoic Time-Silurian Age 115 Devonian Agc ... 119 Glacial Period, 120
Climatology. 121
Treea, Shrubs and Vines 128
134
Fish and Fish Culture. .134
Large Animals-Time of their Disap- pearanco
138
Peculiarities of the Bird Fauna. .139
Educational
Original School Code.
14A
140
Agitation for Free Schoola .141 School System under State Govern-
.141
School Fund lacome .. 142
State University. 143
Agricultural College
144
Normal Schoola.
.144
Teachers' lustitutes.
.146
Graded Schools
146
ABSTRACT OF WISCONSIN STATE LAWS.
PAGE,
Actiona.
283
Elections and General Elections. .. 263
PAGE.
PAGE.
Landlord and Tenant. 281 Limitation of Actione. .285
Marks and Brands.
281
273
Stay Law.
284
Assessment of Taxes.
Bills of Exchange or Promissory Notes. 272 Borrowed Money. .267
Highways and Bridges .270 Capital Punishment .278 Hours of Labor Interest. 273 Collection of Taxes. 270 Commercial Terma. .285 Common Schools 266 Damages for Trespass
279 Jurora
278
MISCELLANEOUS.
Wlaconain State Constitution .. 287 U. S. Constitution. .297
PAGE.
Vote of Wisconsin for Governor and Preai- PAGE.
Population of the State
PAGE.
deut.
306-307
Commerce and Manufacturea :
Dairy Products. 203
Pork and Beef .. 203
School Offices ..
147
Hops.
204
Tobacco-Cranberries. 205
Liquors .205
Miscellaneous, 206
Water Powers. 206
Conclusion
208
The Public Domain
151
Health
210
Geographical Position
230
162
Physical Features ...
162
Geology
230
231
Drainage
.232
Climatology 232 Rain Character. 233
Winds. 235
Climatological Changes from Settling in the State 235 Influence of Nationalities. 237 Occupationa-Food-Education, etc. .238 History of Disease ..... .238
Ratio of Sickness, Ft. Howard and Win- nebago ... 239
Education of the Blind ... 241
Green Bay & Minnesota .... .181 Institute of Deaf and Dumb 241
Wisconsin Valley. .181 Industrial 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
North Wisconsin 183 Prairie du Chien & McGregor. 183 Health Resorts. 244
Chippewa Falls & Western 183
Change of Diseases 246
Pulmonary Diseases 248
Statistics 249
Population, 1875, of Townships, Alpha-
betically Arranged by Counties,
219
Population by Counties ..
258
Nativity by Countiea.
.. 259
Acreage of Principal Crops
.261,262
Grain
PAGE.
Educational :
PAGE.
Township System .. 146
Free High Schools .. 147
State Teachers' Certificates 147
Teachers' Associations 148
Libraries 148
State Superintendents. 148
Female Colleges .. .150
Academies and Seminaries .151
Commercial Schoola.
69 Agriculture .151
Mineral Resources,
Copper ... 168 !
Gold and Silver 168
Limestone-Glaaa Sand .17]
Peat-Building Stones. 172
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, 173 Chicago & Northwestern 176 Wisconsin Central 178
Western Union .. 179
West Wisconsin. 180
Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western 180
Mineral Point ... 182
Madison & Portage. 182
Conclusion .... 184
Lumber .. 185 Bankiog .... 191 Commerce aod Maanfactures. .198
Furs ...
199
Lead and Zinc-Iron.
200
Valuation of Property
.260
Lumber. .201
202
Estrays ... 279
Adoption of Children. 276 Assignment of Mortgage ... 274
Assessment and Collection of Taxes .267 268
Forms of Conveyances.
Forms of Mortgages. .274
Garnishment. 284
Surveyors and Surveys. .282
Support of Poor. .282
Suggestiona to Persone Purchasing Books by Subscription ... 285
277 | Title of Real Property by Descent ... 275
Intoxicating Liquors. .271 Weights and Measurea. 278
Judgments ....
.284
Wills.
276
Jurisdiction of Courts. 277
Wolf Scalpa. 278
Arrest 283 Attachment .. 284 Exemptions 284
Fences, 280 Married Women .. 283
Brick Clays.
.168
laotherms
234
Cement Rock
170
Barometrical
.234
Narrow Gange .. 183 ment ..
Fauna ..
62
64 06
College Sketches
149
Manufactures.
208
230
...
.. 308
vi
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
CHAPTER I. PAGE.
Topographical ... 309
The ludians 310
The Indian Village ... 312
First Settlement of White Meu. 314 Moral Agitation 351
Formation of the County
315
The Roads of 1836. 315 ground Railroad. 353
The First Road Made by White Men .. 315
The First White Settlers. 316
The Early Neighborhoods
317
War at Geneva
321
First Towa Organizations 324 Further Subdivisions. 324
Early Survey e.
327
CHAPTER II.
Incidents and Reminiscences-1836 to 1842
329
First Thoroughfares .. 329
First Voyagers .. 330
Early Mail Facilities 331
Their Houses.
332
Annoyances
333
Hardships 336
First Confiagration 337
Claim Associatione. 337
Legal Lore. 340 The First Judge. 345
The First Influx of Swine
346
ELKHORN. PAGE.
Organization. 472
Location and Natural Features 472
Early Settlement 472
The Village .. 477
Park and Buildings.
478
Agriculture
571
The Jails. 480 Early Taverns. 481 Population 572 Towa Organization. 572 First Things. 482 Schools. 574
The War Period. 483
The Largest Fire
483
Corporation ..... 484
First Town Meeting .. 484
Schools .. 486
Elkhorn in 1881 489
Business Firms. 489
Banks
490
Churches
491
Societies.
493
Newspapers
493
Biographical Sketches. 497
TOWN OF EAST TROY.
Organization 525
Natural Features 525 Early Settlement 526
Settlers of 1837. 526
Settlers of 1838. 527
Early Times and Events 528
530
The First Town Meeting .. 531
332
Village of East Troy.
534
Churches 535
First Sunday school 537
Biographical Sketches. 612 The Press. 538
TOWN OF DELAVAN. Organization 657
Topography .. 657
Early Settlement .. 657 The First Settler. 775
First Things. 660 Otlier Early Settlers 776
Telegraph and Telephone Line 540 Official History 66] Churches 777
Oak Ri ige Cemetery ... 540
Delavao Village. 664 Biographical Sketchies 543 TOWN OF TROY.
Organization ... 552
Natural Features. 552
Early Settlers .. 553
The Porter Settlement 556
Early Festivities.
5.57
Growth and Development
558
561
Towa Meetings and Roster 562 Churches 679
Troy Center .. 563 Schools 681 Official 808
Newspapers ...
682
Water-Powers ...
810
Early Settlement
811
War Record 565 Muster Roll. 683 Village of Lyous. 813
- PAOE.
Circuses and Shows. 683 The War Record. 684 Biographidal Sketches. 687
TOWN OF DARIEN. Organization ... 732
Topography .. 732
Early Settlement .. 732 First Things and Events. 734 Corporate History. 735
Village of Darien 738
Religious 741
Post Office. 741
Town Hall 742
Societies.
742
War History. 742
Cheese Factories
742
Schools ..
743
Biographical Sketches. 743
TOWN OF SHARON.
Organization 754
Natural Features 754
Pioneer Ilistory 754
Official ...
756
Village of Sharon 758
The Press .. 601 Post Office ... 759
Churches .. 602 The Press 759
Societies.
606
Societies.
760
Business Topics. 607 Churches. 760
Hotels
761
Banke 761
Cheese Factory 761
Steam Flouriog Mill. 762 Allen's Grove .... 762
Biographical Sketches 764
TOWN OF RICHMOND. Organization. 775
Situation and Natural Features 775
Early Settlement of Big Foot Prairie .. 792
First Things 794
War Record. 794
Corporate History 796
Roster of Town Officers 796
Biographical Sketches. 797
TOWN OF LYONS. Organization. 808
Deaf and Dumb Asylum ..
676
The Dela van Guards.
682
PAGE.
Recreation .. 346 Fair Gronods ... 40I
The Pie Stories, 348 Moral and Religious Germs .. 349
Walworth County Branch Under-
The Beginning of IIushaudry ... 354
CHAPTER III .- WAR HISTORY.
Annual Reunioos 419 to 429 Walworth County Militia, 356 Sixth Regiment Wisconsin Militia .. 356 Roster of Officers 429
The Grand Muster.
358
A Court Martial
360
Moral Indignation 360
The War ot the Rebellion. 363
Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry. 364
Tenth Wisconsin Infantry 369
. Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry 372
Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry 378
Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry 383
Fortieth Wisconsin Infantry 389 Forty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry 390 Roster of Officers of Walworth County 391 Troops and Money Furnished. 394
CHAPTER IV .- WALWORTH COUNTY AG- aICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Early Organizations 399
First County Fair ...
400:
Conclusion ...
47I
HISTORY OF TOWNS.
PAOE.
Troy in 1881 565
Biographical Sketches. 565
TOWN OF WHITEWATER.
Natural Features 571
Early Settlement .. 575
Whitewater'e Early Settlement ... 580
A Reminiscence ... 583 Untimely Suicide 585 Murder of William Hamilton 585
A Pioneer Festival. 586
Charter Elections, 588
The Village Roster. 590
Whitewater During the War. 591
Women's Relief Work 597
Growth of Whitewater. 598
Whitewater As It Is. 598
Village Organization. 599
Scho ls. 599
State Normal Schools. 599
The Post Office COI
Bauke. 610
Hotels.
611
Professional Directory 611
Business Directory ..
Railroad Communication. 6II
Village Directory 665 Biographical Sketches. 780
Corporate Village History. 666 TOWN OF WALWORTH.
Post Office. 670
Manufactories. 671
Societies.
672
Banks.
674
Hotels
675
Wisconsin Dental College 675
Separation of the Towos
Mayhew Station. 564
Churches
564
Officers .. 402
Constitution.
406
One of the Early Fairs .. 408
A Contrast.
409
Agencies of Success. 414
CHAPTER V .- OLn SETTLESS' SOCIETY. Organization 418
Roster of Members. 432
CHAPTER VI.
Railroads and Telegraphs. 439
Corporate History. 444
Early Fiscal Affairs. 445 Early Schools and School Districts. 446
County Property.
447
Support of Paupers. 448
Roster of County Officers, 1839 to 1881 450 Legislators. 457
Constitutional Conventions 458 State Government 458
Courts and Officers. 460
Walworth County Bar 46I
Statistics.
463
Press of County
468
Official. 777
Early Trials and Early Progress.
Separation of the Towns
Societies. 538 Hotels 539 Bauds 539
Insurance 539 Fire. 540
PAOE.
vii
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF TOWNS-Continued.
PAGE.
Springfield 815
War History. 815 Biographical Sketches. 816
TOWN OF LA GRANGE.
Natural Features. 82I
Organization and Early Settlement. 821
Churches 824
Roster of Town Officers. 824
War History
825
Biographical Sketches. 826
TOWN OF BLOOMFIELD.
Organization and Topography 835
First Settlers 835
Railroads. 895f
The John Haskins Manufacturing Co .. 895f
Topography 937
The Settlement 938
Corporate History. 9422
The First Town Meeting. 942
Roster of Town Officers.
942
War History 944
Churches, Schools, etc ... 944
Biographical Sketches. 945
TOWN OF LINN.
Organization .. 950)
Natural Features 950
Early Settlers. 950
Early History 952
A Reminiscence.
953
First Town Meetings 955
Roster of Town Officers 955
Biographical Sketches
958
PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
James, Thomas Perry 788 Simmons, James. 869
Spooner, Wyman 361
Salisbury, Daniel .. 469
Collie, Rev. Joseph. 415
Mabie, Jeremiah 343
Marsh, Sanger .. 577
Teeple, Charles S.
Halterman, D. E.
703
Phoenix, Samuel F 325
Potter, John F .. 559
Willisnie, R. J
853
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Court House.
FRONT.
State Normal School ... 613
Pishcataqua House .. 883
Summer Residence of N. K. Fairbank 892c
Institute for Deaf and Dumb 667
Summer Residence of D. L. Hamlin. 884
Summer Residence of Shelton Sturges .. 893d
Views on Delavan Lake. 7.21
Lake Geneva Seminary
880
Whiting House
881
Summer Residence of Ed. Ayers. 890b
MAPS.
ΡΟΖ.
ΡΑOE.
PAGE.
Map of Walworth County
307
Map of Delavan Lake. 721
PAOE.
Hotels. 881
War Ilistory.
911
Kayes Park 882
Pishcotaqua Park House. 883
Parks and Camps.
884 884
Marengo Park House
· Natural Features.
921
885 First Settlers. 921
The Cieco ..
885
Recollections of 1836-37
922
Societies.
886
Directory for 1882.
Fish Culture. 889a
Geneva Lake. .890h
The Water Power .894℮
Early Evente.
839
Genoa Junction
839
Churches
840
Corporate History ..
896g
Town Roster ..
841
Biographical Sketches 845 TOWN OF SPRING PRAIRIE.
TOWN OF GENEVA.
Early Settlement 852
Early Pioneers (deceased). 853
Spring Prairie in 1836. 890
A Reminiscence. 891
The Indians. 892
Settlers of 1837
893
Geneva Lake
872
War Record .. 873
Early Times and Events.
896
Official lHistory
899
Schoole.
874
Newspapers
874
The Mormon Church 902
Bank of Geneva
875
Churches.
904
Churches
876
Cemeteries
905
War Record.
957
Lake Geneva Seminary
879
Pioneers
905
PAGE.
Aram, James. 685
Church, Cyrus ... 805 Locke, Daniel. 887
Cravath, Prosper ... 595
McDougald, William 821
Topping, Rev. Henry 433
Wylle, George W. 379
Harrington, N. M. 631
Hollinshead, William. 541
Rockwell, Le Grand 451
PAOΕ.
PAGE.
A. B. Church's Residence .. 882
Summer Residence of Maj. Anson Sperry 885 Sumnier Residence of Julien S. Rumsey .. 889a
Summer Residence of G. L. Dunlap ... 893d
Summier Residence of M. E. Burton 896g
Map of Geneva Lake
801
TOWN OF LA FAYETTE.
Organization ... 921
Camp Coolie
War History ..
925
886
Town Roster
925
Churches, Schools, etc. 927 Biographical Sketches 928
TOWN OF SUGAR CHEEK. Organization 937
Geneva Lake Milla. 895f
Biographical Sketches .. .898i
Organization 889
Topography .. 889
First Things 865 Early Taverns 866
Corporate Town History 893
Settlers of 1838. 893
PAGE.
Biographical Sketches .. 912
Summer Residence of L. Z. Leiter. 892c
Douglas, C ..
397
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 fo- 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
THIE 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.
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