USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Official record of the Old Settlers Society of Racine County, Wisconsin : with the historical address of Charles E. Dyer, delivered at Burlington, Wis., February 22, 1871 > Part 1
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HISTORICAL ADDRESS,
DELIVERED BEFORE THE
ettlers
Society,
OF
RACINE COUNTY, WISCONSIN,
BY CHARLES E. DYER.
ALSO,
CONSTITUTION. BY-LAWS AND LIST OF MEMBERS.
RACINE:
A. C. SANDFORD, PRINTEB AND BOOKBINDER. 1871
Lehl
OCT 12 1895
Michigan State Library
1
OFFICIAL RECORD
OF THE
OLD SETTLERS SOCIETY
OF
RACINE COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
WITH THE
HISTORICAL ADDRESS
OF
CHARLES E. PYER,
DELIVERED AT BURLINGTON, WIS.
FEBRUARY 22, 1871.
RACINE, WIS : A. O. SANDFORD, PRINTER AND BOOKBINDER,
1871.
1
917.596 0440 Geri.
587 , 92 043 1871 GENE
INTRODUCTION.
The importance of making and preserving some historical record of the early settlement of Racine County has been a theme of discussion for several years among the early set_ tlers.
Nothing, however, was done towards accomplishing the ob- ject, until a call was prepared and circulated for the purpose of organizing an "Old Settlers' Society," at Racine, on the 14th day of March, 1870, at which time a Society was formed, the original and subsequent proceedings of which, in- cluding the address delivered by Charles E. Dyer before the Society at Burlington on the 22d day of February, are herein published.
Believing that this record contains much that is valuable to those who now read it, and that it will be doubly valuable to those who come after us, and hoping that the Society may long continue, and that other valuable historical facts may be obtained and recorded, the Executive Committee of the Society now present this history of the settlement of the County to the members of the Society and to the public.
PUBLIC MEETING.
At a meeting of Old Settlers of the county of Racine, held at the court house, in the city of Racine, March 14th, 1870, LORENZO JANES was chosen chairman, and S. B. PECK secretary.
4
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY,
The following call for an Old Settlers' meeting was then read :
"All residents of Racine county, who have been in the State for more than thirty years, are invited to meet at the · court house, on Monday evening, March 14th, 1870, for the purpose of organizing an Old Settlers' Society.
" By request of MANY OLD CITIZENS."
On motion, it was voted that the Chair appoint a committee of five to prepare a Constitution, and present it to the meeting for adoption.
The chair appointed J. A. Carswell, A. Cooper, Alanson Filer, Benjamin Pratt and C. J. True, as such committee.
During the absence of the committee, many incidents con- nected with the early settlement of Racine were narrated by L. S. Blake, Eldad Smith, and others.
The committee returned, and reported the following Con- stitution, which report was accepted, and the Constitution adopted :
PREAMBLE .- For the purpose of reviving old associations, and renewing the ties of former years, the undersigned do hereby unite in an association, to be known as the " Old Settlers' Society of the county of Racine," and adopt the following
CONSTITUTION.
Article 1st. Any person of good moral character, who has resided in the State more than thirty years, and is now a resi_ dent of Racine county, may become a member of this Society by signing his or her name, and paying an initiation fee of fifty cents.
Article 2d. The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, three Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of five members.
Article 3d. The President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer shall perform such duties as usually pertain to their respective offices, but all matters relating to the Society
5
RACINE COUNTY, WIS.
shall be under the control and management of the Executive Committee.
Article 4th. The officers of this Society shall be elected by ballot, on the second Monday of January in each year.
Article 5th. New members may be admitted by the Exec- utive Committee, provided that thirty years shall have elapsed since the applicant's first residence in the State of Wisconsin.
Article 6th. The Executive Committee shall give notice, through the papers or otherwise, of the time of the funeral of any of the deceased members, and all members, if possible, shall attend said funeral, wearing the Society badge.
Article 7th. Whenever seventy-five persons shall have signed this Constitution, they may elect officers and organize the Society; and it is understood that women may become members of this Society without paying the initiation fee.
Article 8th. This Constitution may be altered or amended at any annual meeting, by a majority of the members present.
Those persons who were entitled to become members were then invited to sign the Constitution. The following are the names, and date of first residence :
Names.
Date of First Residence
L. S. Blake. February 15th, 1835.
Benj. Pratt. February 15th, 1835.
Eldad Smith September 22d, 1835.
A. Raymond September 22d, 1835.
Sheridan Kimball
December -, 1835.
Alanson Filer
November -, 1835. Samuel G. Knight
August 20th, 1836.
A. Cooper October -, 1836.
J. O. Bartlett November 6th, 1836. Adney Wooster March 14th, 1836.
Nathan Joy. June 1st, 1836. C. J. True. December 28th, 1836.
Lorenzo Janes July 15th, 1836.
Wm. S. Derby June 5th, 1837.
6
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY,
Samuel Hood May 24th, 1838.
Seth P. Phelps 1839.
J. H. Gipson June -, 1837.
Wmn. S. Hoyt June 21st, 1837.
W. H. Gresitt May 27th, 1839.
H. Raymond. March 2d, 1839.
J. A. Carswell June 16th, 1839.
R. H. Baker June 27th, 1839.
S. B. Peck. June 9th, 1839.
James T. Elliott
August - , 1839.
Norman Clark October -, 1836.
Thomas Place
July - -, 1835.
Levi J. Billings November -, 1836.
Angus B. Crane May 15th, 1839.
After a sufficient number had signed to constitute a Society, it was voted to proceed to ballot for officers for the present year, which resulted in the following choice :
President-LUCIUS S. BLAKE.
Vice Presidents-BENJ. PRATT, WM. S. HOYT, THOMAS PLACE.
Secretary and Treasurer-S. B. PECK.
Executive Committee-A. COOPER, R. H. BAKER, J. O. BARTLETT, A. RAYMOND, PLINY M. PERKINS.
On motion, it was voted that the Executive Committee be instructed to fix upon a time and place for holding an "Old Settlers' Meeting."
On motion it was voted that a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be furnished the papers for publication.
The Executive Committee then announced that they had fixed upon the first Wednesday in June next, at the city of Racine, as the time and place of the first meeting of the Soci- ety, and that further notice would be given of the same.
On motion-adjourned.
S. B. PECK, Secretary.
7
RACINE COUNTY, WIS.
Names. Date of First Residence.
James Walker April, 1835. Charles Bunce -- , 1838.
E. R. Cooley. May, 1838.
Nelson A. Walker October, 1835.
R. M. Walker September, 1836.
John Adams April 28th, 1835.
Joseph Adams April 28th, 1835.
Edward Adams April 28th, 1835.
Walter Cooley . May, 1835.
A. G. Knight April, 1836.
J. R. Slauson May 18th, 1838.
Geo. W. Slauson May 18th, 1838.
Seneca Raymond. June 20th, 1396.
Eseck B. Sears, Caledonia .October 20th, 1836.
Thomas Spencer, 66 November 27th, 1836.
Orrilla Spencer, . (
May 27th, 1836.
Wm. Sears, October 1st, 1836.
Annis Sears, October 20th, 1837.
Alonzo Sears, 66
October 20th, 1837.
Luther R. Sears,
May 25th, 1836.
Geo. F. Roberts,
October, 1836.
Cyrus Nichols, August, 1836.
Mrs. D. D. Nichols,
August, 1836. August, 1836.
Daniel B. Rork,
June, 1835.
Mrs. D. B. Rork
June, 1835.
Mrs. P. S. Parker,
August, 1836.
Stephen Campbell, 66
-, 1835.
Mrs. Mary Roberts, September, 1836.
Mrs. S. B. Peck, Racine .September, 1838.
Mrs. H. R. Walker October, 1838.
Fordice Lincoln, Yorkville .June, 1836.
C. E. Waite, 66
March 12th, 1837.
Lorenzo Waite, 66
.
April 8th, 1838.
Carlisle Waite, 66
·
. April 8th, 1838.
Mrs. L. J. Warner,
8
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY,
Carlos Waite, Yorkville. April 8th, 1838.
Samuel Ormiston, July, 1837.
Mrs. S. Ormiston,
July, 1837.
Jacob Bussa,
June, 1837.
Chas. Scofield,
August, 1839.
Mrs. C. Scofield,
August, 1837. James H. Morgan, Racine
May, 1837.
A. H. Blake, Racine. April, 1835.
Mrs. Edith Bartlett, Mt. Pleasant. July, 1835.
Miss Minerva Newman,
July, 1835.
A. G. Newman, 66
July, 1835.
Mrs. Susan Place, 66
May, 1840.
Dorance Secor,
May, 1849.
Luther Secor,
May, 1840.
David Secor,
May, 1840.
66
Charles L. Morris, July 7th, 1838. 66
Wm. Place, July, 1835.
Patrick G. Cheves, 66
May, 1840.
Joseph S. Longwell, 66
May, 1835.
Mrs. Jos. S. Longwell, 66
April, 1835. S. H. Sage
February 7th, 1836.
E. Everit.
May 17th, 1839.
Samuel E. Chapman
. May 17th, 1836.
L. D. Merrills April, 1837.
Thad. Earle.
November, 1836.
Lewis Royce. August, 1837.
Edwin Lincoln June, 1840.
Henry B. Roberts September, 1836.
Wm. Ballack. March, 1840.
John Ballack. June, 1840.
James Ballack December, 1839.
Mrs. A. H. Blake -, 1837.
Thomas Adland May, 1840.
Knud Adland. May, 1840.
Joseph Bishop December, 1839.
Newton Peck.
September, 1836.
9
RACINE COUNTY WIS.
John M. Cooper May, 1840.
Mrs. Fanny Pratt. September, 1839.
Mrs. Mary Derby June 5th, 1837.
Norman Huntington December, 1836.
Martin Beardsley
January, 1835.
Elam Beardsley January, 1835.
D. R. May.
October, 1838.
Chas. Scofield. August, 17th, 1839.
Mrs. Simeon Whiteley.
April 1836.
Timothy Sands.
1835. ,
L. O. Whitman
June, 1836.
James Cooper October 5th, 1838.
N. H. Palmer October 5th, 1838.
Ransom Reynolds 1837.
Benj. Reynolds -, 1837.
Geo. Allen.
June, 1839.
Wm. Bull.
September, 1837.
Samuel N. Basey
April, 1835.
S. F. Heath
August 9th, 1837.
Loring Webber .May, 1838.
Mrs. E. M. Baker
December, 1839.
Elihu D. Filer
June 27th, 1837.
Mrs. Delia M. Filer
June 27th, 1837.
T. D. Morris.
October 5th, 1838.
Mrs. T. D. Morris
October 20th, 1840.
John Newman
July, 1835.
Mrs. Maria Filer
October, 1835.
Rufus Billings
November 1st, 1836.
Mrs. Rufus Billings
November 1st, 1836.
P. M. Perkins
May 20th, 1837.
E. G. Dyer
June, 1839.
Mrs. E. G. Dyer
June, 1839.
Chas. E. Dyer June, 1839. Francis Meinhart June, 1839.
T. W. Durgin -, 1838.
James Mather August 18, 1838.
10
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY,
J. P. Mather May, 1838.
E. Brainard. May 14th, 1839.
John W. Edmonds -, 1840.
Mrs. John W. Edmonds. 1840.
Mrs. James Mather, (died Feb. 23, 1871)
August, 1838.
F. H Nims
July 2d, 1835.
Mrs. L. S. Nims
July, 1835.
Mrs. L. A. Everit
July, 1835.
Patrick Callahan
-, 1840.
David Smith. -, 1837.
Mrs. Lewis Royce August, 1837.
David Bushnell
-, 1836.
Ruth Thompson , 1840.
Chas. Loomis 1838.
Samuel Toombs
June, 1839.
Geo. Jones November, 1839.
Mrs. S. Gardner 1836.
Nelson R. Norton.
March, 1837.
Mrs. Nelson R. Norton
March, 1837.
Wm. Peck. January, 1838.
Wm. L. Rooker August, 1839.
C. R. Rooker May, 1839.
Mrs. C. R. Rooker May, 1839.
J. C. Rooker August, 1839.
E. S. Sawyer May 14th, 1838.
Liberty Fisk. October, 1838.
T. W. Gault. October 19th, 1837.
Mrs. Samuel E. Chapman December, 1838.
Hiram Page .August, 183".
Ira A. Rice. May 24th, 1836.
Mrs. Ira A. Rice May 24th, 1836.
Alfred Lockwood. June, 1836.
P. R. Mygatt May, 1836.
Sarah Mygatt May, 1836.
Edwin Wood May 27th, 1838.
Daniel Wood. May 27th, 1838.
11
RACINE COUNTY, WIE.
C. E. Hunt May 27th, 1838.
Mrs. O. Sheldon July 1st, 1836.
Mrs. Van Valen July 1st, 1836.
O. Van Valen. January, 1837.
Jefferson Brown
September, 1837.
Wm. Brown
September, 1837.
Mrs. Wm. Brown .September, 1837.
N. Van Arman.
June, 1839.
A. Van Arman June, 1839.
J. Van Arman June, 1839.
Mrs. Harriet Wood 1835.
,
Mrs. Elizabeth Beardsley
February, 1839.
Mrs. Nancy E. Beardsley -- , 1837.
Ezra Beardsley.
April, 1839.
Martin Beardsley
January 20th, 1835. Elizabeth Beardsley May, 1838.
A. M. Taphorn.
, 1838.
Mary A. Merrills
April, 1837.
H. D. Morse.
March 29th, 1836.
Marilla Morse December 11th, 1835.
D. N. Niblack . April 1st, 1835.
Samuel Niblack. December 20th, 1834.
Mrs. Harriet Buttles June, 1836.
Mrs. Ezra Buttles June, 1836.
Mrs. Emeline Buttles
June, 1836.
Mrs. S. M. Cooper
October 11th, 1837.
Thomas Hood.
May 18th, 1835.
Theodore S. Lane June, 1836.
Joshua Pearce. -, 1840.
Mrs. Catharine Pearce -, 1840. Samuel Cooper October 20th, 1840. Jedediah Healy October, 1839.
J. D. Wright.
(born) January, 1840.
Mrs. Catharine Brown September, 1838. Aaron Putnam November, 1839.
Mary E. Buttles December, 1836.
12
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY,
Joel Horner May, 1835.
Mrs. Sarah A. Carswell. June, 1839.
FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF "OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY," OF RACINE COUNTY.
BELLE CITY HALL, RACINE, June 1, 1870.
The first meeting of the "Old Settlers Society," convened at Belle City Hall.
At 10 o'clock A. M., the meeting was called to order by the President, L. S. BLAKE.
The Rev. CYRUS NICHOLS then read the 33d Psalm, and led in prayer.
The Rev. M. P. KINNEY, of Rockford, Illinois, then ad- dressed the meeting. He first stated that he was one of the Old Settlers of Wisconsin, and gave a most cordial greeting to the old pioneers who had gathered at this first meeting of those, who, for more than thirty years, had toiled and labored to transform this, then wilderness, into its present fruitful fields. He paid a glowing tribute to the patriotism of those, who, when the first gun was fired at Fort Sumter, had rushed to the post of danger to save our common country.
He warned his hearers, by the review of the past thirty years, to be as vigilant in the years to come, that this beautiful land might ever remain the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave."
A Committee on 'Resolutions, consisting of J. A. Carswell, S. Raymond and J. O. Bartlett, having been appointed by the chair, reported the following, which were unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That we, the early settlers of Racine county, extend a cordial greeting to each other on this, our first gath- ering, to revive the recollections and renew the friendships of the early days; and we would return devout thanks to Him who has sustained and blessed us hitherto.
13
RACINE COUNTY, WIS.
Resolved, That we deem it becoming the Association, and not improper in us, that we congratulate ourselves that our early struggles to organize and develope the resources of the country were not a failure, but a success of which we need not feel ashamed.
Resolved, That we greet with hearty welcome, all our fel- low citizens, of every nationality, who, though at a later day, have come in to cast their lot with us, and to aid, we trust, in building up a community not unworthy of a position in the " Great Republic;" and hope they may perpetuate the remem- brance of the early days in the settlement of this county by annual gatherings like this, after we shall have passed to that land from which there is no return.
Resolved, That for beauty of landscape, fertility of soil, and easy access to market, for agricultural improvement, for improved stock, for general thrift, intelligence and morals, Racine county will, in our judgment, compare favorably with any other in the State.
Resolved, That we feel proud of our county seat, LA BELLE CITY OF RACINE, which, from the first until now has struggled for success, with an energy and self-dependence we admire, and which success we rejoice to see she has so well maintained, in her manufacturing and commercial prosperity of to-day.
Resolved, That we this day recall with sadness, the mem- ory of those who, though they came in to possess the land with us, are no longer with us ; the good and true, the earnest and steadfast men and women who shared with us the toils and burdens of the earlier days ; ever will we bear them in affec- tionate remembrance.
Resolved, That we honor with our highest regard, those heroic women who shared the hardships and privations of frontier life, to settle and improve, and beautify this goodly county of ours; and we earnestly hope their examples may not be a lost lesson upon their fair daughters.
14
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY,
Captain GILBERT KKAPP then came forward, and spoke of his first visit to this county, and his selection of this city- till then occupied only by the wandering savage - as his future residence, he making the first claim upon the banks of our beautiful lake.
He paid a feeling tribute of respect to those whose familiar faces he missed in this gathering. Though now absent at the post of duty, he still cherished the liveliest interest in the prosperity of this city and county.
The meeting was further addressed by S. E. Chapman, of Waterford, and Lewis Royce, of Burlington, and Hon. W. C. Allen.
At two o'clock the meeting adjourned for dinner.
At four o'clock, the meeting was again called to order, and was addressed by Hon. J R. Doolittle and Elam Beardsley.
Voted, that our next meeting be held at Burlington.
After singing " Auld Lang Syne," adjourned, sine die. S. B. PECK, Secretary.
....... ..... ...
REGULAR MEETING.
RACINE, January 9th, 1871.
The Society met at the court house, in the city of Racine, agreeably to a notice published in the papers of the county, at ten o'clock, the President, L. S. BLAKE, in the Chair.
The Court being in session, it was voted to adjourn to Law- ton's Hall, to meet at two o'clock P. M.
LAWTON'S HALL, 2 o'clock, P. M.
The meeting was called to order, and proceeded to the elec- tion of officers for the ensuing year.
The result of the first ballot was the election of Nelson R. Norton, of Burlington, for President.
15
RACINE COUNTY, WIS.
The meeting then proceeded to elect the remaining officers by ballot.
On motion, it was voted to amend the second article of the Constitution so that the Executive Committee shall consist of seven, instead of five; and two more were added to the same.
A motion was then made to change the first article of the Constitution so as to require a residence of twenty-five years, instead of thirty ; which motion, after full discussion, was laid on the table.
It was then voted to instruct the Executive Committee to call a meeting of the Society at Burlington, on the 22d of February next, and provide speakers and make all necessary arrangements for the same.
After a full discussion of the best means of keeping up an interest in the Society, and securing the objects sought to be attained, the meeting adjourned.
The Executive Committee then decided to hold their first meeting at the Supervisors' room in the city of Racine, Janu- ary 20th, at 10 o'clock A. M.
The officers elected for the ensuing yeare were-
President-NELSON R. NORTON.
Vice Presidents-ALANSON FILER, ELEAZER EVERIT, JNO. NEWMAN.
Secretary and Treasurer-S. B. PECK.
Executive Committee-J. A. CARSWELL, A. COOPER, E. D. FILER, T. D. MORRIS, J. O. BARTLETT, WM. BALLACK, CHAS. WAIT.
S. B. PECK, Secretary.
..... .............
REUNION.
A re-union of the Society was held at Burlington, February 22d, 1871, agreeably to arrangement made by the Executive Committee.
16
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY,
At one o'clock P. M., the meeting was called to order in Yunker Hall, by the President, NELSON R. NORTON, who invited the officers of the Society to the platform.
The Rev. C. D. Pillsbury, on invitation of the President, then opened the exercises with an appropriate and impressive prayer.
The President then introduced Hon. CHAS. E. DYER as the orator of the day, who gave a most interesting discourse on the early history of Racine County, beginning with the city of Racine, and then taking the towns in their order. The narra- tive was one of deep pathos, interspersed with scenes of the udicrous and mirthful, which held the attention of the audi- ence for more than two hours.
The address was followed by a song from the Teutonia Club, of Burlington, in German.
The audience then gave a unanimous vote of thanks to Mr. Dyer for his eloquent address.
On motion, it was-
Resolved, That a subscription be taken up, and the pro- ceeds placed in the hands of the Executive Committee to procure the publication of the address in pamphlet form ; and further, that every subscriber shall be furnished said pamphlet at cost for the amount of their subscriptions; and also that the committee are requested to add further items of history, under the supervision of Mr. Dyer.
On motion, the following committee were chosen to solicit further subscriptions : A. Filer, J. A. Carswell and Samuel Hood, Racine ; T. W. Gault, Waterford ; Samuel Ormiston, Yorkville; Franklin Nims, P. M. Perkins, BurlingtonJohsua ; Piearce, Mt. Pleasant; Evan Kaepscadt, Norway; F. E. Hoyt, and R. North, Rochester ; H. L. Gilmore, Raymond ; T. D. Morris, Caledonia.
The meeting then adjourned.
S. B. PECK, Secretary.
17
RACINE COUNTY, WIS. ADDRESS OF CHARLES E. DYER.
Early Settlers of Racine County :
I am commissioned to tell the story of the first settlement of white men in the several towns now comprising the county of Racine. It is a story replete with interest, instruction and romance. It will refresh in your memories, the energy, genius, adventures, achievements and hardships of the Northwestern pioneer.
The character and extent of this task, I must say to you in the outset, I did not sufficiently appreciate, when I accepted the invitation of the Executive Committee of your Society to address you. You would have been more fortunate, had you selected one to relate this history who had shared with you the experiences and fortunes of a frontier life, the memory of which you would now recall. Sketches are more vivid, and narrative is more truthful, when they proceed from the pen and tongue of him who was a witness of the scenes described, and a participant in the events related. To such an one, the past returns again as a reality of life ; the days of thirty years ago come back at his bidding, and the story of the wilderness, of storm and flood, of vicissitude and trial, is clothed with an interest as fresh and inspiring, as the native forest and prairie where western civilization began its work.
I must acknowledge my indebtedness and express my thanks to those, who have so kindly aided me in collecting facts and data connected with the original settlement of the county. I have been supplied with every source of information at the command of the first settlers who yet survive, and, snatching such time as I might, from professional labor, I have, as faith- fully as possible, aimed at accuracy and method in obtaining and arranging the materials for this address. Doubtless, in- accuracies and omissions will be observed, names may be over- looked, and dates may be imperfect. If so, I trust that such errors will be attributed to the difficulties at this late day, of obtaining information which all men who took part in the early settlement of the county, will concur in pronouncing
18
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY,
exact. Many of the first settlers have either died, or gone to other regions, and the recollections of such as remain, occasionally differ. It is sufficient to say, that I have con- sulted the best sources of information ,within my knowledge and at my command.
In 1832, there were but four white men in that part of what is now Wisconsin, south of Green Bay and east of Rock River. They were French traders. During that year the Sac war broke out and attracted the attention of the whole country to this region. The title to the land was in the Indians. By the treaty of 1833, between the Pottawatomie and other tribes of Indians, all the tract of country now comprising the southeastern portion of Wisconsin was ceded to the United States-the Indians, however, to remain in possession until 1836, the Government reserving the right, meantime, to survey the tract. In November, 1834, Captain Gilbert Knapp came to the mouth of Root River, and I find it recorded in such form that I deem it worthy of implicit credit, that he was the first permanent American settler upon any portion of that tract of country now included in the counties of Racine, Walworth and Rock.
On the 20th of April, 1836, the act of Congress was passed establishing the Territorial Government of Wisconsin. Severed from Michigan, it embraced all its present territory, with that of Minnesota and Iowa, and a portion of Nebraska and Dakota. There were then six counties in the Territory- Milwaukee, Brown, Dubuque, Iowa, Des Moines and Crawford.
Under proclamation of Henry Dodge, Governor, the first election of members of the house of representatives and council of the Territory, was held on the 2d Monday of Oc- tober, 1836. Gilbert Knapp and Alanson Sweet were elected from Milwaukee county to this, the first council in the organ- ized Territory. The election of Captain Knapp was, as we shall hereafter see, signalized by demonstrations of satisfac- tion which must have surpassed all modern political jubilees.
19
RACINE COUNTY, WIS.
The first session of the Territorial legislature was held at Belmont, in the county of Iowa, on the 25th day of October, 18^6. On the 3d of December, 1836, the seat of Territorial government was located at Madison, but it was provided that until the 4th day of March, 1839, the sessions of the legisla- tive assembly should be held at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines.
On the 7th of December, 1836, the county of Racine was created by the passage of an act at the Belmont session, and the seat of justice was located at the town of Racine. The county then included its present territory and that of the present county of Kenosha, with the counties of Walworth and Rock attached for judicial purposes. In January, 1850, the county of Racine was divided, and the county of Kenosha created and organized.
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