USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume I > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
The surface survey of the seven townships, from north to south, yielded the following results.
Digi zed by Google
135
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
DELTON
1-Newport Group: Two lizard mounds, southeast quarter of section 15; lie close to the Wisconsin River bank, just south of the mouth of Dall Creek. The Village of Newport was formerly located on the level ground which stretches back from the high river bank at this point. One of the effigies is destroyed; the other preserved.
2-Lower Dells Group: Comprises three bird effigies in the north- east quarter of the northeast quarter, section 23, located on the erest of the river bluff about seventy-five feet above the water. The Dells Indian trail passed about twenty rods to the south. Only one of the effigies is well preserved.
3-Chaffee Mounds: Several tumuli on the low land near the bend of the river, nearly three-quarters of a mile to the east of the Lower Dells Group.
4-Herwig Village Site: Indications of a former village site, south- west corner of section 24, on sandy, slightly elevated land. Pieces of pottery and flint chips quite abundant. The Dells trail passes through this site.
5-Early white settlers discovered Indian cornhills scattered over the higher land to the west of the L. M. Steele homestead. Subsequent cultivation leveled the hills.
6-The sixty-three mounds comprising this group are crossed by the line between sections 24 and 25, and the Indian trail leading to the Dells passes along the ridge which bounds them. They represent the largest well preserved group within the scope of the survey. The location of the group is particularly favorable for their preservation. They lie partly on the sandy ridge, slightly elevated above the river, which flows some thirty rods to the east; there is an abrupt drop of about ten feet to the immediate east of the row, and to the west is a strip of low marshy land. The mounds streteh along for more than half a mile. Five of the number are effigies, one is a lineal or a wall-shaped mound, and the others are tumuli, varying from six inches to four feet in height and from thirteen to thirty-nine feet in diameter. The effigies of the Wis- consin River group are unique. Some of them resemble the lizard mounds, excepting for the shorter tails. Most remarkable of all is the mound at the south end of the group. The head is seven feet in height, from which the mound tapers down until it is hardly a foot in height, when it suddenly enlarges into an arrow-like termination three and one- half feet in height. The total length of this mound is 411 feet. Close to it is a lineal mound 126 feet in length.
7-State Road Group: On and near the line between seetions 25 and 36, the old stage road from Milwaukee to La Crosse passed through this group of thirteen mounds, and the publie road of today skirting the bank of the Wisconsin River, still invades them. The mounds are on a
Dig zedby Google
136
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
series of gently rolling bluffs. An effigy bird with a wing extent of 396 feet has been cut in two by the road. The northern mounds, including a rectangular enclosure nearly seventy feet long and about fifteen feet wide, are on wooded land and well preserved; those to the south are less perfect.
8-Atkinson Mounds: Further south in section 36, near the old homestead of Mrs. M. L. Atkinson, the remains of a tumulus in the state road, and near by and not far from the high river bank was once an animal effigy which has been effaced.
YELLOW THUNDER'S FORTY
9-Yellow Thunder's Forty : For many years after the whites settled in the county, Yellow Thunder, the famous chief of the Winnebagoes owned the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 36. There was quite an Indian settlement there ; the settled members of which cultivated enough corn, beans and potatoes for their vegetable menu, and the locality long served as a favorite rendezvous for wandering Winnebagoes in general. It became popular known as Yellow Thunder's Forty, and shortly before his death in the year 1874 he sold it to John Bennett. The old chief was buried on the quarter adjoining his forty, and a few paces distant was the grave of his squaw, who had preceded him a few years before. Thirty-five years after the death of Yellow Thunder, after his remains, as well as those of his faithful spouse, had been desecrated by relic seekers, the final resting place of the good old couple was honored by the erection of an appropriate pillar at the Corners, five miles north of Baraboo on the East Street road.
All of the prehistoric mounds in Delton Township lie close to the Wisconsin River. Sixty-six are on low ground. All but twelve are well preserved. Seventeen are effigies, and of these five are birds.
FAIRFIELD
1-Polson Group: A mile and a half east of the Atkinson Mounds the public road passes through a group of sixteen earthworks in the vicinity of the Charles Polson farm house. A small stream crosses the highway just west of the homestead, and south of the road and on the higher land to the west of the brook are nine effigies known as the Polson Group. Of these, two are birds, two are bear, four are of the mink type and one is non-descript, with a tail-like projection. With the exception of one of the mink effigies, 249 feet long, the others have been virtually obliterated. North of the Polson house are two well preserved tumuli, in the woodland bordering the river.
Digized by Google
137
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
2-Porter Group and Village Site: These are located in the south- west quarter of the northwest quarter of section 3. The six mounds constituting the group are southwest of the residence of Wallace Porter. They lie on the lower slopes of a ridge, near the head of a valley half a mile wide, which spreads out into a marsh extending to the Wisconsin River. On the crest of the slopes have been found fragments of pottery, fine arrow points and flint chips, indicative of an old village site. As to the mounds, two have been effaced; two are bear effigies, 72 and 78 feet, respectively ; one is a lineal mound; one is cross-shaped, perhaps a bird; and two are of the mink kind.
INDIAN MOUND OF THE POLSON GROUP (1905)
3-Big Marsh Group: A few rods east of the road, in the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 8, is a group of six tumuli located on pasture land which lies but a few feet above the surround- ing marsh.
4-Leach Creek Group : Leach Creek crosses near the center of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 17, and on its north bank, which here rises some twenty feet above the stream, close to the public road, were seven mounds to which the foregoing name was given. About all that are left of them is a lineal mound 150 feet long and the head of a bear effigy.
5-Lower Narrows Series (Group 1) : This series (here divided into three groups), is in the north half of sections 23 and 24, not far from the Lower Narrows of the Baraboo River. Group 1 comprises ten tumuli located about forty rods northeast of the Butterfield Bridge. They are
Digazedby Google
138
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
on rather low land. The Baraboo River comes within eight rods of the nearest mound, and the foot of the bluffs is a quarter of a mile to the south. Six of the mounds are well preserved and several of them are easily seen from the public road which skirts the foot of the range. The group forms rather a crooked row at nearly right angles with the river.
HUMAN REMAINS
One of the six well-preserved mounds, which was excavated in April, 1905, by V. S. Pease, H. E. Cole and A. B. Stout, yielded quite interest- ing contents. Five feet from the center and at a depth of about four feet were found several charred sticks, some three feet and a half long, which extended to a bed of charcoal one foot thick and five feet in diameter. A layer of soft red loam several inches in thickness was distributed above and below the charred sticks; otherwise, the material of the mound was a rich, black loam. Below the charcoal, and nearly in the center of the mound, were discovered a tooth, with fragments of skull, arm and pelvie bones. Extending from these were traces of a femur. Evidently the body had been placed in a sitting position facing the east, some dirt piled around the body, and then a fire built above the logs and in front of the trunk. The charred, but intact sticks, would seem to indicate that the fire was covered with dirt before the fuel was consumed. No artifacts were found.
6-Lower Narrow Series (Group 2) : A row of eight to ten tumuli once existed a short distance east of group 1, a few rods from the river and nearly parallel with it. As a boy, L. H. Pahner remembers these mounds as fine tumuli thirty feet in diameter and some ten feet high. In the early '70s the owner of the farm commenced to plow them down and, finding human bones in one of them, sent for William H. Canfield and the Palmer boys (L. H. and J. S.), to investigate the mounds thoroughly. They were dug into and Mr. Canfield stated that between ten and twenty skeletons of various aged persons were found. The bodies had been buried in a sitting posture, forming a circle with the feet toward the center. L. H. Palmer recollected that the dirt around and over the skeletons was a blue clay, apparently packed or baked; at least it was compact and rather difficult to remove. Over this was black loam. No implements or utensils were found. Many of the bones crumbled on exposure; a few of the best preserved were kept for a time in the school at Lyons.
7-Lower Narrows Series (Group 3) : This collection of twenty-three mounds is located in the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 24. near the county line. As with the other groups of the series, their site is low land which slopes gently upward from the river to the north base of the North Quartzite Range. The Baraboo River is about
Digitized by Google
139
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
twenty rods to the north of this group. Some of the mounds are almost leveled by cultivation, although easily located by the dises of dark soil of which they are composed, which form a marked contrast with the lighter colored land surrounding them ; other mounds are fairly well pre- served. All but two are tumuli, varying from fifteen to thirty-nine feet in diameter, and from a few inches to three feet in height. Two of the mounds are rectangular.
Finally, all of the eighty mounds located in Fairfield Township are near a permanent stream, except those of the Big Marsh Group. Four of the groups consist of fifty-two tumuli, nine are linear mounds, fifteen are effigies and four are undefined. The effigies are generally of the bird, bear and mink varieties. Forty-nine are on low ground; thirty-four are in good condition.
GREENFIELD
1-Garrisonville Mound : About fifty rods southeast of the Baraboo Rapids, in a wooded pasture a short distance from the publie road, is a well preserved mound 247 feet in length, 3 or 4 feet high and 14 feet wide. Close to its northern rim and extending to and along the Wis- consin River were the scattering houses which stood for the defunet Vil- lage of Garrisonville; hence the name. Fifteen rods to the north is a small dry ravine, through which the Indian trail led down to the rapids of the Baraboo about forty rods distant.
2-Vanished Mounds: About forty rods from the road near the line of section 27 were once three mounds, all traces of which have long since disappeared.
HUGE MAN EFFIGY
3-The Man Mound: This huge effigy of a super-man, 214 feet in lengthi, whose lower extremities have been eut away by the public road, about twenty rods west of the Hoege Schoolhouse, in the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 28, was preserved from further viola- tion in 1907 by the purchase of its site, with adjoining land, through the efforts of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, the Sauk County Historical Society and the Landmarks Committee of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs. The Man Mound was first surveyed by William H. Canfield in 1859, and the movement for its preservation was launched at the psychological moment when its destruction was most seriously threatened. The final purchase of the property, the unveiling of the tablet marking the site of the wonderful mound, and the creation of Man Mound Park in the fall of 1908, constituted an archaeological event only secondary in importance to the preservation of the great
Dicedby Google
140
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
Serpent Mound and the establishment of Serpent Mound Park in Adams County, Ohio. The ceremonies incident to the unveiling of the beauti- ful bronze tablet mounted on a granite base, presented to the cooperating societies by Jacob Van Orden, the Baraboo banker, were of deep significance to all interested in prehistoric studies and investigations.
PRESERVATION OF THE MAN MOUND
Charles E. Brown, secretary of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, opened the program by giving an address on "The Preservation of the Man Mound." After referring to the successful efforts of Prof. Frederick W. Putnam, of the Peabody Museum, to save the Serpent Mound and the passage by the Ohio Legisla- ture of the first law in the United States on archaeologi- cal remains, Professor Brown addressed his audience as follows :
THE MAN MOUND
"Dear fellow members and guests of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, the Sauk County Historical Society and the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs: We have gathered here to-day to celebrate with brief but fitting ceremonies the preservation of this great masterpiece of Wisconsin ancient effigy builders, to us and the people of our state and county scarcely less im- portant than the wonderful Serpent Mound of Ohio. After several years of work incident to its acquirement, we have met to dedicate this great work to the cause of education and to commemorate its saving from destruc- tion by the erection of a monument and tablet generously provided by one of our most loyal members.
"It becomes my pleasant duty, as keeper of the records and a member of the original committee, to detail to you the history of the 'discovery,' in an early day by one of our members, of the Man Mound and of the recent efforts, by members of three Wisconsin organizations, to secure its permanent preservation to the people of the state.
MAN MOUND DESCRIBED BY DR. I. A. LAPHAM AND DR. STEPHEN D. PEET
"In the year 1859 the attention of W. H. Canfield, a pioneer civil engineer and antiquarian of Sauk County and co-worker of Wisconsin's distinguished Archaco, Dr. I. A. Lapham, was directed by some pioneer settler to this great mound. He visited the locality and on July 23, 1859, prepared an accurate survey of it, an illustration of which he afterward caused to appear in his 'Outline Sketches of Sauk County,' published by him in 1861. He deemed the mound of sufficient importance to report its discovery to Dr. Lapham, who published a brief description and
Dicedby Google
141
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
figure of it in an article appearing in Vol. 4, Wisconsin Historical Col- lections, of the year 1859, in which he said: 'I wish to announce the discovery by Mr. William H. Canfield, near Baraboo, in Sauk county, of an ancient artificial mound, or earthwork, of the most strange and extraordinary character of any yet brought to light. It represents, as will be seen by the accompanying drawing, very clearly and decidedly, the human form, in the act of walking, and with an expression of bold- ness and decision that cannot be mistaken. The figure is no less than 214 feet in length ; the head 30 feet long ; the body 100, and the legs 84. The head lies toward the south and the motion is westward. All of the lines of this most singular effigy are curved gracefully, and much care has been bestowed upon its construction. The head is ornamented with two projections or horns, giving a comical expression to the whole figure. The arms and legs are too short for the proper proportion, and the lower part of the body is too narrow, but with these exceptions the general proportions are good."
In more recent years, brief descriptions of the Man Mound by Dr. Stephen D. Peet appeared in Vol. 1 of the American Antiquarian, and in Emblematie and Animal Effigy Mounds (Prehistorie America, Vol. II), of which he is the author. In the latter work he offers the sugges- tion that the Man Mound bears a resemblance to some of the descriptions of, and may have been intended by its ancient Indian builders to repre- sent the powerful Dakotan Divinity, Hekoya, who is frequently shown in their picture writing as having his head surmounted by a pair of horns.
"The mound has been frequently described by other authors in other articles and publications and largely through these its existence and interest are now known not only throughout our own state and other states, but also in foreign lands.
MESSRS. STOUT AND COLE START PRESERVATION MOVEMENT
"During the year 1905, when the Messrs. A. B. Stout and H. E. Cole, present officers, were conducting an archaeological survey of the mounds and other aboriginal evidences in Eastern Sauk County for the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, they visited the site of the Man Mound and be- came greatly impressed with its interest, importance and value. They also learned upon inquiry that the owner of the land, which was then overgrown with wild vines, brush and small trees, cared nothing for the great earthwork and intended to soon grub and break up the ground and to place the tract under cultivation. With laudable zeal they endeavored to create an interest in the preservation of the mound by the acquirement of the property. They appealed to both the Wiscon- sin Archaeological Society and the Sauk County Historical Society which appeals were favorably received and plans for its preservation gradually matured.
-. ......
Dq cooby Google
142
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
SUBSCRIPTION COMMITTEES APPOINTED
"An option on the property was secured by Mr. Stout and at a special meeting of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, held in Milwaukee on December 27, 1906, he appeared and introduced the matter of raising by popular subscription a special fuud of $300 for its purchase and improvement. His proposal was received with enthusiasm and it was decided to appoint two committees one con- sisting of local and the other of Baraboo members, for the purpose of securing the required amount. The committees named were the Messrs. A. B. Stout, H. E. Cole and Jacob Van Orden, of Baraboo, and E. P. Nemmers, T. D. Schilling and Chas. E. Brown. Mr. Schilling being unable to serve, was succeeded on the committee by Miss Julia A. Lap- ham, of Oconomowoc, daughter of the famous scientist.
SUPPORT OBTAINED OF WISCONSIN FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
"The Sauk County Historical Society had already promised its aid, and through the enthusiasm of Miss Lapham, then and now chairman of its landmarks committee, the assistance of various clubs of the Wis- consin Federation of Women's Clubs was obtained. Each organization issued appeals for subscriptions to its members and friends and at a meeting of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society held on July 8, 1907, Secretary Charles E. Brown was able to report a total of $240.85 collected from all sources and the preservation of the Man Mound was assured. Other subscriptions followed and soon the entire amount of money desired had been obtained. In the meantime it was learned with regret by the other societies that the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs not being incorporated could not legally share, as had been intended, in the title of the property.
SITE OF MAN MOUND PARK PURCHASED
"On October 12th, therefore, the tract of land upon which we now stand and including the great Man Mound was purchased from Alba Hoege and wife, Nellie Hoege, for the sum of $225 by the Wisconsin Archaeological Society and Sauk County Historical Society, the Messrs. Jacob Van Orden and H. E. Cole acting as the agents of those organ- izations.
JOINT MAN MOUND COMMITEE IN CHARGE
"The committees appointed by the societies have been discharged with grateful recognition of their work and efforts and in their place has been named a joint Man Mound committee, now consisting of H. E.
Dig izedby Google
143
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
Cole, A. B. Stout, J. Van Orden, Miss Julia A. Lapham, C. E. Brown and Mrs. L. H. Palmer. Of the custodianship and improvement of Man Mound Park these ladies and gentlemen have charge under the direction of the societies. With only a small fund at his disposal Mr. Cole, its chairman, has in a short space of time already accomplished much toward the beautifying of the park, and has thereby further deserved our grati- tnde. Further improvements are, however, in contemplation and to secure these contributions will be at all times welcome.
COVENANT SEALED BY WAMPUM BELT
"In acquiring this mound and park the societies have entered into an agreement to perpetually preserve and care for it as a free public state park. As a fitting and formal seal to this covenant between them, there has been caused to be constructed this belt, which I now exhibit to you (constructed after the manner of the old wampum belt, the significance of its symbolism is plain). Its author is a Winnebago woman, skilled in the beadworkers' art, a member of a onee brave and powerful tribe of Wisconsin redmen, and whose ancestors, if we accept the judgment of the leading authorities of our state and country, constructed in pre- historic time upon the soil this great mound and thousands of other interesting monuments, which remain to us and which we desire to preserve to our descendants as indications of their early dominion, re- ligion, arts and customs."
At the close of Secretary Brown's address he unfurled the Chippewa Indian flag presented by Chief LeFleur of the Sae Court Oreilles band to the Wisconsin Archaelogical Society, in grateful remembrance of the eare and courtesies shown there by its members and officers at the Wisconsin State Fair of 1906, to which they were brought by the society as an educational exhibit for the school schildren of the state. nearly 100 Indians participating at that time. This flag was exhibited during the Man Mound Park ceremonies.
THE DISCOVERY
In telling of the discovery of the mound, W. H. Canfield, the well known local historian and archaeologist, said that while surveying for Mr. Hoege in the vicinity he was told of the unusual effigy. Soon after, or in 1859, he made a survey of the mound.
WORK OF THE WOMEN'S CLUBS
Mrs. Clara T. Runge, of Baraboo, state treasurer of the Wisconsin Federations of Women's Clubs, spoke for this organization which had greatly assisted in the work of securing the site. Mrs. Runge's subject
Digitized by Google
144
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
was, "Interest of the Women's Clubs," and she said: "Much good work is being accomplished by the organizations at whose invitations we are here to-day, our Wisconsin Archaeological Society and our local Historical Society. The movement has appealed strongly to the women of this county and in various localities they have interested themselves in the preservation of places and data of historical importance. In this state the Federation of Women's Clubs has for some years maintained a standing committee known as the Landmarks Committee, which forms the center of activity among clubs and club women.
"The work of this committee has been for several years under the leadership of its present chairman, Miss Julia A. Lapham, of Ocono- mowoc, daughter of Dr. Increase Allen Lapham, Wisconsin's dis- tinguished and pioneer archaeologist and author of the 'Antiquities of Wisconsin.' She is well and widely known throughout our own and other states for her active interest in the landmarks work. Miss Lapham has the honor of being a charter member of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, and was one of the organizers and ever the stimulating current behind the landmarks movement in the Federation.
"At previous meetings of the Wisconsin Archaclogical Society, re- ports have, I believe, been given of the Federation Landmarks Com- mittee and it would be a repetition were I to tell you of the annual land- marks day of the Federated Clubs, which cultivate an interest in matters of local history and have frequently resulted in the collection and pres- ervation of valuable historical data. It would be a repetition to say that within the past three years Wisconsin club women have spent no less than $1,000 in preserving landmarks, and marking mounds, Indian trails and points where events of historical importance occurred.
"When at a meeting of several officers of the Wisconsin Archaelog- ical Society at Milwaukee, December 27, 1906, it was decided to pur- chase this celebrated Man Mound as a means of saving it from impending destruction, it was proposed by Secretary C. E. Brown that the societies endeavor to enlist the interest and assistance of the Landmarks Com- mittee of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs in securing the amount of money required to purchase the property and improve it ($300). Miss Lapham was communicated with and the cooperation of her committee readily secured. The committee issued a circular letter to the clubs, calling attention to the movement to preserve the Man Mound and asking money contributions for this purpose. As a result of this appeal the sum of $66.75 was raised from the several elubs throughout the state.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.