USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume I > Part 17
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"The Woman's Literary Club, Evansville, has the honor of being the club which contributed the largest amount, namely, $15. The . Twentieth Century Club, of Baraboo, was second with its contribution of $10. It had been the intention of the participating societies that each should share equally in the ownership of the property, but in August,
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1907, it was discovered that the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs was not incorporated under the laws of the state, and hence could not legally share in the title to property. It was deemed unwise also for the Federation, because of its limited financial resources, to participate, in view of future expenses which might be incurred in its eare and im- provement. This circumstance the Wisconsin Archaeological Society and the Sauk County Historical Society both greatly regretted at the time, and so, although the Women's clubs may not participate in the ownership of Man Mound Park, their interest and assistance have been remembered in other ways. Miss Julia A. Lapham now holds, by their gratefulness, an appointment of two societies as a member of the Joint Man Mound Committee, the official custodian of this great earthen memorial and the park in which it is ineluded.
"Whatever be the legal form which shows in whom the title to this property is vested, the great object has been achieved; this remarkable earthwork shall now be preserved for the benefit of the science of antiqui- ties. All humanity holds an interest in this property which will descend to children and children's children. May this far reaching movement grow and flourish, and thus contribute valuable material towards Ameri- can history of civilization."
PRESENTATION OF TABLET
Miss Portia Martin, of Baraboo, presented the tablet and said : "Within our State of Wisconsin the preservation and marking in a fitting manner of some of the more important and interesting remains of our aboriginal predecessors on this soil, is a movement of comparatively recent, yet of certain and steady growth. The custom of erecting com- memorative monuments of earth, stone, wood, or of other lasting materials is as old as humanity itself, and is common to savage and civilized people alike in every part of the world. As is evidenced by their thousands of imitative and other earthworks distributed over its length and breadth, the custom of constructing such memorials was common also to the primitive red men of our own state.
"To now attempt to penetrate, after the passing of centuries and the long discontinuance among the aborigines of the ancient custom of mound building, the hidden significance of these earthen records of the past, is a task of great difficulty, yet one in which modern research is making great progress.
SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT A DAKOTAN GOD
"What may be the significance of this particular monument which we have saved from destruction, and which we are to-day assembled to dedicate and mark, we may not definitely say. Built in the form of a man Vol. 1-10
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of huge proportions, its head surmounted with a curious headdress, and in the attitude of walking towards the setting sun, this noble monument is considered to represent a wakando, or superior divinity of the great Dakotan family of Indians, coneeded to have been once the possessors of the land now included within the bounds of our state. An eminent student of Wisconsin archaeology has concluded that of all Dakotan divinities, this effigy was probably intended by its builders to portray the god Hekoya, concerning whose power there are many curious beliefs and folk tales, and who is sometimes represented in their mythology as armed with a bow and arrow from which frogs and birds are dis- charged. He is pictured as wearing a curious two-horned headdress, bearing a resemblance to that here shown. How correct may be the conclusion concerning the identity of this figure we may never know.
"Men and women alike probably shared in the labor of its con- struction and it is interesting that to-day men and women of another race have aided in its purchase and share in the honor of its preserva- tion to the people of the state. Its erection was undoubtedly attended with impressive and extended religious ceremonies, feasts and dances in which as is the Indian custom one or several tribes or clans partici- pated.
No COUNTERPART IN THE WORLD
"Among the large number of symbolic earth works which still remain uninjured within Wisconsin's borders, mute records of early Indian occupancy, this great monument, by its peculiar character, stands alone. Nor has it a counterpart in any part of the world and for that single reason alone, if for no others, is deserving of the prominence we today accord it by its preservation and appropriate marking.
THE MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED
"Through the great interest and generosity of Mr. Jacob Van Orden, an honored member and citizen of Baraboo, this artistically designed tablet is now presented to the Wisconsin Archaelogical Society and Sauk County Historical Society, joint owners of this park and the cele- brated earthwork which it encloses. This tablet we now unveil."
At the close of Miss Martin's address, Miss Mary Louise Van Orden removed a large flag and exposed the beautiful piece of art to view.
At this juncture President Habhegger stepped forth and asked that a vote of thanks be recorded by the secretaries of the three societies for Mr. Van Orden for the good work he had done. Mr. Van Orden graciously acknowledged the favor bestowed.
THE ACCEPTANCE
The park and tablet were then accepted for the societies by Hon. John M. Truc of Baraboo who said: "I am pleased this afternoon to
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represent the Joint Committee appointed by the Wisconsin Archaeological Society and the Sauk County Historical Society, through whose united efforts-ably assisted by members of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs-this interesting park, appropriately named, Man Mound Park, has been purchased and improved; and, in the name of these organ- izations, I gratefully accept this artistic commemorative tablet that has just been presented and unveiled, as a result of the public spirited interest and generosity of Mr. Jacob Van Orden, of Baraboo.
"We are pleased to note the increasing interest that is being mani- fested in the discovery and preservation of this class of relics of a people long since forgotten, of which the Man Mound is considered of the greatest interest and importance of all Wisconsin's celebrated em- blematic earthworks, and we feel confident that future generations will show an increased appreciation of the educational and historic value resulting from work now being done.
"A tribute of recognition is due to leading spirits in our county organization for active work done by them in the discovery of this and other representative mounds and groups of mounds, in which this part of the state is rich; as but for their timely action this important earth- work would not have been recognized in time to save it from complete destruction. In the name of the societies here represented, I desire to extend thanks to those who have by their presence shown an interest in these exercises, and we hope that in the future as this park may be further improved, that it, and the work it commemorates, may become more and more of interest to guests of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society for their unstinted hospitality and the courteous treatment re- ceived at their hands during the two days of the joint assembly of the two organizations in Baraboo and at Devil's Lake on August 7th and 8th. When our members reach their respective homes, the echoes of the assembly and of its achievements in the preservation and dedication of Man Mound Park and of the fine commemorative monument erected there, will reach every nook and corner of the state. These will have the effect of interesting many others everywhere throughout Wisconsin in the preservation of its antiquities."
OTHER GREENFIELD RELICS
4-Cole Mound: A solitary linear mound, which lies about sixty rods southeast of the Man Mound, on a nearly level plateau. Its site commands an extended view of the Baraboo Valley, and the mound itself is 165 feet long, 15 feet wide and 2 feet high.
5-McGilvra Mounds: In the southwest quarter of section 30, about thirty rods east of the MeGilvra homestead, are two tumuli and a bear effigy. Forty rods to the southeast was once a lizard-like effigy, which is entirely effaced.
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6-Cook Mounds: In the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 32, traces of two tumuli may be seen near the Cook Homestead. Northeast of these close to the section line is the site of an obliterated bear effigy.
7-Spring Run Group: This consists of eight mounds, also on the Cook Farm, not far from the line between sections 32 and 5. They are scattered over slightly elevated land bordering the river bottom, and are somewhat separated by Spring Run. There are six lineal mounds, one tumuli and a bear effigy which is well preserved.
8-Carlson Mounds: On the Carlson Farm, northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 33, there is a group of four lineal mounds and a well preserved bear effigy.
9-Jackson Creek Group: In the southwest quarter of the north- west quarter of section 35, close to the west side of the road and near the south bank of Jackson, sometimes called Rowley Creek, is a bear effigy nearly leveled. An old resident states that there was also another effigy, resembling a lizard, very near the bear mound.
10 Jackson Creek Cornfields: On the rather level stretch of land southeast of the Falkenstern Mill, extending into the farm of Louis Helm, were several acres of cornhills.
OLD PROVISION CACHES
11-Palmer Mound and Village Site: About five rods west of the line between sections 34 and 35 were a cluster of at least a dozen provi- sion caches, two of which may still be seen in the edge of the public road. These are on a low ridge that extends from the bluffs down toward the river. Some twenty rods from these caches there is an area of three- fourths of an acre upon which are still found many flint chips, often in clusters. Some of these chips and two crude stone axes from this site are now in the collection of the County Historical Society. This site has been plowed over for many years. Between the caches and the residence of L. H. Palmer was once a lineal mound twenty rods long and several feet high. Mr. Palmer and his son, Roy, also located several provision eaches on the higher land bordering the foot of the bluffs. One cluster of caches is located on a crest of a knoll near the west part of the Palmer Farm, at a point a few rods south of the road.
12-Langdon Group: A short distance west of the farms of II. C. Langdon and Mrs. Eva Cook, in the woods near the public road, are three bear effigies and one lineal mound. Two of the effigies have been rather bady disfigured. The group lies on gently sloping land and less than thirty rods from the foot of the abrupt slope of the bluff. The Wiscon- sin River is eighty rods north.
13-Long Lizard Group: Near the west center of section 5, on the Cook Farm, is the well preserved Lizard Mound, 656 feet long. At the
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widest part of the head end it measures over 47 feet in width and 4 feet in height. From this point it stretches off across slightly lower marshy land, gradually tapering to a point. The river flows some thirty rods to the south. Of all the mounds considered in Mr. Stout's report, this lizard is constructed on the lowest ground. It is partly covered with water during the spring, and thoroughout most of its length is over- grown with wild marsh grasses and sedges. A tumulus about ten rods from the lizard is partly plowed down.
14-Linen Mill Group: Five tumuli are arranged in a row, just east of the Linen Mill and on the very brink of the north bank of the Baraboo River, overlooking its rapids. All have been mutilated by relic hunters or in the processes of cultivation.
15-Greenfield Mounds: These four mounds about sixty rods north of the Linen Mill have almost disappeared. The group was originally composed of a bird with wings spread 300 feet, a bear 65 feet long, a mink 150 feet in length and a lineal mound 180 feet.
16-Glen Creek Mounds: Three effigies were situated on the rolling land east of Glen Creek northeast of the home of Levi Pearson. They occupied the crests of knolls that gave a splendid view of the Baraboo Valley. One mound lying close to the public road still shows the outlines of a bear effigy, but the other two, which were thirty rods further north, have been destroyed.
The forty-seven Greenfield Mounds are much scattered, and comprise no large groups. The bear seemed to have been the favorite animal of these mound builders, as he is represented in twelve of the eighteen effigies, and the bird but once. Fourteen are linear mounds. Most of the works are found along or near the Baraboo River, but as far as known they were never constructed on the high lands of the South Bluff. But twelve are in good condition.
BARABOO
1-Fair Ground Mounds: Just north of the Fair Grounds, in the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 36, were two tumuli in front of the residence of Bradbury Robinson. In the process of im- proving his grounds, in 1895, they were leveled. Among the relies un- earthed was a brass tomahawk pipe, subsequently described in the "Wis- consin Archaeologist."
2-Crandall Group: In the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 36, on the property of Mrs. Katherine Crandall Train, was once a fine group of mounds. One of the most interesting was a deer effigy, 135 feet long, the hind quarters of which were destroyed by the excavation for a building. The part of the figure representing the head and antlers lies in the yard to the east of the Train Residence, the single beam of the antler being easily traced although much of it is
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not more than three inches in height. A lizard effigy formerly could be traced with its head close to the antlers of the deer, but much of it (when perfect 330 feet in length), has been leveled, as well as various tumuli to the west of the house.
3-Cornfield Group: The eastern line between seetions 36 and 1 crosses a rather abrupt sandstone ridge, on the crest of which are to be seen traces of a few tumuli. At the foot of the near north slope the later Winnebagoes cultivated corn. As is evident from one of Mr. Can- field's early plats, in this group were originally twelve tumuli and eight effigies. A few relics, including a crude iron axe, have been unearthed from these mounds.
4-Council House Group: In the midst of a group of seven effigies. now effaced, the Winnebagoes of early times had a council house. The location is near the junction of Mound and Water Streets, near the rapids of the Baraboo River. Mr. Canfield states that when he arrived in Baraboo in 1842, a pole flying a flag made of skins was still standing to mark the site of the council house, which was located there by Cal-i-mi-ne, the head chief of the Winnebagoes.
5-Remington Mounds: These mounds lay on the erests and upper slopes of the irregular ridge that skirts the north side of the Baraboo River and upon which a portion of the City of Baraboo is built. Begin- ning at Hickory Park, elose to Fifth Street, they formed an almost , unbroken series extending across Second Street onto the property of Mrs. S. S. Remington. Near the residence the string of mounds branched, one short row extending eastward and the other following the erest of the ridge along both sides of Mound and First streets as far as Rosa- line Street. Nearly all the mounds are leveled, but traces of them are still to be seen at the junction of Mound and Remington streets. When visited by Mr. Canfield and Dr. F. W. Putnam, of the Peabody Museum, as early as 1883, most of the effigies had been obliterated by eity im- provements.
A PERFECT POTTERY VESSEL
In 1890 one of tumuli lying south of Mound Street was opened by Edward Dudley, who found a vase and a few bones near its base. The vase was broken by a blow of the piek, but from one of the mounds near the Remington residence a perfect pottery vessel was obtained. It measures about 5 inches across the top of the lip and is about 71/2 inches deep. It is now the property of Mrs. John M. Olin, of Madison. A clam shell and a piece of the shell of a turtle were found within the vase. Pieces of flint, some arrow points, a stone hammer and a stone pipe, were found either in the same mound or in others close by. Also human bones were found in adjacent tumuli, several of which are in the collection of the Sauk County Historical Society.
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6-Ridge Street Mound: It is reported that a long linear mound formerly existed on the crest of the ridge overlooking the river just west of Ridge Street.
FLINT CHIPPERS AND INDIAN VILLAGE SITE
7-At the time of the arrival of the earliest whites in Sauk County, a band of Indians had a village near the river in what afterward be- came the east part of the Village of Lyons. It was at the crossing of the rapids, one part of the village being located on the Island, or inner portion of the oxbow loop, and the other, and larger section, along the opposite bank to the west. About one acre of the latter tract was a slightly elevated piece of sandy land and so unproductive that it escaped cultivation until 1880. In this sandy area David Sansum, who owned adjoining property, found three piles of flint chips lying on the ground. They were about sixty feet apart, three feet in diameter, and consisted of nearly a bushel of small chips. At each pile were indications of a fireplace. It is likely that these were the sites of the lodge fires of the flint chippers. Three quartzite knives were found near one of the chip heaps. Two grooved axes and three celts were also found nearby, as well as many arrow points. Of the latter many are of the three eor- nered equilateral type. The eastern and northern parts of the oxbow bend is bordered by high steep banks of moraine material. Over twenty years ago, while road builders were moving some of the drift, a shallow burial place was unearthed with a number of human bones.
8-Lyons Mound: Mr. Canfield's plat of the City of Baraboo and Village of Lyons shows a long mound in a position now occupied by Oak Street between Walnut and Cedar streets.
9-Lyons Cache: Some years ago this beautiful collection of twenty- one light colored, leaf shaped flints, was unearthed on the farm of George Tinkham, in the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 34, about twenty rods south of the publie road. A high terminal moraine passes close to the east and the river is not far to the west. The cache was on the overwash plain, and the flints, which were turned up by the plow, lay about three inches below the surface of the ground. The collection was first purchased by E. C. Perkins, of Prairie du Sac, who donated it to the Sauk County Historical Society.
10-Upper Mill Power Mounds: The property which controlled the Upper Mill power borders the north bank of the Baraboo River, a short distance above the bridge, and extends across the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 34. At the west end of this strip of land there is a sharp spur of the terminal moraine extending down to the river, and on its slopes, about twenty-five rods from the water's edge, are two bird effigies. They are represented as flying away from the river in a southwesterly direction, one near the slope of the ridge
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with head near the erest as if flying over it, and the other on the op- posite slope. Both are in fair condition, but are being gradually leveled by the natural erosion of the slopes.
11-Canfield Group: On the high lands along the south side of the river opposite Lyons were formerly ten linear and effigy mounds, only one of which has escaped destruction due to the railroad cut and culti- vation. The row of mounds to the south of the railroad track crosses the properties of Willis Ryan and Volney Moore, the only member of the group which is well preserved being the linear mound in Mr. Moore's pasture. All of these earthworks were originally platted by Mr. Canfield.
12-Case Mounds: Near the southwest corner of the corporation limits of the City of Baraboo were fifteen mounds, including two mam- mal and one serpent effigies, first surveyed by A. T. Case, (on whose grounds they were located) and A. B. Stout, the author of the Report. Some of the mounds are entirely leveled and others are in various states of preservation.
13-Tyler Group: This includes a mammal effigy and four tumuli, near the residence of M. J. Tyler on Lynn Avenue, Baraboo, and were originally located by Messrs. Canfield and Tyler. The latter, who moved to the location in 1866, stated that the effigy had already been leveled at the time. Mr. Tyler has unearthed several skeletons from the nearly leveled tumuli, three feet below the surface.
14-South Side Mounds: On the erest of rather a prominent knoll directly south of the Baraboo depot, and extending nearly parallel with Walnut Street, was a row of six tumuli. One of them shows quite plainly in the Blake grounds corner of Walnut and Blake streets; an- other was destroyed when the former thoroughfare was put through, the workmen finding a few relics therein; two tumuli, much leveled, but still discernible, are in the same block as the old Third Ward school- house, and another mound, which was considered a man effigy by Dr. S. D. Peet, lay on the south slope of the knoll with the lower portion of the figure where Elm Street now is.
15-Crest Mound : A well preserved linear mound, on the erest of a ridge on the south side of the Baraboo River in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 1. It is 168 feet in length, from 2 to 12 feet wide, and from 2 to 3 feet high.
16-Potter Mounds: Two linear or effigy mounds on the Potter property, between the corner of Hill and Lake streets and the railroad yards. They extend into Hill Street. Further south, along the track, were three tumuli and one oblong mound now entirely effaced.
17-Maxwell Mounds: Several tumuli and an oblong mound on or near the block upon which the residence of James Maxwell (deceased) was built, extending from near the corner of Maxwell and Grove streets into Lake Street. They have been leveled long ago.
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18-Williams Intaglios and Mounds: In the Williams addition, near the Maxwell residence, were two intaglios of bear effigies-that is, de- pressed representations of that animal, about 6 feet deep and 50 feet long; also, four oval mounds. These are the only excavations of the kind known to exist in Sauk County, and they, as well as the mounds, have almost been destroyed.
19-Glover Mounds: Some sixty rods south of the Williams collec- tion stands the Glover farmhouse, built upon a part of a long prehis- torie mound, 400 feet of which are still traceable. On the grounds are also two effigies (one that of a bird) and a tumulus, all much defaced, and a bear effigy and a linear mound have quite disappeared.
20-Draper Mounds: In the cultivated fields southwest of the Draper residence (southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 1) there were several mounds on the level land above the creek which flows to the west and north.
21-Draper's Creek Mounds: Where the line between sections 1 and 12 crosses that stream four mounds are to be seen. Three linear works lie close to the west bank, one of the mink type is on the opposite side, and twenty-five rods up the creek a fairly well preserved bear effigy lies with its nose at the water's edge.
22-Cemetery Group: On the floor of a basin slightly elevated above Draper's Creek, it is reported that the Winnebagoes had a cemetery ; some of the early settlers are, in fact, said to have observed native burials in that locality. The five mounds composing the group are remarkably well preserved, and lie in a secluded dale to the west of the residence of William Donald. Of the mounds, one is 230 feet long, with a head terminating in two parts, or a prong; another is a typcial bear effigy, eighty-two feet long; the third, a mink 185 feet in length; the fourth is in the shape of a rather sturdy looking beast sixty-four feet long lying on a slope, with braced feet toward the bottom and short tail extended and erect head pointed upstream; and the fifth is a linear mound with a bent and pointed termination, the length of which is 152 feet. So far as known this is the only perfectly preserved group near Baraboo.
23-Ryan Mound : A linear mound, entirely effaced, was located on the farm of Willis Ryan, twenty rods from the public road, in the south- west quarter of the northeast quarter of section 3.
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