History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 11

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298

USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 11
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 11

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).

The streams on the west side head on the high country along the line of the fourth principal meridian, about forty miles west of the Wisconsin, and at elevations of from 200 to 300 feet above their mouths; those on the east, head on the divide between the Wisconsin and Wolf about twenty miles east, at elevations not very much less. Reaching back, as these streams do, into a country large-

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

ly timbered with pine, and having so large a descent, they are of great value for logging and milling purposes.

The second section of the Wisconsin river begins at Point Bass with a width of from 700 to 900 feet. The next sixty miles of its course, to the head of the dells, is a southerly stretch, with a wide bow to the westward, through sand plains, here and there timbered with dwarf oaks, and interspersed with marshes. These plains stretch away to the east and west for twenty miles from the river bottom, gradu- ally rising in both directions. Scattering over them, at intervals of one to ten miles, are ero- sion peaks of sandstone, from fifty to 300 feet in height, rising precipitously from the level ground. Some of these are near and on the bank of the river, which is also, in places, bor- dered by low, mural exposures of the same sandstone. The river itself is constantly ob- structed by shifting sand bars, resulting from the ancient disintegration of the sandstone, which in the vicinity everywhere forms the basement rock; but its course is not interrupt- ed by rock rapids. As it nears the northern line of Columbia county, the high ground that limits the sand plane on the west, curving southeastward, finally reaches the edge of the stream, which, by its southeasterly course for the last twenty miles, has itself approached the high ground on the east. The two ridges thus closing in upon the river, have caused it to cut for itself the deep, narrow gorge known as the dells.

In the section of its course the Wisconsin re- ceives several important tributaries. Of those on the east the principal ones are Duck creek and Ten Mile creek, in the southern part of Wood county, and the Little and Big Roche-a Cris creeks, both in Adams county. The two former head in a large marsh twenty-five miles east of and over 100 feet above the main stream. The two latter head on the high dividing ridge, on the west line of Waushara

county, at elevations between 150 and 200 feet above their mouths.

These streams do not pass through a timbered country, but have very valuable water powers. Of those on the west two are large and impor- tant, the Yellow and Lemonweir rivers. Yel- low river heads in township 25 north, in the ad- joining corners of Wood, Jackson and Clark counties, and runs a general southerly course nearly parallel to the Wisconsin for over sev- euty miles, the two gradually approaching one another and joining in township 17 north, of range + east. The yellow river has its archæan and sandstone sections, the former exceedingly rocky and much broken by rapids and falls, the latter comparatively sluggish and without roek rapids. The upper portions of the river extend into the pine regions, and much logging is done in times of high water. The water powers are of great value. The Lemonweir is also a large stream. lleading in a timbered re- gion in the southeast corner of Jackson county, it flows southward for some distance through Monroe, and, entering Juneau on the middle of its west side, crosses it in a southeasterly direc- tion, reaching the Wisconsin on section 24, in township 15 north, of range 5 east, having de- scended in its length of some seventy miles about 200 feet.

The Wisconsin enters the gorge, already spo- keu of as the dells, not far above the southern boundary line of Juneau and Adams counties. This famous passage of about seven and one- half miles has been often described. At its fork, between the counties of Sauk and Columbia, the Wisconsin enters upon the last section of its course and also upon the most remarkable bend in its whole length. Through the dells its general course is southward, but it now turns almost due east, in which direction it continues with one or two subordinate turns south ward for about seventeen miles through low sand banks as far as Portage. Here it bends abrupt- ly south again, and, reaching its most eastern point not far below, soon swerves around into

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

the final southwestward stretch to the Missis- sippi. The cause of this long detour to the east is sufficiently evident. As the river leaves the dells it finds lying directly athwart its course two bold quartzite ranges, extending east and west through Sauk county for upward of twenty miles, and crossing into Columbia, finally unite about eight miles east of the coun- ty line in a sharp and bold eastwardly project- ing point, rising 400 feet above the river bot- tom.

Above Portage where the Wisconsin forms the southern boundary line of the town of Lew- iston, the ground immediately north is lower than the water in the river-the heads of Nee- nah creek, a tributary of the Fox, rising a short distance from its banks. In times of high wa- ter, the Wisconsin overflows into these streams, and thus contributes to a totally different river. At Portage, the Fox, after flowing south of west for twenty miles, approaches the Wisconsin, coming from the opposite direction. Where the two streams are nearest, they are less than two miles apart, and are separated by a low, sandy plain, the water in the Fox being five feet below that of the Wisconsin at ordinary stages. The greater part of this low ground is overflowed by the latter stream in times of high water, and to this is chiefly due the spring rise in the Fox river.

After doubling the eastern end of the quart- zite ranges, as already said, the Wisconsin turns again to the west, being forced to this by im- pinging on the north side of a high belt of lime- stone country, which, after trending southward across the eastern part of Columbia county, veers gradually to a westerly direction, lying to the south of the river, along the rest of its course. Soon after striking this limestone region, the river valley assumes an altogether new character, which it retains to its mouth, having now a nearly level, for the most part treeless bottom, from three to six miles in width, ten to thirty feet in height, usually more on one side than on

the other, and bounded on both sides by bold and often precipitous bluffs, 100 to 350 feet in height, of sandstone capped with limestone. Immediately along the water's edge is usually a narrow timbered strip, rising two to four feet above the river, which is overflowed at high water. The line of bluffs along the north side of the valley is the northern edge of the high limestone belt just mentioned, which reaches its greatest elevation ten to fifteen miles south of this edge. In front of the main bluff-face, es- pecially in its eastern extension, are frequently to be seen bold and high isolated outliers of the limestone country. On the north bank, the bluffs are at first the edges of similar large out- lying masses, but farther down they become more continuous, the river crossing over the north westward trending outerop line of the Lower Magnesian limestone.

In this last section of its course, the Wiscon- sin is much obstructed by bars of shifting sand, derived originally from the erosion of the great sandstone formation which underlies the whole region, and to whose existence the unusual amount of obstruction of this kind in the river is due. The altitude of the water surface of the Wisconsin at Lac Vieux Desert above Lake Michigan is 951 feet; at Wausau, above dam, 623 feet; at Knowlton (high), 538 feet-(low), 523 feet; at Stevens Point, 485 feet; at Contants Rap- ids, 468 feet; at Grand Rapids-railroad bridge- 420 feet; at Kilbourn City-railroad bridge-233 feet; at Portage, 211 feet; at Merrimack, 182 feet; at Sauk City, 165 feet; at Spring Green bridge, 134 feet; at Muscoda, 115 feet; at the mouth of the stream, 34 feet. The average velocity of the river below Portage is remarkably uniform, and is just about two miles per hour. The daily discharges of the river at Portage, in times of extreme low water, is abont 259,000,000 enbic feet. The average fall of the water surface of the river below Portage is one and one-half feet per mile. This rapid fall, were it not for the great amount of sand in the river bed, would

. HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

make the stream a series of pools and rock rap- ids.

II .- THE KICKAPOO.

The Kickapoo rises in Monroe county, that is, its main or east branch; which is frequently termed the Kickapoo proper. It runs a south- west course after entering Vernon county, throngh the towns of Whitestown, Stark, touch- ing Webster, and then after crossing into Rich- land. in which county it flows in a south course, I name.

returns to Vernon, in the town of Liberty, and at a point on section 33, in the town of Kicka- poo, receives the west branch. The river after- ward takes a southwesterly course, leaving Ver- non county on section 16, in the town last men- tioned. The river runs through Crawford county, in a southerly direction and empties into the Wisconsin, on section 17, in the town of Wauzeka, just below the village of the same

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

CHAPTER II.

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.

A much clearer and more correct knowledge ean be obtained of the topographical features and geological formations of the county, by re- ferring by townships to its water sheds, streams, springs, prairies, forests, soils and sub-soils, clays and underlying formations, than from general remarks on its entire area.

By carefully studying the references to each congressionally-surveyed township in the county, it will be seen that the whole region lies within the great driftless area of the State, and that its surface contour has never been modified by glacial action.

We notice here high rolling ridges of land, intersected in all directions with deep ravines and valleys, often bordered with precipitous cliffs,-the elevation of the ridges above the valleys being from 300 to 500 feet. The valleys in their length and breadth are the effect of erosion only; but it seems probable that the streams formerly were much larger and acted with greater rapidity and force. When we mentally reconstruet the country, as it must once have been, by filling up the valleys with the formations now found on their sides, and then add the formations whose outlines still remain, we can appreciate the immense denuda- tion which the country has undergone.

TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES AND GEOLOGICAL FOR- MATIONS OF THE VARIOUS SURVEYED TOWNSHIPS.

Towssur 8, range 3 west (Marietta in part). This township is very hilly and rough land. The hills are high, steep, and covered with heavy timber of maple, elm, oak and basswood. The soil is a sandy clay. The formations are

Potsdam, Lower Magnesian and St. Peters sandstone.

TOWNSHIP 9, range 3 west (Scott). The divide between Knapp ereek and the Kickapoo passes irregularly through the township from section 31 to section 5. The ridge is, in some places, quite wide, and contains some good farming land. The township is well watered by numerous streams flowing from its center in all directions. The timber is very large and dense. The Potsdam covers one- third of the township, including all the valleys, and the Lower Magnesian the rest, except- ing a narrow belt of St. Peters along the divide.

TOWNSHIP 10, range 3 west (Clayton in part). The divide mentioned in township 9 con- tinues through township 10, from sections 32 to section 3, with numerous lateral spurs and ridges. The township consists chiefly of high, rolling, ridge land, with numerous ravines running down to the streams. The soil is clay, and the timber very dense and large, with but little underbrush. The principal trees are maple and elm. Along the erest of the divide, on .sections 3, 9, 16 and 20, are some very conspicuous mounds formed by outliers of St. Peters sand- stone. Sink holes are also of frequent oeeur- rence. Water is obtained with difficulty on the ridges. In places wells are sunk from 100 to 165 feet. The formations are the same as in township 9.

TOWNSHIP 11, range 3 west (part of Clayton in Crawford county, and of Kickapoo in Vernon county). The eastern and central parts of this

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

township consist of high, wide, rolling ridges; and the western part, of steep, rocky bluffs. The township is watered by the Kickapoo on the west and north. Fine springs are very numerous. The valley of the Kickapoo aver- ages about a mile in width. The soil through- out the township is clay and the timber very heavy. The Potsdam covers about one-third of the township; the Lower Magnesian, one-half; and the St. Peters, one-sixth. Many loose bowlders of the St. Peters are found on the ridges where the formation cannot be found in place. The general section, in this township, of the formation is as follows:

Feet.

St. Peters sandstone. 50

Lower Magnesiah limestone. 150

Potsdam sandstone. 300

From ridge to valley, total .500

TOWNSHIP 7, range 4 west (Wanzeka in part). The part of this township which lies north of the Wisconsin river consists almost exclusively of the alluvial bottoms of that river and the Kickapoo. It is densely timbered with elm, maple, basswood, butternut, etc., with a deep, black, swampy soil. The hills which inclose the rivers are found along the north line of the township. The formations are Potsdam and Lower Magnesian.

TOWNSHIP 8, range 4 west (parts of Wauzeka, Marietta and Eastman). There is a high ridge running in a northeasterly course through this township, from which the ground slopes to the Kiekapoo and Wisconsin rivers. The country is very hilly, the ridges narrow and broken by deep ravines. The soil is clay, and the timber very large and dense. The township is well watered by the Kickapoo and its several branches. There are a great many large springs in the valley of the Kickapoo. The Potsdam covers about one-sixth of the township; the Lower Magnesian, two-thirds; and the St. Peters sandstone and Trenton limestone, one

sixth. The general section of this township, taken from the ridge of the Kickapoo is:

Feet

T.enton limestone. 30

St. Peters sandstone. 100

Lower Magnesian limestone. 180

Potsdam sandstone 170

Total from ridge to valley .480

TOWNSHIP 9, range 4 west (Haney). A large part of this township is occupied by the valley of the Kickapoo, which is from one-half to a mile wide. The stream is about 200 feet wide, very crooked and sluggish. On each side of the river the country is very hilly. The valley of the Kickapoo and the country to the east of it has the heavy timber-maple, elm, etc .; but, west of the valley, the hills are smooth and bare, many of them showing terraces of the Potsdam, and the timber is white oak in grove, on the tops of the ridges. The formations are Potsdam, one-third; Lower Magnesian, two- thirds; and some ridges and mounds of St. Peters on the eastern side.

TOWNSHIP 10, range 4 west, (east part of Utica and west part of Clayton.) The general features of this township are similar to those of township 9. The valley of the Kickapoo is wider, more sandy, and less heavily timbered. Fine springs are very numerons. The forma- tions are Potsdam and Lower Magnesian in about equal parts.

TOWNSHIP 11, range 4 west, (part of Utica in Crawford county, and of Franklin in Vernon county.) This township is composed chiefly of high, rolling ridge land, with a clay soil. In the central part of the township the soil is rather sandy, owing to a long belt of St. Peters which crosses the township from section 4 to section 34. The timber consists of groves of large white oaks. The formations are Potsdam one- sixth; Lower Magnesian two-thirds; and St. Peter 's sandstone, one-sixth.

TOWNSHIP 7, range 5 west, (Wauzeka in part) This is a very hilly township. It is wa- tered by the Wisconsin river, Grand Gris and

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Little Kickapoo. The valleys and sides of the ravines are heavily timbered with elm, maple, basswood, butternut, etc. There are two very high and wide ridges in the northern and north- western parts of the township, where the soil is clay, rather shallow, and the timber smaller and more scattering. All the formations from the Potsdam to the Galena limestone, inclusive, are represented.

TOWNSHIP 8, range 5 west, (parts of Wauze- ka and Eastman.) The high ridge which di- vides the Kickapoo and Mississippi rivers passes through the west side of this township. From it the country slopes to the east in wide, regu- lar ridges, and deep narrow ravines. The soil throughout the township is elay. The timber is small and consists of groves of small black oak. Much of the country is prairie and devoid of timber. The geological formations are the same as in township 7. The general section of this township, from section 32 on the ridge to section 36, on the Kickapoo, is as follows:

Feet.

Galena limestone 20 Blue limestone. 25 Bluff limestone .. 20 St. Peter's sandstone. 100

Lower Magnesian timestone 180

Postdam sandstone 100

From ridge to river, total . 445

TOWNSHIP 9, range 5 west, (Seneca in part.) The divide continues from the last township, from section 31 to section 3. It is very high, wide and rolling, with numerous subordinate ridges. The township is well watered by numer- ous small streams, and springs are found quite near the summit of the ridge, issuing from the numerous clay layers in the Trenton limestone. The soil is clay, frequently rather sandy. The tim- beris oak, small but quite abundant. All the for- mations from the Galena limestone to the Pots- dam, are present; the St. Peter's and the Lower Magnesian are the prevailing ones.

TOWNSHIP 10, range 5 west, (parts of Utica, Freeman and Seneca.) The divide continues a

nearly north and south course from section 34 to section 3. The general features of the coun- try are very similar to those of township 9. Much of the township is prairie. The soil is a deep clay and the timber light. With the exception of the principal ridge, the country is very hilly and the valleys very deep and narrow. The formations are Potsdam, Lower Magnesian and St. Peter's; the last two being the principal ones.

TowNsmp 11, range 5 west, (parts of Utica and Freeman in Crawford county, and of Franklin and Sterling in Vernon county.) This is chiefly a prairie country; the divide is high, wide and rolling, extending from section 35 to seetion 1. There are no large streams in the township, but numerous small ravines run- ning east and west from the divide. Small springs are quite numerous and the greater part of the township is available for agricultural purposes. The formations are St Peters and Lower Magnesian in about equal parts.

TOWNSHIP 6, range 6 west (part of the town of Bridgeport and of the city of Prairie du Chien.) That part of this township which lies north of the Wisconsin river consists of the rich alluvial bottom lands of that stream, with numerous sloughs and swamps. The bluffs which inclose the river on the north commence near the north line of the township. The town- ship is well timbered; soil, clay. The forma- tion is Lower Magnesian.

TownsHIP 7, range 6 west, (parts of the towns of Bridgeport and Prairie du Chien and of the city of Prairie du Chien.) The high ridge which divides the Kickapoo and the Mississippi begins in this township and runs northeast, passing out at section 2. The ridge is wide, level and heavily timbered with white, black and burr oak. The soil is elay. The township is well watered and springs are quite numerous. On the west side is the valley of the Missisippi from one to two miles wide between the bluffs and the river. Its soil is sandy. All the formations are present from the Galena to the Lower Magnesian, inclusive.

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

TOWNSHIP 8, range 6 west, (part of Eastman.) The land in this township is very hilly and rough, being composed of long, straight ridges, which run east and west and become quite nar- row as they approach the Mississippi on the west. There are a great many good springs arising near the ridge which in the course of a half mile sink into the ground, so that the large ravines although deep, seldom have any water in them. The soil is clay and in the western part quite stony. The timber is small and rather sparse. The formations are Galena limestone to Potsdam sandstone, inclusive. The general section of this township from section 23 to the Mississippi river is as follows:

Feet.

Galena limestone. 50

Trenton limestone (blue and buff ) 40

St. Peters sandstone .. 110

Lower Magnesian limestone. 250

Potsdam sandstone. 20

, From ridge to valley, total. 470

TOWNSHIP 9, range o west, (part of Seneca) The bend of the Mississippi river causes this to be a fractional township, containing only about twelve square miles. It is composed of steep and rocky bluffs, forming the ends of ridges, often making perpendicular cliffs and escarpments of rock for long distances along the bank of the river. The township is covered with small tim- ber. The ridges are very high, narrow and steep. The formations are the same as in town- ship 9, just mentioned.

TOWNSHIP 10, range 6 west, (parts of Seneca and Freeman). This is also a fractional town- ship and contains about twenty square miles. It is well watered by the Mississippi river and Sugar, Buck and Copper creeks. Fine large springs are very numerous. The soil through- out the township is clay and the timber small but abundant. The valleys and ridges are wide. The formations are the Potsdam and Lower Magnesian in about equal parts.

TOWNSHIP 11, range 6 west, (part of Free- man in Crawford county, and of Wheatland

and Sterling in Vernon county). This township consists chiefly of high rolling, ridge land, hav- ing an elevation from 400 to 550 feet above the Mississippi. The principal ridge is very wide and runs east and west through the northern part of the township, with numerous smaller ridges running north and south. The soil is clay, in some parts rather sandy. The timber is small, but abundant. Water is very scarce on the ridges. The only stream is Rush creek in the southern part of the township; it has a rich and fertile valley about half a mile in width. The formations are Potsdam, Lower Magnesian and St. Peters; the two latter pre- dominating.

TOWNSHIP 11, range 7 west, (part of Free- man in Crawford county, and Wheatland in Vernon county). This is a township made frac- tional by the Mississippi river, and contains about sixteen square miles. It is very hilly. The river runs close to the bluffs, which are high and precipitous. The soil is clay and the tim- ber white oak. The formations are Potsdam, Lower Magnesian and St. Peters, the second being the prevailing one.

FRACTIONAL TOWNSHIPS, 6, (being a part of Bridgeport), 7, (being a portion of the city and town of Prairie du Chien), S, (being a part of Eastman) and 10, (being a portion of Freeman), range 7 west. These fractional townships lie immediately upon the Mississippi river, the land being in many places subject to overflow in high water.

FRACTIONAL TOWNSHIPS 7, range 3 west, (in Marietta), and fractional township 6, range 7 west, (in Wanzeka), both lie immediately north of and are washed by the Wisconsin river.

EXPOSURES OF THE POTSDAM SANDSTONE.

There are some fine exposures of the Potsdam sandstone in Crawford county.

(1.) There is one on the northwest quarter of section 11, township 10, range 4 west, (('lay- ton), where a small creek enters the Kickapoo. (2.) On the Kickapoo, on the southwest quarter ef section 27, township 9, range 4 west,

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

.(laney), where the top of the Potsdam is distinctly marked by a bed of white sandstone fifteen feet thick. Above it are the transition beds, and the lower beds of the Lower Mague- sian. The Potsdam is also exposed for fifty feet below its junction with the Lower Magnesian, and consists of heavy-bedded white and yellow sandstones. The bluffs, in this vicinity, present this appearance for a distance of about a mile.

The productions of the Potsdam, which are of importance in an economical point of view, are iron, building stone and mineral waters. Iron, in the form usually of hematite, is found in Crawford county, but none is mined. Build- ing stone and sand, for mortar and plaster- ing, are obtainable ; but it is in the mineral waters obtained by means of artesian wells that the Potsdam is most valuable as yet to the county. An account of these wells will be given hereafter.

LOWER MAGNESIAN LIMESTONE.

This formation is an important one because by its decomposition it produces a rich and fer- tile soil on the ridges, and being washed down into the valleys, it fertilizes the otherwise bar- ren sand derived from the Potsdam.

In the valley of the Mississippi there is no formation which presents finer or more frequent exposures. Its hardness, and the frequent joints which it contains, predispose it to form the lofty cliffs and precipices which form such an impressive feature in the scenery of the river.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 11

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1298

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298