USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 51
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 51
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"After Brisbois died, I was promoted to the first lieutenaney in the volunteer company of Dodge Guards, and received my commission dated from the 13th day of Angust, 1847. I took an active part in the affairs of the post, often performing duties that belonged more properly to the commanding officer, while Capt. Knowlton, being a superior disciplinarian, took much pride in drilling the men."
[1847]
On the 14th of September, 1847, Major love, commandant,at Fort Crawford received orders to repair to Baton Rogue, and left immediately. [1848]
"In the year 1848 a society was formed at Fort Crawford" says Mr. Fonda "called the 'Fort Crawford Temperance Society.' The object of the society was to promote the cause of temperance. All that was requisite to be- come a member was to sign a pledge to abstain from the use of liquor as as a common beverage, for six months, a year, or any length of time a person joining might see fit to set opposite his name. The society met each Saturday night, and so long as the interest was kept up, its in-
fluence may have been beneficial; but like many such societies, it was short lived and its effects forgotten.
"It is an impossibility to keep liquor out of the garrison, if the men are determined to have it. No matter how vigilant and watchful the officers may be, the soldiers will smuggle it in some way. Maj. Garland had arrived at Fort Crawford, and was stopping at my quarters, and was expected to inspect the men. So striet orders were given to prevent the men passing in and out with suspicious pack- ages, and to search all such, to see if they had whisky about them. Trusty sentinels were put on guard at all the sally-ports, and when the first review came off, every man was in his place, and after Capt. Knowlton had drilled them awhile, the major was perfectly satisfied with their discipline and equipments, and com- plimented the officers on the fine appearance of the men. That same evening, after supper, Maj. Garland proposed a stroll through town It was a nice, moonlight night, and we remained out some time after tattoo. When we reached the gate that opened into the grounds that sur- rounded the fort, something attracted the ma- jor's attention, and he pointed an object out to men, and asked: 'Is that a eat going towards the fort?' I looked in the direction, and sup- posing it was only a cat creeping across the green, I paid no more attention to it. When we were about to enter the little private wicket in the northeast gate, Maj. Garland spoke and said: 'See, that eat is making in this direction; it moves strange, let us see what's the matter with it.' So passing along under the wall, we reached a little ditch paved with rock, that car- ried off the water from the inside of the fort, here we discovered a string stretching out to- wards the cat, that still continued to approach us. Stepping on this string the major cut it, and all at once the cat stopped within a few feet of us. It was evident the string governed the motions of the cat, and taking hold of one end, we drew the apparent cat up to us; but en close
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
examination, it proved to be a cat's skin, stuffed with a bladder full of whisky! The ma- jor had just been speaking of the unusual sober appearance of the volunteers, while I had landed the reforming influence of the temper- anee society. He little suspected that the pa- trol guard we passed in our walk, had the bar- rels of their guns charged with fire-water, war- ranted to kill forty rods; but it was even so. .
"On the 6th day of September, 1848, I ob- tained 'my honorable discharge' from the 'Dodge Guards,' and returned to citizen, but not to pri- vate, life; for soon my friends offered me the office of justice, which I accepted and held for a number of years; since which time, all matters of interest have been noticed by many other persons, who have made the public familiar with them. I will merely remark, that I have witnessed the gradnal progress of civilization in the west for fifty years; came to Prairie du Chein when it was the most extreme settlement in the northwest; have seen the dawning of a new epoch, since the introduction of railroads and the electric telegraph, and being yet strong and robust, I may live to enjoy a share of their benefits."
[1856].
On the 12th of June, 1856, the government officers and troops departed with stores and pro- visions, on the steamer War Eagle, for Fort
Snelling. The garrison consisted of four com- panies of United States rifles. The local news- papers expressed the desire that the fort would not be used again as such, and the grounds should be brought into market.
The Fort Crawford military lands were pur- chased of J. II. Lockwood and James D. Doty, by the United States, in the year 1829 and cov- ered the front and main portions of farm lots numbered 33 and 34, of the private land claims at Prairie du Chien, and comprised about 160 aeres. Fort Crawford, as we have seen, was built on this traet in 1829, 1830 and 1831. There was also a reservation of section 18, township 7, in range 4 west, in what is now the town of Wanzeka, near the present village of Wauzeka. This section has its southeast corner at the mouth of the Kickapoo river; the traet was gen- erally known as the "Cattle Guard." On the 17th of November, 1864, the acting commis- sioner of the general land office, by order of the war department, offered for sale at publie ane- tion, at La Crosse, the government land at Fort Crawford, which had been surveyed aud sub-di- vided into town lots, 80x140 feet, with streets sixty-five feet and alleys twenty feet wide, con- forming to the plat of the village of Prairie du Chien. Then and subsequently all these lots were sold and the United States were thus di- vested of all interest in the military lands and reservation in Crawford county.
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
355
CHAPTER XV.
TERRITORIAL, STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.
From the date of the organization of the northwest territory in 1787, until the time when what is now Wisconsin became a part of the territory of Michigan, the inhabitants upon the " prairie" had no voice in sending any officer to represent them, either in the legislatures of the northwest territory, the territory of Indiana or the territory of Illinois, or in the Congress of the United States. But the creation of Craw- ford county in 18)8, soon brought with it the power to hold elections for delegates in Con- gress The following were the successful can didates, all of whom received more or less vote. in Crawford county:
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES FROM MICHIGAN TER -
RITORV.
XVIth Congress, William Woodbridge,* 1819-20. Solomon Sibley,+ 1820-21.
XVIIth Congress, Solomon Sibley, 1821-23. XVIIIth Congress, Gabriel Richards, 1823-25. XIXth Congress, Austin E. Wing, 1825-27. XXth Congress, Austin E. Wing, 1827-29. XXIst Congress, John Biddle, 1829-31.
XXIId Congress, Austin E. Wing, 1831-33. XXIIId Congress, Lucius Lyon, 1833-35.
XXIVth Congress, George W. Jones,1 1835-37.
Members of the Legislative Council of the territory of Michigan, representing districts of which one of the counties was Crawford, were also voted for on the "prairie," so that there
was in fact a representation at Detroit as well as at Washington.
DELEGATES TO CONGRESS FROM WISCONSIN TER-
RITORY.
George W. Jones, elected Oct. 10, 1836.
James D. Doty, elected Sept. 10, 1838.
James D. Doty, elected Aug. 5, 1840.
Henry Dodge, elected Sept. 27, 1841.
Henry Dodge, elected Sept. 25, 1813.
Morgan L. Martin, elected Sept. 22, 1845.
John II. Tweedy, elected Sept. 8, 1847.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF WISCONSIN TERRI-
TORY, REPRESENTING CRAWFORD COUNTY.
[1.]- CRAWFORD.
First session, First Legislative Assembly: no member; 1836.
Second session, First Legislative Assembly: no member; 1837-38.
Special session, First Legislative Assembly: no member; 1838.
First session, Second Legislative Assembly: George Wilson; 1838.
Second session, Second Legislative Assembly: George Wilson; 1839.
Third session, Second Legislative Assembly: Joseph Brisbois *; 1839-40.
Fourth (extra) session, Second Legislative Assembly: Charles J. Learnedt; 1840.
[II.]-CRAWFORD AND ST. CROIX.
First session, Third Legislative Assembly: Charles J. Learned; 1840-1.
Second session, Third Legislative Assembly: Charles J. Learned; 1841-2.
*Resigned In 1820
+To fill vacancy of William Woodbridge, resigned.
$Was a delegate until Michigan became a State, with nis residence in Wisconsin, which was iben a portion of the territory of Michigan.
*In place of George Wilson, resigned.
+In place of Joseph Brisbois, resigned.
22
356
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
First session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: Theophilus LaChapelle; 1842-3.
Second session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: Theophilus LaChapelle; 1843-4.
Third session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: Wiram Knowlton; 1845.
[III.]-CRAWFORD, CHIPPEWA, ST. CROIX AND
LA POINTE.
Fourth session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: Wiram Knowlton; 1846.
[IV.]-CRAWFORD.
First session, Fifth Legislative Assembly: Benjamin F. Manahan; 1847.
[v.]-CRAWFORD, CHIPPEWA, ST. CROIX AND LA POINTE.
Special session, Fifth Legislative Assembly: Benjamin F. Manahan; 1847.
Second session, Fifth Legislative Assembly: Benjamin F. Manahan; 1848.
By the apportionment of members of the First Legislative Assembly of the territory of Wisconsin, as made by Gov. Dodge, upon the basis of a census taken in 1836, Crawford connty was allowed two members of the house of Representatives, but no member of the Council. The people of this eounty claimed that, under the organic act, each county was entitled to be represented in each house; and Thomas P. Burnett was unanimously elected by them to be a member of the Council. The full number of members authorized by law had, however, been chosen in other counties, pur- suant to the governor's apportionment and proclamation; and very naturally Mr. Burnett's election was not certified to by the governor, nor was he admitted to the seat which he claimed.
MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY OF WISCONSIN TERRI- TORY, REPRESENTING CRAWFORD COUNTY.
[1 ] .- CRAWFORD COUNTY.
First session, First Legislative Assembly : James HI. Lockwood, James B. Dallam, 1836.
Second session, First Legislative Assembly : Ira B. Brunson, Jean Brunet, 1837-8.
Special session, First Legislative Assembly : Ira B. Brunson, Jean Brunet, 1838.
First session, Second Legislative Assembly : Alexander McGregor, 1838.
Second session, Second Legislative Assembly: Alexander McGregor, Ira B. Brunson, 1839.
Third session, Second Legislative Assembly : Ira B. Brunson, Alexander McGregor, 1839-40.
Fourth ( extra ) session Second Legislative Assembly : Ira B. Brunson, Alexander Mc- Gregor, 1840.
[II ] .- CRAWFORD AND ST. CROIX.
First session, Third Legislative Assembly : Alfred Brunson, Joseph R. Brown, 1840-1.
Second session, Third Legislative Assembly : Joseph R. Brown, Alfred Brunson, 1841-2 .*
First session, Fourth Legislative Assembly : John H. Manahan, 1842-3.
Second session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: John H. Manahan, 1843-4.
Third session, Fourth Legislative Assembly : James Fisher, 1845.
[ III ] .- CRAWFORD, CHIPPEWA, ST. CROIX AND LA POINTE.
Fourth session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: James Fisher, 1846.
[IV ] .- CRAWFORD.
First session, Fifth Legislative Assembly : Joseph W. Furber, 1847.
[v] .- CRAWFORD, CHIPPEWA, ST. CROIX AND LA POINTE.
Special session, Fifth Legislative Assembly : Ilenry Jackson, 1847.
Second session, Fifth Legislative Assembly : Ilenry Jackson, 1848.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
The first constitutional convention assembled at Madison, on the 5th day of October, 1846, and adjourned on the 16th day of December following, having framed a constitution, which was submitted to a vote of the people on the first Tuesday in April, 1847, and rejected. The person representing Crawford county in the convention was Peter A. R. Brace.
*Seat contested and awarded to Theophilus La Chapelle,
1
357
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
The second constitutional convention assem- bled in Madison Dee. 15, 1847, and adjourned Feb. 1, 1848, having framed a constitution, which was submitted to a vote of the people on the second Monday in March following, and adopted. It was the constitution of Wisconsin, now (1884) in force. The member representing Crawford county in the second constitutional convention, was Daniel G. Fenton; he repre- sented Chippewa county, also.
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE WHO HAVE REPRESENT- ED CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Senators representing even numbered dis- tricts were elected in 1881, and hold office till Jan. 1, 1885, those from odd numbered districts were elected in 1882 and hold office until Jan. 1, 1887. Senators are elected for four years. As Crawford county is in the fourth senatorial district (an even number) a Senator will be elected in the fall of 1884, and every four years thereafter, who will represent the county in the State senate.
1848-Third distriet, D. G. Fenton.
1849-50-Third district, James Fisher.
1851-52-Third district, Hiram A. Wright. 1853-54-Fifteenth district, Levi Sterling.
1855-56-Nineteenth district, William T. Gibson.
1857-Thirtieth district, William T. Price.
1858-59-Thirtieth district, William 11 Tucker.
1860-61-Thirtieth district, Buel E. Hutch- inson.
1862-Thirtieth district, N. S. Cate.
1863-Thirtieth district, William S. Purdy. 1864-6-Thirtieth district, Wm. Ketcham. 1866-67-Thirtieth district, Benjamin Bull. 1868-69-Thirtieth district, Wm. Ketcham.
1870-71-Thirtieth district, George Krous- kop.
1872-73-Twenty-eighth district, Henry L. Eaton.
1874-75-Twenty-eighth district, George Krouskop.
1876-77-Twenty-eighth district, Daniel L. Douns.
1878-79-Fourth district, George W. Swain. 1880-81-Fourth district, O. B. Thomas.
1882-83-Fourth district, Van S. Bennett.
MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY WHO HAVE REPRE- SENTED CRAWFORD COUNTY.
From the organization of the State to the fall of 1882, members of Assembly were elect- ed annually; the biennial election beginning in the fall of 1884.
[I.]-CHIPPEWA AND CRAWFORD.
First session, 1848, Wm. T. Sterling. Second session 1849, James O'Neill. Third session, 1850, Wm. T. Sterling. Fourth session, 1851, Wm. T. Price.
[1].]-BAD AX, CIHIPPEWA, CRAWFORD AND LA CROSSE.
Fifth session, 1852, Andrew Briggs.
[III. ]-BAD AX AND CRAWFORD.
Sixth session, 1853, Hiram A Wright. Seventh session, 1854, Win. F. Terhune. Eighth session, 1855, James Fisher. Ninth session, 1856, Andrew Briggs. Tenth session, 1857. Buel E. Hutchinson. Eleventh session, 1858, James R. Savage. Twelfth session, 1859, Thomas W. Tower. Thirteenth session 1860, Wm. C. McMichael. Fourteenth session, 1861, Daniel I1. Johnson. Fifteenth session, 1862, O. B. Thomos. Sixteenth session, 1863, James Fisher. Seventeenth session, 1864, Horace Beach. Eighteenth session, 1865, O. B. Thomas. Nineteenth session, 1866, Geo. E. Ilarrington.
Twentieth session, 1867, O. B. Thomas.
Twenty-first session, 1868, James Fisher.
Twenty-second session, 1869, Benj. F. Fary.
Twenty-third session, 1870, William Raymond. Twenty-fourth session, 1871, D. W. Briggs. Twenty-fifth session, 1872, O. A. Caswell. Twenty-sixth session, 1873, Peter Doyle. Twenty-seventh session, 1874, Wm. 11. Evans. Twenty-eighth session, 1875, Zenas Beach. Twenty-ninth session, 1876, Fergus Mills.
Thirtieth session, 1877, S. L. Wannemaker.
358
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
-
Thirty-first session, 1878, J. H. Jewel.
Thirty-second session, 1879, Atley Peterson. Thirty-third session, 1880, Atley Peterson. Thirty-fourth session, 1881, Atley Peterson. Thirty-fifth session, 1882, Atley Peterson. Thirty-sixth session, 1883, Thomas Curley. UNITED STATES SENATORS FROM WISCONSIN. Isaac P. Walker, elected June 8, 1848.
Henry Dodge, elected June 8, 1848.
Isaac P. Walker, January, 1849.
Henry Dodge, elected January 30, 1851.
Charles Durkee, elected February 1, 1855. James R. Doolittle, elected January 23, 1857. Timothy O. Howe, elected January 23. 1861. James R. Doolittle, elected January 22, 1863. Timothy O. Howe, elected January 24, 1867. Matt. H Carpenter, elected January 26, 1869. Timothy O. Howe, elected January 21, 1873. Angus Cameron, elected February 3, 1875.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WIIO HAVE REPRESENTED CRAWFORD COUNTY.
XXXth Congress, 1847-49, Second District- Mason C. Darling.
XXXIst Congress, 1849-51, Second District- Orsamus Cole.
XXXIId Congress, 1851-53, Second Distriet- Benjamin C. Eastman.
XXXIIId Congress, 1853-55, Second District -Benjamin C. Eastman.
XXXIVth Congress, 1855-57, Second District -Caldwallader C. Washurn.
XXXVth Congress, 1857-59, Second District Caldwallder C. Washburn.
XXXVIth Congress, 1859-61, Second District -Cadwallder C. Washburn.
XXXVIIth Congress, 1861-63, Second Dis- trict-Luther Hanchott* and Walter D. McIn- doe.
XXXVIIIth Congress, 1863-65, Third Dis- trict-Amasa Cobb.
XXXIXth Congress, 1865-67, Third District -Amasa Cobb.
XLth Congress, 1867-69, Third District- Amasa Cobb.
XLIst Congress, 1869-71, Third District- Amasa Cobb.
XLIId Congress, 1871-73, Third District- J. Allen Barber.
XLIIId Congress, 1878-75, Third District -- J. Allen Barber.
XLIVth Congress, 1875-77, Third District- Henry S. Magom.
XLVth Congress, 1877-79, Third District- George C. Hazelton.
XLVIth Congress, 1879-81, Third District- George. C. Hazelton.
XLVIIth Congress, 1881-83, Third District- George C. Hazelton.
XLVIIIth Congress, 1833-85, Seventh Dis- trict-Gilbert M. Woodward.
*Died Nov. 24, 1862, and Walter D. Mcindoe clected to fill the vacancy, Dec. 30, 1862.
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
359
CHAPTER XVI.
THE COURTS-PAST AND PRESENT.
From the first settlement in 1781, in what was afterward Crawford county, until the year 1805, the citizens, confined in their residences to the "Prairie des Chiens," were without administra- tive officers, or other constituted authorities, but permitted the most learned man to exercise the powers of civil magistrate, according to his understanding of their traditionary customs. In accordance with the Jay treaty, Great Brit- ain surrendered all pretentions to the north- west on the 1st of July; 1796, and the people of Prairie des Chiens became by adoption, citizens of the United States, without any agency of their own. But the new government was in no condition to extend its civil jurisdiction to a few people so remote, and they were now left more than ever to themselves. They were simply recognized as citizens of the northwest territory, of whom even the govenor had heard but little. Upon the formation of Indiana territory, "Prai- rie des Chiens" fell into the jurisdiction of it; and now, for the first time, the citizens of the "prairie" were made fully aware that they were amenable to territorial laws, in the appoint- ment among them, as a justice of the peace, of Henry Monroe Fisher,
Mr. Fisher held his office of justice of the peace and captain of militia by appointment of the governor of Indiana territory, which terri- tory then (1805) included also the whole of the present State of Wisconsin. Being an influen- tial trader, Mr. Fisher, in his triple capacity, became the most prominent man in "Prairie des Chiens." His parents were Scotch, or of Scotch descent; and he was born near Lake Champlain,
not far from the line separating the State of New York from Lower Canada, or Canada East. He came from Canada by way of Mackinaw and Green Bay, somewhere about 1790. Ile carried on a very extensive trade with the Indians in "Prairie des Chiens" region, and furnished out- fits to other traders, some of whom traded above, and others below that place. The Sauks, Foxes, Sioux, Winnebagoes and Menomonees then re- sorted there in great numbers for the purpose of procuring supplies of clothing, ammunition, etc.
Mr. Fisher continued in trade at the "prairie" until 1815, when he left in company with his son, and a son of the late Michael Brisbois, to join the Hudson Bay company, as trader on the Red river of the north, and continued in the service of that company until 1824. In 1826 he had just returned from Lac Traverse, the head water of the Minnesota river, where he had passed two years in the employ of the American Fur Company. He then gave unmis- takable evidences of a man of extraordinary activity and vigor for his age. 1Ie died at Prai- rie du Chien in 1827. Ile was a tall, well-built athletic man, and capable of enduring hardships and fatigue, and of course well calculated for a frontier life of those times. IIe was easily ex- cited, and possessed indomitable courage and perseverance. The only judicial office that he ever held was that of justice of the peace, at Prairie du Chien, as before mentioned.
One of the daughters of Mr. Fisher was, first, the wife of Joseph Rolette ; afterward,
360
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
the wife of Hercules L. Dousman. Another daughter is Mrs. Henry S. Baird, of Green Bay.
After the formation of the Territory of Illi- nois, Prairie des Chiens passed under its juris- diction, as did all the rest of what is now Wis- consin. The citizens upon the "prairie" were now residents of the county of St. Clair, in the Territory of Illinois, and they had as successor to Mr. Fisher, as justice of the peace, an Irish- man, appointed by the governor of that terri- tory, by the name of John Campbell.
This officer was also a sub-Indian agent at Prairie des Chiens." Concerning Campbell, we have an interesting narrative from the pen of James H. Lockwood, who says :
"Campbell charged, for celebrating the rites of matrimony, 100 pounds of flour, and for dis- solving them, 200 pounds, alleging that when people wanted to get unmarried, they would willingly give double what they would origi- nally to form the matrimonial connection.
"The coutume de Paris [law of Paris] so far prevailed in this country generally, that a part of the ceremony of marriage was the entering into a contraet in writing, generally giving, if no issue, the property to the survivor ; and if they desired to be divorced, they went together before the magistrate and made known their wishes. and he, in their presence, tore up the marriage contraet, and according to the custom of the country, they were then divorced. I was once present at Judge Abbott's, at Mackinaw, when a couple presented themselves before him and were divorced in this manner. When the laws of Michigan were first introduced at Prairie du Chien, it was with difficulty that the justice of the peace could persuade them that a written contract was not necessary, and some of them believed that because the contract of mar- riage gave the property to the survivor, that they were not obliged to pay the debts which the deceased owed at the time of his death.
"There was an instance of this at Praire du Chien. A man by the name of Jean Marie
Quen (de Lamouche,) who had been married by contract, died without issue, leaving a widow, some personal property and a good farm, but was indebted to Joseph Rolette about $300, which his widow refused to pay, alleging that ·the contract of marriage gave her all the prop- erty ; nor could she be convinced to the con- trary, until I had brought suit and obtained a judgment.
"In the absence of religious instructions, and it becoming so common to see the Indians use so little ceremony about marriage, the idea of a verbal matrimonial contract became familiar to the early French settlers ; and they generally believed such a contract of marriage was valid without any other ceremony. Many of the women; married in this way, believed, in their simplicity and ignorance, that they were as law- fully the wives of the men they lived with as though they had been married with all the cere- mony and solemnity possible.
"A woman at Prairie du Chien, respectable in her class, told me that she was attending a ball in the place, and that a trader, who resided on the lower Mississippi had his canoe loaded to leave as soon as the ball was over, proposed to marry her; and as he was a trader, and ranked above her, she was pleased with the offer, and as his canoe was in waiting, he would not delay for further ceremony. . She stepped from the ballroom on board his canoe, and went with him down the Mississippi and they lived together, three or four years, and she had two children by him. She assured me she then be- lieved herself as much the wife of this man as if she had been married with all the ceremony of the most civilized communities, and was not convinced to the contrary until he unfeelingly abandoned her and married another ; and from her manner of relating it, I believed her sincere.
"In speaking of the courts of justice of the county, and of their county seats, Mr. Brisbois related to me that some time previous to the War of 1812, he and Mr. Campbell had a dis- pute about a heifer that was worth at the time,
361
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
perhaps $8 ; and as each believed it to be his property, they applied to they applied to the lawyer at Cahokia to assist them in finding out who was the real owner. The mode of travel- ing in those days, was in a canoe, manned with six or eight men to paddle, and taking with them some flour, tea and sugar for the burgeois, and some hulled corn and deer tallow, enough to season the soup for the men, depending upon shooting game by the way, or buying wild fowl or venison from the Indians. The parties liti- gant were obliged to take their witnesses with them, paying them for their time and expenses, from their departure until their return home. The parties were also obliged to take a bundle of beaver skins, and dispose of them at St. Louis to pay the expenses of lawyers."
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