History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 52

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 52

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It may be mentioned in this connection, that Brigham, at an early day, kept many articles for sale to the miners and pioneer farmers. The prices current in those times were different from now. An examination of an old day-book shows that, on the 28th day of June, 1828, he sold to-

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Samuel Carman, one barrel of flour, charging for the same $8, and four pounds of sugar at 20 cents a pound. On the 17th of July of the same year, Duncan and Proctor were sold a half- bushel of salt, for which they were charged $1.25. Labor was cheap in those days. Thomas Jones was credited on the 28th of June, of the same year, with four days and a half's work, at 69 cents a day, and John Murphy with four days' work at 77 cents a day. On the 6th of Feb- ruary, 1830, Wallace Rowan is charged for one pair of moccasins, 50 cents ; for one pint of whisky, 25 cents ; for one bushel of corn, 50 cents.

Mr. Brigham, on the 23d of October, 1830, agreed with W. J. Medcalf, to winter eight head of beef cattle, from the 1st of December until the 1st of April, 1831, for $48, and also to deliver him 100 bushels of corn at the portage (Fort Winnebago) for $70. Indeed, from the start, it is evident that "Brigham's Place," was one of business ; for, during the year 1828, he had accounts with John Murphy, Thomas Jones, Downing Lot, Samuel Carman, John White, Mr. Kellogg, Kirkpatrick & Brigham, Mr. Wentworth, James Cloyd, Duncan & Proctor, Noah M. King, Mr. Dinwiddy, Terwan & Elington, Fish & Kellogg, Mr. Rader, Alexander Wilson, Soward & Blackamore, Thomas H. Price, Andrew Orr, William Fulton, George Spangle, Elijah Slater, Slater & Brigham, and Mr. Fish. It will be seen, therefore, that, although Mr. Brigham had located at the extreme eastern diggings of the lead region, he did not lack for laborers or for customers. It was not long after his location at the East Blue Mound before the road from Prairie du Chien to Fort Winnebago (this fort being erected in the fall of 1828, the very year of Brigham's arrival) was laid out, and already along the old Indian trail between these points was considerable travel. Then followed the road from Milwaukee to the Mississippi by his place ; so that by the time emigration began to set in pretty briskly in this region, the Blue Mounds presented the air of a lively place. In 1836, Mr. Brigham was ap- pointed Postmaster, the first person receiving that appointment within the present limits of the county.

The following anecdote, related by Ebenezer Childs, illustrates the " cuteness " of Mr. Brigham. "I left Carrollton about the middle of May [1827], passed through Jacksonville, where there were a few houses ; the next place was Springfield [Ill.], which had a population of about two hundred.

" Thence I went to Sangamon, where I met Ebenezer Brigham, from Worcester County, Mass. He was the first live Yankee that I had seen from my native county since I had left there, in 1816, and I was the first that he had seen from that county. I had a yoke of blind oxen that gave my men a great deal of trouble to drive. As Brigham had a treadmill, I thought my blind oxen would do as well for that purpose as though they could see, so I proposed to the gentleman from Worcester County to exchange my oxen for a borse. He said that, as we were both from Worcester County, he would try and accommodate me. I told him my oxen were a little blind, but I thought they could do him good service. After it became a little dark, I took him to see my oxen. He liked them very well. He then took me to see his horse. It was by this time quite dark. I did not examine him much, but he appeared to be a fine-looking animal. We exchanged honorably, as we were both from Worcester County. We did not wish to take any advantage of each other, as we were from the same native region ; in a word, we felt and acted like brothers. But the next morning, when I joined the drove, I found that my new horse was as blind as a bat, and I do believe he had not seen for ten years; and he appeared older than the ancient hills around us. But it was all right, as friend Brigham and I were both from Wor- cester County. 'We have many a time since langhed heartily over our early trade."

From " A Genealogical Register of the Descendants of Several Ancient Puritans by the Names of Grout, Goulding and Brigham," published in Boston in 1859, is found the following concerning the first settler of Dane County :

" He [Ebenezer Brigham] is the proprietor of a large tract of land, rich in agricultural and mineral resources, and one of the original proprietors of the city of Madison, the capital of Wis- consin, now hardly twenty years old, yet containing, in 1859, a population of 12,000 souls. Mr. Brigham depends not on his wealth, nor this humble record, to preserve his history. He is exten-

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

sively and advantageously known, and, when the whole of his character shall come to be written, the reader must feel that a good name is emphatically better than riches, and constitutes the' value of a posthumous memory." Mr. Brigham is buried in the beautiful cemetery of Forest Hill, near the city of Madison, where a fine monument is erected to his memory

DANE COUNTY EXPLORED.

While it is exceedingly probable that Americans had been in other portions of Dane County besides those washed by the Wisconsin River, yet no record is extant of any visit to its interior before that of Ebenezer Brigham in 1828. That he should have been captivated with the beanty of the lakes and their surroundings, seen as they were in a state of nature, no one who is familiar with the country can wonder.

In the month of May, 1829, James Duane Doty, Henry S. Baird and Morgan L. Martin, of Green Bay, performed a journey from their homes to Prairie du Chien on horseback. These gentlemen had, in 1825, 1826, 1827 and 1828, taken the same trip by water, by the way of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, which was then the usual mode of communication between the two places. At the time above alluded to, they were anxious to obtain a knowledge of the country outside of this route, and of which no one had previously written. They were accompanied by a Menomonee Indian as guide, who led or rode a pack-horse. Their route was not a direct one, as the Indian was not well acquainted with the country west of Lake Winnebago. Following Indian trails as far as practicable, they traveled on the east side of that Lake to Fond du Lac, thence by way of Green Lake to the Four Lakes, crossing the Yahara between Monona and Waubesa Lakes, the site of the present city of Madison, and on to the Blue Mounds and Dodge- ville, crossing the Wisconsin about six miles above its confluence with the Mississippi. They saw no white people after leaving home until they reached Brigham's, at the East Blue Mound. However, none of the impressions of these visitors were published until long after ; but events were not far distant which were to bring hundreds of Americans within what are now the limits of Dane County ; and of what they saw of this region, and especially of the Four Lakes, the outside world was soon advised. Reference is here made to the Black Hawk war.

INDIAN TRAILS.

When Americans first visited the Four Lakes, they found Indian trails leading across this region in various directions. The most noted of these was the one running from the Blue Monnds, in a northeasterly direction, to the north side of Lake Mendota ; thence in nearly a north course to what is now Poynette, in Columbia County ; thence to the portage of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, where the United States had built Fort Winnebago. In what is now the town of Montrose was a noted crossing of Sugar River, called the " Fish-Trap Ford." It was directly north of what was called at an early day, " Sugar Creek Springs " or " Dogharty's." The trail, in going north, after crossing the river at this ford, divided, one branch leading to Lake Mendota and the other to Lake Kegonsa. There was a trail leading from the northwest side of Lake Mendota round the north side of the Lake to the maple grove now known as McBride's Point (" Maple Bluff"). But the principal trail in this region led from the northwest side of Lake Mendota around its west end, in a south and southeast direction, between Lakes Wingra and Lake Monona, to the south side of the last-mentioned lake, across the Yahara, to what is now known as Winnequah. There were also trails running in a southeasterly direction on either side of the Yahara and Lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa, and in a north and-south course through the eastern parts of what is now Dane County ; but these were not so generally used as some others. As the Indians occupying this region, when first explored by Americans, were Winne- bagoes, of course these trails were Winnebago trails. Whether or not the Sacs and Foxes had any trails leading to and from the Four Lakes region is unknown ; it is reasonable to suppose, however, that they had.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

FIRST ROAD IN THE COUNTY.

The first regularly laid-out road in Dane County was what was known as the " Military Road." It was built at the expense of the United States for the transportation of supplies from Fort Howard, as the army post was called at Green Bay, to Fort Winnebago, near what is now the city of Portage, Columbia County, and Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, and for the pas- sage of troops to and from these posts. In summer, provisions and the munitions of an army could be transported in batteaus by water from the lakes to the Mississippi, but in winter this could not be done ; hence the necessity for a road between Forts Howard and Crawford, by way of Fort Winnebago. It was run out through Dane County two or three years after the build- ing, in 1828, of Fort Winnebago. The road was a crude affair, and was constructed by cutting through timber land, clearing a track about two rods wide and setting mile stakes. On the

prairies, the mile stakes were set also, and mounds thrown up of earth or stones. On the marshes and other low places, corduroy roads were made by crossing timbers, and covering with brush and earth. It followed the well-trodden Indian trail from Blue Mounds to the north west side of Lake Mendota ; thence in a northerly direction to Fort Winnebago, in what is now Columbia County. For a number of years it was quite a traveled road; but, in the course of time, was abandoned as a continuous route from the Mounds to the Portage. Concerning this highway, a report was made to Congress September 1, 1839, by Capt. T. J. Cram, as follows :

" Military road from Fort Crawford, by Winnebago, to Fort Howard, at Green Bay :

" Commencing at Prairie du Chien, and running east as far as to the Blue Mounds, this road is laid on the ridge dividing the waters flowing toward the north from those flowing toward the south. At the Blue Mounds, this dividing ridge deflects toward the northeast, and con- tinues on this course to within about four miles of Fort Winnebago, where it is lost in a summit level, denominated ' the Portage.' This remarkable summit is one among a few others of simi- lar character in our country, possessing the property of dividing the waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico from those which flow into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The part of the road from Fort Crawford to . the Portage,' a distance of about 115 miles, will need the sum of $5,700 to be expended, chiefly in the repairs and construction of small bridges and the opening of ditches, which are not only necessary to the immediate use of the road, but also to the preserva- tion of the road itself. The construction of a safe and permanent road across the ' Portage' for about four miles, will require the sum of $5,955. Owing to the periodical overflowings of this summit level, the road agross it is rendered utterly impassable, and continues so for several days at a time, amounting to some weeks during each year. At such times, the United States mail and travelers to Fort Winnebago are obliged to be taken around on a circuitous route of about fifteen miles, crossing a lake on their way, in order to reach the desired point; and it is not unfrequently the case that the unwary traveler is led into the middle of 'the Portage,' before he becomes fully apprised of his danger, when all of a sudden, his horses are mired in the midst of a flood of water, from which he finds it impossible to extricate his team, and might perish in sight of the fort, but for the assistance of the soldiers, who come off in canoes to his rescue. A thorough and critical examination has been made with a view of constructing a road around ' the Portage.' It is found, however, that the cost of such a construction, besides an increase of distance and the inconvenience of a ferry, would quite equal the cost of making the present road good and safe at all times.

" The sum required to complete the construction of the part of the road between Fort Winnebago and the south end of Lake Winnebago, a distance of about sixty miles, is $6,320. The land in the vicinity of this portion of the road is of good quality, and similar in most respects to that described elsewhere in this report. From the south end of Lake Winnebag to within about six miles of Fort Howard, at Green Bay, the road is exceedingly bad, and the cost of transportation over it is a heavy tax upon the settlers, and tends greatly to retard the settlement of the whole tract of country between Green Bay and the Wisconsin River.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

" The tract of land bordering the east side of Lake Winnebago, and thence along Neenah River to Green Bay, is chiefly covered with excellent timber, consisting of various kinds of oak, white pine, sugar-maple, basswood, black walnut, etc., and, from its proximity to navigable waters on both sides, must become valuable. The soil of this tract is deep, with a substratum of limestone, and, being well watered with numerous small brooks, is well adapted to farming. The military road along here passes directly through the settlements of the Brothertown and Stock- bridge Indians. The farms of the Brothertown people are in a promising condition ; and the clearings, fences and snug buildings show that their proprietors are not behind any of the farmers of Wisconsin in the art of agriculture. Their respectable appearance, civil and quiet demeanor, and exceedingly industrious habits, all combine to render them good and worthy citi- zens of the United States. It is to be regretted, however, that the general appearances of the Stockbridge settlements are not so favorable; and yet, were it not for the contrast of their neighbors, the Stockbridge people might be said to have evinced signs of civilization not often met with in the settlements of the red men.

"The cost of constructing the road from Fond du Lac to Green Bay, about fifty-six miles, would be $17,292, to be expended in bridging, ditching, and filling the wet places with durable materials, all of which exist in abundance on the road. Thus the whole sum required to complete the construction of the military road from Fort Crawford, by Fort Winnebago, to Fort Howard, an extent of about 235 miles, amounts to $35,267. This sum, with strict economy in adopting the most simple kind of construction, would not more than cover the cost of completing this road, which, in a military point of view, is of unquestionablei mportance ; connecting, as it does, a chain of military posts which the safety of the people of Wisconsin and the north part of Illinois will require to be maintained for several years to come."

A GLIMPSE OF THE WILDERNESS.

"During the latter part of February [1831], the cold became less severe. The snows melted away, and by the beginning of March, the weather was so warm and genial that we were quite confident of being able to make the journey [from Fort Winnebago to Chicago] on horse- back without any serious difficulty.

" Our plans once settled upon, the first thing to be provided was warm and comfortable apparel. A riding-habit of stout broadcloth was pronounced indispensable to my equipment. But of such an article I was destitute. Nothing among my wedding traveling gear seemed in any way to offer a substitute. What was to be done ? The requisite material was to be found in abundance at the settlers' store (the shantee, as it was technically termed), but how to get it manufactured into a suitable garment, was the question.

" The regimental tailor was summoned. He was cook to one of the companies, and there were at first some doubts whether he could be permitted to forsake the spit for the needle, dur- ing the time I should require his services. All his tailoring-work had, heretofore, been done at odd times on a bench in the company kitchen, and thither he now proposed to carry the riding- habit. I suggested that, in order to superintend the work, I should thus be driven to take up my abode for the time being in the barracks, which would be a decided inconvenience.

" To remedy the difficulty, he was finally so happy as to find a soldier in ' Company D,' who consented to officiate in his place as cook, until his term of service to me should expire.

" Behold, then, a little, solemn-looking man in his stocking-feet, seated cross-legged on an Indian mat by my parlor window. He had made all his arrangements himself, and I deemed it wisest not to interfere with him. The cutting-out was the most difficult part, and, as he had never made a lady's riding-habit, that task fell to my share. I was as great a novice as him- self, and I must admit that this, my first effort, was open to criticism. But the little tailor was of a different opinion. He was in an ecstasy with our joint performance.

* From " Wau Bun, The Early Day in the Northwest." By Mrs. John H. Kinzie, pp. 100-113.

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"' Upon my word, madam,' he would exclaim, surveying it with admiring eyes, 'we shall have a very respectable garment !' I do not know how many times he repeated this during the three days that the work was in progress.

" I believe he had not perfect confidence in the culinary powers of his comrade of ' Company D,' for regularly a half-hour before beat of drum, his work was folded and laid aside, his snips gathered up, and, all things being restored to order, he would slip out, resume his shoes, which, Turk-like, he had left outside the door, and speed over to the barrack-kitchen to see how matters were going on.

" In the meantime, great preparations were making below, under the supervision of our tidy, active little French servant, Mrs. Pillon, the wife of one of the engages, by whom the irregular and unmanageable Louisa had been replaced.

" Biscuits were baked, a ham, some tongues, and sundry pieces of salt pork were boiled, coffee roasted and ground, sugar cracked, isinglass cut in pieces of the size requisite for a pot of coffee. For the reception of all these different articles, cotton bags of different sizes had been previously prepared. Large sacks of skin, called by the Canadians porches, were also pro- vided to hold the more bulky provisions, for our journey was to be a long one.

"The distance from Fort Winnebago to Chicago was not very formidable, it is true, if the direct route were taken ; but that we knew to be impossible at this season of the year. The route by Kosh-ko-nong was out of the question ; all the Indians being absent from their villages in the winter, and the ice being now gone, we could have no means of crossing the Rock River at that place.

"There remained, therefore, no alternative but to proceed south to Dixon, or, as it was then called, Ogie's Ferry, the only certain means of crossing this broad and rapid stream. This route being so much out of our direct course that we could not hope to accomplish it in less than six days, it was necessary to prepare accordingly.

" While the wardrobe and provisions were thus in preparation, arrangements were also being made as to our retinue and mode of conveyance.

" Mr. Kinzie decided to take with him but two men : Plante and Pierre Roy-the former to act as guide, on the assurance that he knew every mile of the way, from the Portage to Ogie's Ferry, and from Ogie's Ferry to Chicago.

" The claims of the different saddle-horses were discussed, and the most eligible one was selected for my use. We hesitated for a time between 'Le Gris ' and ' Souris,' two much- vaunted animals, belonging to Paquette, the interpreter. At length, being determined, like most of my sex, by a regard for exterior, I chose ' Le Gris,' and 'Souris' was assigned to young Roy ; my own little stumpy pony, 'Brunet,' being pronounced just the thing for a pack- saddle. My husband rode his own bay horse ' Tom,' while Plante, the gayest and proudest of the party, bestrode a fine large animal called 'Jerry,' which had lately been purchased for my use ; and thus was our cortege complete.

" Having taken a tender leave of our friends, the morning of the 8th of March saw us mounted and equipped for our journey. The weather was fine-the streams, already fringed with green, were sparkling in the sun-everything gave promise of an early and genial season. In vain. when we reached the ferry at the foot of the hill on which the fort stood, did Maj. Twiggs repeat his endeavors to dissuade us, from commencing a journey which he assured me would be perilous beyond what I could anticipate. I was resolute.

"Our party was augmented by an escort of all the young officers, who politely insisted on accompanying us as far as Duck Creek, four miles distant. Indeed, there were some who would gladly have prosecuted the whole journey with us and escaped the monotony of their solitary, uneventful life. In our rear followed an ox-cart, on which was perched a canoe, destined to transport us over the creek, and also over an extensive marsh beyond it, which was invariably at this season overflowed with water to a considerable depth. We had much amusement in watch- ing the progress of this vehicle as it bumped and thumped over the road, unconscious hitherto of the dignity of a wheeled carriage.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

" Our little, shock-headed, sunburnt, thick-lipped Canadian (who happened most miraculously to be the husband of my pretty servant, Mrs. Pillon) vociferously shouted, as the animals lagged in their pace, or jolted against a stump, ' Marchez, don-g,' 'regardez,' ' prenez garde,' to our infinite diversion. I was in high spirits, foreseeing no hardships or dangers, but rather imagining myself embarked on a pleasure excursion across the prairies. It had not even suggested itself to me that a straw bonnet and kid gloves were no suitable equipment for such an expe- dition. Never having traveled at so inclement a season, I was heedlessly ignorant of the mode of preparing against it, and had resisted or laughed at my husband's suggestions to provide myself with blanket, socks, and a woolen capuchon for my head and shoulders. And now, although the wind occasionally lifted my head-gear with a rude puff, and my hands erelong became swollen and stiffened with the cold, I persuaded myself that these were trifling evils, to which I should soon get accustomed. I was too well pleased with the novelty of my outfit, with my hunting-knife in a gay scabbard hanging from my neck, and my tin cup at my saddle-bow, to regard minor inconveniences.

"On reaching Duck Creek, we took leave of our young friends, who remained on the bank long enough to witness our passage across-ourselves in the canoe, and the poor horses swim- ming the stream, now filled with cakes of floating ice.

" Beyond the rising ground which formed the opposite bank of the stream, extended a marsh of perhaps three hundred yards across. To this the men carried the canoe which was to bear us over. The water was not deep, so our attendants merely took off the pack from Brunet, and my side-saddle from Le Gris, for fear of accidents, and then mounted their own steeds, leading the two extra ones. My husband placed the furniture of the pack-horse and my saddle in the center of the canoe, which he was to paddle across.

""'Now, wife,' said he, 'jump in and seat yourself flat in the bottom of the canoe.'

"' Oh, no,' said I, 'I will sit on the little trunk in the center ; I shall be so much more comfortable, and I can balance the canoe exactly."

"' As you please; but I think you will find it is not the best way.'

" A vigorous push sent us a few feet from the bank. At that instant, two favorite grey- hounds, which we had brought with us, and which had stood whining upon the bank, reluctant to take to the water, as they were ordered, gave a sudden bound and alighted full upon me. The canoe balanced a moment, then yielded, and, quick as thought, dogs, furniture and lady were in the deepest of the water.

" My husband, who was just preparing to spring into the canoe when the dogs thus uncere- moniously took precedence of him, was at my side in a moment, and, seizing me by the collar of my cloak, begged me not to be frightened. I was not in the least, and only laughed as he raised and placed me again upon the bank.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 52

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1304

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304