History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 60

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 60

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).

400

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

cur, but this animal, as a rule, proved himself wholly unreliable for such a service. So long as the wolf would run the cur would follow ; but the wolf, being apparently acquainted with the character of his pursuer, would either turn and place himself in a combative attitude, or else act upon the principle that " discretion is the better part of valor," and throw himself upon his back in token of surrender. This strategic performance would make instant peace between these two scions of the same house ; and not infrequently dogs and wolves have been seen play- ing together like puppies. But the hound was never known to recognize a flag of truce; his baying seeming to signify "no quarter ;" or at least, so the terrified wolf understood it.

Smaller animals, such as panthers, lynx, wildcats, catamounts and polecats, were also sufficiently numerous to be troublesome. And an exceeding source of annoyance were the swarms of mosquitoes, which aggravated the trials of the settler in the most exasperating degree. Persons have been driven from the labors of the field by their unmerciful assaults.

The trials of the pioneer were innumerable, and the cases of actual suffering might fill a volume of no ordinary size. Timid women became brave through combats with real dangers, and patient mothers grew sick at heart with the sight of beloved children failing in health from lack of the commonest necessaries of life. The struggle was not for ease or luxury, but was a constant one for the sustaining means of life itself.

DANE COUNTY ON EARLY MAPS.

The country of the Four Lakes, all of which was afterward included in Dane County, appears for the first time with any degree of accuracy upon a map published in 1829, by R. W. Chandler, of Galena, entitled a "Map of the United States Lead Mines, on the Upper Missis- sippi River." The four lakes are represented with a tolerable degree of accuracy, but, as the date of the publication of the map was prior to the survey of the country by the General Gov- ernment, they are not designated by numbers ; indeed, no names are given them. The stream which runs through them (now known as the Yahara) is designated as the Cos ca-ho-e-nah. It is stated that there is " Fine farming land around these lakes." Time has verified this, notwith- standing a writer who visited this region in 1832, declared that the country in which the lakes are situated, " is not fit for any civilized nation of people to inhabit." "It appears," says the writer, " that the Almighty intended it for the children of the forest."

Two Indian (Winnebago) villages are indicated on this map as being located in the Four Lakes region-one on the north side of what is now known as Mendota Lake; the other, on the southeast side of Lake Waubesa. Through the first of these villages runs a "trace " from the Blue Mounds to the portage (Fort Winnebago, now the city of Portage). Through the second, runs a " trace " from Spotted-Arms village to Green Bay. Both these traces or trails lead from the Lead Region in a northeast direction, through what is now Dane County. The trail which led along the north side of Lake Mendota, was the one then traveled by persons going from Prairie du Chien or Cassville to Fort Winnebago. It ran northeasterly through Dodgeville, by the Blue Mounds and Lake Mendota ; thence in a more northerly direc- tion, across Duck Creek, in what is now Columbia County, to the portage.

On John Farmer's " Map of the Territories of Michigan and Ouisconsin," published in 1830, the country of the Four Lakes is fairly represented. The publisher evidently drew largely for information from some one acquainted with this region. The name given to the Yahara, is Goosh-ke-hawn, or River of the Four Lakes ; the first word having a resemblance to the one heretofore mentioned, Cos-ca-ho-e-nah, the principal change being in the pronunciation of the last part, which, if rapidly enunciated, nearly corresponds with the syllable " hawn." Lake Koshkonong is noted as " The Lake We Live On." This map not only gives the two Winne- bago villages, described on Chandler's map as being located, one on the north side of Lake Mendota, and the other on the southeast side of Lake Waubesa, but also locates a third one, giving its site as on the south side of Lake Monona.

401

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

No sooner had a considerable portion of the country south of the Wisconsin and Fox Riv- ers been surveyed by the General Government, than there appeared a " Map of the Surveyed Part of Wisconsin Territory, Compiled from Public Surveys." It accompanied " Reports and Estimates from the Surveyors General for the Year 1836," made to the first session of the Thirty-fourth Congress. In a letter to E. A. Brown, Commissioner of the General Land Office, dated September 21, 1835, Robert T. Lytle, one of the Surveyors General, says : " In the Northwest (or Wisconsin) Territory, there remains to be surveyed only the tract ceded to the United States by the united nation of the Chippewa, Ottawas and Pottawatomie Indians, by treaty of Chicago, of September 26, 1833, embraced in the Green Bay Land District. This tract did not include any portion of what is now Dane County. As the various townships after- ward erected into this county had been surveyed, the representation upon the map of the country of the Four Lakes was much more accurate than upon any preceding one. The Government plats were an excellent guide for the draughtsman. However, as it was about a year subse- quent to this that Dane County was created, of course its boundaries are not indicated on the map.

The last map published before the erection of Dane County, was one by David H. Burr, draughtsman to the House of Representatives of the United States. It was entitled " Map of the Territory of Wisconsin," and was dated 1836. It shows that the territory now constituting Dane County was then in both the Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Land Districts. On the north side of Lake Mendota is located the " City of the Four Lakes," and there is given the line of a " Proposed Rail Road," extending direct from the mouth of the Wisconsin, east to the " City " just mentioned ; thence, in a course nearly due east to Milwaukee. On this map and on the one last above described, the " Battle Ground " is prominently located, where was fought the battle of Wisconsin Heights, between the Americans and Black Hawk's army.

On Farmer's " Map of the Territories of Michigan and Ouisconsin," of 1836, the " Four Lakes " are partly in "Milwalky County," and partly in the county of Iowa. It was not, however, until all the lands south of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers had been surveyed ; not until many new counties, in the beginning of the winter of 1836-37, had been created, that a map was published showing Dane as one of the counties of Wisconsin Territory. This was entitled a " Map of Wiskonsin Territory, Compiled from the Public Surveys." Now, for the first time, Madison appears upon a Territorial map ; and the " City of the Four Lakes " is still in existence-upon paper. The Lakes are numbered as upon the Government plats. The lower one is the " First Lake;" the next one the "Second Lake ;" the one next above, the "Third Lake," and the last one, the "Fourth Lake." A tributary of the latter, upon its north side, is "Tokun River;" while the stream which connects the Lakes is put down as the " River of the Four Lakes." The small lake to the southwest of Kegonsa is denominated " Weengra Lake." Since the publication of this map, there has been no lack of accurate delineations of Dane County and the Four Lakes.

ORGANIZATION.

By an act of the Territorial Legislature, approved March 11, 1839, it was provided that the county of Dane, from and after the first Monday of the succeeding month of May, should be an organized county for all the purposes for which any county in the Territory had been organized. It was provided, also, that the first election should be held on the first Monday of the month last mentioned, at the American Hotel, in Madison, and thereafter the elections were to be holden at such times and places as should be provided by law. The returns of the first election were to be made to the Clerk of the Supreme Court at Madison, who was, in the pres- ence of one or more Justices of the Peace, to canvass the same and certify the result.

The term of the District Court, required to be held in the month of April in each year, was not to be holden until the Judge of the district should so order, which order was to be directed to the Sheriff, and by him published at least two months before the time of holding the court; and the Librarian of the Territory was required, on the application of the Board of

402

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Commissioners of the county, to canse to be opened a suitable room in the capitol at Madison, in which the sessions of the District Court should be held until otherwise provided for.

The term of office of the Board of Commissioners first elected in the county, was to be de- termined as had already been provided for in the second section of an act, entitled " An act organizing a Board of County Commissioners in each county in this Territory," approved De- cember 20, 1837.

At the election on the first Monday in May, 1839, as provided by the act of organization, the following county officers were chosen : Eben Peck, Simeon Mills and Jeremiah Lycan, Commissioners : John Stoner, Treasurer ; Robert L. Ream, Register of Deeds ; William A. Wheeler, Assessor, and Adam Smith, Constable.

The following appointments were made by the Governor for Dane County : John Catlin, District Attorney ; Isaac H. Palmer, Judge of Probate; Nathaniel T. Parkinson, Sheriff; Isaac Atwood, Administrator ; George P. Delaplaine, District Surveyor ; William N. Seymour, Justice of the Peace, vice Eben Peck, resigned; John T. Wilson, Auctioneer.

At the first meeting of the Commissioners, held May 15, 1839, Eben Peck was appointed Chairman, and La Fayette Kellogg Clerk. The latter resigned on the 22d of July following, and R. L. Ream was appointed in his place. On May 16, the county was divided into two election precincts-Madison and Moundville.

At the general election, held on the first Monday of August following, a number of county officers was elected. The following "notice " was published several times in the Wisconsin Enquirer, the only paper then printed in Dane County :

Agreeably to an act of the Territorial Legislature, approved March 7, 1839, the qualified electors of the county of Dane are hereby notified that an election will be opened at the several precincts heretofore established, on the first Monday [5th ] of August next, then to choose by ballot one person for Delegate to Congress, one Register of Desds, one County Treasurer, one Collector, one Coroner, three Assessors, two Constables in the Madison District and one Constable in the Moundville District, which election will be opened at 9 o'clock in the morning and will continue open until 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. Dated at Madison, this 16th day of May, A. D. 1839. (Signed) L. F. KELLOGG,

Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners.

As already mentioned, the county had been divided into two election districts, or precincts. At the one known as the Madison Precinct, the following persons voted at the August election : Berry Haney, A. A. Bird, George A. Tiffany, John Vosburg, George Vroman, William N. Seymour,* Darwin Clark,* W. W. Wyman, W. G. Simonds, Almon Lull, John Catlin, John T. Wilson, Simeon Mills,* Abel Rasdall, W. G. Van Bergen, Ebenezer Brigham, N. T. Park- inson, Charles H. Bird,* Jefferson Kinney, Samuel Chappell, Zenas H. Bird, Reuben Brown, Abram Wood, Lucius Hammond, Prosper B. Bird, Isaac H. Palmer, Eben Peck, Thomas Jack- son, Jonathan Butterfield, Charles S. Peaslee, * Josiah A. Noonan, R. L. Ream, W. B. Slaughter, George H. Slaughter,* J. Pelkie, Adam Smith,* A. Wakefield, W. A. Wheeler,* W. Hoadley, David Hyer, H. Lawrence, J. S. Potter, George Baker, Oliver Emell, John Stoner, John ; Betts, Henry Fake, N. C. Prentiss, Nelson Hart, Thomas Perry, Isaac Atwood, Hiram Fel- lows, Richard Palmer and Luther Peck. Total, 54 voters.

The following county officers were chosen at this election : Collector, Adam Smith; As- sessors, George Vroman, William N. Seymour and Mahlon Blaker ; Treasurer, John Stoner; Register of Deeds, R. L. Ream.

This was the first general election held in the Territory which was participated in by Dane as an organized county ; and, as already indicated, a Delegate in Congress was chosen. The choice fell upon James Duane Doty. His opponents were Byron Kilbourn and Thomas P. Bur- nett. The vote in Dane County stood as follows : For Doty, 40 votes ; for Kilbourn, 27 votes ; for Burnett, 6 votes. The whole number of votes cast in the county was seventy-three. As there were fifty-four of these cast in the Madison District, it leaves nineteen as the number polled in the Moundville Precinct. Voters at that time were not compelled to vote in the pre-

*Still a resident (October, 1880) of Dane county.

403

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

cinct where they resided, and this will explain why Ebenezer Brigham voted in the Madison Precinct, as previously indicated.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

The first history of the county was the work of J. A. Noonan, and was published in the Wisconsin Enquirer of May 25, 1839, not many days after the county was organized. It was exceedingly brief, and as follows :

" The County of Dane was formed in 1836, from the counties of Brown,* Milwaukee and Iowa, and includes Townships 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, of Ranges 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 east, making thirty-five townships. A law was passed at the last session of the Legislative Assembly to organize the county, and in pursuance thereof it was organized on the 6th inst., and the first court will be held in October next. Until the spring of 1837, there were but few families in the county, and those few resided at the Blue Mounds. The county now numbers over 300 inhab- itants, a greater part of whom reside at Madison. the county-town and seat of government of the Territory.

" The County of Dane very early attracted the attention of speculators. In 1835, Lucius Lyon, who had surveyed the Four Lake country, and who was well acquainted with the soil, etc., purchased at the land sales for himself and others a considerable portion of valuable lands. It is owing to this reason and no other, that the settlement of the county has been very much retarded. It is, however, at the present time, attracting the attention of the emigrant ; and it is believed that the present season will do much toward settling and improv- ing it.

" The county is known as the ' Four Lakes Country,' so called from a chain of lakes which are connected with the Rock and Wisconsin Rivers. These lakes are four beautiful sheets of water, and are stored with fine fish, and plenty of game is found on their banks. The county contains a large portion of rich and valuable lands, principally prairie, but interspersed with groves of timber. The prairies are very handsome, and are generally of a deep black soil. The timber lands are oak openings, but in the immediate vicinity of the lakes and along their outlet there is a large body of excellent timber, consisting of maple, ash, butternut, walnut, hickory, linn, aspen, etc. The outlet of these lakes, called the Cat Fish, or River of the Four Lakes, empties itself into the Rock River in Town [ship] 4, of Range 12 east, being about twenty miles from Madison. In this stream there is plenty of water. There is also a water-power in the immediate vicinity vicinity of Madison, but none of these as yet have been improved.

" This county offers as great inducements to emigrants as any other section in the Territory. Good farms can be obtained at the government price-$1.25 per acre-having timber, prairie and water, and no country exceeds it in health. Madison is the only town of any importance, and has a delightful situation. It contains two stores, three public-houses, three groceries, one steam-mill, and in all thirty-five buildings. During the sessions of the Legislature, Madison afford quite a good market for the surrounding country. Prices the past season have ranged as follows : Corn, per bushel, $1.25 ; oats, 75c. ; potatoes, $1; butter, 37} to 62} ; eggs, 37} to 75 cents per dozen ; pork and beef from 7 to 12 cents per pound."

RECORD OF THE COUNTY BOARD FOR 1839.

There were many matters besides the election and qualification of officers arising under the law, to be attended to in the organization of the county before the machinery of the county government was fully put in motion, and there were several meetings of the County Commissioners during the year 1839, for that purpose. The record of these meetings has an historical significance, and is as follows :

At a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Dane County, Wisconsin Terri- tory, held at the Madison Hotel on the 15th day of May, A. D., 1839. The Commissioners viz.,

*Brown County ought not to have been included in the list of counties out of which Dane County was formed .- En.

404

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Simeon Mills, Eben Peck and Jeremiah Lycan, presented their several certificates of election and ordered the same to be entered on record. Eben Peck, Esq., was appointed Chairman of the Board. La Fayette Kellogg was appointed Clerk of the Board, who appeared and was duly qualified to act as such. The following persons presented their bonds, with security, which, were approved by the Commissioners and filed in the Clerk's office, and the several persons sworn, to wit : John Stoner, as County Treasurer ; William A. Wheeler, as Assessor ; Robert L. Ream, as Register of Deeds ; John T. Wilson, as Auctioneer ; Adam Smith, as Constable. Board adjourned until to morrow morning at 9 o'clock. La Fayette Kellogg, Clerk.

Thursday, May 16, 1839 .- Board met pursuant to adjournment. The following precincts of election were established for the year 1839, viz., one at Madison, one at Moundville, and the polls of election ordered to be opened at the following places to wit., in Madison, in the Madison Hotel; in Moundville, at the house of Ebenezer Brigham, Esq.

The following-named persons were appointed Judges of Election in the two precincts to wit, in the Madison precinct-Prosper B. Bird, Darwin Clark, Jairus S. Potter. In the Moundville precinct-Prescott Brigham, John C. Kellogg, Sidney Carman.

Ordered, That $200 be raised on the credit of the county to defray the expenses of books, stationery, etc.

Ordered, That the Clerk procure a list of all lands in the county upon which the taxes of last year remain unpaid.

Ordered, That the Clerk procure all necessary blanks for the use of the county, at the expense of the county. Board adjourned until meeting in course.

L. F. KELLOGG,

Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners.

June 4, 1839 .- George P. Delaplaine filed his bond with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners as District Surveyor. Nathaniel T. Parkinson filed his bond with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, as Sheriff.

Monday, July 1, 1839 .- At a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Dane County, held at the Commissioner's office, in Madison, Present Eben Peck and Simeon Mills, Esqs. two of said Commissioners. Complaint having been made and satisfactory evidence produced by persons feeling aggrieved by the value which the Assessor and Appraiser have set to their lands and town lots, it is therefore ordered by the Commissioners that the Clerk so alter and amend the assessment-roll that first-rate lands be valued at $6 and second rate at $4 per acre, and that such alterations be made in the value of town lots as have been designated and marked on the assessment roll.

Ordered, That the Clerk make a copy of the assessment roll containing such alterations and amendments as will be suitable for the use of this office. Board adjourned until to-morrow at 9 o'clock.

Tuesday, July 2, 1839 .- Board met and corrected assessment roll.

Wednesday, July 3, 1839 .- Same as above.

Thursday, July 4, 1839 .- Board met. Present-Eben Peck, Simeon Mills, and Jeremiah Lycan, Esquires ; a full board.

Friday, July 5, 1839 .- Board met ; all present.

Ordered, That the county of Dane be divided into two Road Districts, and that Ranges 6, 7 and 8 constitute District Number 1, and Ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12 constitute District Number 2. Ordered, That the following-named persons act as Supervisors in the two districts, to wit : In District No. 1, Edward Campbell ; in District No. 2, Horace Lawrence.

Ordered, That Horace Lawrence, Charles S. Peaslee and Isaac Atwood act as Commis- sioners to lay out a county road, to commence at some point on the United States road, east of the Catfish Bridge (so called), and running thence north in the direction of Fort Winnebago, on the most convenient and practicable route, to the north line of the county, and make returns of the survey and location of said road to this office, on or before the first Monday in October, next.

405

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Ordered, That the rates of tavern licenses shall be as follows to wit: In Madison, $20 each ; in other parts of the county, $12 each, and that rates for grocers to sell liquors in quan- tities not less than one quart, be $30 each. Board adjourned until to-morrow at 9 o'clock.

Saturday, July 6, 1839 .- Board met pursuant to adjournment ; all present.

Ordered, That the rates of tax for the current year be established as follows, to wit : For county purposes, one-half cent per centum, and for school purposes, one mill on each dollar.

Ordered, That Simeon Mills, Esq. be authorized to purchase books and stationery for the use of the county at the expense of the county.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners be authorized to receive pro- posals for the erection of a County Jail, in the town [village] of Madison, until the first Monday in August next, at 10 o'clock, A. M., at which time such proposals will be opened and read pub- licly by the Commissioners. Said jail to be 24 feet long by 18 feet wide ; to be divided into two equal apartments or rooms, one story high, to be constructed of square timber, the walls to be eight inches in thickness, and that notice of this order be published in the Wisconsin En- quirer, up to the said first Monday in August.

Ordered, That Simeon Mills, Esq., be authorized to make a loan of $1,000, to defray the expenses of building the jail, in such manner as he shall think fit.

Board adjourned until meeting in course.

L. F. KELLOGG, Clerk.

Monday, July 22, 1839 .- R. L. Ream was appointed Clerk of the board, vice L. F. Kel- logg, resigned, who appeared and was duly qualified to act as such.

Monday, August 5, 1839 .- Special session, held at the Commissioner's office. Present- Eben Peck and Simeon Mills, Esqs. Bids were received for building and completing a jail in Madison, according to proposals published, as follows, to wit : Bid No. 1, from Peter W. Matts, for $1,775 ; No. 2, George Vroman, $1,525.25 ; No. 3, Jairus S. Potter, $1,139; No. 4, Nel- son Hart & Co., $1,575 ; No. 5, Isaac Atwood, $1,600 ; No. 6, Abel Rasdall, $2,000; No. 7, David Ayer, $1,745 ; No. 8, Thomas Jackson, $1,447 : No. 9, N. T. Parkinson, $1,348.

Upon examination, it appeared that Jarius S. Potter was entitled to the contract, he having offered the lowest bid (No. 3), but, failing to offer sufficient bonds, it was ordered that the con- tract be let to the next lowest bidder. Whereupon N. T. Parkinson, having offered the next lowest bid (No. 9), appeared and entered into contract with the Commissioners.

August 23, 1839 .- Nathaniel T. Parkinson filed bond with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, for building the jail, with the following-named persons as securities : Prosper B. Bird, A. A. Bird, A. Lull, William N. Seymour, Darwin Clark.

Berry Haney and H. F. Crossman having complied with the law, in relation to ferries, by giving bond, license is this day granted them in words and figures as follows, to wit :

COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE, DANE CO., SS.

To all to whom these presents may come, greeting :

KNOW YE that Berry Haney and H. F. Crossman, having complied with the act entitled an " act to regulate ferries," approved March 6, 1839, are hereby licensed to keep a ferry across the Wisconsin River, from Section 6, town 9, Range 7 east, on the southeast side of said river, to a point directly opposite, on Prairie du Sac, for three years from the date hereof. They are to provide and keep in repair, good and sufficient boats for the accommodation of passengers and teams. Said ferry is to be kept open from sunrise in the morning, until sunset at night.

The following are the rates of ferriage established by the Commissioners, to wit :

For every foot person, 25 cents ; for every horse and rider, 50 cents ; for every one horse and wagon, 75 cents; for every one span of horses and wagon, $1 ; for every yoke of oxen and wagon, $1; for each additional horse, ox or cow, not to exceed six in number, 25 cents ; for any number of horses or cattle, exceeding six in number, each, 12} cents; for sheep and hogs, 123 cents.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 60

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