History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 62

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 62

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

1877-78 .- Albion, Henry Marsden ; Berry, John C. Fischer ; Black Earth, D. D. Logan ; Blooming Grove, Daniel Bechtel ; Blue Mounds, Ole Hanson ; Bristol, A. Chipman ; Burke, Francis Ritchie ; Christiana, William B. West ; Cottage Grove, Thomas Black ; Cross Plains, H. J. Bollig ; Dane, Thomas Leitch ; Deerfield, P. B. Grinde ; Dunkirk, I. E. Wright ; Dunn, J. M. Sampson ; Fitchburg, Hiram Vroman ; Madison Town, William Windsor; Madison City, 1st ward, John Hess; Madison City, 2d ward, F. D. Fuller ; Madison City, 3d ward, Dexter Curtis ; Madison City, 4th ward, Elisha Burdick ; Madison City, 5th ward, George Anderson; Mazomanie, Luther Clark; Medina, K. W. Jargo; Middleton, Fritz Elver ; Montrose, John Lyle ; Oregon, Phineas Baldwin ; Perry, L. M. Anderson ; Primrose, M. F. Van Norman ; Pleasant Springs, William Seamonson; Roxbury, P. M. Fabing ; Rutland, C. E. Loveland; Springdale, Michael Johnson (Chairman) ; Springfield, David Ford ; Stoughton Village, James Norris ; Sun Prairie, F. L. Warner ; Sun Prairie Village, C. G. Crosse ; Vienna, Adam Coldow ; Verona, John Mason ; Vermont, S. J. Caldwell ; Westport, James Hogan ; Windsor, S. H. Sabin ; York, J. H. Porter.

1878-79 .- Albion, W. A. Short; Berry, Frederick Schumann ; Black Earth; John McKinzie ; Blooming Grove, Daniel Bechtel; Blue Mounds, G. E. Mickelson ; Bristol, A. Chipman; Burke, Francis Ritchie (Chairman) ; Christiana, S. E. Bilstad ; Cottage Grove, Thomas Black. Cross Plains, Joseph Wallraff ; Dane, Thomas Leitch ; Deerfield, John A. Quammen ; Dunkirk, J. M. Estes ; Dunn, Robert Henry ; Fitchburg, W. C. Kiser ; Madi- son, William Windsor ; Madison City, 1st ward, B. M. Minch; Madison City, 2d ward, Philo Dunning ; Madison City, 3d ward, Ernst Mueller ; Madison City, 4th ward, Elisha Burdick ; Madison City, 5th ward, William Charleton ; Mazomanie, G. T. Whitney ; Medina, K. W. Jargo; Middleton, John E. Brumm ; Montrose, John Lyle; Oregon, W. H. Draher ; Perry, L. M. Anderson ; Primrose, P. O. Baker ; Pleasant Springs, William Seamonson ; Roxbury, P. M. Fabing ; Rutland, George Pritchard ; Springdale, John Fossliage; Springfield, David Ford; Stoughton Village, Thomas Beattie ; Sun Prairie, Thomas C. Hayden; Sun Prairie Village, William H. Angell; Vienna, Adam Caldow ; Verona, Henry Wineland; Vermont, Samuel J. Caldwell; Westport, William O'Keefe; Windsor, Dennis Crowley ; York, L. G. Shephard.

1879-80 .- Albion, W. A. Short ; Berry, Frederick Schuman ; Black Earth, John Mckenzie ; Blooming Grove, Daniel Bechtel ; Blue Mounds, G. E. Mickelson ; Bristol, A. Chipman ; Burke, Francis Ritchie; Christiana, John E. Johnson ; Cottage Grove, Harvey Campbell ; Cross Plains, Joseph Wallraff ; Dane, Thomas Leitch ; Deerfield, K. O. Heimdal; Dunkirk, J. M. Estes ; Dunn, P. E. Sherlock; Fitchburg, William C. Kiser; Madison Town, William Windsor ; Madison City, 1st ward, B. M. Minch ; Madison City, 2d ward, C. P. Chap- man; Madison City, 3d ward, Ernst Mueller ; Madison City, 4th ward, A. S. Frank ; Madison City, 5th ward, William Charleton ; Mazomanie, G. T. Whitney ; Medina, W. H. Porter; Middleton, John E. Brumm ; Montrose, Henry Goodnow ; Oregon, M. Wolfe; Perry, L. M. Anderson ; Primrose, P. O. Baker ; Pleasant Springs, Oliver Johnson ; Roxbury, P. M. Fabing ; Rutland, George Pritchard; Springdale, John Fosshage; Springfield, David Ford; Stoughton Village, L. K. Luse; Sun Prairie, F. L. Warner; Sun Prairie Village, William H. Angell ; Vienna, Adam Caldow ; Verona, Thomas A. Stewart; Vermont, Samuel J. Caldwell; Westport, Raymond Packham; Windsor, E. P. Sherman ; York, John Johnson.

PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY.

The boundaries of Dane County remain as established December 7, 1836 (the date of the formation of the county). By the Revised Statutes of Wisconsin, of 1849, were confirmed, as follows :

" The district of country included within the following boundaries shall form and consti- tute the county of Dane, to wit :

" Beginning at a point in the center of the main channel of the Wisconsin River, where the range line between Ranges 5 and 6 east of the meridian aforesaid, crosses said river; running

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

thence south, on said range line, to the southwest corner of Township 5 north, of Range 6 east; thence east, on the line between Townships 4 and 5 north, to the southeast corner of Township 5 north, of Range 12 east ; thence north, on the range line, between Ranges 12 and 13, east, to the northeast corner of Township 9 north, of Range 12 east; thence west, on the line between Townships 9 and 10 north, to the middle of the Wisconsin River; thence down the middle of the main channel of said river to the place of beginning."

These boundaries were re-affirmed by the Revised Statutes of 1858, and by those of 1878.

CENSUS IN 1842.

In July, 1842, the census of Dane County was taken by A. A. Bird, Sheriff, noting the heads of families and giving the number of males separate from the females in each family, as follows :

Madison .- A. A. Bird, 7 males, 3 females ; Tryfusa Starks, 4 males, 3 females ; Alfred Boyles, 3 males, 2 females ; Nicholas Smith, 2 males, 3 females ; David Brigham, 2 males, 2 females ; James Lemon, 5 males, 1 female ; Thomas Daily, 3 males, 2 females ; David La Fey, 6 males, 1 female ; William Pyncheon, 3 males, 5 females ; J. G. Knapp, 2 males, 1 female ; William N. Seymour, 7 males, 4 females ; James Carman, 4 males, 3 females ; E. Cluet, 3 males, 3 females ; W. D. Daggett, 2 males, 2 females ; I. Lyman, 2 males, 2 females ; A. Ras- dall, 6 males ; S. Mills, 3 males, 4 females ; G. P. Delaplaine, 1 male, 2 females ; J. George, 10 males ; W. C. Wells, 10 males, 4 females ; W. W. Wyman, 5 males, 5 females ; George Bailey, 2 males, 3 females ; P. B. Bird, 5 males, 3 females ; James Morrison, 12 males, 9 females ; D. Hyer, 5 males, 6 females ; John Stoner, 5 males, 5 females ; J. M. Clark, 1 male, 5 females ; B. Shackelford, 2 males, 2 females ; A. W. Parris, 2 males, 2 females ; E. Potter, 1 male, 2 females ; Lyman Lamb, 6 males, 2 females ; James Sullivan, 3 males, 6 females ; E. Quivey, 19 males, 5 females ; J. D. Doty, 4 males, 11 females ; Alexander Botkin, 5 males, 2 females ; Daniel Holt, 1 male, 1 female ; Peter Harris, 7 males, 2 females ; W. A. Wheeler, 3 males, 3 females ; I. H. Palmer, 1 male, 4 females ; B. F. Larkin, 1 male, 2 females ; Abel Dunning, 2 males, 1 female ; Jonathan Larkin, 3 males, 3 females ; Carloss Joslin, 4 males, 3 females. Total, 323.

City of the Four Lakes .- G. H. Slaughter, 5 males, 2 females ; Louis Montandon, 1 male, I female ; C. West, 3 males, 1 female. Total, 13.

Lawrence Prairie .-- C. S. Peaslee, 6 males, 2 females ; H. Lawrence, 6 males, 4 females ; George Spaulding, 2 males, 4 females ; William Lawrence, 2 males, 2 females. Total, 28.

Sun Prairie .- John Myers, 2 males, 1 female; Charles H. Bird, 2 males, 1 female; H. W. Potter, 2 males, 1 female ; E. Slingerland, 5 males, 4 females ; George Anderson, 5 males, I female; David Adams, 3 males, 5 females ; Nathan Soaper, 2 males, 1 female ; Volney Moore, 6 males, 5 females ; A. W. Dickison, 1 male ; David Jones, 6 males, 4 females ; David Brasee, 5 males, 2 females ; Thomas Brasee, 3 males, 5 females ; Robert W. Davidson, 2 males, 2 females ; Sheldon Nichols, 2 males, 2 females ; W. W. Patrick, 3 males, 4 females ; Eleazer Moore, 1 male, 1 female; Henry Padeford, 3 males, 2 females ; William Varnham, 2 males, 1 female ; Thomas Marks, 2 males, 2 females ; W. G. Van Bergen, 3 males, 4 females ; J. Winslade, 1 male, 5 females; D. C. Butterfield, 5 males, 3 females ; John F. Sweet, 3 males, 5 females. Total, 120.

Cottage Grove,-M. M. Taylor, 1 male, 1 female ; D. Hannah, 2 males, 2 females. E. Sul- livan, 2 males, 2 females ; J. Sullivan, 1 male, 1 female ; J. French, 3 males, 1 female ; A. Beecher, 2 males, 3 females ; John Dean, 1 male, 2 females ; Horatio Catlin, 3 males, 4 females ; Amos Harris, 2 males, 2 females ; R. Brown, 4 males, 3 females. Total, 42.

Township 6, Range 12 .- W. M. Mayhew, 2 males, 1 female; A. Anderson, 1 male ; N; Sureson, 1 male; J. Butterson, 1 male ; Nels Lawson, 1 male ; R. Sureson, 2 males, 2 females ; Oley Sureson, 1 male, 1 female ; L. Davison, 1 male, 2 females ; C. Lawson, 1 male, 1 female. J. Halderson, 1 male, 1 female. Total, 20.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Norway Settlement .- M. Hodgerson, 1 male; O. Anderson, 2 males, 3 females ; John Smith, 1 male, 1 female ; G. Olson, 1. male, 2 females ; G. Comneton, 1 male, 2 females ; C. Telliffson, 1 male, 1 female ; N. Comentson, 1 male ; Thomas Nelson, 1 male ; B. Anderson, 3 males, 4 females ; D. Oley, 1 male. Total, 26.

Township 5, Range 2 .- E. N. Rice, 2 males, 1 female ; F. Sweet, 4 males, 3 females; R. S. Ensign, 2 males, 4 females ; S. F. Stuart, 2 males, 2 females ; Jessa Sanderson, 8 males, 4 females ; Duty J. Green, 6 males, 3 females; Mason Burns, 5 males, 2 females; Burkley Runey, 5 males, 5 females ; Garland Thomas, 1'male, 1 female. Total, 50.

Township 5, Range 9 .- William Quivey, 6 males, 1 female ; Harvey Bush, 3 males, 2 females ; George Dyke, 4 males, 3 females ; Joseph Vroman, 5 males, 1 female. Total, 25.

Sugar River .- George McFadden, 3 males, 3 females ; George Kindriek, 2 males, 2 females ; Samuel Taylor, 2 males ; Thomas Stuart, 3 males ; Patrick Davidson, 4 males, 3 females. Total, 22.

First Lake .- R. H. Palmer, 4 males, 4 females. Total, 8.

City of Superior .- R. Richard, 1 male, 1 female. Total, 2.

Cross Plains .- Berry Haney, 4 males, 4 females ; J. W. Thomas, 2 males, 3 females. Total, 13.

Springfield .- Orson Cook, 2 males, 1 female ; J. D. Sanford, 4 males, 6 females ; S. Hay- den, 1 male, 3 females. Total, 17.

Highland Springs .- E. Campbell, 3 males, 5 females ; A. Potter, 3 males, 4 females ; Isaac Harlow, 4 males, 4 females ; John Campbell, 3 males, 2 females ; Total, 28.

Blue Mounds .- E. Brigham, 2 males ; C. F. Parks, 7 males, 2 females; J. Lycan, 4 males, 3 females ; F. Wachtal, 6 males, 2 females ; J. P. Hickox, 2 females. Total, 28. Whole number in Dane County, 775.

THE FIRST SERMON IN DANE COUNTY .*

During the summer of 1837, with the exception of one or two families, the entire white population of the county was living in Madison, and consisted of three or four families, some thirty or forty workmen, more or less, on the basement of the capitol, and a few transient guests. There had never been any religious services held in the county, and nothing distinguished the first day as different from all others, unless perhaps the gun was more frequently heard, and ducks and prairie chickens were more abundant at night than at any other time during the week.

Unfavorable as this state of society may be looked upon in after years, the truth must be told, and so it was, that while the Gospel was being preached to the heathen in the "uttermost parts of the earth,"

" The sound of the Church-going bell, These lakes and these hills never heard ; Never sighed at the sound of a knell, Or smiled when a Sabbath appeared."

In early autumn, it was announced, one Saturday afternoon, that the Rev. Mr. K -- , a Methodist minister from Illinois, had arrived, and, if some convenient place could be had, he would preach for the benefit of this benighted people, at 10 o'clock Sunday morning. Arrange- ments were soon made, and the coming morrow promised to be the grand era of a " new de- parture."

After breakfast Sunday morning, the reverend gentleman discovered with great amazement and sorrow, that his horse, which he had been compelled to ride without its having been shod, had, from gravel in the foot, become so lame as to make further progress on his journey for some days apparently quite impossible. As John Catlin and myself had early made his acquaintance, he naturally came to us for advice and assistance. We owned a very serviceable pony, though not remarkable in appearance, while the lame beast of the dominie was evidently

* From the able and facetious pen of Simeon Mills, of Madison, Wis., 1880.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

one that would command a good figure in any market, after a few days rest and a little care of the injured foot.

He was " very anxious " to proceed to Fort Winnebago at once, and should return in three or four days, and the only thing practicable seemed to be for us to lend him our pony, and keep his horse until his return, he paying us for the use of the pony and the care of his beast. At length, Mr. Catlin said : "Suppose we trade horses, how would that suit you ?" At this propo- sition, his down-cast eyes were slowly raised, his sorrowful countenance brightened up, and he meekly admitted that it would be the best thing to do, if we could agree upon terms.

Negotiations commenced and lasted some time, with but little prospect of a favorable result. I almost blush to confess that it looked sometimes as though my partner was driving a sharp bargain, but as I knew little or nothing about the good or bad points of a horse, which the honest parson modestly showed off, or adroitly concealed as occasion required, I did not attempt to interrupt proceedings by any impertinent interference.

The trade was finally completed, Mr. Catlin paying him $15 as the agreed difference be- tween the present value of the animals, secretly calculating, however, a prospective profit of at least $50.

Soon after the consummation of the trade, we joined in escorting him, with a borrowed Bible under his arm, to the place where divine service was to be held. His congregation was of course, the entire population, and some of the " boys " who had not entirely forgotten the hymns learned of their pious mothers, helped out with appropriate music. When, however, he arose and read his text in the following words : "I was a stranger, and ye took me in," the reader may readily imagine, that at least two of his congregation "took in the situation " at once. The sermon of course was eloquent and full of interest, and he let us off easy, making no pointed allusion to his having been badly cheated that morning in a horse trade. That we might not be lacking in the amenities and customs of more advanced Christian communities, A. A. Bird passed the hat, and we all " chipped in, " making up a" stake " of about $20, which was emptied into his pocket, to swell the honest earnings of the morning's work. Meeting being over, he was in a "great hurry " to depart, because it was " necessary " that he should be at Fort Winnebago as soon as practicable, and, as no reason was urged why a minister of the Gospel might not travel from one place of preaching to another, or at least part of the way, on the Sabbath, he mounted his pony after dinner, without opposition, and went on his way " sowing the good seed," which should spring up and bear fruit, some sixty-fold and some a hundred-fold.

The sequel is soon told: This desirable animal that we had so fortunately obtained, by reason of founder or some other cause that escaped observation, was a confirmed and hopeless cripple, not worth half the boot money paid, to say nothing of our valuable pony, which had carried the good man forever from our sight. The development of disease in the poor brute took an unfavorable turn, and in less than three days he lay dead at our feet, an awful warning against the wickedness of trading horses on Sunday, unless it is done by a good man, in aid of a good cause, and as a traveling necessity.

Such was the inauguration of the Sabbath, and such was the introduction of the Gospel into the county of Dane.

A DARK DEED.

On the 11th of February, 1842, Charles C. P. Arndt, a member of the Legislative Council from the county of Brown, was killed, in the capitol in Madison, by J. R. Vineyard, a member from Grant County. A discussion had arisen in the Council on a motion to re-consider a vote by which the nomination of E. S. Baker, as Sheriff of Grant County, was rejected a few days before. During the progress of the discussion, violent words passed between the two parties. Arndt, conceiving himself to have been insulted, approached Vineyard, after the adjournment, for the purpose of seeking an explanation. A slight rencontre then took place, when the latter drew a pistol from his pocket and fired. Arndt reeled for a few paces, then sank on the floor and

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

almost instantly expired, having been shot through the heart. The funeral services were held at the Council Chamber, and the remains taken to Green Bay for interment.

Vineyard surrendered himself to the Sheriff of Dane County, waived an examination, and was committed to jail. After a short confinement, he was brought before the Chief Justice of the Territory on a writ of habeas corpus, and admitted to bail. He was afterward indicted for manslaughter, and tried and acquitted. Immediately after the homicide, Vineyard sent his res- ignation to the Council, which refused to receive it or even have it read. He was at once expelled. No occurrence ever happened in the Territory that caused more excitement than this event. Vineyard subsequently removed to California, where he died.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

CHAPTER VI.

COUNTY OFFICERS FROM 1839 TO 1880-PIONEER REMINISCENCES-MEETINGS OF DANE COUNTY PIONEERS-TERRITORIAL, STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES-STATE INSTITUTIONS IN DANE COUNTY.

COUNTY OFFICERS FROM 1839 TO 1880 .*

1839-40-La Fayette Kellogg, Clerk (resigned, R. L. Ream appointed); John Stoner, Treasurer ; Robert L. Ream, Register of Deeds; George P. Delaplaine, County Surveyor (resigned, William N. Seymour appointed); N. T. Parkinson, Sheriff; John Catlin, District Attorney.

1840-41-R. L. Ream, Clerk ; I. H. Palmer, Treasurer.

1842-E. M. Williamson, Clerk ; Erastus Quivey, Treasurer ; Ira W. Bird, Register of Deeds ; T. M. Wilcox, County Surveyor (resigned, E. M. Williamson appointed); A. A. Bird, Sheriff.

1843-E. M. Williamson, Clerk ; Erastus Quivey, Treasurer (resigned, Darwin Clark ap- pointed) ; Ira W. Bird, Register of Deeds; A. A. Bird, Sheriff; Alex L. Collins, District Attorney.

1844-John Catlin, Clerk; P. W. Matts, Treasurer; E. M. Williamson, Surveyor; I. W. Bird, Register of Deeds ; A. A. Bird, Sheriff; A. L. Collins, District Attorney.

1845-E. M. Williamson, Clerk; P. W. Matts, Treasurer; E. Burdick, County Surveyor; G. T. Long, Register of Deeds; I. W. Bird, Sheriff; C. Abbott, District Attorney.

1846-E. Burdick, Clerk (appointed in place of E. M. Williamson, resigned); S. M. Van Bergen, Treasurer ; J. G. Knapp, Register of Deeds ; E. M. Williamson, County Surveyor : G. B. Smith, District Attorney ; P. W. Matts, Sheriff.

County Clerks-1847, Elisha Burdick ; 1848, Royal Buck ; 1849, Sylvester Giles; 1853, Gabriel Bjornson ; 1857, E. J. Reuter ; 1859, J. P. McPherson ; 1860, J. A. Johnson; 1869, H. Borchsenius; 1873, W. C. B. Weltzin; 1875, Phillip Barry ; 1879, Phillip Barry ; 1879-81, Thomas P. Coyne.

County Treasurers-1847, J. R. Larkin ; 1848, Charles Holt; 1849, William W. Wyman; 1850, Ezra L. Varney ; 1853, Philo Dunning ; 1855, William A. Wheeler; 1857, E. H. Gleason ; 1859, Frank Gault; 1860, William Vroman ; 1865, L. W. Hoyt; 1867, William Charleton ; 1871, Frank B. Amest; 1875, B. M. Minch ; 1879-81, Charles Kayser.

Registers of Deeds-1847, Ira W. Bird; 1848, J. D. Ruggles; 1849, Gabriel T. Long ; 1851, James G. Fox ; 1853, John B. Sweat; 1855, James G. Fox ; 1857, C. Corneliusen ; 1859, Fred Mohr ; 1860, Andrew Pickarts; 1867, John Gibbons ; 1871, John H. Clark ; 1873, L. J. Grinde ; 1877, O. S. Holum ; 1879-81, C. J. Thorsness.

County Surveyors-1849, D. P. Travis ; 1853, R. Babbitt; 1855, William H. Hough ; 1859, John Douglas; 1860, T. D. Coryell; 1862, P. W. McCabe; 1865, H. A. Warner ; 1867, C. H. Barton ; 1869, L. P. Drake ; 1871, S. W. Graves ; 1875, John Douglas ; 1877, James Melville ; 1879, S. W. Graves ..

District Attorneys-1849, Chauncey Abbott ; 1851, George B. Smith; 1853, Samuel R. Roys ; 1855, Myron H. Orton ; 1857, J. W. Johnson ; 1859, E. W. Keyes ; 1860, Henry M. Lewis; 1862, C. T. Wakeley ; 1865, Sidney Foote; 1867, Farlin Q. Ball; 1869, R. J. Chase; 1871, J. C. McKenney ; 1873, Burr W. Jones ; 1877, W. H. Rogers; 1879, James Reynolds, Jr.

* The liste of County Judges, County Superintendents of Poor and of County Superintendents of Schools are given elsewere-ED. + Deceased, William McConnell elected to fill vacancy.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Sheriffs-1849, P. W. Matts; 1851, A. Main; 1853, P. W. Matts; 1855, Andrew Bishop ; 1857, John D. Welch ; 1859, Andrew Bishop ; 1860, Albert Sherwin ; 1862, Willett S. Main; 1865, George McDougal ; 1867, Willett S. Main ; 1869, B. Hancock; 1871, Andrew Sexton ; 1873, John Adams ; 1875, Wm. C. Kiser; 1877, Wm. Charleton ; 1879, Phineas Baldwin.

Coroners-1849, Martin Mead; 1851, Charles Wilson ; 1853-54, Andrew Bishop; 1855- 56, O. W. Thornton ; 1857-58, B. N. Caswell ; 1859-60, Alexander Norman; 1860-61, Alexander Stillwell ; 1862-65, D. D. Carpenter ; 1865-66, William M. Colladay; 1867 to 1872, P. R. Tierney ; 1873-74, Ira P. Bacon; 1875-77, John Arians; 1879, George W. Baxter.

Clerks of County Court-The Clerks successively employed in this court have been, Daniel Noble Johnson, Charles Reese, T. J. Widvey, Benton McConnell, Richard Randolph, Gabriel Bjornson, Miss Hattie Bryant, Andrew Daubner, M. B. French, Gabriel Bjornson, Lars J. Grinde and Ada B. Sanborn.

Clerks of Circuit Court-October 7, 1839, Simeon Mills, appointed by Judge Irvin; No- vember 10, 1847, Elisha Burdick, appointed by Judge Irvin ; 1853, Charles Lum ; 1855, Frank H. Firmin ; 1857, Myron T. Bailey ; 1859, Lncins Fairchild ; 1861, J. J. Starks ; 1863, Carl Habich ; 1865, H. A. Lewis; 1867, H. A. Lewis; 1869, George W. Stoner ; 1871, L. D. Frost ; 1873, L. D. Frost ; 1875-77, Bernard Esser ; 1877-79, Bernard Esser ; 1879-81, H. Z. Moulton.

PIONEER REMINISCENCES .* I .- BY JOHN CATLIN.

The Territorial government of Wisconsin was organized and took effect on the 4th of July, 1836. The Legislature was convened by proclamation of Gov. Henry Dodge, to meet at Bel- mont in November of that year. I was at Belmont during the session when the capital was established by law at Madison, then in the wilderness, with only three white men residing in what is now Dane County. t These were Ebenezer Brigham, Eben Peck (residing with Brigham at the East Blue Mound ), and Abel Rasdall, living at the First Lake, while Michael St. Cyr, a half- breed, had his home at the head of Fourth Lake. The Legislature formed the plan of organizing a Territorial government west of the Mississippi River, and to divide the Territory by that river, which was subsequently accomplished, and the Territorial government of Iowa organized, and this was the main reason for locating the seat of government at Madison, which would be in about the center of the Territory, between the east and the west, if the Territory (now the State of Iowa) should be set off. They had, however, another reason, which was the settlement of the interior, and the opening up of the country at a time when population was greatly to be desired. Provision was made for building a capitol, to be commenced in the spring of 1837, and, by the advice of members of the Legislature, I agreed to locate at Madison, was recommended for and appointed Postmaster, having been previously appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court at its first session, held at Belmont in 1836.

I again visited Madison in March [1837, his third visit] where I found Eben Peck drawing logs to erect a house, which was partially completed in April, and in May he moved into it, which was the first house built in Madison that any one lived in. Mr. Peck kept on adding to it until it was capacious enough to entertain, comfortably, the travelers and first settlers who visited Madi- son, and it was then a great accommodation. On the 27th day of May, 1837, I established a post office by appointing Luther Peck as Deputy, and the first mails were opened and the office kept in Eben Peck's house, his being the only family in Madison.

In June, 1837, Angustus A. Bird, one of the Commissioners of Public Buildings, arrived from Milwaukee with quite a large number of mechanics, and commenced building a boarding- house, office, steam-mill, store and hotel, preparatory to the erection of the capitol, and very soon the excavation for the foundation of the building was commenced. James Morrison was

* The Reminiscences by John Catlin and. Ebenezer Childs were written several years ago. Both the writers are now deceased .- ED.

t This is a mistake, as the census in July of that year clearly shows .- ED.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

the contractor, and Mr. Bird was the Acting Commissioner and Superintendent, and had the general management. A mail route was established between Milwaukee and Mineral Point, and the mail carried on horseback, which first supplied Madison, but afterward the mail route from Galena, Ill., to Fort Winnebago, the mail being carried in a two-horse stage, was changed to go by the way of Madison.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 62

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