History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 68

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044

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The consideration for this cession of lands by the Indians was an immediate delivery of goods to the value of $2,234.50, and a yearly annuity of $1,000, $600 of which was intended for the Sacs and $400 for the Foxes, to be paid in goods valued at the first cost.

This treaty, although discredited by Black Hawk, was signed by Pashepaho, who was gen- erally considered the head chief of the Sac Nation, and its provisions must have been considered binding by the tribes generally as the annuities therein mentioned were regularly paid and received. Afterward, in the year 1815, separate confirmatory treaties were made with the Sacs and Foxes, as is shown by the following : "By the treaty of Portage des Souix, made by William Clark, Ninian Edwards and Aguste Choteau, Commissioners, etc., and the kings, chiefs and warriors of the Fox tribe or nation, dated September 14, 1813, the said Fox tribe-

"Do hereby assent to, recognize, re-establish and confirm the treaty of St. Louis, which was concluded on the 3d day of November, 1804, to the full extent of their interest in the same, as well as all other contracts and agreements between the parties ; and the United States promise to fulfill all the stipulations contained in the said treaty in favor of the said Fox tribe or nation.

"By the treaty of Portage des Souix made by the above-named commissioners, and the chiefs and warriors of that portion of the Sac Nation of Indians, now residing on the Missouri River, dated September 13, 1815, the chiefs and warriors-

" For themselves and that portion of the Sacs which they represent, do hereby assent to the treaty between the United States of America and the united tribes of Sacs and Foxes, which was concluded at St. Louis on the 3d day of November, 1804 ; and they, moreover, promise to do all in their power to re-establish and enforce the same."

The signers of this treaty also promised to give no aid whatever to the "Sacs of Rock River " until peace should be established between that band and the United States.

But by a later treaty, executed at St. Louis May 13, 1816, the "Sacs of Rock River and adjacent country," agreed to, "hereby unconditionally assent to, recognize, re-establish and con- firm the treaty between the United States of America and the united tribes of Sacs and Foxes, which was concluded at St. Louis on the 3d of November, 1804, as well as all other contracts and agreements heretofore made between the Sac tribe or nation and the United States." This treaty was signed by twenty-two chiefs and head men, among others, Black Hawk. This treaty he afterward claimed he never understood, and so did not know what he was signing. The In- dians, comprising the following of this chief, continued to claim proprietary rights in the lands on the east of the Mississippi until the disastrous result of the war, in 1832, effectually put this question beyond dispute. The Government had previously made treaties with other tribes who laid claim to the same territory, and the " Indian troubles " were thenceforth a story of the past.

FIRST WHITE MAN IN GRANT COUNTY.

Among those representatives of the paternal government founded and fostered by Louis XIV, in his possessions in the New World, none were more assiduous in their endeavors to develop the resources of the New France than Jean Baptiste Talon, Intendant of Canada from 1665 to 1672. In 1670, under his orders, an expedition was fitted out to search for copper mines on Lake Superior, and to formally take possession of the whole of this interior country for the King of France. This expedition was under the command of Daumont de St. Lussen, and among those who accompanied him was Louis Joliet, a name imperishable so long as the great weste 'n land, of which he was afterward the discoverer, shall continue to bear its teeming millions. `t. Lusson set out on his voyage of exploration accompanied by a small party besides

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

Joliet, with Nicholas Perrot, a voyageur, who spoke Algonquin fluently, as interpreter. By arrangement, St. Lusson remained at Manitoulin Islands through the winter, while Perrot made a tour of the different tribes to invite them to a general conference at the Sault Ste. Marie in the following spring. Perrot, having first sent messages to the northern tribes, went to Green Bay for the purpose of obtaining the presence of the nations residing upon its borders to the proposed meeting.

St. Lusson, accompanied by his men (fifteen in number), appeared at the Sault over a month in advance of the time appointed. When all the tribes had assembled, the Frenchman prepared to execute the mission with which he was charged. A large cross of wood was prepared, and, in the presence of the assembled savages, it was planted in the ground. A post of cedar was then planted beside it attached to which was a metal-plate engraved with the royal arms. Then St. Lussen made proclamation : "In the name of the most high, mighty, and redoubtable mon- arch, Louis XIV, of that name, most Christian King of France and Navarre, I take possession of this place Sainte Marie du Sault, as also of Lakes Huron and Superior, the Island of Mani- toulin and all countries, rivers, lakes and streams, contiguous and adjacent thereto; both those which have been discovered, and those which may be discovered hereafter, in all their length and breadth, bounded on the one side by the seas of the North and of the West, and on the other by the South Sea, declaring to the nations thereof, that from this time forth they are vassals of His Majesty, bound to obey his laws and follow his customs; promising them on his part all succor and protection against the incursions and invasions of their enemies ; declaring to all other po- tentates, princes, sovereigns, states and republics-to them and their subjects-that they cannot and are not to seize or settle upon any parts of the aforesaid countries, save only under the good pleasure of His Most Christian Majesty, and of him who will govern in his behalf; and this on pain of incurring his resentment and the efforts of his arms." So far as words alone could effect it, thus passed the whole Northwest, including the territory of the present State of Wiscon- sin, under the dominion of France. She had discovered and, to a certain extent, explored it, established a rude commerce with its barbarous inhabitants, and, through her missionaries, pro- claimed the Christian doctrine to their heathen ears. But none of her agents, traders or mis- sionaries, had so far reached that great river of which so many marvels were being constantly related.

Upon the return of the expedition to Quebec, it was determined to explore this mysterious stream. The choice fell upon Joliet. Said the Governor on the 2d of November, 1672: "It has been judged expedient to send Sieur Joliet to the Maskoutiens (Mascoutins), to discover the south sea and the great river they call the Mississippi, which is supposed to discharge itself into the Sea of California." Continuing, the official adds: " He is a man of great experience in these sorts of discoveries, and has already been almost at the great river, the mouth of which he promises to see."

Joliet passed up the lakes, and, on the 17th of May, 1673, accompanied by Father James Marquette and five others, started from the Mission of St. Ignatius, north of Machinaw Island, in the present county of Mackinaw, Mich. with two bark canoes, on a trip which was destined to open the beauties of the Father of Waters to the gaze of civilized man. All information possible was obtained from the Indian tribes regarding this great unknown stream before starting, and then with light hearts the explorers paddled away to the west and up Green Bay to the mouth of the Fox River. The first Indian nation met by Joliet was the Menomonees. He was warned by them not to venture so far into the interior on account of the bands of savage war- riors inhabiting that country and who spared no strangers, accompanied by marvelous tales of the numerous monsters and demons who made the " great river " their haunt, and adding as a final argument that the heat was so excessive in those countries as to infallibly cause death to all who ventured into that section. . Nothing daunted by the hideous prospect presented, Joliet determined to persevere, and proceeded on up the Fox River to the portage.

This river was found quite pleasant at its mouth, having a gentle current. The wild oats along the bank had gathered along the shores numerous flocks of bustards, ducks, teal and other

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

birds. As the party advanced up the river, it was found to be more difficult of ascent, owing not only to the currents but to the sharp rocks which projected above the troubled waters on every side and cut their canoes. By using great care and precaution, the rapids were .passed in safety, and soon afterward the party reached the nation of the Mascoutins. In their village were also gathered two other tribes, the Miamis and Kickapoos. The Miamis were very civil in their deportment. Two long ear-locks, which was a distinctive feature of their costume, added somewhat to their appearance. They had the name of being a warlike tribe, and seldom went out on war parties in vain. They were found to be very docile and ready to listen quietly to what was said to them. The Mascoutins and Kickapoos were more rude in their manner. Bark for cabins was found to be rare in this village, the Indians using rushes, which served them as walls and roof, but, as might be expected, were no protection against rain when it fell, as it frequently did, in torrents. Their advantage was that cabins built of these rushes could easily be taken to pieces, rolled up and transported wherever the owner wished.

The view from the village was extremely picturesque, it being perched upon an eminence and surrounded on every side by broad prairies, stretching away as far as the eye could reach, interspersed by thickets or groves of lofty trees. The soil was found to be very good, producing corn in abundance. Plums and grapes also were gathered in abundance by the Indians.

Joliet and his party arrived at this village on the 7th of June, and remained until the 10th.

" We knew," wrote Father Marquette, "that there was, three [thirty] leagues from the Mascoutens [Mascoutins] a river entering into the Mississippi ; we knew, too, that the point of compass we were to hold to reach it was west-southwest, but the way is so cut up by marshes and little lakes that it is easy to go astray, especially as the river leading to it is so covered with wild oats that you can hardly discover the channel, hence we had great need of our two (Miami) guides, who led us safely to a portage of 2,700 paces [the site now occupied by the city of Portage], and helped us to transport our canoes to enter this river [Wisconsin], after which they returned, leaving us alone in an unknown country, in the hand of Providence.

" We now leave the waters which flow to Quebec, a distance of four or five hundred leagues, to follow those which will henceforth lead us into strange lands. Before embarking, we all began together a new devotion to the Blessed Virgin Immaculate, which we practiced every day, addressing her particular prayers to put under her protection both our persons and the success of our voyage. Then after having encouraged one another, we got into our canoes. The river on which we embarked is called the Mesconsing [Wisconsin]; it is very broad, with a sandy bottom, forming many shallows which render navigation very difficult. It is full of vine-clad islets. On the banks appear fertile lands diversified with wood, prairie and hill. Here you find oaks, walnut, whitewood, and another kind of tree with branches armed with thorns. We saw no small game or fish, but deer and moose in considerable numbers."

Thus they floated down this great tributary of a greater river, while on their left hand lay exposed for the first time to the gaze of civilized man in all its virginal beauty what is now included in the county of Grant. Without doubt, the explorers stopped at several points in pursuit of game or to camp, thus being actually the first white men who set foot in Grant County.

On the 17th of June, to their inexpressible joy, the party entered the Mississippi. After descending the river many miles, Joliet retraced his steps to Green Bay, and thence to Quebec, there to make his report of the wonderful discovery he had made. Marquette remained at the Bay to recruit his health, which had been seriously tried by the anxieties of the previous months.

OTHER EARLY VISITORS.

Not a great while was suffered to elapse before Joliet and his companions were followed by others. Louis Hennepin, a Recollet friar, and his party, as a detail from La Salle's expedition to the Illinois, reached the portage in 1680, on his way from the Upper Mississippi to the great lakes, passing up the Wisconsin and down the Fox River to Green Bay. Le Seuer and his

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

party passed down the Wisconsin in 1683, on his way to the Mississippi. The name is spelled by these early explorers Ouisconsin (Wisconsin).

Jonathan Carver came over the same route in 1766, and thus speaks of his voyage: "On the 8th of November (1766), we got our canoes into the Ouisconsin River, which, at this place (the portage), is more than 100 yards wide, and the next day arrived at the great town of the Saukies (Sauks or Sacs). This is the largest and best built Indian town I ever saw. It con- tains about ninety houses, each large enough to accommodate several families. These are built of hewn plank, neatly jointed, and covered with bark so compactly as to keep out the most pen- etrating rains. Before the doors are placed comfortable sheds, in which the inhabitants sit when the weather will permit, and smoke their pipes. The streets are regular and spacious, so that it appears more like a civilized town than the abode of savages. The land near the town is very good. In their plantations, which lie adjacent to their houses, and which are neatly laid out, they raise great quantities of Indian corn, beans, melons, etc., so that this place is esteemed the best market for traders to furnish themselves with provisions of any within 300 miles of it.

" The Saukies can raise about 300 warriors, who are generally employed every summer in making incursions into the territory of the Illinois and Pawnee nations, from whence they re- turn with a great number of slaves. But those people frequently retaliate, and in their turn destroy many of the Saukies, which I judged to be the reason they increased no faster.

" On the 10th of October, we proceeded down the river, and the next day reached the first town of the Ottigaumies (Foxes). This town contained about fifty houses, but we found most of them deserted, on account of an epidemical disorder that had lately raged among them, and carried off more than one-half of the inhabitants. The greater part of those who had survived had retired into the woods to escape the contagion.

"On the 15th, we entered that extensive river, the Mississippi. The Ouisconsin, from the carrying place to the part where it falls into the Mississippi, flows with a smooth. but a strong current ; the water of it is exceedingly clear, and through it you may perceive a fine and sandy bottom, tolerably free from rocks. In it are a few islands, the soil of which appeared to be good, though somewhat woody. The land near the river also seemed to be, in general, excel- lent, but that at a distance is very full of mountains, where it is said there are many lead mines."

In this last sentence, Carver undoubtedly refers to the section now included in the borders of Grant County, showing, also, that the great mineral wealth had been known to the Indians and French previous to his visit.

WATER-WAYS.

From the time when first the bow of Joliet's canoe clove the virgin waters of the Wisconsin, until the present, that river has been used as a prominent thoroughfare, first for convenience, and, as the country became inhabited by the pushing, daring white man, and succumbed to the advance of modern civilization, commerce claimed it for its own, and the hoarse shout of the "river man," as he pilots his unwieldy lumber raft, now resounds along those banks which for- merly gave back the echoes of the wild Canadian boat song, or the thoughtless laugh of the light-hearted traveler. During the last half of the seventeenth century, from Joliet's time for- ward, and during nearly all of the eighteenth, this river was a broad highway, furnishing the only connection between the Mississippi and the great lakes for the fur-trader, the missionary and the explorer. Small squads of French soldiers occasionally passed down the river, on their way to garrison the Western posts, and, returning, took the same route. Frequently the way would be rendered treacherous and full of danger by the Fox Indians, who dwelt first upon the river of that name, and then upon the Wisconsin. In 1761, the French lost, by the conquest of Canada, their supremacy over those rivers, and, for a time, England took nominal possession of them, and travel was not seriously interrupted until 1827. During the interval the water- courses had passed under the jurisdiction of the United States. In 1814, Col. Mckay, of the British Army, came down the Wisconsin with a large force of British and Indians, and captured

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

the post at Prairie du Chien from the United States. In 1819, the Fifth Regiment of United States Infantry used the same broad stream as a means of reaching Prairie du Chien, which had again passed into the possession of the United States. Ebenezer Childs, a well-known Wiscon- sin pioneer, made the same trip in a bark canoe in 1821. He also conducted the first Durham boat that ever made that journey. In 1826, a fleet of thirty-five boats passed down the river, bearing the Third United States Infantry from Green Bay to St. Louis, and, a year later, Gen. Cass passed over the same route, to ascertain the feeling of the Winnebagoes toward the United States, as hostilities were threatened, which afterward broke out and were promptly squelched. Thus, year after year, the human tide swept back and forth along the northern boundary of this beautiful county, until the advent of post and railroads drew travelers in other directions. To- day it is given over to the raftsman and the pleasure seeker.

THE WINNEBAGO WAR.

During the early part of 1827, there arose a difficulty with the Winnebago tribe which for the time-being roused the early settlers of Grant County to a high pitch of excitement. The commencement of these troubles arose from the surprise of a party of Chippewas, who were on their way to Fort Snelling by a war-party of Winnebagoes. The attack was made at the mouth of St. Peter's River, and eight of the Chippewas were killed. The commandant of the United States forces at the fort, took four of the offending Winnebagoes prisoners, and turned them over to the exasperated Chippewas, who immediately put them to death. This act of the com- mandant, showing a lack of judgment, that, under the circumstances of the case, seemed little less than criminal, was greatly resented by " Red Bird," a prominent chief of the Winnebagoes, who owed his name to two birds of that color which he wore on his shoulders, much the same as epulets are worn by military officers.

Another inciting cause to this enmity was the daily encroachments of the miners in the lead region, extending between the Galena and Wisconsin Rivers east of the Mississippi. These infringements upon what the Indians considered their rights were each day becoming worse, and necessarily served to add new fuel to the flame that was already burning in the chieftain's breast. In revenge for the killing of the four Winnebagoes, " Red Bird " led a war party against the Chippewas, but being defeated in his attempt for scalps, he turned his resentment against the whites, whom he viewed not only as usurpers in a country which he claimed as belonging to his tribe, but also as allies of his ancient enemies, the Chippewas.

Previous to this, a murder had been committed by the Winnebagoes, near Prairie du Chien, by which several persons of the family of a Mr. Methode had been slain. This and other ominous signs showed that a spirit of enmity had been stirred up between the Indians and the whites, and for the first time since the war of 1812, a speck, presaging a war cloud of the most formid- able proportions, was visible to the affrighted gaze of the whites.

On the 28th day of June, 1827, Red Bird, We-Kaw and three of their companions entered the house of Register Gagnier, about three miles from Prairie du Chien, where they remained several hours. At last, when Mr. Gagnier stood unsuspecting any danger, Red Bird took deliberate aim and shot him dead on his own hearthstone. A person in the building by the name of Sip Cap, who was in the employ of Mr. Gagnier, was killed at the same time by We-Kaw. Madame Gagnier, seeing the assault turned to flee, with her babe of eighteen months in her arms. As she was about to leap through the window, the babe was torn from her arms by the fiendish We-Kaw, stabbed, scalped and thrown violently on the floor as dead.

The murderer then attacked the woman, but gave way when she snatched up a gun and presented it at his breast. She then effected her escape. Her eldest son, a lad of ten years, also succeeded in eluding the red fiends, and they both arrived in Prairie du Chien about the same time. The alarm was given, and a body of settlers promptly assembled and marched out to the scene of the murder, but the perpetrators had fled, leaving the mangled form of the infant behind. Strange as it may seem, the little one was still alive, and more than that, afterward recovered.

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

Red Bird and his companions at once proceeded from the scene of their crime to the ren- dezvous of their band. During their absence, thirty-seven of the warriors who acknowledged the authority of Red Bird, had assembled with their wives and children at the mouth of Bad Ax River. They received the murderers with joy, and evinced a hearty appreciation of their exploit.

A keg of liquor which they happened to have was brought out, and as the alcohol arose to their brains, they boasted long and loud over what they had done, and what they intended to do. This revel continued for two days. On the third day, the whisky having given out, the dissipation came to an end. They were, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, working off the last fumes in the scalp-dance, when they discovered keel-boats coming down the river. The boats had passed up a few days before loaded with provisions for Fort Snelling, and were now in charge of Mr. Lindsay. Supposing from their examination of the crafts while on their way up that no arms were aboard, the savages determined at once to capture the boats and massacre the crews.

The boats came on, unsuspecting attack, until nearly, opposite the encampment of the Da- kotas some distance up the stream. These Indians hailed them with insults and reproaches, but offered no violence, and the whites supposed all danger over. Just here a heavy wind began to sweep up the river with such violence that it took all the strength of the crews to force their crafts down the river against it.

By the time the first boat was near the village of Red Bird's party, the crew were quite ready to stop and rest. One or two Frenchmen who were aboard, seeing signs of hostility from the Indians on the bank, advised their companions not to make a landing. The majority of the crew were Americans, and, like the generality of their countrymen, held the Indian in considerable contempt, and their contempt was only equaled by their ignorance of Indian char- acter. They therefore urged the boat toward the camp with all the force of the long sweeps. There were sixteen men on deck, the boat itself being like all keel-boats, built somewhat on the model of the Erie and Middlesex canal-boats.

The men were rallying their French companions on their fears, and the boat was within thirty yards of shore and nearing it as fast as the strong arms on board could effect the junction, when suddenly the trees and rocks rang with the blood-chilling, ear-piercing war-whoop, and a volley of rifle balls rained upon the deck. Happily the nerves of the Winnebagoes were yet unstrung from the effects of their late debauch, and, as a consequence, their aim was not so steady as it would have otherwise been. One man only fell from their fire. He was a negro named Peter. His leg was dreadfully shattered, and he afterward died of the wound. A second volley soon came from the shore, but, as the men were lying in the bottom of the boat, they escaped injury, save one who was more exposed, and was shot through the heart. Encouraged by the non-resistance of the boatmen, the Winnebagoes rushed for their canoes, intending to board. The whites, having recovered from their first panic, seized their arms, and the boarders were met with a well-aimed discharge, that laid two of the Indians dead and wounded another. The attack was continued until night, when one of the boatmen named Mandeville, who had assumed command, jumped into the water followed by four of his companions, and, by their united exertions, the craft was set afloat and drifted down stream.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 68

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044