USA > Wisconsin > Green County > History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 10
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*Dr. Joseph Hobbins, in Illustrated Historical Atlas of Wisconsin.
66
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
of his death. His successor, as previously stated, is Chief Justice Orsamus Cole.
By an act of the Legislature of 1881, a board of supervision of Wisconsin charitable, re- formatory and penal institutions was founded. The boards of trustees by which these insti- tutions had been governed since their organi- zation were abolished by the same law. The board of supervision consists of five members, who hold their office for five years, and who are appointed by the governor, the Senate con- curring. The board acts as commissioners of lunacy, and has full power to investigate all complaints against any of the institutions under its control, to send for books and papers, sum- mon, compel the attendance of, and swear wit- nesses. The powers delegated to this board are so extraordinary, and its duties so manifold, that a recital of them will be found of interest. They are as follows :
(1.) To maintain and govern the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, the Northern Hospital for the Insane, the Wisconsin State Prison, the Wisconsin Industrial School for Boys, the Wisconsin Institution for the Educa- tion of the Blind, and the Wisconsin Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb ; and such other charitable and penal institutions as may hereafter be established or maintained by the State. (2.) To carefully supervise and direct the management and affairs of said in- stitutions, and faithfully and diligently promote the objects for which the same have been established. (3) To preserve and care for the buildings, grounds and all property connected with the said institutions. (4.) To take and hold in trust for the said several institutions any land conveyed or devised, or money or property given or bequeathed, to be applied for any purpose connected therewith, and faithfully to apply the same as directed by the donor, and faithfully to apply all funds, effects and property which may be received for the use of such institutions. (5.) To make on or before Octo- ber 1 in each year, full and complete annual in-
ventories and appraisals of all the property of each of said institutions, which inventories and appraisals shall be recorded, and shall be so classified as to separately show the amount, kind and value of all real and personal property belonging to such institutions. (6.) To make such by-laws, rules and regulations, not incom- patible with law, as it shall deem convenient or necessary for the government of the said insti- tutions and for its own government, and cause the same to be printed. (7.) To visit and care- fully inspect each of said institutions as often as once in each month, either by the full board or by some member thereof, and ascertain whether all officers, teachers, servants and em- ployees in such institutions are competent and faithful in the discharge of their duties, and all inmates thereof properly cared for and governed, and all accounts, account books and vouchers properly kept, and all the business affairs thereof properly conducted. (8.) To fix the number of subordinate officers, teachers, ser- vants and employees in each of said institutions, and prescribe the duties and compensation of each, and to employ the same upon the nomi- nation of the respective superintendents and wardens. (9.) To promptly remove or discharge any officer, teacher or employe in any of said institutions, who shall be guilty of any malfeas- ance or misbehavior in office, or of neglect, or improper discharge of duty. (10.) To annually appoint for the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane and for the Northern Hospital for the Insane, for cach, a superintendent, one assistant physician, a matron, a steward and a treasurer ; and for the Institution for the Edu- cation of the Blind, and the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, and the In- dustrial School for Boys, for each, a superin- tendent, a steward, a treasurer, and all necessary teachers ; and for the State prison, a warden, a steward and a treasurer, who shall be the officers of said institutions respectively and whose duties shall be fixed by said board, except as herein otherwise provided. (11.) To
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
maintain and govern the school, prescribe the course of study and provide the necessary ap- paratus and means of instruction for the Insti- tution for the Education of the Blind, and for the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. (12.) To prescribe and collect. such charges as it may think just, for tuition and maintenance of pupils not entitled to the same free of charge, in the Institution for the Educa- tion of the Blind and in the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. (13.) To fix the period of the academic year, not less than forty weeks, and prescribe the school terms in the Institution for the Education of the Blind and the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. (14.) To confer, in its discretion, upon meritorious pupils, such academic and literary degrees as are usually conferred by similar institutions, and grant diplomas accordingly, in the Institution for the Education of the Blind and in the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.
On the 20th of April, 1883, a commissioner was appointed by the governor, for two years, in accordance with the provisions of an act passed by the Legislature of that year creating a bureau of labor statistics. The object of this office, now filled by Frank A. Flower, is to col- lect manufacturing and labor statistics, report violations of laws for benefit of artisans, and generally to show the manufacturing condition and resources of the State.
In her political divisions Wisconsin has copied, to a considerable extent, from some of her sister States. These divisions are counties, towns, cities and incorporated villages. The county government is in charge of a county board of supervisors, consisting of the chairman of each town board, a supervisor from each ward of every city, and one from each incorpo- rated village. The county officers are : . Clerk, treasurer, sheriff, coroner, clerk of circuit court, district attorney, register of deeds, surveyor, and one or two superintendents of schools, all elected biennially. There are sixty-five coun-
ties in the State. The government of the towns is in charge of a town board of super- visors. The other officers are clerk, treasurer, assessors, justices of the peace, overseers of highways and constables. The government of cities depends upon charters granted by the State Legislature. Generally, there is a mayor, common council, clerk, treasurer, attorney, chief of police, fire marshal and surveyor. Incorpo- rated villages are governed by a president and six trustees. The other officers are clerk, treas- urer, supervisor, marshal and constable, and sometimes a justice of the peace or police jus- tice.
The constitution of Wisconsin, adopted by the people in 1848, is still "the supreme law of the State ;" but it has several times been amended, or had material additions made to it :
(1.) Article V, section 21, relating to the pay of the members of the Legislature. This was amended in 1867.
(2.) Article VI, sections 5 and 9, relating to the salaries of the governor and lieutenant-gov- ernor. This was amended in 1869.
(3.) Article I, section 8, relating to grand juries. This was amended in 1870.
(4.) Article IV, sections 31 and 32, relating to special legislation. These sections were added in 1871.
(5.) Article XI, section 3, relating to munic- ipal taxation. This was amended in 1874.
(6.) Article VII, section 4, relating to the number and term of the judges of the supreme court. This was substituted for the original section in 1877.
(7.) Article VIII, section 2, relating to claims against the State. This was amended in 1877.
(8.) Article IV, sections 4, 5, 11 and 21, re- lating to biennial sessions, and a change in salaries and perquisites of members of the Legislature. These were thus amended in 1881.
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
(9) Article III, section 1, relating to resi- dence of voters in election districts some time before the election, and to registration of voters in cities and villages. Amended to this effect in 1882.
(10.) Article VI, section 4, article VII, sec- tion 12, and article XIII, section 1, all relating to biennial elections. Amended to this effect in 1882 .*
* A. O. Wright, in Exposition of the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin.
Nicholas Connecting
HISTORY
OF
GREEN COUNTY,
WISCONSIN.
CHAPTER I. ยท
AREA, POSITION AND SURFACE FEATURES.
B EFORE entering upon a consideration of the history of Green county, past and pres- ent, it is a matter of importance to understand its area and geographical position; also, its gen- eral surface features. We begin with its
AREA.
Green is properly considered one of the aver- age counties of Wisconsin as to size, it having a total area of 578 square miles; or, to be more specific, it contains 370,360.99 acres of land. It lies in a square form, extending twenty-four miles east and west, and the same distance north and south.
Green county contains sixteen congressional townships of land .* These townships are de- scribed by the United States surveys as follows:
Township 1 north, of range 6 east. Township 2 north, of range 6 east. Township 3 north, of range 6 east. Township 4 north, of range 6 east. Township 1 north, of range 7 east. Township 2 north, of range 7 east. Township 3 north, of range 7 east. Township 4 north, of range 7 east. Township 1 north, of range 8 east. Township 2 north, of range 8 east. Township 3 north, of range 8 east. Township 4 north, of range 8 east. Township 1 north, of range 9 east. Township 2 north, of range 9 east. Township 3 north, of range 9 east. Township 4 north, of range 9 east.
The following are the number of acres of land in each surveyed township in Green county :
*Properly speaking, a township is an area of about 36 square miles (or sections of land) as surveyed by the United States; while a town is an area of any designated extent, forming an organized civil division of a county. This dis- tinction should always be maintained in Wisconsin, and is so carried out in this history; although many are in the habit of
---
calling a township a town: and sometimes a town is spoken of as a township.
Why the several townships are numbered as given in the text (and as seen on all maps of Green county) will be fully explained in a subsequent chapter of this history.
5
70
HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
SURVEYED TOWNSHIPS.
Township 1 north, of range 6 east
23,460.94
Township 2 north, of range 6 east.
23,025.58
Township 3 north, of range 6 east. 22.865.60
Township 4 north, of range 6 east. 23,169 80
Township 1 north, of range 7 east.
23,222,87
Township 2 north, of range 7
east.
23,691.50
Township 3 north, of range 7
east.
22,870.80
Township 4 north, of range 7
east ..
22,663.47
Township 1 north, of range 8
east. 24,536.92
Township 2 north, of range 8
east.
22 945.56
Township 3 north, of range 8
east,
22,838.93
Township 4 north, of range 8
east.
21.825.81
Township 1 north, of range 9
east.
24,989.92
Township 2 north, of range 9 east
22,710 7
Township 3 north, of range 9 east.
22.517.14
Township 4 north, of range 9 east
23 025.43
Total number of acres. 370,360 99
In each full township, as every reader knows, there are thirty-six sections of land. Now, as a section contains 640 acres, the whole number of acres in the county, if each section contained exactly its complement, would be 368,640; but, in the aggregate, they over-run 1,720.99 acres. Ten of the townships of the county, it will be noticed, contain less than the full number of 23,040 acres in each; while six have more than that number in their several areas.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
Green county has a position immediately north of the Illinois line, it being in the South- ern tier of counties of the State. In this tier are the counties of Kenosha, Walworth, Rock, Green, La Fayette and Grant. Green county is bounded on the north by the county of Dane; on the east by Rock; on the south by the State of Illi- nois; and on the west by the counties of La Fayette and Iowa. Its eastern boundary line is, in a straight direction, eighty miles west of Lake Michigan; its western boundary line is due east of the Mississippi, at the nearest point, forty miles. Across the State line in Illinois, the counties that bound Green are Stephenson and Winnebago.
SURFACE FEATURES.
The entire county is rolling or undulating, and fully one-half is covered with timber, which, aside from the forests in the south and south- western part, is mostly openings, that were originally very beautiful and valued as choice farming lands. In the northwestern part, the surface is broken; aud this is the roughest por-
tion of the county. In the central, western, northern, eastern and southeastern parts exten- sive prairies exist. Originally, the southwest- ern part of the county was covered with heavy forests, abounding in black walnut, oak, maple, basswood and ash of the choicest quality for manufacturing purposes. To some extent, these forests have yielded to the advancing husband- man, but large quantities of valuable timber still remain. Nearly all the timber found in other parts of the county is burr oak and only useful for fuel. Occasionally, however, a square mile or so of heavy timber is found in various parts of the county, which yields valuable wood. PRINCIPAL STREAMS.
The principal streams of Green county are the Sugar and Pecatonica rivers. Sugar river, in two principal branches, has its rise in Dane county. Its sources are in the towns of Verona, Cross Plains, Springdale, Blue Mounds and Primrose in that county The two main branches unite on section 28, in the town of Montrose, forming the main stream, which, after a southeasterly course of about three miles, leaves the county on section 35, in the town last mentioned and enters Green county on section 2, in the town of Exeter. After passing through that section and those numbered 11, 14, 23, 24 and 25, it crosses into the town of Brooklyn, at the southwest corner of section 19. Taking a southerly course through sections 30 and 31, in that town, it passes into the town of Albany near the center of the north line of section 6. Its course is now southeasterly to the center of section 16, through those numbered 6, 5, 8 and 9. From the center of section 16, its general trend is southerly, draining sections 21, 28 and 33, and leaving the town at the south west corner of section 34 .. Its ingress into the town of Decatur is on section 3, passing through that section and those numbered 10, 15, 14, 23, 26 and 35, into the town of Spring Grove at the corner of section 3, whence it runs across sec- tion 2 into section 1; then, after touching 11, passes southeasterly through section 12 and
71
HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
across the northeast corner of 13, leaving the town and county from that section and flowing into the county of Rock, on section 18, in the town of Avon.
The course of Sugar river through Rock county is southeast, leaving it on section 36, in the town of Avon, when it crosses the State line into Illinois, in the county of Winnebago, discharging itself in that county, into the Peca- tonica river. The principal branches of Sugar river in Green county flow into the parent stream from the west. They are the Little Sugar river, Little Jordan creek, Reeder's Branch and Spring creek. These tributaries, with the main stream, and a number of small branches which flow into the river on the east side, carry off the superabundant waters from nearly two-thirds of the county, draining, as they do, the towns of New Glarus, Exeter, Brooklyn, Albany, Mt. Pleasant, Washington, Sylvester, Decatur, Spring Grove and the north- east portion of Jefferson.
There is a ridge which passes east and west through Iowa county about on the line of Dodgeville, the county seat. This divide is known as the military road or ridge. All of that county lying south of this elevation, is drained by affluents of the Pecatonica. These affluents flowing southward from many points, form the main stream in the county of La Fayette. The river traverses the county last mentioned from northwest to southeast, nearly from corner to corner in a winding course through seven towns, until it crosses into the county of Green, on section 6, in the town of Cadiz. The Pecatonica has a serpentine course in this town, passing, respectively, in greater or less distances, through sections 6, 5, 8, 7, 18, 17, 16, 21, 20, 29, 28, 32 and 33, leaving the town and county from [the southwest corner of the last mentioned section and crossing into the State of Illinois, in the county of Stephenson, emptying, finally, into Rock river at Rockton, in Winnebago county. In the west, southwest and southern parts of the county, many streams
have their sources all flowing in a west or south- west direction to the Pecatonica. These, with the main stream, furnish the drainage for a little over one-third the entire county. The names of the principal affluents of the Peca- tonica, in Green county, are Richland creek, Honey creek and Skinner creek.
THE PECATONICA* COUNTRY. [By W. R. Smith, 1837.]
A small branch of the Pecatonica runs through a ravine or narrow meadow at Mineral Point, in a southern course, receiving in its way many fine springs, until it unites about five miles be- low the town with the main branch of the same river, about two miles above the furnace and establishment of Richard McKirn, Esquire, to which he has given the name of New Baltimore. His smelting furnace, saw-mill, workmen's houses, and his mansion, are situate on the west- ern bank of the Pecatonica, which is here a con- siderable stream; a mile west of New Baltimore, flows another large branch, on which is built Kindle's grist-mill. The natural meadow at New Baltimore, and for several miles above, is unrivaled for fertility of soil, and beauty of scenery, not only in its own features, but in the general character of the hills and bluffs bound- ing the low land. The broad, deep and clear Pecatonica, winds its way through the wide ex- panse of low and level prairie or meadow, cov- ered with high grass, and composed of a soil which is complained of by cultivators as being too rich for any small grain, but which is un- rivaled for the production of corn, potatoes, pumpkins, and all esculents. This meadow ex- tends from the borders of Diamond Grove near Col. Bequette's, widening in its course south- eastward, and bearing the several branches of the Pecatonica on its bosom, as low down as the junction of the eastern branch, near the old In- dian town of "Wiota," in the neighborhood of the diggings of Col. William L. Hamilton, for- merly of New York, but for some years a Wis-
*The writer of this article gives the name of the river as "Pecatonica or Pee-ke-tol-i-ka."
79
HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
consin pioneer. From Wiota the river, I am informed, is navigable, and indeed boats have been laden with Jead and sent from New Balti- more, and from the Cedar Bluffs, about a mile below, by Mr. Charles Bracken. This is the most extensive range of fine meadow which I have visited; it is about thirty-five miles from Diamond Grove to the forks at Wiota, and a more delightfully beautiful and rich body of land is not to be desired, than the country through which the Pecatonica flows.
In the immediate neighborhood of the Cedar Bluffs, about three miles from New Baltimore, is a small village called the Willow Springs. Here are three or four dwellings and the store of Mr. Dillon; an old smelting furnace is also here, now disused, as it was built on the first plan called "log and ash furnace." This crude manner of smelting lead by the earlier settlers, has given way to the improved cupola and oven furnace, and the blast furnace.
A great public road from Mineral Point to Gratiots' Grove passes by the Willow Springs, and this will always be a main road through this part of the territory, in its principal direc- tion, with perhaps a few changes in parts, where experience will correct early adoptions of con- venience.
Leaving the Willow Springs, and passing in a northern direction over a high prairie with oak openings, about three miles, the country be- comes highly interesting. Here are to be found many farms in the best and most profitable state of cultivation. Farm-houses and barns and stables, with other out-houses, announce a good settlement, and that the farmer not only knows how to live, but does live well. The kindness and hospitality which I experienced during sev- eral days residence and excursions in this de- lightful section of the country, will be held by me in heartfelt recollection. I need only men- tion the names of Messrs. Charles and John Bracken, and Major John P. Sheldon, in whose families I found myself at home, to justify my feelings. Not only in their domestic circles, in-
telligent conversation, good collections of books and weekly receipts of news from the far east, did we find (Dr. Smith and myself) intellectual luxuries which were the more grateful because unexpected, but the readiness with which we were accompanied in our excursions through the country by these gentlemen, gave us not only the means and comforts of traveling, but the information, without which, as strangers, we should have been greatly deficient.
On the subject of attentions and hospitalities received by my son and myself during our stay in the country, and in very many excursions through it, I should be wanting not only in cor- rect feelings of recognition of, but also in re- spect to, the many friends and acquaintances which we formed.
Delicacy alone forbids me to speak publicly of the kindnesses we have at all times and in all places experienced. Prairie du Chien, Parish's, Messer Grove, Helena, Dodge's Grove, Mineral Point, New Baltimore, and other places, live as bright as bright spots on memory. The inhab- itants and the inmates of those places named will duly appreciate the motives by which I am actuated when I forbear to say more.
It is worthy of remark that in all places where I have been in Wisconsin-in the com- fortable dwelling house in the town, in the snug and neat farm house, in the log cabin-I have always found books and newspapers-of books, many standard and historical works, to- gether with the new novels; of newspapers, those of New York, Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia were common, and generally the State papers of the former home of the Wiscon- sin emigrant. Amongst the literary papers I often found the excellent publications of our friends Godey and Alexander, of Philadelphia; the Saturday News is much liked.
From the farm of Charles Bracken the road to Mineral Point passes over a part of the ex- tensive prairie which reaches to the Blue Mounds, and on this road and near it there are numerous valuable lead diggings, particularly
73
HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.
those of Messrs. Bracken. South of Bracken's the main road to Dixon's Ferry, in Illinois, passes several excellent and well improved farms, particularly that of Major Sheldon. A mile or two south of Sheldon's we enter a fine body of woodland, called the Indian Reserva- tions, surveyed for the half-breeds, but not, as it is said, in conformity with the treaty, and consequently the surveys will be lifted and re- located .* These tracts are in number, in this neghborhood, forty, of a mile square each, of course here is, in one body, 25,600 acres of the finest timber land and arable soil in the Wis- consin land district. This land will, no doubt, be in market shortly, and the farmer's attention deserves to be turned to this part of the country. Claimants by improvement are already making their locations in these reservations, but the land having been reserved and never offered for sale by the government, I think the existing pre-emption laws will not reach the cases of settlements on them made at this day, and such locations may be of no avail.
Passing through this well timbered country for about seven miles, the union of two brauches of the Pecatonica at a point of land high and covered with wood, overlooking the beauti- ful natural meadow before described, is located the village of Otterbourne. This location is excellent; the advantages of wood, water, pub- lic roads, most excellent land and delightful scenery give promise that Otterbourne will in time prosper-at any rate, it deserves to become a town; independent of the localities named, there is an excellent saw-mill and all convenient buildings within a few hundred yards of the newly laid out town. This saw-mill has fine water power and abundance of timber in the neighborhood. Water powers for a grist-mill can be easily obtained here, and as far as my judgment goes, nature has done as much for this mill site as for any I have seen in this dis- trict.
With such advantages, if a few good mechan- ics, blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, stone masons and laborers would seek their good, they may obtain town lots here at a very low rate, and the village of Otterbourne might thus spring immediately into life.
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