USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
So matters stood until 1842, when a new impulse was given to the move- ment for a state organization in Wisconsin. It was argued that if the strip of country in Northern Illinois were reckoned as a part of Wisconsin Terri- tory, as it rightfully should be, there would be a sufficient number of in- habitants, when added to those of the territory, to warrant a demand to be admitted as a state to the Union, Orators became belligerent in their elaim for the "ancient limits." which was how they described the disputed land in Illinois. One member of the Legislature declared that Wisconsin ought to assume jurisdiction over Northern Illinois, saying: "Let us maintain that right at all hazards, unite in convention, form a state constitution, extend our jurisdiction over the disputed traet if desired by the inhabitants there, and then, with legal right and immutable justice on our side, the moral and physical force of Illinois, of the whole Union, cannot make us retrace our steps."
It seemed impossible, however, to arouse any marked interest among the Wisconsin people themselves on the subject, the interest being almost wholly confined to the Illinois northern eonnties and the politicians guiding the sentiments there. This willingness of the Northern Illinois people to unite with Wisconsin seems the more singular when it is remembered that already the Illinois and Michigan Canal, reaching far to the south of Wisconsin's possible limits, was in course of construction; and that the chief dependence of these northern counties was on the rapidly growing City of Chicago, whose future was bound up with the canal's prosperity. The Illinois people, how- ever, recovered their senses and in later appeals from the Wisconsin leaders became indifferent, and finally were entirely reconciled to their Ilinois allegiance.
Failure of Congress to Heed Appeals .- The last shot in the controversy was fired by a committee of the Territorial Legislature which late in 1843 prepared an address to Congress on the boundary question, running in part as
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
follows: "Had we formed a constitution and state government, and ex- tended our jurisdiction over all the territory appropriated, though it might have involved us in a conflict with Ilino's, no one could truly say we had done more than exereise our lawful rights in a lawful manner." But Con- gress made no response to this warlike appeal. and the subject failed to attract any further attention ; no doubt for the reason that the boundary as it stood was an accomplished faet, and any disturbance of the line after a «marter of a century from the time it was established would result in endless confusion. Wisconsin was admitted to the Union May 29. 1848. the present boundary line being accepted without further question.
It is an interesting faet in this connection that while the boundary line is described as at "'42 degrees, 30 minutes of north latitude" in all the acts and proceedings connected with the subject, and boundary posts and monuments were placed in supposed accordance with that line, yet it was found in later years that the old surveys were incorrect. and that there was a variance of three-fourths of a mile in places from the true parallel. Indeed the line of monuments is north of the parallel in the western part of the state, and zigzags to and fro. finally landing some distance south of the parallel at the eastern end on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Wisconsin was admitted as a state of the Union on May 29, 1845. after a probation period of twelve years as a territory. It was the fifth state to be formed ont of the Northwest Territory which had been organized under the Ordinance of 1787. We have previously given some account of the boundary controversy with flinois white Wisconsin was yet a territory. But in the generally prosperous conditions prevailing throughout the regions occupied by Illinois and Wisconsin all the grievances between the two sections were forgotten, or became the subject of humorous references. It is recalled that Hon. James R. Doolittle of Wisconsin, in a speech at the beginning of work on the great Chicago Drainage Canal in 1892, spoke in terms of praise for the work. The veteran ex-senator said he hoped to see the great enter- prise completed and a "waterway established between the lakes and rivers." He continued as follows: "I say it with just as much earnestness as if all my interests were identical with Chicago. I still live in Wisconsin. I live in the state to which Chicago belongs according to the Ordinance of 1787. (Laughter and applause.) I sometimes give an excuse to those gentlemen who ask me. ' Why is it you practice law in Chicago, and yet live in Wisconsin?' I tell them that by the Ordinance of 1787. Chicago belongs to Wisconsin, and I have a right to be there. But independent of all that my interests are of a national character."
CHAPTER III
DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT LAKES
A prospect of Lake Michigan from any point along its shores is like that of the ocean itself in its seeming boundless expanse. And yet all this vast flood is destined to pass over the Falls of Niagara in its eventual flow to the sea. There will be considerable loss in its volume from evaporation before reaching the falls, and it will also be somewhat diminished by reason of the withdrawal of a small fraction of its waters for the use of man and his works. The entire volume of the four great lakes above the falls, Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie, must find an outlet into Lake Ontario and so on down to the sea through the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers. It can well be imagined that the Hood pouring over the brink of the cliff at Niagara is so tremendous that there is not on earth a rival to it in its size and magnifi- cence save the great Victoria Falls of the Zambesi River in South Africa.
The Order in Which They Were Discovered .- With a map of the Great Lakes spread out one sees them clustered in a group like a bunch of tubers on a stem, each one connected with the other by rivers or straits. Going back to the time when these large bodies of water were as yet unknown to civilized men, it is eurious to note the course of events through which their existence and bounds were made known to map makers and geographers. It would be natural to suppose while looking at the map that Lake Ontario would have been the first one of the great lakes to be opened to the knowledge of white men, always remembering that the French were the leaders in thes, dis- coveries. From their settlements on the St. Lawrence the French gradually pushed westward into the wilderness, but in the early period of their ad- vances they chose the Ottawa River as the route towards the west and north- west rather than the St. Lawrence itself. This led them in the direction of Lake Huron, and thus this lake was the first one of the Great Lakes to be discovered. Champlain was the man who, in 1615, first saw the waters of Georgian Bay, which opened from the larger body of Lake Huron. and thus became the pioneer in the discovery of the Great Lakes of the Northwest. The discovery of Lake Ontario followed soon after, which was also discovered by Champlain.
Lake Erie Eluded Them .- A few years later, that is in 1634, Nicollet crossed Lake Huron, and passing the Straits of Mackinac, entered the northern waters of Lake Michigan and penetrated as far as Green Bay, Here he entered the month of the Fox River and traveled as far as the portage into the Wisconsin River, but he did not continue to the Mississippi as he might
43
Form of Proclamation,
THERE is a purpose of Marriage between
James Mc Sell Lower Lainer residing in South Sidery Street Lady Moders Parish and Catherine wines)
residing in
Auchterarder
of which proclamation is hereby made for the
things
time.
At Eden " the Counter May of
aug. 1825
IT is hereby certified, That the above-mentioned Parties have been Three Times Proclaimed in order to Marriage, in the Parish Church of Lady Meteri and that no objections have been offered.
Matter horn Elder.
Do Row forHot. Pon Ses. Clerk.
At auchlement on the 24ch
day of
Augl
182.57
-
The above Parties were Married by
Char Dewant
Minister.
COPY OF AN OLD WISCONSIN MARRIAGE LICENSE IN POSSESSION OF THE OLD SETTLERS CLUB OF MILWAUKEE
45
DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT LAKES
have done if he had held on a few days longer. The discovery of the latter river was reserved for Joliet and Marquette, who passed over the same route thirty-nine years later. In 1658 De Groseilles entered Lake Superior through the St. Mary's River. Thus four of the Great Lakes had become known to the French, but still Lake Erie eluded their knowledge, and it was not until 1669 that Joliet, passing south on Lake Huron through the St. Clair River, discovered Lake Erie, the last one of the group to become known.
Thus the five great lakes were discovered in the following order: Huron. Ontario, Michigan, Superior and Erie. Between the discovery of Lake Huron the first, and Lake Erie the last, there was an interval of fifty-four years. It will be interesting to make a brief survey of what was happening in other parts of the country during this interval. Champlain had founded Quebec in 1608, that is twelve years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, and in 1609 Hudson sailed up the river now called by his name ; and five years later the first Dutch settlements were made at New Amsterdam, now New York. Settle- ments had been started on the James River in Virgin'a, and others were seat- tered along the Atlantic Coast at Delaware and Maryland.
Iroquois Blocked Way .- After the discovery of Lake Erie in 1669 it would seem to have been inevitable that Niagara Falls would ahnost at once have been discovered by the French. But it must be remembered that the Iroquois, those "pests of the wilderness, " who held possession of the region about the Niagara River were hostile to the French and prevented their approach. It was well known, however, that there was a great cataract somewhere along the river connecting the two lakes, Ontario and Erje. But during a lull in the age-long hostility between the Iroquois and the French, La Salle organized his expedition to explore the Mississippi, and laid his route by way of the Niagara River. A part of his force, starting from Fort Frontenac on Lake Ontario, went in advance of La Salle himself, and landed at the month of the Niagara River. Father Hennepin was with the advance party, and he lost no time after landing in making a search for the falls so long known by report, but as yet never seen by white men.
The Imperial Cataract .- Parkman's account is well worth quoting as to what happened, which at the same time is a fair specimen of the famons historian's style. "Hennepin, with several others," he says, "now ascended the river in a canoe to the foot of the mountain ridge of Lewiston, which. stretching on the right hand and on the left, forms the arelivity of a vast plateau, rent with the mighty chasm, along which, from this point to the cataraet, seven miles above, rush, with the fury of an Alpine torrent, the gathered waters of four inland oceans. To urge the eanoe farther was impos- sible. Ile landed, with his companions, on the west bank, near the foot of that part of the ridge now called Queenstown Heights, climbed the steep aseent. and pushed through the wintry forest on a tour of exploration. On his left sank the cliff's, the furious river raging below; till at length, in primeval solitudes, unprofaned as yet by the pettiness of man, the imperial cataract burst upon his sight."
The date of the discovery was December 6, 1678, so that when it is remem- bered that Joliet and Marquette discovered the Upper Mississippi in June.
46
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
1673, it is seen that the great river of the West, as well as the Illinois country and the sites of Chicago and Milwaukee, were actually discovered more than five years before the discovery of Niagara Falls was made. Hennepin. in his account, described the falls as 600 feet in height, which, of course, was a great exaggeration. It is well known that the falls are only about 174 feet high, but Hennepin was given to enlarging on his facts. With all his failings, however, he will go down to posterity as being the discoverer of the most wonderful natural feature, perhaps, in the world. The Great Lakes together with their connecting straits and rivers were now completely made known to the civilized world.
Aspect of Lake Michigan, -- As one stands on the shore of Lake Michigan and gazes on its broad expanse stretching far to the north, east and south, a noble view is presented. One realizes the great extent over which his eye wanders by noting the lake eraft in the distance, some vessels lying "hull down" with their white sails only in sight. and some trailing elouds of smoke along the horizon, indicating passing steamers beyond the limit of vision. Those in plainer sight seem to stand motionless while in strange contrast the waves near the shore dash violently on the breakwaters and piers, throwing up elouds of spray, or break in thunderous surges on the sand and gravel at one's feet.
Such a view from the bluffs along the north shore forms a grand and impressive speetaele, and sneh an outlook is one of the principal attractions to the dwellers in the beautiful homes that have been built in the neighbor- hood. When tossed by the wind the ruffled surface of the lake shows many shades of blue and green according to the light reflected upon it from the sky : and when light, fleecy clouds are passing over it, casting broad shadows upon its far-extending surface, the colors are shown in varied hues ranging from neutral tints to most beautiful olive greens and violet blues. One of our local poets happily likened its broad expanse under these conditions to a "pietured psahn."
"A level plain of a vast extent on land is certainly no mean idea, " wrote Edmund Burke in his celebrated essay on the "Sublime and Beautiful." "The prospect of such a plain may be as extensive as a prospect of the ocean : but can it ever fill the mind with anything so great as the ocean itself?" This can be well understood by those who have long dwelt on the shores of Lake Michigan. But when
"-storms and tempests wake the sleeping main, And lightnings flash while winds grow hoarse and loud, And writhing billows toss their white erests high, "
then, indeed. Lake Michigan's aspeet changes from the beautiful to the sub- lime. It is then when darkness adds its terrors to the seene that the perils of the mariner come home to the observer with moving force and quickened sympathy.
Natural History of Lake Michigan .- Lake Superior is the largest body of fresh water in the world, with an approximate area of 31,200 square miles.
47
DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT LAKES
Next in order of size comes Lake Victoria Nyanza in Africa, with an approxi- mate area of 22,500 square miles. It is 320 miles long and 85 miles broad at its widest part.
" Lake Michigan receives the drainage of only a very narrow belt in north- eastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, comprised mainly in the drainage of the Chicago and Calumet rivers," writes Frank Leverett, the eminent geologist, in his monograph published by the United States Geological Survey. "It drains about one-half the area of the southern peninsula of Michigan and adjacent portions of Wisconsin, mainly tributary to Green Bay. South of the Green Bay drainage system only a narrow belt is tributary to the lake. The watershed draining to Lake Michigan is estimated to be 45,000 square miles. and the total area of the basin (including the lake itself ) is 68,100 square miles."
Physical Features of Lake Michigan .- There is no other lake in America, north or south, which traverses so many degrees of latitude, extending from 45 degrees, 55 minutes on the north, to 41 degrees, 37 minutes on the south. There are a number of islands in the northern part of the lake: Beaver Island, comprising an area of about forty square miles, the Fox Islands and the Manitons. South of the latter there is a stretch of over two hundred miles to the southern end of the lake in which there are no islands or even a sand bar of any description rising above the surface. As the bed of the lake is composed of clay, sand and gravel throughout this portion of its extent, there is no danger to navigation from the occurrence of rocks either in its bed or on its shores, and vessels driven by storms can find good holding ground for the'r anchors. There are, however, some rather dangerous shoals and reefs, especially in the vicinity of Racine and South Chicago which are plainly indicated on the Government "Lake Survey" charts, printed for the use of navigators.
The elevation of the surface of Lake Michigan above the level of the sea is 581 feet, and its approximate maximum depth is eight hundred and seventy feet. Its southwestern shores are bordered with "dunes" of sand rising in mounds of many graceful shapes. Many of these dunes rise to a height of 100 feet or more.
Schoolcraft's Observations .- "These dunes are, however, but a hem on the fertile prairie lands," wrote Schoolcraft, in 1820, "not extending more than half a mile or more, and thus masking the fertile lands. Water, in the shape of lagoons, is often accumulated behind these sand-banks, and the force of the winds is such as to choke and sometimes entirely shut up the mouth of the rivers. We had found this hem of sand-hills extending around the southern shore of the lake from the vicinity of Chicago, and soon found that it gave an appearance of sterility to the country that it by no means merited." On other portions of the lake the shore consists of a somewhat irregular line of bluffs, from fifty to seventy-five feet in height, though there are eminences which attain a much greater altitude, as for instance, "Bald Tom," situated on the Michigan shore, on a line directly east of Chicago, which is 240 feet in height.
An English traveler, in the course of a description of the view landward
4S
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
from the deck of a passing steamer, used the expression, "the monotonons shores of Lake Michigan." which as they appear from a distance may have deserved such a mention. if .by that it was intended to notice the absence of hills or mountains in the vicinity of its shores. But Schoolcraft's observations as above quoted will go l'ar to give a true impression to the beholder.
The whole extent of the shore line of Lake Michigan is 1,320 miles. The length of the shore line bordering on Wisconsin. from the Illinois state line on the south to the end of the Door Peninsula on the north. is about two hundred m les. This does not reckon in the coast line of Green Bay.
The Hutnations in the level of the waters of the Great Lakes have at- tracted much attention among scientific observers, to ascertain if possibly these fhietnations could be identified with regular tidal movements. As early as 1670. Father Dablon in the "Jesuit Relations," says. "as to the tides, it is diffienlt to lay down any correct rule. At one time we have found the motion of the waters to be regular. and at others extremely fluctuating. We have noticed, however, that at full moon and new moon the tides change once a day for eight or ten days, while during the remainder of the time there is hardly any change perceptible.
It is worth while remarking in this connection that Schoolcraft. who was an eminent geologist and who visited Green Bay in 1820. did not believe there were any tides in the lakes. "Governor Cass caused observations to be made. " he says, "which he greatly extended at a subsequent period. These give no countenance to the theory of regular tides, but denote the changes in the level of the waters to be eccentrically irregular, and dependent, so far as observations extend, altogether on the condition of the winds and currents of the lakes."
Whether or not there is actually a lumbar tide in Lake Michigan was made the subject of an address by Bient .- Col. James D. Graham, a Government engineer, before the American Association for the Advancement of Science. in 1860. Referring to the writings of the early missionaries and explorers. he said that in the takes were noted some peculiar fluctuations in the eleva- tion of the waters of these inland seas. "In the speeulations indulged in by some of these writers, " he continued. "a slight Innar tide is sometimes sus- pected, then again such an influence on the swelling and receding waters is doubted, and their d'sturbance is attributed to the varying courses and forces of the winds.
Lack of Systematic Observations .- " But we have nowhere seen that any systematie course of observation was ever instituted and carried on by these early explorers, or by any of their successors who have mentioned the subject. giving the tidal reading's at small enough intervals of time apart, and by long enough duration to develop the problem of a diurnal hamnar tidal wave on these lakes. The general idea has undoubtedly been that no such Innar influence was here perceptible.
"In April, 1854, I was stationed at Chicago by the orders of the Govern- ment," continued Colonel Graham in his address. "and charged with the direction of the harbor improvements on Lake Michigan. In the latter part of August of that year. I cansed to be erected at the east or lakeward ex-
49
DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT LAKES
tremity of the north harbor pier, a permanent tide-gauge for the purpose of making daily observations of the relative heights and fluetuations of the surface of this lake.
"The position thus chosen for the observations projects into the lake, entirely beyond the mouth of the Chicago River, and altogether out of the reach of any influenee from the river current upon the fluctuations of the tide-gauge. It was the fluctuations of the lake surface alone that could affect the readings of the tide-gauge.
"On the first day of September, 1854, a course of observations was com- menced on this tide-gauge, and continued at least once a day, until the thirty- first day of December, inclusive, 1858. * These observations were in- stituted chiefly for the purpose of ascertaining with accuracy the amount of the annual and also of the seenlar variation in the elevation of the lake surface, with a view to regulating the heights of break-waters and piers to be erected for the protection of vessels, and for improving the lake harbors."
Results of Tidal Observations .- The result of this series of tidal observa- tions, eontinned over a period of four years and four months, is given by Colonel Graham as follows: "The difference of elevation of the lake surface, between the periods of har low and lunar high water at the mean spring tides is here shown to be two hundred and fifty-four thousandths (.254) of a foot : and the time of high water at the full and change of the moon is shown to be thirty minutes after the time of the moon's meridian transit."
For the benefit of readers who may not be accustomed to terms familiar enough to residents of tide-water regions, we will here state that "spring tides" have no relation to the spring season. Spring tides oceur twice a month.
Colonel Graham sought to justify himself in taking so much pains to ascertain the facts regarding tidal movements in Lake Michigan, by saying : "Although this knowledge may be of but small practical advantage to navi- gators, yet it may serve as a memorandum of a physical phenomenon whose existence has generally heretofore been either denied or doubted." He con- chided his paper by submitting his observations as a solution of the "problem in question, " and as "proving the existence of a semi-diurnal lunar tidal wave on Lake Michigan, and consequently on the other great fresh water lakes of North America," varying from fifteen hundredths of a foot to twenty-five hundredths of a foot, that is, from one and four-fifths inches to three inches' rise and fall.
"Col. J. D. Graham's report on the tides of Lake Michigan," says R. A. Harris in the Coast and Geodetie Report for 1907, "have not been altered by subsequent observations." Graham's work was discussed by Ferrel in his book "Tidal Researches": and Harris accords Colonel Graham the honor of being the discoverer of tides in the lakes.
Prof. Rollin D. Salisbury of the University of Chicago, sums up the matter in his work, entitled, "Physiography," as follows: "Tides are imperceptible in small lakes and feeble in large lakes and inclosed seas. In Lake Michigan, for example, there is a tide of about two inches."
Sudden and Gradual Fluctuations .- Oscillations of the lake level are Vol. 1-4
50
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
familiar phenomena to residents on the shores of the lake. "They are gen- erally attributed by scientifie men." wrote Thomas C. Clarke in the Atlantic Monthly for March, 1861; "to atmospheric disturbanees which, by increasing or diminishing the atmosphere pressure, produce a corresponding rise or fall in the water level. These are the sudden and irregular ilnetnations. The gradnal fluetnations are probably caused by the variable amount of rain which falls in the vast area of country drained by the lakes."
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.