USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 4
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WISCONSIN AS A PART OF THE TERRITORY OF INDIANA.
After the fourth day of July, 1800, all that portion of the territory of the United States north- west of the Ohio river, lying to the westward of a line beginning upon that stream opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river and running thenee to what is now Fort Recovery, in Mer- eer Co., Ohio, thence north until it intersected the territorial line between the United States and Canada, was for the purposes of temporary government, constituted a separate territory, called Indiana. Within its boundaries were included not only nearly all of what is now the State of Indiana, but the whole of the present State of Illinois, more than half of what is now Michigan, a considerable portion of the present State of Minnesota, and the whole of Wis- consin. The seat of government was estab- lished at "Saint Vincennes on the Wabash." now the city of Vincennes, Ind. Upon the form- ation of a State government for the State of Ohio, in 1802, all the country west of that State. but east of the eastern boundary of the territory of Indiana, was added to the latter ; so that then the area northwest of the Ohio river in- eluded but one State and one territory. After- ward, civil jurisdiction was exercised by the authorities of Indiana territory over the Green bay settlement, in a faint way, by the appoint- ment, by Gov. William Henry Harrison, of Charles Reaume as the justice of the peace therein. Prairie du Chien wasalso recognized by the new territorial government by the appointment of two persons to a like office-
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Henry M. Fisher and a trader by the name of Campbell.
As American emigration was now rapidly dotting the wilderness to the westward of the State of Ohio with settlements, a treaty with some of the Indian tribes who claimed lands in that region extending northward into what is now Wisconsin, was a necessity, for as yet, none of these Nations had met any au- thorities of the United States in council. At the close of the contest between France and Great Britain so disastrous in North America to the former, the Saes and Foxes readily gave in their adhesion to the latter, asking that English traders might be sent them. The two Nations, then about equally divided, numbered about 700 warriors. Neither of the tribes took part in Pontiac's war, but they befriended the English. The Sacs had, by that date emi- grated some distance to the westward, while the Foxes, at least a portion of them, still re- mained upon the waters of the river of Green bay, which perpetuates their name. A few years later, however, and the Sacs were occu- pants of the upper Wisconsin also to a consid- erable extent below the portage between that stream and Fox river, where their chief town was located. Further down the Wisconsin was the upper village of the Foxes, while their lower town was situated not far from its mouth, near the site of the present city of Prairie du Chieu.
Not long after Wisconsin had been taken possession of by the British, its northern por- tion, including all that part watered by the streams flowing north into Lake Superior, was the home of the Chippewas. The country around nearly the whole of Green bay, was the hun ing grounds of the Menomonees. The ter- ritory of Winnebago lake and Fox river was the seat of the Winnebagoes, while, as just stated, the Sacs and Foxes had the region of the Wisconsin river as their dwelling place. During the war of the Revolution, these two tribes continued the firm friends of the
English, although not engaged in active hostili- ties against the Americans. When finally Eng- land delivered up to the United States the pos- session of the northwest, the Sacs and Foxes had only a small portion of their territory in Wis- consin, and that in the extreme southwest. Their principal possession extended a consider- able distance to the south of the mouth of the Wisconsin, upon both sides of the Mississppi river.
On the 3d of November, 1804, a treaty was held at St. Louis between the Sacs and Foxes and the United States. These tribes then ceded to the general government, a lage tract of land on both sides of the Mississippi, extending on the east from the mouth of the Illinois to the head of that river, thence to the Wisconsin. This grant embraces, in what is now Wisconsin, the whole of the present counties of Grant and La Fayette, and a large portion of those of Iowa and Green. It included the lead region. These tribes also claimed territory on the upper side of the Wisconsin, but they only granted away a tract two miles square above that stream, near its mouth, with the right of the United States to build a fort adjacent thereto. In considera- tion of the cession of these lands, the general government agreed to protect the two tribes in the quiet enjoyment of the residue of their possessions against its own citizens and all oth- ers who should intrude on them ; carrying out the stipulations to that effect embodied in the Greenville treaty, of 1795. Thus begun the quieting of the Indian title to the eminent do- main of Wisconsin by the United States, which was carried forward until the whole territory (except certain reservations to a few tribes) had been fairly purchased of the original proprie- tors.
So much of Indiana territory as lay to the north of a line drawn east from the southern bend of Lake Michigan to Lake Erie, and east of a line drawn from the same bend through the middle of the first mentioned lake to its northern extremity, thence due north to the
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
northern boundary of the United States, was, for the purposes of temporary government, on the 30th of June, 1805, constituted a separate and distinct territory, called Michigan. This new territory did not include within its boun- daries any part of Wisconsin as at present de- fined.
WISCONSIN AS A PART OF ILLINOIS TERRITORY.
On the 3d of February, 1809, an act of Con- gress, entitled an act for dividing the Indiana territory into two separate governments, was approved by the President and became a law. It provided that from and after the 1st day of March thereafter, all that part of the Indiana territory lying west of the Wabash river and a direct line drawn from that stream and "Post Vincennes" due north to the territorial line be- tween the United States and Canada, should, for the purpose of temporary government, con- stitute a separate territory and be called Illinois, with the seat of government at Kaskaskia, on the Mississippi river, until it should be other- wise ordered. By this law, all of what is now Wisconsin was transferred from Indiana terri- tory to that of Illinois, except that portion lying east of the meridian line drawn through Vin- cennes. This fraction included nearly the whole area between Green bay and Lake Mi- chigan and remained a part of the territory of Indiana. When, in 1816, Indiana became a State, this narrow strip, as it was neither a por- tion of Michigan territory on the east or Illinois territory on the west, remained without any organization until 1818. In that year it became a part of Michigan territory.
In 1809, an effort was made by John Jacob Astor, of New York city, to extend the Ameri- can fur-trade by way of the lakes to Wiscon- sin and parts beyond; but the monopoly of the British fur companies was too strong. He could only effect his object by uni- ting with the northwest company of Montreal, in 1811, to form out of the American and Mack- inaw companies, a new one, to be known as the Southwest company, of which Astor owned a
half intererest, with the arrangement that, after five years, it was to pass into his hands alto- gether, being restricted in its operations to the territories of the United States. This company was suspended by the war with Great Britain. which immediately followed. At the close of hostilities, British traders were prohibited by law from pursuing their calling within the jurisdiction of the United States. The result was the southwest company closed up its affairs, and the American fur company re-appeared un- der the exclusive control of Astor, who estab- lished his western headquarters at Mackinaw, operating extensively in what is now Wiscon- sin, especially at La Pointe, upon Lake Superior, where large warehouses were erected; a stock- ade built, lands cleared, farms opened, dwell- ings and stores put up. But English traders evaded the law by sending their goods into the United States in the name of American clerks in their employ. These goods being of supe- rior quality to those furnished by Astor, they continued to command the Indian trade to a large extent. It was only when the American prince of fur-traders was enabled to import goods to New York of equal quality and send them by way of the lakes, that he could success- fully compete with his rivals and in the end drive them from the field.
At the commencement of the war with Great Britain the few settlers at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien depended largely upon the fur trade for their living, monopolized, as we have seen, at that period, by British traders. At the beginning of hostilities this dependency was promptly secured to the latter by the cap- ture, from the Americans, of the post at Macki- naw. Naturally enough most of the people of Wisconsin, limited in number as they were, ad- hered to the English during the continuance of hostilities. As to the Indian tribes, within what are now the limits of the State, it may be said that, in a measure, they, too, all arrayed themselves on the side of Great Britain. The Menomonees aud Winnebagoes took part in the
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capture of Mackinaw, and subsequently in other enterprises against the Americans. Indeed, all the tribes in the northwest were firmly at- tached to the English by reciprocal interest in the fur trade, from which they derived their supplies. Great Britain had never ceased since the Revolution to foster their friendship by the liberal distribution annually of presents; hence, they were ready when the War of 1812-15 was inaugurated to take up the hatchet against the Americans. Just before hostilities began, the English traders were especially active in excit- ing the Indians against the Americans, more es- pecially against American traders. Robert Dickson, a resident of Prairie du Chien, an Englishman by birth, was among the foremost in stirring up the animosity of the savages. Soon after the declaration of war he collected a body of Indians at Green Bay for the purpose of rendering assistance to the British forces in their operations on the lakes and in the north- west; they were principally Pottawattamies, Kickapoos, Ottawas, Winnebagoes and Sacs, the last mentioned being Black Hawk's band. This chief was made commander-in-chief of the savages there assembled, by Dickinson, and sent to join the British army under Proctor.
The English early succeeded in securing the Wisconsin Indian tribes as their allies in this war; and having taken Mackinaw in July, 1812, they were, virtually, put in possession of what is now the eastern portion of the State. Early in 1814, the government authorities of the United States caused to be fitted out at St. Louis a large boat, having on board all the men that could be mustered and spared from the lower country, and sent up the Mississippi to protect the upper region and the few settlers therein. The troops landed at Prairie du Chien, and immediately proceeded to fortify. Not long after, Col. MeKay, of the British army, crossing the country by course of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, with over 500 British and In- dians, received the surrender of the whole orce. The officers and men were paroled and
sent down the river. This was the only battle fought upon Wisconsin soil during the last war with England. The post at Prairie du Chien was left in command of a captain with two companies from Mackinaw. He remained there until after the peace of 1815, when the place was evacuated by the British.
* On the 3d of August, 1814, an expedition of about 300 men. under command of Maj. Zachary Taylor, left St. Louis in boats for the upper Mississippi. When they arrived at Rock Is- land they found the British there, apparently in force, with a battery on shore commanding the river. A severe fight took place, but after sustaining a loss of several killed and wounded the Americans returned to St. Louis. The British afterwards left Rock Island, and upon the signing of the treaty of peace by the envoys of the two goverments, and the ratification of the same, the whole northwest, including Fort Mckay at Prairie du Chien, was evacuated by British forees.
When it was made known to the Indian tribes of the west some of them upon the Miss- issippi were willing and eager to make treaties with the United States. A Incrative trade sprung up between the merchants of St. Louis and the traders and Indians up that river. Goods were periodically sent up the river to traders, who in turn transmitted in payment, by the same boats, furs and lead. But, generally, the savages hovered sullenly around the now rapidly increasing settlements in the territories of Michigan and Illinois, and the general gov- ernment began to consider in earnest how the influence of British intercourse might be checked, for the savages were still encouraged by English traders in their unfriendly disposi- tion and supplied with arms by them. Accord- ingly, in the winter after the close of the war, Congress prohibited foreign trade in the ter- ritory of the United States; and, in the summer following, steps were taken to make this policy effectual, by establishing a chain of military posts near the Canadian frontier and upon the
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principal lines of communication thence into the interior. These posts were to be occupied by Indian agents, with factories, or government stores, designed to supply the place of the pro- hibited traffic.
On the 21st of June, 1816, United States troops took possession of the fort at Prairie du Chien. During the next month three schooners entered Fox river of Green bay, under the American flag, displaying to the astonished inhabitants of the small settlement upon that stream near its mouth, their decks covered with government troops. They were under command of Col. John Miller, of the Third United States Infantry, whose purpose was the establishment of a garrison near the head of the bay. The rendezvous of the troops was upon the east side some distance up the river, and was called "Camp Smith." At the end of two months the garrison was established in barracks enclosed with a stockade. Camp Smith was occupied until 1820, when a more substantial struc- ture was erected on the west side of the stream near its mouth, and named Fort Howard.
The settlement at Green Bay was made up at the close of the war, of about forty or fifty French Canadians. The inhabitants (as at Prairie du Chien) were now for a time the subjects of military rule. "They received the advent of the troops in a hospitable spirit, and acquiesced in the authority asserted over them, with little evidence of discontent, maintaining a character for docility and freedom from tur- bulence of disposition remarkably in contrast with their surroundings. Military authority was, in the main, exerted for the preservation of order." There was no ciyil authority worth speaking of. It was at a period when important changes were taking place. That sometimes military authority, under such circumstances, should have been exercised in an arbitrary manner, is not at all a matter of surprise. "The conduet of the soldiery was also sometimes troublesome and offensive ; as a rule, how- ever, harmonious relations existed between
them and the citizens. The abuses were only such as were unavoidable, in the absence of any lawful restraint on the one hand, or means of redress on the other." This state of affairs did not long continue, as initiatory steps were not long after taken to extend over the community both here and at Prairie du Chien the pro- tection of civil government.
The Indians of Wisconsin, upon the arrival of United States troops at Prairie du Chien and Green bay, gave evident signs of a disposition to remain friendly, although some thought the advent of soldiers an intrusion. An Indian ageney under John Boyer and a United States factory, well supplied with goods, with Major Matthew Irwin at its head, were soon established at the bay ; a factory at Prairie du Chien, under charge of John W. Johnson, was also started. The Menemonee and Winnebago tribes, the former upon Green bay, the latter upon the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, were now brought into nearer relations with the United States. WISCONSIN AS A PART OF MICHIGAN TERRITORY.
Upon the admission of Illinois into the Union, in 1818, all "the territory of the United States, northwest of the River Ohio," lying west of Michigan territory and north of the States of Indiana and Illinois, was attached to and made a part of Michigan territory; by which act the whole of the present State of Wisconsin came under the jurisdiction of the latter. At the close of the last war with Great Britian, Wis- consin began in earnest to be occupied by Americans. But the latter were still few in number when the country west of Lake Michi- gan was attached to Michigan territory. Now, however, that the laws of the United States were in reality extended over them, they began to feel as though they were not altogether beyond the protection of a government of their own, notwithstanding they were surrounded by Indian tribes. On the 26th of Cctober, 1818, the governor of the territory erected by procla- mation three counties lying in whole or in part in what is now Wisconsin-Brown, Crawford
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and Michilimackinac. The county of Michili- mackinac not only included all of the present State of Wisconsin lying north of a line drawn dne west from near the head of the Little Noqnet bay, but territory east and west of it, so as to reach from Lake Huron to the Mississippi river. Its county seat was established "at the Borongh of Michilimackinac." The whole area in Michi- gan territory south of the county of Michili- mackinac, and west of Lake Michigan formed the two counties of Brown and Crawford; the former to include the area east of a line drawn due north and south through the middle of the portage between the Fox river of Green bay and the Wisconsin; the latter to include the whole region west of that line. Prairie du Chien was designated as the county seat of [Crawford; Green Bay, of Brown county. On the 22d of December, 1826, a county named Chippewa was formed from the northern portions of Michili- mackinac, including the southern shores of Lake Superior throughout its entire length, and ex- tending from the straits leading from that lake into Lake Huron, west to the western boundary line of Michigan territory, with the county seat "at such point in the vicinity of the Sault de Ste. Marie, as a majority of the county com- missioners to be appointed shall designate." Embraced within this county -its southern boundary being the parallel of 46 degrees 31 min- utes north latitude- was all the territory of the present State of Wisconsin now bordering on Lake Superior. Brown and Crawford counties were soon organized, the offices being filled by appointments of the governor. County courts were also established, to which appeals were taken from justices of the peace. In January, 1823, a district court was established by an aet of Congress, for the counties last mentioned, including also Michilimackinac. One term during the year was held in each county. James Dnane Doty was the judge of this court to May, 1832, when he was succeeded by David Irvin.
The United States were not unmindful of her citizens to the westward of Lake Michigan, in
several other important matters. Indian agencies were established; treaties were held with some of the native tribes, and land claims of white settlers at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien adjusted. Postmasters were also appointed at these two places.
In 1825 and the two following years, a general attention was called to the lead mines in what is now the southwestern portion of the State. Different places therein were settled with American miners. In June, 1827, the Winne- bago Indians became hostile; this caused the militia of Prairie du Chien to be called out. United States troops ascended the Wisconsin river to quell the disturbance. There they were joined by Illinois volunteers, and the Winneba- goes awed into submission. Fort Winnebago was thereupon erected by the general govern- ment at the portage, near the present site of Portage, Columbia Co., Wis. A treaty with the Indians followed, and there was no more trouble because of mining operations in the "lead region." On the 9th of October, 1829, a county was formed of all that part of Crawford lying south of the Wisconsin, and named Iowa. In
1831 the United States purchased of the Men- omonees all their lands east of Green bay, Winnebago lake and the Fox and Milwaukee rivers. The general government, before this date, had, at several periods, held treaties with the Sac and Fox Indians. And the time had now come when the two tribes were to leave the eastern for the western side of the Misssi- sippi river; but a band headed by Black Hawk refused to leave their village near Rock Island, Ill. They contended that they had not sold their town to the United States; and upon their return early in 1831, from a hunt across the Mississippi, finding their village and fields in possession of the whites, they determined to repossess their homes at all hazards. This was looked upon, or called, an encroachment by the settlers; so the governor of Illinois took the responsibility of declaring the State invaded, and asked the United States to drive the refrac-
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tory Indians beyond the Mississippi. The result was, the Indian village was destroyed by Illinois volunteers. This and the threatened advance across the river by the United States commander, brought Black Hawk and his fol- lowers to terms. They sued for peace-agree- ing to remain forever on the west side of the Mississippi. But this truce was of short dura- tion.
Early in the spring of 1832, Black Hawk hav- ing assembled his forces on the Mississippi in the vicinity of the locality where Fort Madison had stood, crossed that stream and ascended Rock river. This was the signal for war. The governor of Illinois made a call for volunteers, and in a brief space of time 1,800 had assembled at Beardstown, Cass county. They marched for the mouth of Rock river, where a council of war was held by their officers and Brigadier-General Ilenry Atkinson, of the reg- ular forces. The Indians were sent word by General Atkinson that they must return and re- cross the Mississippi or they would be driven back by force. When the attempt was made to compel them to go back a collision occurred between the Illinois militia and Black Hawk's braves, resulting in the discomfiture of the former with the loss of eleven men. Soon af- terward the volunteers were discharged, and the first campaign of Black Hawk's War was at an end This was in May, 1832. In June fol- lowing a new force had been raised and put under the command of General Atkinson, who commenced his march up Rock river. Before this there had been a general "forting" in the lead region, in Illinois, and including the whole country in what is now Southwest Wisconsin, notwithstanding which a number of settlers had been killed by the savages, mostly in Illi- nois. Squads of volunteers, in two or three in- stances, had encountered the Indians, and in one with entire success-upon the Pecatonica, in the present Lafayette Co., Wis .- every sav- age (and there were seventeen of them) being killed. The loss of the volunteers was three
killed and wounded. Atkinson's march up Rock river was attended with some skirmish- ing, when, being informed that Black Hawk and his force were at Lake Koshkonong, in the southwest corner of what is now Jefferson Co., Wis., he immediately moved thither with a portion of his army, where the whole force was ordered to concentrate. But the Sac chief, with his people, had flown. Colonels Henry Dodge and James D. Henry, with the forces under them, discovered the trail of the savages, leading in the direction of Wisconsin river. It was evident that the retreating force was large, and that it had but recently passed. The pur- suing troops hastened their march. On the 21st of July, 1832, they arrived at the hills which skirt the left bank of that stream, in what is now Roxbury town (township), Dane county. Here was Black Hawk's whole force, including women and children, the aged and infirm, hastening by every effort to escape across the river. But that this might now be effected it became necessary for that chief to make a firm stand, to cover the retreat. The Indians were in the bottom lands when the pur- sning whites made their appearance upon the heights in their rear. Colonel Dodge occupied the front and sustained the first attack of the Indians. He was soon joined by Henry with his force, when they obtained a complete vic- tory. The action commenced about 5 o'clock in the afternoon and ended at sunset. The enemy sustained a loss, it is said, of about sixty killed and a large number wounded .* The loss of the Americans was one killed and eight wounded. During the following night Black Hawk made his escape down the Wisconsin. Hle was pursued and finally brought to a stand on the Mississippi near the month of the Bad Axe, on the western boundary of what is now Vernon Co., Wis .; and on the 2d of August attacked on all sides by the Americans, who soon obtained a complete victory. Black Hawk escaped, but was soon after captured. This ended the war.
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