USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 18
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"The storm raged with ten-fold violence during the night. We were continually star-
tled by the crashing of falling trees around us, and who could tell but that the next would be upon us? Spite of our fatigue, we passed an almost sleepless night. When we arose in the morning we were made fully alive to the perils by which we had been surrounded. At least fifty trees, the giants of the forest, lay pros- trate within view of the tent.
"When we had taken our scanty breakfast, and were mounted and ready for departure, it was with difficulty we could tread our way, so completely was it obstructed by the fallen trunks.
"Our Indian guide had joined us at an early hour, and after conducting us carefully out of the wood, and pointing out to us numerous bee-trees, for which he said that grove was famous, he set off at a long trot, and about nine o'clock brought us to Piche's, a log cabin on a rising ground, looking off over the broad prairie to the east.
"A long reach of prairie extended from Piche's to the Du Page, between the two forks of which Mr. Dogherty, our new acquaintance, told us we should find the dwelling of a Mr. Hawley, who would give us a comfortable dinner.
"The weather was intensely cold. The wind, sweeping over the broad prairie, with nothing to break its force, chilled our very hearts. I beat my feet against the saddle to restore the circulation, when they became benumbed with the cold, until they became so bruised I could beat them no longer. Not a house or wigwam, not even a lump of trees as a shelter offered itself for many a weary mile. At length we reached the west fork of the Du Page. It was frozen but not sufficiently so to bear the horses. Our only resource was to eut a way for them through the ice. It was a work of time, for the ice had frozen to sev- cral inches in thickness during the last bitter night. Plante went first with an axe, and cut as far as he could reach, then mounted onc of the hardy little ponies, and with some difficulty broke the ice before him, until he had opened a passage to the opposite shore.
"We were all across at last, and spurred on our horses, until we reached Hawley's, a large, commodious dwelling, near the cast fork of the river.
"The good woman welcomed us kindly, and soon made us warm and comfortable. We felt as if we were in a civilized land once more.
"We found, upon inquiry, that we could, by pushing on, reach Lawton's, on the Aux Plaines that night; we should then be within twelve miles of Chicago. Of course, we made
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
[1816-32.
no unnecessary delay, but set off as soon after dinner as possible.
"A very comfortable house was Lawton's, after we did reach it-carpeted, and with a warm stove-in fact, quite in civilized style. Mr. Weeks, the man who brought us across, was the major-domo during the temporary absence of Mr. Lawton.
"Mrs Lawton was a young woman, and not ill-looking. She complained bitterly of the loneliness of her condition, and having been 'brought out there into the woods, which was a. thing she had not expected when she came from the East.' We did not ask her with what expectations she had come to a wild, unset- tled country; but we tried to comfort her with the assurance that things would grow better in a few years. She said she did not mean to wait for that. She should go back to her family in the East if Mr. Lawton did notinvite some of her young friends to come and stay with her and make things agreeable.
"We could hardly realize, on rising the fol- lowing morning, that only twelve miles of prairie intervened between us and Chicago le Desiree, as I could not but name it.
"We could look across the extended plain, and on its farthest verge were visible two tall trees, which my husband pointed out to me as the planting of his own hand when a boy. Already they had become so lofty as to serve as landmarks, and they were constantly in view as we traveled the beaten road. I was con- stantly repeating to myself: 'There live the friends I am so longing to see! There will ter- minate all our trials and hardships!'
"A Mr. Wentworth joined us on the road, and of him we inquired after the welfare of the family, from whom we had, for a long time, received no intelligence. When we reached Chicago he took us to a little tavern at the forks of the river. This portion of the place was then called Wolf Point, from its having been the residence of an Indian named 'Moa- way,' or 'the Wolf.'
" 'Dear me,' said the old landlady, at the lit- tle tavern, 'what dreadful cold weather you must have had to travel in! Why, two days ago the river was all open here, and now it's frozen hard enough for folks to cross a-horse- back!'
Notwithstanding this assurance, my husband did not like to venture, so he determined to leave his horses and procced on foot, to the residence of his mother and sister, a distance of about half a mile.
" We sat out on our walk, which was first across the ice, then down the northern bank of the river. As we approached the house, we
were espied by Genevieve, a half-brecd ser- vant of the family. She did not wait to salute us, but flew into the house crying :
" 'Oh! Madame Kinzie, who do you think has come? Monsieur John and Madame John, all the way from Fort Winnebago on foot!'
"Soon we were in the arms of our dear, kind friends. A messenger was dispatched to the 'garrison' for the remaining members of the family, and for that day at least, I was the wonder and admiration of the whole circle, 'for the dangers I had seen.' "
CHAPTER XXIII.
Indian Boundaries and Extinguishment of Indian Titles in Wisconsin.
HEN the Government of the United States took formal possession of the Northwest in 1816, councils were held with the various Indian tribes, for the purpose of establishing ami- cable relations between them, and of defining the boundaries of their respective territory.
A treaty had, however, been previously concluded with the Sauks and Foxes, at a council held in St. Louis, Feb. 21st, 1805, defining their limits as follows: On the east and southeast, by the Fox River, in the south, to its confluence with the Illinois thence down that stream to its mouth; thence down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Missouri; and on the southwest by that river The boundary on the north, between then, and the Winnebagoes and the Sioux, is rathe indefinite.
The Chippewas and Sioux having long mad, conflicting claims to territory, in 1826, a coun cil was held for the purpose of amicably adjust ing the boundary lines between the severa tribes in the Northwest. At this council treaty was made by which the Sioux relin quished all territory east of the Mississippi The Chippewas of the North were limited o' the south and east by a line running from th mouth of Black River, in a northeasterl direction to a point between Big and Littl Bay de Noquet, north of the mouth of Gree Bay. This made a line across the State an was the southern boundary line of th Chippewas, and the northern boundar of the Menominees and of the Winnebagoe:
The Winnebago country was bounded : follows:
Commencing at Grand Kaukauna on lowe
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
1829-36.]
Fox River and along that stream to Lake Win- nebago by the south channel; thence along the west shore of the lake to the inlet of the Fox River (Oshkosh), following that river to the "portage of the Fox and Wisconsin, " and across that portage to the Wisconsin River; thence up that stream to the mouth of the left fork, and along the fork to its source; thence due west to a point on Black River, and down that stream to the lands of the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawattamies of Illinois; thence southeasterly to a Winnebago village on Rock River, about forty miles above its mouth, (leaving a strip of land not well defined between this line and the Mississippi River belonging to the last mentioned tribe); thence up Rock River to its source near Lake Winnebago; thence northerly by a line along the east shore of that lake to the place of beginning, includ- ing all of that lake and the island at its outlet.
The Menominees not conversant with metes and bounds at remote points of their territory, the limits were not as definite, but for the purposes of this treaty they were fixed as fol- lows:
Beginning at a point on the lower Fox near Little Kaukauna, and following the boundaries of the Winnebagoes along the Fox, Wisconsin and left fork of the Wisconsin until it reaches Black River, and North by the Chippewa country across to Green Bay, along the west- ern shore of the Bay to the mouth of Fox River, and up that stream to the place of beginning. Also that tract lying east of Green Bay and the Winnebago nation, to Lake Mich- igan on the east, from the mouth of Green Bay on the north, to a line drawn from the south extremity of Lake Winnebago to the source of the Milwaukee River; thence by that stream to its mouth on the south.
The Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawata mies, of Illinois, were limited by the Milwau- kee River on the north, Lake Michigan on the east, Rock River and the eastern boundary line of the Winnebagoes on the west, extend- ing south into Illinois. The Sauks and Foxes relinquishing all claims east of the Mississippi, that territory seems to have been divided between these bands and the Winnebagoes.
In 1831, the Menomonees ceded to
the United States for the occupation of the New York Indians a tract of land described as follows, to-wit: Beginning on the Fox River at the dam near Little Kaukauna, thence north- west forty miles; thence northeast to Oconto Creek, falling into Green Bay; thence down said creek and along Green Bay and Fox River to place of beginning, to contain five hundred thousand acres, with a proviso that
all New York .Indians, who shall settle thereon within three years, shall be entitled to the ben- efit of this grant to an extent not exceeding one hundred acres to each person, and at the end of three years whatever lands were not required to complete the distribution should revert to the United States. It was after- wards left optional with the President to extend the time of settlement.
At the same time the Menomonees ceded to the United States all the land within the fol- lowing limits, to-wit: Lake Michigan on the east, a line from the southern extremity of Lake Winnebago to the source of Milwaukee River and that river on the south, Lake Win- nebago and the Indian (Winnebago) boundary and Green Bay on the west and north, and provided that two townships on the east of Lake Winnebago should be set apart for the occupation of the Stockbridge and Munsee Indians, and one township adjoining the last for the benefit of the Brothertown Indians. The Government, at this time, expressed their intention to fully remunerate the tribes located on the east side of the Fox River for the improvements they had made, by which it appears that the New York Indians had for some years been occupying the lands in the vicinity of Green Bay, to which they undoubt- edly thought they had acquired a title from the Menomonees and Winnebagoes, while the Menomonees in this treaty emphatically deny any rights acquired, and are made to express in that instrument that, through their great respect, good will, love, confidence, esteem, veneration, etc. for the United States, and their great desire to secure a home for them- selves and their posterity forever, they are induced to make these grants for the benefit of the New York Indians. This treaty, not fully ratified until July 9th, 1832, was, by mutual consent, somewhat modified as to the boundaries of the five hundred thousand acre tract, not material here. Only the Oneidas and St. Regis availing themselves of the five hundred thousand acre reservation, it was reduced to its present limits.
At this treaty the United States also agreed to employ farmers, millers, blacksmiths, etc., build mills and make sundry improvements at Winnebago Rapids, (see City of Neenah), which was partially, or, perhaps, fully per- formed, but in the treaty of September 3rd, 1836, at Cedar Rapids, this agreement was annulled.
January 7th, 1829, the Government made a partial treaty for that tract of country south- east of the Wisconsin River known as the
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
[1832-60.
"lead regions," with the Winnebagoes, Potta- wattamies, Chippewas and Ottawas.
February 13th, 1833, by a treaty heldat Rock Island, the Winnebagoes ceded all lands belong- ing to them south and east of the Wisconsin River, Fox River and Lake Winnebago.
September 3rd, 1836, a treaty was held at Cedar Rapids, (on the Lower Fox River,) at which the Menomonees ceded all their land bounded by the Fox River and Lake Winne- bago on the southeast, Wolf River on the northwest and the Chippewa country on the north. This treaty was proclaimed February 15th, 1837.
June 16th, 1838, the Winnebagoes relin- quished their claim to all lands east of the Mississippi River, and agreed to remove to the west of that stream within eight months.
February 4th, 1847, they ceded everything belonging to them, and the Government gave them a tract in exchange, lying north of the St. Peter's River and west of the Mississippi, in Minnesota.
March 28th, 1866, they made another trade and were moved to Nebraska.
October 18th, 1848, the Government obtained the Indian title to all the lands claimed by the Menomonees within the State of Wisconsin. This treaty was made at Lake Poygan, and the purchase included thetract lying north and west, ofFox River between the Wolfand Wisconsin, long known as the "Indian land;" in return the Indians accepted a grant of land previously ceded by the Chippewas of the Mississippi and Lake Superior, and by the Pillager band of Chippewas.
At a treaty held August 2nd, 1854, the Menomonees having become dissatisfied with the Chippewa country, and desiring to remain in Wisconsin, they deeded back that grant, and, partly in lieu thereof, accepted a grant or reservation on the upper Wolf River, com- prising Townships 28 and 29, Ranges 13, 14, 15 and 16, eight townships.
At the treaty of October 18th, 1848, it was stipulated that they might remain on the lands then ceded for two years, or until notified by the Government that the lands were wanted. In the fall of 1852 they were so notified, and removed to this tract spoken of in the treaty of 1834, on Wolf River, their principal village being at Keshena, from which they intended soon to remove to the Chippewa country to which they held the title.
In the meantime the Stockbridge and Mun- see Indians on the east side of Lake Winnc- bago had become divided, some wishing to become citizens and have their lands distrib- uted among the members, while others preferred
to retain their Indian customs. To settle this matter satisfactorily to all, the Government had given the latter the privilege of retaining their tribal habits, and oflocating west of the Mis- sissippi amongst those of like taste. This prop- osition was accepted and they went West, but were soon desirous of returning; and at last, by a treaty of February 11th, 1856, fully rat- ified April 24th of the same year, the Govern- ment purchased of the Menomonees two townships in the southwest part of their Wolf River reservation, upon which was located all such of the Stockbridge and Munsce tribes as were opposed to citizenship, where they and the Menomonees still remain.
The citizen portion, with the Brothertowns, occupying good farms on the original reserva- tion, have become industrious and contented.
We now return to the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawattamies of Illinois, whom we left in possession of the southern portion of Wis- consin, extending into Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
By treaties of January 2d, 1830 and Febru- ary 2Ist, 1825, they disposed of all their inter- est in Southern Wisconsin; were finally, in 1846, united with the various bands of the Pottawattamie tribes and placed upon a reser- vation in Kansas, upon the Kansas River.
The Chippewas of the North made the final cession of all of their lands in Wisconsin in 1842.
RECAPITULATION OF EXTINGUISHMENT OF INDIAN TITLES.
In 1833, the Foxes, Sauks, Winnebagoes, Pottawattamies and Menominces, had ceded to the Government all the lands lying south of the Fox and Wisconsin.
In 1836, Menominees ceded a tract, bounded on the south and cast by Fox River and Lake Winnebago; west by the Wolf; and north by the Chippewa country.
In 1848, they ceded all of the balance of their lands.
. In 1837, Winnebagoes ceded all of their lands.
In 1842, Chippewas made a final cession of all of their lands in Wisconsin.
This extinguished all Indian titles in this State, excepting the small reservations with well defined boundaries.
NOTE - This compilation is made from original treaties and records.
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
1763-36.]
CHAPTER XXIV.
X
The Several Territorial Organizations of the Soil, now Included in the Limits of Wisconsin - The Old Northwestern Terri- tory - The Organization of the Territory of Wisconsin.
HE territory now included in Wiscon- sin, it will be seen from the foregoing pages, remained under the govern- ment of France till 1763; when, by the Treaty of Paris, it was ceded to Great Britain, who held it until after the acknowledgement of the independence of the United States, in 1783, when it was claimed by Virginia, as territory conquered by her forces, under Colonel George Rogers Clark.
Great Britain, however, remained in posses- sion until the ratification of the Jay Treaty, 1796, which settled the boundary questions; and in that year the United States first came into actual possession.
Prior to this, Virginia ceded all her territory Northwest of the Ohio River to the Govern- ment.
By the famous ordinance of 1787: a Govern- ment was established over the region known as the Northwestern Territory, and Arthur St. Clair was appointed Governor. By his proclamation in 1796, a county was formed, which included with other territory, what is now Eastern Wisconsin, and all of the State of Michigan. It was called Wayne County. In 1800, the Northwestern Territory was divided into two territorial governments; the Western one called Indiana, and embraced what is now Wisconsin. The seat of government was Vincennes, on the Wabash. Illinois territory was organized in 1809, and what is now Wis -. consin formed a part of it. When Illinois became a State in 1818, the region west of Lake Michigan was made a part of Michigan territory. General Lewis Cass was Governor, and by proclamation he established in 1818, three counties, including all the present terri- tory of Wisconsin, viz: Michilimackinac, Brown and Crawford.
The County of Michilimackinac, embraced all the district, north of a line running east and west, from Bay de Noquet to Lake Huron on the east, and to the Mississippi on the west. Its county seat was Michilimackinac.
Brown County, which included the territory of what is now Winnebago, embraced the tract east of a line running north and south, through the middle of the Portage, between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. Green Bay was designated as its county seat.
Crawford County included the area west of that line to the Mississippi; with Prairie du Chien for its County seat.
In Brown and Crawford counties, courts were established, immediately on their con- struction.
In 1823, an act of Congress created a Dis- trict Court for the Counties of Brown, Craw- ford and Michilimackinac; James Duane Doty was appointed District Judge; and one term of court was held in each county, each year. In 1824, Judge Doty held his first term in Green Bay; Henry S. Baird, the first practic- ing lawyer in Wisconsin, officiating as District Attorney.
In 1836, the Huron District of Michigan was organized into the territory of Wisconsin, which had its birth-day July Fourth, of that year. It included within its territorial limita- tions, the whole region from Lake Michigan, westward to the Mississippi River, and the head waters of the Mississippi. Its southern boundary was the northern line of Illinois, and of Missouri. General Dodge was appointed the first Governor and also Superintendent of Indian affairs. The Territorial Secretary was John S. Horner; and the first Legislature was convened at Belmont, Grant County.
It will be seen, from the foregoing, that the territory, now embraced in the limits of Wis- consin, was under the Government of France for ninety-three years; of Great Britain for thirty-one years; of Virginia for six years; and for short periods under the jurisdiction of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, respectively.
CHAPTER XXV.
On Extinguishment of Indian Title to all the Territory North of Chicago and South and East of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers in 1833, Immigration to the New Purchase Set in- Lines of Steamers and Sail Vessels are Placed on the Lakes -Roads Begin to be Used Instead of Indian Trails- Frink & Walker's Line of Stages-First Land Sales-Hard Times of '37 and '38-Wheat Shipments Begin-Wisconsin in 1838.
Lm THE close of the Black Hawk war left no further apprehensions for any serious Indian troubles, and closed one epoch in the history of Wisconsin The fame of this beautiful country, and of its rich mineral and agricultural resources, had gone abroad, and immigration now began to pour in. The settlement of the Northwest might almost be said to have begun with the close of that war; for previous to it, there were no white inhabitants to speak of, other than those of the little hamlets in the lead region, Prairie du Chien and Green Bay. Milwaukee and Chicago were but little more than trading posts. In 1833 the first frame house was built in
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
[1834-40.
Chicago, only three years before the family of the writer, then a small child, moved to that city.
The extinguishment of the Indian title to the territory of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin in that year, opened that tract to white settlement, and the "New Purchase" attracted great attention. By the spring of 1834, immigration increased to such an extent that lines of steamers and sail vessels were put on the lakes to run from Buffalo to Chicago. These were loaded to their fullest capacity with freight and passengers. "Frink and Walker's Line" of stage coaches next made their appearance, and roads began to be used in place of Indian trails. Captain Knapp and others, in 1834, laid claims and commenced the settlement on Root River, afterwards Racine; and in 1835 a company from the East settled at Pike River, now Kenosha.
In 1818 Solomon Juneau settled at Milwau- kec. In 1834 a number of settlers arrived, among them Geo. H. Walker, Byron Kilbourn, Daniel Wells and the Dousmans; and in 1835 Milwaukee was on the high road to prosperity and fame, and in 1836 was a promising rival of Chicago. In this year an immense immi- gration poured into the country. Steamers arriving at Milwaukee and Chicago would be crowded with passengers, which sometimes numbered as high as eight hundred on one boat. Business was at high pressure; specu- lation ran high, and the laying out of new cities and selling city lots was a leading branch of business.
Solomon Juneau, the founder of Milwaukee, was supposed to be worth $100,000, consid- ered vast wealth at that time. The value he put on money may be seen from the fact of its being his habit of taking the money out of the drawer of his store, after business hours, and putting it loose in his hat; which being once knocked off in a playful crowd, $10,000 in bills flew in every direction. He subscribed most liberally to every public and charitable enter- prise. After seeing others getting rich on the property he sold at such low figures, he com- menced buying back some of the lots, paying in one instance, $3,900 for a lot he had sold the year previous for $475. He was a man loved and esteemed by all who knew him.
In 1837 a revulsion set in, and "hard times" continued through 1838. Jackson had issued his "specie circular," requiring coin in pay- ment for Government bonds. He also removed the Government deposits from the Bank of the United States to the Government Treasury. The bottom fell out of the "wild-cat banks" and brought ruin to hundreds of thousands. A
general business depression pervaded the whole country, east and west. In 1840 flour sold in Chicago for $3 a barrel, pork from $1.50 to $2 per hundred, butter six cents a pound, etc.
In 1836 flour sold in Chicago for from $10 to $15 a barrel, and we had to pay a shilling a quart for milk.
The territory of Wisconsin was set off from Michigan and organized the fourth day of July, 1836.
Although times continued dull up to 1840- 41, immigration continued to pour in and rap- idly settled the southern portion of the State. The Indian trails now gave way to wagon roads, and log houses dotted the country in every direction. Long trains of teams daily left the lake shore towns carrying the immigrants and their goods out into the country. Soon the fertile prairies began to ship their prod- ucts east, and the long trains of teams would load both ways- hauling wheat into Milwau- kee, Racine and Southport, and carrying goods and immigrants back.
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