USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 19
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Winter wheat then was the staple, yielding forty bushels per acre, and was a never-failing crop. The various insects that have come in with all the other demoralizing influences of a higher civilization, were unknown. The festive potato bug, the chinch bug, and all the numerous variety of pests that prey upon the labor of the husbandman, never troubled the early settlers. An abundance of everything that can be grown in this latitude was raised with comparatively little labor. Winter wheat was brought to Milwaukee from forty to one hundred miles in the interior, by teams and sold for fifty cents a bushel.
With the fall frosts came the prairie fires, which for weeks would keep the sky aglow and light up the nights. It was one of the features of the early day. £ Night after night we could see in every direction the long lines of flame, and its lurid reflection in the sky.
The first sale of Government lands in North- ern Illinois was held in Chicago in 1835. The tract offered extended only to the North line of the State.
The next lands coming into market were in the Southern part of the territory of Wiscon- sin. The land sale took place in Milwaukee in 1839.
The settlers, apprehensive that the land spec- ulators would attempt to bid in their lands, organized and appointed committees to take forcible means to prevent it if deemed nec- essary.
At the sale a party made a bid against a set- tler, when he was seized by the committee, but he escaped from them and fled into the
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
1838.]
country. They followed and captured him and brought him back to Milwaukee, where threats failed to make him withdraw his bid. The settler, however, got his land, as all the pre-emptors did.
The opening and prairie lands in Wisconsin lookedlike a paradise to the Eastern immigrant, The writer can remember the rapturous excla- mations of the new-comers. When a young child, I went on a visit with a friend of our family, who had formerly been a merchant in Chicago, and was then living on a beautiful place west of Southport, as Kenosha was called. We took the lake steamer at my home, Chicago, and in the forenoon arrived at Southport. It was in the fall of 1838. The village contained one store and a half dozen other buildings, all "wood-colored," unpainted. All the boys from a large distance seemed to have congregated on the arrival of the steamer. Nearly every boy was barefoot, and I thought I never before saw such a large number, for so few houses. We started on foot for my friend's place, some twelve miles out, and had to ford a small stream-the Aux Plaines, which was bor- dered by a dense growth of rushes. It was evening when we reached it and the prairie fires were burning some distance from us, but approaching at a rapid rate. I was not alarmed, for I was familiar with them. Mr. M. simply set fire to the dry grass where we stood. In a moment the fire spread to the tall rushes, which, blazing to a great height, made a noise like a continuous discharge of small arms. When a sufficient space was burned, we crossed in safety. Our trail was well lighted, for the whole country seemed in a blaze. I noticed that my companion was a little apprehensive that his home was in danger; but we found everything safe on our arrival. A comfortable log house on a beauti- ful elevation, and surrounded by a number of huge oaks, presented every appearance of thrift and comfort. A sumptuous supper was soon prepared; broiled partridge forming part of the bill of fare. The next morning the lovely country presented a scene of picturesque beauty; not another house was in sight. The country was rolling prairie and timber inter- mingled. The nearest house, hidden in a grove of trees, was two miles distant, the occupant, a sea captain and his family. The next was a young physician, formerly of Chicago. The next, a former store-keeper of Chicago, who was closed out by the "hard times." Not one of these had ever "farmed" before, and yet they became successful in their new vocation.
The country was full of game; partridges were especially plentiful, and the table was
kept well supplied. A band of Pottawattamies from Rock River, encamped near by, afforded the only small boy companions.
I saw the same country a few years after- wards, but with all the "improvements" it did not look so beautiful as when I first saw it, untouched by the hand of man.
Nothing was ever seen before to equal the progress in wealth, population and improve- ment, that the West made from 1843 to 1850. Immigration poured in a continuous tide and overspread the whole country. It was esti- mated that sixty thousand persons settled in Wisconsin in 1843. The settlers up to the year 1842, were principally from the South and East. In 1843 the immigration was more largely European, and that to Wisconsin was largely composed of Germans. By the year 1846, the southern part of this State was well settled; villages sprang up, that in a few years became great cities, the marts of a vast trade and commerce.
The splendid steamers on the lakes were floating palaces, elegantly furnished and provided with all the luxuries of life. The Southern travel to Northern summer resorts was via the lakes, from Chicago to Buffalo. In time came the railroads, with all the attendants of modern civilization, and the "far West" moved five hundred miles toward the setting sun.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Madison Selected as the Site of the Seat of State Govern- ment - Recollections of One of the Members of the First Session at Madison - Population of the Territory on its Organization - Population of State in 1850 - First State Officers.
"T the first session of the Territorial Legislature, held at Belmont, several rival places contended for the posses- sion of the seat of Government; but Madison carried off the prize, and the site of the "City of the Four Lakes" was selected, and a more lovely spot could not be found.
Commissioners were appointed to contract for the erection of suitable buildings, and on the tenth of June, 1837, the acting commis- sioner, with a party of workmen, arrived at the site of the future Capitol. They were ten days on the route, from Milwaukee.
In 1838, the Legislature assembled Madison.
at
Colonel Ebenezer Childs, a member of the Legislature, in his "Recollections of Wiscon-
12
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
[1838-48.
sin," published in State Historical Collections, says:
" The new Capitol edifice was not yet in suitable condition to receive the legislature : so we had to assemble in the base- ment of the old American House, where Governor Dodge deliv- ered his first message at the new seat of government. We adjourned from day to day, until we could get in the new Cap- itol building. At length we took possession of the new Assem- bly Hall. The floors were laid with green oak-boards full of ice. The walls of the room were iced over; green-oak seats, and desks made of rough boards, one fireplace, and one small stove. In a few days the flooring near the stove and fireplace so shrunk, on account of the heat, that a person could run his hand between the boards. The basement story was all open ; and James Morrison's large drove of hogs had taken possess- ion. They were awfully poor; and it would have taken two of them, standing side by side, to have made a decent shadow on a bright day. We had a great many smart members in the house, and sometimes they spoke for Buncombe. When mem- bers of this kind became too tedious, I would take a long pole, go al the hogs, and stir tbem up; when they would raise a young Pandemonium for noise and confusion. The speaker's voice would become completely drowned ; and he would be compelled to stop, not, however, without giving his squealing disturbers a sample of his swearing ability. The weather was cold; the halls were cold; our ink would freeze : so, when we could stand it no longer, we passed a joint resolution to adjourn for twenty days. I was appointed hy the two houses to procure carpeting for both halls during the recess. I bought all I could find in the Territory, and brought it to Madison, and put it down, after covering the floor with a thick coating of hay. After this, we were more comfortable. We used to have tall times in those days - days long to be remembered. Stealing was carried on in a small way. Occasionally a bill would be fairly stolen through the legislature; and the legislature would get gouged now and then. "
The population of the present limits of Wis- consin, in 1836, was: In Milwaukee County, 2,893; Brown County, 2,706; Iowa County, 5,234; Crawford County, 850; total, 11,683. In 1850, the population of the State was 305.391.
The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin was adopted by the people on the second day of March, 1848; and at the election of State officers, held on the eighth day of May, of that year, Nelson Dewey was elected Gov- ernor; John E. Holmes, Lieutenant-Governor; Thomas McHugh, Secretary of State; J. C. Fairchild, Treasurer; and James S. Brown, Attorney-General.
The State was admitted into the Union, May 29th, 1848.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Fox and Wisconsin Rivers Improvement - Lands Granted to Wisconsin to Aid the Same - Transfer to a Company - Purchase of the Improvement by the United States.
T will be seen from the foregoing pages that the water-courses in this State, viz. ; the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, and Lake Winnebago - the links which connect a chain from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico - were the very earliest channels of the travel of the West, and that they are associated with the leading events of the earlier civilization of the continent. In all periods of our history this water communi- cation has figured as an important national feature of the country.
In 1838, the improvement of this route was recommended to Congress by the Secretary of War, for the purpose of facilitating the trans- portation of troops and munitions of war to the frontier.
In 1839, a preliminary survey was made by Captain Cram, under direction of the Secre- tary of War.
In 1846, Congress granted for this purpose, and for the construction of a canal connecting the two rivers, a tract of land "equal to one- half of three miles wide on each side of Fox River and the lakes through which it flows, from the junction of the canal with Fox River at Portage, to Green Bay, and along each side of the canal. "
On January 29th, 1848, an act was passed by the Legislature accepting the grant.
August 8th, 1848, an act was passed to provide for the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, and to connect the same by a canal, and providing for the election of five commissioners to be called the "Board of Pub- lic Works;" J. B. Estes, A. S. Story, John A. Bingham, Curtis Reed and H. L. Dousman were elected.
The State elected to take the odd numbered sections, which amounted to 306,039.98-100 acres. September 4th, 1848, at a meeting of the Board, held at Madison, Mr. C. R. Alton was appointed chief engineer, and instructed to make a survey of the proposed route. In his report of January, 1849, his estimate of cost for a canal and the improvement of Fox River from Portage City to Green Bay, was $373,- 706.09, with a depth of four feet at usual low water, which was then thought sufficient. This estimate included the cost of superinten- dence and salaries of officers.
The Board of Public Works in their report of same date take occasion to say "The grant of land, (less waste land from which little or
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
1849-71.]
nothing will be realized,) will, at $1.25 per acre, amount to $350,000." April 2nd, 1849, a land office was opened at Oshkosh for the sale of these lands, with the Hon. Joseph Jackson, Receiver, and Jedediah Brown, Reg- ister. During this year a survey was made of the Wisconsin River by Chief Engineer Alton, and resulted in a recommendation that the improvement of the river be confined to cutting down trees overhanging the river, and removing snags at a cost of $3,500, mak- ing the entire estimated cost of improvement of both rivers and canal, including "Superin- tendence and salaries ofofficers, " $377,206.09.
In the early part of the summer of 1850 the lock at Depere was brought into use.
In 1853, the Legislature passed an act con- ferring all the rights, franchises and property of the State in and to the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement, together with all lands hereto- fore granted by Congress for that purpose, and remaining unsold, to a corporation styled "Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement Com- pany.'
This act provided for completion of the work in three years from date.
In 1855, Congress passed an act enlarging the grant formerly made to Wisconsin, which gave to the State an additional 277, 140 acres, making a total of land granted for thisimprove- ment of 639, 100 acres. The additional grant was claimed by the Company, and obtained by act of the Legislature.
In 1856, the Lower Fox had been improved so as to admit the passage of steamers from Green Bay to Lake Winnebago, and the first passage of a steamer between those points was made in June of that year.
The time having expired, as fixed in the contract for the completion of the work, the Company transferred all their rights and fran- chise to a new company called the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company, which was chartered by the Legislature in 1861.
In 1867, General Warren, under instructions from United States Engineer Department, made a survey of the rivers and an estimate of the cost of improving the same.
The following is an extract from his report: "To secure five feet of navigation at low water, all to be canal, 118 miles. Canal sev- enty feet at bottom, eighty feet at top. Locks, 160x35. Total lock lift, 175 feet. Sides of canals in cuts paved to allow the use of steam- boats, $4,194,270. In order to finish in third year, will require $2,082, 130 the first year, the remainder the second year, and $60,000 annu- ally thereafter."
In 1871, the Government proposed to pur- chase the work and complete it, and the Com- pany consenting to sell, an act of Congress was passed the same ycar, providing for a Board of Arbitrators, to be appointed to apprise the value of the property.
By this Board the value was fixed as follows:
Locks, dams, franchise, etc., . 868,070.00
Water power, . 140,000.00
Personal property 40,000.00
Total $1,048,070.00
From this was deducted, value of lands, at $1.25 per acre, $723,070.00
Value of water power 140,000.00
Personal property 40,000.00
$903,070.00
Balance $145,000.00
Which it is supposed the Government has paid.
Since the Government took possession of this work in 1872, there has been more accom- plished toward an available and permanent improvement, than in the twenty-four years preceding, and the improvement of the Fox River and canal may be considered virtually completed, although some of the old works are continually being replaced by new.
This is the great natural outlet of the heavy products of the Northwest. The annual ship- ments of wheat alonc from points west of Lake Michigan eastward, that would natur- ally ship over this route, would average 50,000,000 of bushels, and the estimate cost
of transportation by rail over that of water is on the single item of wheat alone, abont $5,000,000, being a saving in one year of more than the entire estimated cost of the work in its most permanent and substantial form.
The importance of this work in its relation to the interests of the whole country cannot be over estimated, as it unites the only break in the chain of the incomparable water com- munication, which is one of the grand physical features of this continent.
The completion of this work by perfecting the navigation of the Wisconsin, would do more to stimulate the inter-trade and com- merce of the country than any other project, and the amount of grain, cotton and other bulky products that will eventually pass over the route will far exceed the highest estimate of the most sanguine prophecy. That portion of the great agricultural empire of the North- west, comprised of the states of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, with three hundred thousand square miles of grain fields, would pour a continuous flow of their products through this channel, thus cheapening the
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
[1836-46.
bread stuffs of the Eastern consumers and increasing the profits of the Western grain raisers.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Early Settlement of Winnebago County - Its Transformation from a Wilderness into the Abodes of Civilization - The First Settlers - The Beauty and Rich Resources of the Country - Several of the Principal Cities of the State Clus- ter Around these Water Courses - Oshkosh, Neenah and Menasha - Lake Winnebago and its Beautiful Surround- ings.
LTHOUGH a century and a half had passed since the French estab- lished their trading posts in this coun- try, it was, up to the year 1846, but a comparatively unbroken wilderness. The little straggling French settle- ments on the Lower Fox -the Government agency at Neenah -half a dozen families at the mouth of the Upper Fox, the present site of Oshkosh - the trading post of Augustin Grignon and James Porlier, near the head of Big Lake Butte des Morts, comprised nearly the whole civilized inhabitants, with the exception of the troops and traders at Fort Winnebago. But this country was soon to witness a won- derful, sudden transformation. The age of rail- roads and steam machinery was coming on; the beaver, otter, mink and their contemporaries, the French voyageur and the Indian, were to be superseded by that advancing civilization which has spread its conquests far and wide, and whose forces have opened up the broad West to that wave of immigration which rolls ceaselessly across the continent, people- ing its most remote solitudes with a race which takes permanent possession, and before whom the Indian hopelessly flees, disheartened and overwhelmed by the destiny which closes remorselessly around him, and leaves him an alien and outcast in the lands of his nativity.
That vigorous civilization which sprung up on the Atlantic sea-coast of America had now developed greater social forces than the world had ever before witnessed. The vast physical resources of the continent in the possession of a free people, opened up an unbounded field of enterprise; while the opportunity for gain and personal advancement stimulated ambi- tion and progress.
In 1836, the advance guard of that migration, which has since overspread the country, made its appearance in two families, one of which settled at Fond du Lac-the Piers-the other, the Gallups and Stanleys, on the pres- ent site of Oshkosh; these, at that time, were
the only settlers between Neenah and Milwau- kee, a distance of over a hundred miles.
This was the period of the early migration to the Southern part of the State, and while that was being peopled, immigration to this section was light.
In 1842, the County of Winnebago was organized, and in 1846, there were but 732 persons in the whole County; but this inviting field was now attracting more general atten- tion. The fame of this beautiful lake and river country, with its rich prairies and splendid woodlands, began to spread, and immigration poured in with a rapidity unprecedented in the settlement of a country. It surpassed that even of the more Southern counties of the State. In one year the population of .the County increased from 732 to 2,787.
Thirty-five years ago an unsettled wild, now the Counties of Winnebago, Green Lake and Fond du Lac present one continuous expanse of cultivated farms, with commodious and elegant farm houses and suburban villas, sur- rounded with all the adornments of wealth and taste, with spacious barns and out-buildings, as the illustrations in this work serve to show, giving evidence of the wealth, thrift and prosperity of the inhabitants.
Cities have sprung up along these water courses; steamboats and sail crafts ply the waters in every direction; railroads checker the whole face of the country; and the scene is one of vigorous industrial activity and business enterprise.
The great business, manufacturing and agri- cultural resources of the valley of the Fox, is plainly seen in the growth of its cities, and the rapid development of their business industries. Clustering around Lake Winnebago and the Lower Fox, are five of the principal cities of the State. Oshkosh, at the mouth of the Upper Fox, the second city in the State in wealth, business and population.
Twelve miles to the north of Oshkosh, at the outlet of the lake on, one of the greatest water powers of the continent, are the manu- facturing cities of Neenah and Menasha, with their long lines of manufactories. These cities are delightfully situated on either sides of the river, and the shore ofthe lake. Being on a relia- ble line of water communication, affording them cheap transportation for the products of their manufactures; with a water power measured at three thousand horse-power; a fine agricultural district surrounding them, they are destined to maintain their position as two of the chief manufacturing centers of the State.
The many splendid residences here are indi- cative of the wealth and taste of the owners;
ULLILL
...
REGATTA AT OSHKOSH ON LAKE WINNEBAGO, JULY 1877.
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
1829-36.]
and the beautiful park on the lake shore, Nee- nah Point, is a delightful resort in the summer months.
The Lower Fox is the great manufacturing district of the State. Its water reservoirs are inexhaustable; there are no freshets, the flow of the water being gradual, and its volume so large that no formations of ice ever interrupt the workings of its machinery.
The central commercial point on these great water courses, is the city of Oshkosh, delight- fully situated on a handsome plateau, between lakes Winnebago and Buttes des Morts; the surrounding country is surpassingly beautiful. The main business portion of the city, having been destroyed by fire, one mile of its main street is composed wholly of handsome new business blocks. This is one of the finest looking business streets in the state - com- pactly built with fire proof structures of brick and stone. Its palace stores are models of elegance, and its handsome residence streets are most attractive. The city is compactly built up from the shore of Lake Winnebago to that of Lake Buttes des Morts, a distance of three miles. The residences on its best streets are beautiful structures. One street of two miles is almost wholly composed of what might be called palace residences, embowered in the luxuriant foliage of great oaks and shade trees, with well-kept lawns and tasteful surround- ings. There are twenty-five miles of graveled streets, the material of which cements into a smooth, hard surface.
The Fox River, connecting the two lakes, bisects the city, and has an average width of five hundred feet and a depth of thirty. The river shore, for two miles, is lined with manu- facturing establishments run by steam power. There are some sixty of these, and among them are foundries and machines shops, which manufacture steam engines, boilers and mill machinery; sash and door factories, with a capacity of one thousand doors, two thousand windows, and four hundred pairs of blinds per day; saw and shingle mills, whose products have, in good seasons, loaded sixteen thousand cars per year; threshing machine works; a match factory, which employs three hundred hands; grist mills; a large trunk factory, and woolen mills. These, with the steamboats and sailing crafts plying the river and lake, the. moving railroad trains and the busy streets present a scene of great business life and activity.
This place is the seat of the State Normal School, an institution of a high order of excel- lence. There are also a Business College, two Academies, and the Oshkosh High School,
which, with the ward schools, employ about one hundred teachers.
A favorite amusement of the place is yacht- ing. The Oshkosh Yacht Club has a fleet of twenty yachts, finely modeled crafts, and the lake is famous as the best yachting waters in the West. Fond du Lac, Neenah and Mena- sha also have fleets of yachts; these all join in regattas, which make a most attractive sight, and one which never fails to delight the vast crowd of spectators which always assembles to witness it.
Lake Winnebago, bounding the eastern side of Winnebago county, and indenting it with deep bays and capacious harbors, forms with its handsome sloping shores of prairie, open- ings and woodland, one of the finest natural scenes to be found. It has no overtowering mountains, but this lovely expanse of water. stretching away as far as the eye can reach, and glittering like a gem in its emerald setting of undulating banks and leafy groves until the view fades away in the dim distance, among the hazy points and headlands, is a scene of picturesque beauty that is seldom equaled. This lake and its surroundings, possess great attractions for the summer tourist. The coun- try affords delightful drives over good roads, with fine views of lake and river scenery. The climate is healthful. The air pure and dry. Artesian fountains abound, furnishing the best of water; there is good shooting in the season; the game is principally wild water fowl, largely teal, mallard and wood-duck. The fishing is excellent, the water abounding in white and black bass and pike. The shores and harbors are accessible at all points, making safe boat- ing for ladies, who largely participate in that amusement. The shores of the lake have most delightful camping-grounds, and steamboat and yachting excursions are frequent; parties sometimes camping out for a week at a time. A favorite place of resort is Island Park, a beautiful wooded island on the west shore.
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