The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 48

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899

USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 48

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Township 8, R. 11, (Center)

22,820.88

Township 4, R. 13, (Milton), e. of lake

21,516.43

Township 4, R. 11, (Porter).

22,885.64

Township 4, R. 13, (Milton), w. of lake. 318.25

Township 1, R. 12, (Beloit), e. of river.

4,997.62

Township 1. R. 14, (Clinton)

23,299.01

Township 1, R. 12, (Beloit), w. of river. 17,871.60

Township 2, R. 14, (Bradford)

23,037.62

Township 2, R. 12, (Rock), w. of river. 14,354.19

Township 3, R. 14, (Johnstown 23,152.25

Township 2, R. 12, (Rock), e. of river ..

8,296.40

Township 4. R. 14, (Lima).

23,089.78

Township 3, R. 12, (Janesville), e. of river 7,692.44

Total 457.285.97

About three-fourths of the town of Avon is timber land-burr oak and white oak openings; the residue is prairie land. The soil is sandy, but the Sugar River bottom yields an abundance of grass. The town of Spring Valley has but very little prairie land ; the surface is undulat- ing, with a scattering growth of burr-oaks and more or less hickory. The town is well watered, and possesses a fair proportion of natural meadow. The town of Magnolia is mostly undulat- ing; the soil is a sandy loam, with a subsoil of clay ; it has a number of burr-oak openings, alternating with prairies, and is well watered by springs and running streams. The surface of the town of Union is rolling, but not broken ; it is pretty evenly divided between prairie and timber, and is well watered.

The town of Newark has a soil composed mainly of a sandy loam, is nearly equally divided between prairie and oak openings, and is watered by only one stream. The surface of Plymouth town is rolling; the land is rich, and all well drained. The town has extensive meadows, a number of beautiful groves of timber, and is well watered by a number of springs and running streams. The town of Center is mostly prairie, with a few oak openings; it is traversed by streams, and has a considerable area of marsh, found to be valuable for the production of hay. The town of Porter is about equally divided into prairie and the finest kind of oak openings. It is well watered by running streams.

Beloit Town presents a singularly diversified and beautiful surface-prairies, bluffs and oak openings ; it is well watered by several important streams. That portion of the town of Rock

321

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

lying east of the river is nearly all prairie, while on the west side it is nearly all timber-some of it of the most excellent quality. It is well watered, and abounds in luxuriant grasses. The face of the country in the town of Janesville is broken by the river bluffs, which extend back some little distance from the banks. It is well watered and wooded throughout its whole extent, and is divided into prairie and oak openings, the river being skirted with heavy timber. The town of Fulton is mostly timber land, the trees generally being of large growth, suitable for sawing and building purposes. It has, however, several small and beautiful prairies, with soil of superior quality. Rock River traverses the town in a southwesterly direction, and several stone quarries have been discovered upon its banks.

Turtle Town possesses abundant timber and some very rich prairie land. Limestone is also found here, and clay for making brick. The town is watered by a number of streams. The town of La Prairie is almost wholly rolling prairie land, with a deep soil, underlaid by sand and gravel, and lime rock is found in some portions. It has but one water-course of any size, which runs across the southeast corner, and the only timber in the town is found on the banks of this stream, except a small grove in the northwest. The north half of the town of Harmony is nearly all timber, and the southern half nearly all prairie. A fine elevation of the prairie occurs at Mount Zion, in the eastern portion of the town, which commands a view of the country for many miles around. This town is poorly watered, it having no running streams. The surface of the town of Milton is gently undulating, and about equally divided between prairie land and oak openings. It has several lakes, and one creek flows through the northeastern corner. In the immediate vicinity of its lakes, there is a considerable quantity of low land, valuable for pasturage and meadows.

Clinton Town is largely composed of unusually fertile prairie land, though timber in large quantities, suitable for building, fencing and fuel, is found in the southern part. The town is well watered by living streams flowing in all directions. The larger portion of the town of Bradford is prairie, but all along Turtle Creek there are fine burr and white oak openings. There is also a small grove of timber on the western boundary of the town, while Emerald Grove, in the northwest corner, is one of the most beautiful in the county. The town is well watered. The twelve sections in the southern part of the town of Johnstown are almost all prairie land, but about two-thirds of the other twenty-four sections are oak openings. The town is but poorly watered. The surface of the town of Lima is gently rolling, covered mainly with burr and white oak openings-mostly the first named. Quite one-sixth of the entire town is marsh land, the largest one being Otter Creek Marsh.

Rock River rises in Fond du Lac County, follows a tortuous course through Dodge and Jefferson Counties, running through Lake Koshkonong, from which it debouches on Section 7, in Milton Town, and traverses the entire width of Rock County from north to south, its gen- eral course being a little east of the center of Townships 1, 2, 3 and 4, Range 12 east. On either side of the river, from the point where it leaves Lake Koshkonong in the town of Milton till it crosses the State line at Beloit, the shores are dotted, at frequently recurring intervals, with belts of timber and with openings. The following table gives the distances between certain points on the river, the descent and the elevation above Lake Michigan of each point named :

PLACES.

Distance, Miles.

Descent, Feet.

Elevation, Feet.

Foot of Lake Koshkonong.

...

175

Mouth of Yahara (('atfish ) River.

11}

163

Head of Rapids.

151

Foot of Rapids

144

State Line of Illinois

128

Sugar River rises in the western central portion of Dane County, traverses Green County from north to south, flows thence in an easterly direction, passing through the town of Avon, and empties into the Pecatonica, a short distance south of the State line.

322

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

The Yahara (Catfish) River, the outlet of the "four lakes" in Dane County, enters Rock County on Section 2, of Township 4, Range 11 east (Porter), follows a southeasterly course, and empties into Rock River in Section 19, in the town of Fulton.

A stream flowing out of Turtle Lake, in the northeastern corner of the town of Richmond, in Walworth County, unites, near the west line of the town of Delavan, with the outlet of Del- avan Lake, and the united streams form Turtle Creek, which, following a westerly course, enters Rock County on Section 13, in the town of Bradford, flows west and southwest, and empties into Rock River just below the State line at Beloit.

Badfish Creek rises in the town of Rutland, Dane County, flows easterly and southeasterly and enters Rock County in the northeast section of the town of Union, runs almost due west through Porter, and empties into the Yahara (Catfish) River about the Section lines of 3 and 10.

Afton, or Bass Creek, rises in the town of Magnolia, flows southeasterly through Center and Plymouth, and empties into Rock River near the village of Afton, in the town of Rock.

Otter Creek rises in the marsh of that name in the town of Lima, flows west and northwest and empties into Lake Koshkonong, in Jefferson County.

Allen's Creek rises in the town of Magnolia, flows west and empties into Sugar River about the center of the town of Albany, Green County.

Taylor's Creek rises about the middle of the town of Magnolia, flows southwest and south through the town of Spring Valley, and empties into Sugar River, in Section 18, in the town of Avon.

Marsh Creek rises in the northeast corner of the town of Spring Valley, follows & south- westerly course and empties into Taylor's Creek, just above the south line of the town.

North Creek has its source in the southeastern corner of the town of Spring Valley, flows south and southwest into the town of Avon, and then follows a westerly course until it empties into Taylor's Creek.

Pratt's Creek rises just east of the head of Otter Creek marsh in the town of Lima, flows east and empties into the Whitewater, in Walworth County.

Coon Creek rises in the town of Plymouth, runs south and southeasterly, fed by numerous small tributaries, through the town of Newark, and empties into Sugar River in the State of Illinois.

The larger part of Lake Koshkonong lies in Jefferson County, but its southern extremity, or foot, extends into Rock County, occupying an area of about 1,000 acres in Sections 5, 6 and 7, in the town of Milton. Other lakes are to be found in the county, but they are all small- the largest will not exceed a mile in length. They lie only in the northern tier of towns. Big Spring Lake is on Section 27, in the town of Porter, and Little Spring Lake between Sections 27 and 34, in the same town. Clear Lake, Duck Lake and Mud Lake all lie in Section 20, in the town of Milton ; Grass Lake in Section 17, and Storr's Lake between Sections 25 and 26, in the same' town.

The principal prairies in the county are Rock, Jefferson, Turtle, Du Lac, Catfish, Ram- sey's and Morse's. Rock Prairie extends almost the entire length of the county from east to west, and varies in width from six to eighteen miles. The prairie is dotted here and there with groves of timber, and points of timber-land jut into it at many different places, giving an uneven and irregular outline. The greater part of Jefferson Prairie lies within the boundaries of the town of Clinton, though it laps over on the north into Bradford, and on the west into Turtle. Du Lac Prairie lies mostly in Milton, but extends east into Lima. Catfish Prairie extends through the towns of Fulton, Porter and Union ; and Ramsey's and Morse's Prairies are both in Fulton.

THE MOUND BUILDERS.

Ancient works exist in the valley of Rock River, not only below the State line, but also above it. Indeed, those south, in Illinois, are of much less importance than such as are known to exist to the northward. So far as the valley of this stream is concerned, throughout its whole

323

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

extent, in Wisconsin, are to be found interesting relics of pre-historic man ; some of the mounds being seen at the very sources of a number of its branches. In the lead region, for some cause, there seem to be few evidences of their existence. In one locality, however, on the Pecatonica, a branch of the Rock River, ancient works are noticed. It is probable that the necessities of these builders did not include lead, and there are no indications of ancient mining of that metal in the lead region, as in the copper mines of Lake Superior. The copper ore associated with lead was beyond the reach of their metallurgic arts. The works on the Peca- tonica consisted of several oblong, or circular mounds ; there is also one tapering mound. The last mentioned is destitute of appendages, or other indications of its relation to any animal form. These mounds are situated on sloping ground, and extend from the top of a hill half-way to the Pecatonica. The soil at this point is sandy, being in the district of the sandstone, which crops out occasionally in the vicinity. There is nothing to distinguish these works from others more within the proper region, as it were, of the Mound-Builders. In one of the mounds bones are said to have been obtained. Indian graves along the margin of the stream, when exposed, fur- nished a few glass beads and some trinkets. The point where these works exist is eleven miles west of Monroe, in Green County, Wis.

The valley of Sugar River, a considerable stream between the Pecatonica and Rock Rivers, appears also to have been to a great extent avoided by the Mound-Builders. A few unimportant works have been seen, however, on some of the tributaries of that river. In Beloit, on the col- lege grounds, some ancient works were surveyed in 1852, by Prof. S. P. Lathrop. They con- sisted of circular and oblong mounds. On the east bank of the river, three-quarters of a mile above the city. he also surveyed, in the same year, some interesting vestiges of the pre-historic race. Some of the mounds here examined were of animal shape. There is a group of earth- works about two and a half' miles east of Beloit, on a bluff overlooking Turtle Creek. These mounds represent animals of different kinds.

Proceeding up Rock River, the first works worthy of notice are near the junction of the out- let of the four lakes, at Fulton. At a place known as Indian Hill, about a mile above the mouth of the Yahara (Catfish), Dr. I. A. Lapham, in 1850, surveyed a series of oblong mounds on the steep slope of the hill, converging toward a point where there is a dug-way leading to the . river. The hill has an elevation of seventy or eighty feet, and from its summit the valley of the river can be overlooked for several miles above and below. It may be that this was a most important post of observation, and that the peculiar arrangement of the mounds was intended to guard the access to the water from the top of the hill. The hill is quite steep, and the graded way has been increased in depth by running water, but it bears evidence of having originally been constructed by art.

At the intersection of Main and State streets. in the village of Fulton, Dr. Lapham found, in 1850, an irregular oval earthwork, consisting of a flat ridge, and resembling the roadway of a modern turnpike. The breadth varied from thirty to forty feet, and the elevation from two to three feet in the middle. The diameters of the oval were 500 and 300 feet. Such a structure might have had its usage in some of the public games or ceremonies of uncivilized life; but it would be idle, of course, to undertake to ascertain its particular purpose.

Besides the works already mentioned, in this vicinity, Dr. Lapham found numerous tumuli, of the ordinary circular form, supposed to be sepulchral. They were occasionally arranged in rows, more or less regular, along the margin of a brook or valley. Usually, two or three mounds near the middle of the row were found larger than the others. Three of these mounds were found on the east side of the Yahara, half a mile below Fulton, and a group a mile above the village. Two miles above, on Section 11, was found a group of eight, situated on the edge of a prairie, so as to be seen in profile. About a mile below Fulton, there was found a group of fourteen, and another on the side of Rock River. All these were circular mounds, not accom- panied by others of imitative forms. Some had been opened, and were said in most cases to have contained remains of human skeletons, frequently of several persons in the same mounds. In 1834, the Government Surveyors noted eight mounds on the west shore of Lake Koshkonong,

324

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

immediately above where Rock River leaves the lake. Recently, one of these mounds, sixty feet in diameter and eighty feet above the water, was opened by W. C. Whitford and W. P. Clarke, and found to contain some Indian skeletons and relics; also, what are believed to be the skulls of three Mound-Builders.

INDIAN OCCUPANCY.

As early as the year 1632, the civilized world had knowledge, through vague reports of savages, of a tribe of Indians to the westward and southwestward of Lake Huron, who lived in a country " where there was a quantity of buffaloes." This nation, it is believed, was the one afterward known as the Illinois. They occupied what is now Northern Illinois, extending their occupation, probably, so far to the northward as to include Southern Wisconsin, and, of course, the territory now included in Rock County. Afterward, they were driven beyond the Missis- sippi, but subsequently returned to the region of the river which bears their name.

Meanwhile, there commenced an emigration of tribes from Fox River of Green Bay. to the southward. The Mascoutins and their kindred, the Kickapoos and Miamis, moved to the vicinity of the south end of Lake Michigan. It is probable that one or more of these tribes had their homes for a time in the Rock River Valley, after the migration of the Illinois across the Mississippi. Following them in, at least, a nominal occupation of Southern Wisconsin, were the Foxes ; but these Indians and their kindred, the Sacs, instead of migrating toward the south, moved westward and southwestward from the river which commemorates the first-men- tioned tribe.

Though there is abundant evidence that the territory now known as Rock County was occu- pied by the Winnebagoes previous to the advent of the whites, it is impossible to fix the exact spots within the present bounds of the county where they located all their villages. The char- acter of the country, so admirably suited to all the requirements of a primitive and nomadic people-well watered throughout its whole extent, and containing a broad expanse of prairie, upon which grazed the herds of game, or which were readily converted into fertile cornfields- affords presumptive evidence that it must have been a favorite abode of a portion of that tribe.

Two of their villages were very favorably situated ; one at the extreme northern boundary of the present limits of the county, the other at its extreme southern boundary. The first mentioned was located on the northwest fractional quarter of Section 6, in Township 4 north, of Range 13 east, being within the limits of the present town of Milton, on the west side of Lake Koshkonong, and upon its immediate bank, about three-fourths of a mile north of the point where Rock River leaves the lake. The Indian name of this village was Tay-e-hee-dah. When, in 1834, the Government Surveyors were there, they described it as the " ruins of an old Indian village." At the beginning of the Black Hawk war, it was found deserted; but how long pre- vious to that date it had remained so, is not known. Tradition represents it to have once been populous.

Below Tay-e-hee-dah, at or near the mouth of the Yahara (Catfish), on the west side of Rock River, it is probable that there was also an Indian village. Concerning it, however, there is very little information extant. Still farther down the river, at the point where the city of Beloit is now located, was the Winnebago village called by the early traders and explorers, the Turtle. It was evidently occupied not long anterior to the commencement of the Black Hawk war-how long, is not known with certainty. When the army under Gen. Atkinson marched by the point, in pursuit of the famous Sac chief, the dwellings were found deserted.

While the Winnebagoes occupied this western Eden-the Rock River Valley-undisputed masters of all its beauty and all its wealth of game and fish, they were occasionally visited by adventurous white men, who took up temporary residences among them for purposes of trade. Others married among them and became what may be called Indian residents. Of the latter class was one Thiebault, a Frenchman, who established himself at the Turtle village probably about the year 1824. His cabin is noted in the plat of the Government survey of the town- ship in 1834. Here he remained until after the arrival of the pioneer settlers of the county.

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TO TICKET AGENTS AND PASSE

The following items are furnished for your information &

Item Routes. - Purchasers of one way or rou between Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis via the CHICMI & ST. PAUL RAILWAY, have the choice of THREE ROUTES, returning.

a-Via Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, Portage City, Kilbor of Wisconsin), Sparta, La Crouse, Winona, Lake City, Hastings.

d-Via Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison, Prairie du Cb Calmar, Austin, Owatonna and Faribault.

c-Via Elgin, Savanna, Dubuque and along the wer Mississippi River, through La Crosse, Winona, Frontenac, Wing and Hastings.

In addition to the foregoing, the line along the Misstar between Rock Island, St. Paul and Minneapolis, furnis route, both going and returning, for passengers to and fr cities.

Item 2. Between Chicago and Dakota Point Aberdeen aud points north and west thereof, are good vi Dakota Division and Mitchell, via the Southern Minnesd Woonsocket, or via the Hastings and Dakota Division dir round trip land-exploring tickets to Aberdeen and_P west thereof, can go to Aberdeen by the lowa and Dok Minnesota Divisions and return by the Hastings and Dal Dire rersa. Land-exploring tickets to Woonsocket are go Iowa and Dakota Division, returning via the Southern Min or rice versa ; or passengers can go and return by the ~ choose. Tickets to points south of Aberdeen, sold ou, of the line of the Southern Minnesota Division, are coor Woonsocket. Tickets to points south of Woonsocket, sok cust of the line of the Iowa and Dakota Division are good !

Item 3, The Finest Dining Cars in the Worl run on all Through Express Trains of the Chicago, Mim Railway between Chicago, Council Bluffs and Omaba ; b Milwaukee, Winona, St. Paul and Minneapolis ; and betw Milwaukee on the trains leaving Chicago at 11.80 a. m. an leaving Milwaukee at 11.00 a. m. and 4.00 p. m. All mes' either on Dining Cars or at Station Eating Houses.

Item 4. The Short Line between Chicago, Coi Omaha, constructed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Pau pany, needs no enlarged statement of its merits. The pla line between Chicago, Council Bluffs and Omaha is on a pe lines to the Great Northwest owned and operated by the ( kee & St. Paul Railway Company, is a maidcient guarantee public, and one which has ensured to it a large share of passes between the Great Lakes and the Pacific Oor

Item 5. Emigrants. - The Chicago, Milwaukee & runs no Emigrant traius or cars. Emigrants via this roe regular Express Trains, in clean, light coaches, with cosl backs, and which are as good as the coaches furnished b; first-class passengers.

Emigrant Sleeping Cars are now run by the Un Pacific R'ys between Council Bluffs and San Francisco, a Pacific Ry. and O. R. & N. Co., between Council Bluts an und by the Northern Pacific R. R. and O. R. & N. Co. b and Portland, Oregon. These cars are carried on expres Omaha and Ogden, Omaha and Umatilla Je., Ore., a I'matilla Je., Ore. The new cars of this class are Atted lower berths. The upper berths swing freely on iron rod in use can be hung upon the roof of the car. where the! way. The lower berths are formed from the seats, and ar the manner of first-class Sleeping Cars, by turning down only difference between these cars and first-class sleeping former are not upholstered, and passengers must furnish ding. No additional charge for berths in Emigrant Sleepir

327

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

There were many tribes of Indians who claimed to be sole owners of all the land embraced in the present State of Wisconsin, when it finally came under the jurisdiction of the United States. This question of aboriginal ownership of the soil was then found to be inextricably complicated by conflicting claims of different tribes to the same land. As will be found fully explained in the general history of the State, the Menomonees, Chippewas, Ottawas, Winneba- goes, Sacs and Foxes and Pottawatomies were all located within the present boundaries of Wisconsin, and the claims of several different tribes were frequently found to embrace the same territory. Thus, for example, the Winnebagoes, the Sacs and Foxes, and the Pottawatomies each claimed an ownership in the Rock River country; and the particular subdivision of it, now known as Rock County was specially claimed by both the Winnebagoes and Pottawatomies.

The first treaty affecting the lands of the Rock River Valley made with the Indians was that between "William Clark, Ninian Edwards and August Choteau, Commissioners Plenipo- tentiary of the United States of America, on the part and behalf of the said States, of the one part, and the chiefs and warriors of that portion of the Winnebago tribe or nation residing on the Wisconsin River, of the other part," which treaty was proclaimed January 30, 1816. Article II of this treaty stipulated that "the undersigned chiefs and warriors, for them- selves and those they represent, do, by these presents, confirm to the United States all and every cession of land. heretofore made by their nation to the British, French or Spanish Govern- ments within the limits of the United States or Territories, and, also, all and every treaty, contract and agreement heretofore concluded between the United States and the said tribe or nation, as far as their interest in the same extends."

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 48

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 899

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899