The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 49

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 49

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

In 1825, the claim of this tribe was extensive, so far as territory was concerned. Its southeast boundary stretched away from the sources of Rock River to within forty miles of its mouth, in Illinois, where they had a village. On the west, it extended to the heads of the small streams flowing westward and southwestward into the Mississippi. To the northward, it reached as far as Black River and the Upper Wisconsin ; in other words, to the Chippewa territory ; but did not extend across the Fox to the lands of the north side, although they contended for the whole of Winnebago Lake. Within their territory, then, in 1825, was the whole of the present county of Columbia, except so much of what is now the town of Fort Winnebago, as lies west of the Fox River, and also excepting the present towns of Lewiston and Newport.

By a treaty held with the Winnebagoes on the 1st day of August, 1829, at Prairie du Chien, these Indians relinquished, among much other territory. all of their land in what is now Columbia County, lying west of a line drawn along the road running " by the most northern of the four lakes to the crossing of Duck Creek, thence in a direct course toward the most south- easterly bend of Lake Puckaway." Three years later, at a treaty held at Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, the residue of the Winnebago lands lying in the present Columbia County-that is, all east of the line just mentioned-was (with much other territory) ceded to the United States. This treaty was proclaimed February 13, 1833, and on that day all of what had been before that time, in what is now Columbia County, the lands of the Winnebagoes, now belonged to the General Government. And these lands were ready for the surveyor, that is, all of Colum- bia County except the present towns of Caledonia, Newport, Lewiston, and so much of Fort Winnebago as lies west of the Fox River.

West of the Wisconsin, including the whole of the present town of Caledonia, was still a part of Winnebago territory ; but, in November, 1837, this nation ceded to the General Gov- ernment all their lands east of the Mississippi River. Not an acre was reserved. So the Winnebago title to all of what is now Columbia County was extinguished.

Ever since the Menomonee Indians had been taken under the wing of the General Govern- ment, and treaties made with them, their claim was (including other territory) to all lands lying north of the Fox River, and east of the Wisconsin, extending northward to the Chippewa country. This being recognized as their territory by the United States, made them owners of so much of the present county of Columbia as includes, in general terms, the towns of Newport, Lewiston, and that part of Fort Winnebago lying west of the Fox River. Finally, by treaty, confirmed January 23, 1849, the Menomonees sold all their land to the General Government in Wisconsin, including, of course, so much of it as lav within the limits of what is now Columbia County ; that is to say, the whole of the territory now forming the towns of Newport and Lewiston, and so much of Fort Winnebago as lies west of Fox River. The Menomonees remained in possession two years, when it was delivered over to the United States. Thus it was that the General Government, at different periods, became the actual owners and possessors of all the domain of Columbia County.

Although owners of a portion of Columbia County. under treaties with the United States, the Menomonees were never residents, any of them, of territory now included within its present boundaries. Not so the Winnebagoes. Their chief had a village two miles above the portage. Afterward, this chief, De-kau-ry (the name that is now written Dekorra), had a village on land that is now known as the Caffrey place, in the town of Caledonia, at the foot of the bluff, be- tween the Wisconsin and Baraboo Rivers. The schoolhouse of District No. 5 now occupies the spot. De-kau-ry's town contained over one hundred lodges, and was the largest of the Winnebago villages. Outside of the present Columbia County, soon after the building of Fort Winnebago, the villages of the nation which were included in the agency established at the fort were scattered in various directions. Their occupants assembled here to be paid their annuities, and to have talks with their father, the agent. A payment made to the Winnebagoes in 1830 is thus described by an eye-witness :

" There were two divisions of the Winnebago Indians, one of which was paid by the agent at the portage : the other at Prairie du Chien, by Gen. Street. The first, between four and

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

five thousand in number, received, according to treaty stipulations, $15,000 annually, besides a considerable amount of presents and a certain number of rations of bread and pork, to be issned in times of emergency throughout the year. The principal villages of this division of the tribe were at Lake Winnebago, Green and Fox Lakes, the Barribault [now written Bara- boo], Mud Lake [in the present Dodge County ], the Four Lakes, Kosh-ko-nong [White Crow's village] and Turtle Creek [now Beloit]. Messengers were dispatched, at or before the arrival of the annuity money, to all the different villages, to notify the heads of families or lodges to assemble at the portage.

" When arrived, the masters of families, under their different chiefs, gave in their names and the number in their lodges, to be registered. As, in paying, a sum of money is apportioned to each individual, it is, of course, an object to the head of a lodge to make the number regis- tered as great as possible. Each one brings his little bundle of sticks and presents it to the agent to register. Sometimes a dialogue like the following occurs : 'How many have you in your lodge ?' The Indian carefully and with great ceremony counts a bundle of sticks- Fif- teen.' 'How many men ?' 'Two.' The agent lays aside two sticks. 'How many women ?' ' Three.' Three more sticks are separated. 'How many children ?' 'Eight.' Eight sticks are added to the heap. 'What is the meaning of those two sticks that remain ?' The culprit, whose arithmetic had not served him to carry out this deception, disappears amid the shouts and jeers of his companions, who are always well pleased at the detection of any roguery in which they have had no share.

" The young officers generally assisted in counting out and delivering the money at these payments, and it was no unusual thing, as the last band came up, for the chiefs to take a quan- tity of silver out of the box and request their father to pay his friends for their trouble, seem- ing really disturbed at his refusal. In this, as in almost every instance, we see the native courtesy and politeness which are never lost sight of among them. If a party comes to their father to beg for provisions, and food is offered them, however hungry they may be, each waits patiently until one of the company makes an equal distribution of the whole, and then, taking his share, eats it quietly, with the greatest moderation. I never saw this rule violated, save in one instance.

" Our friend, Pawnee Blanc, ' the old dandy,' once came with a party of Indians, request- ing permission to dance for us in the open space before the door. It was a warm, dusty after- noon, and, as our friends grew heated and fatigued with the violent and long-continued exercise, a pitcher of raspberry negus was prepared and sent out to them. Pawnee received the pitcher and tumbler, and pouring the latter about half-full, gave it to the first of the circle, then filled the same for the next and so on, until it occurred to him to look into the pitcher. What he saw there determined his course of action ; so, setting the tumbler upon the ground, he raised the pitcher to his lips and gave a hearty pull, after which he went on, giving less and less, until he was called to have the pitcher replenished. All present agreed it was the only instance they had ever witnessed of an Indian appearing afraid of getting loss of a thing than his share. " During the payment, a good many kegs of whisky find their way into the lodges of the Indians, notwithstanding the watchfulness of both officers and agent. Where there is a demand, there will always be a supply, let the legal prohibitions be what they may. The last day of the payment is invariably one of general carousing.

" When the men begin their frolic, the women carefully gather all the guns, knives, toma- hawks and weapons of every description, and secrete them, that as little mischief as possible may be done in the absence of all restraint and reason. I am sorry to record that our little friend, Pawnee Blanc, was greatly addicted to the pleasures of the bottle.

" Among the presents for the chiefs which Shaw-nee-aw-kee had brought from the East, was a trunk of blue cloth coats trimmed with broad gold lace, and a box of round, black hats, ornamented in a similar manner. All who are familiar with Indians, of whatever tribe, will have observed that their first step toward civilization, whether a man or woman, is mounting a man's hat, decorated with tinsel, ribbons or feathers. Pawnee was among the happy number

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remembered in the distribution, so, donning at once his new costume and tying a few addi- tional bunches of gay-colored ribbons to a long spear that was always his baton of ceremony, he came at onec, followed by an admiring train, chiefly of women, to pay me a visit of state.

" The solemn gravity of his countenance as he motioned away those who would approach too near and finger his newly received finery ; the dignity with which he strutted along, edging this way and that, to avoid any possible contact from homely, everyday wardrobes, augured well for a continuance of propriety and self-respect and a due consideration of the good opinion of all around.

" But alas for Pawnee ! late in the day, we saw him assisted toward his lodge by two stout young Indians, who had pulled him out of a ditch, his fine coat covered with mud, his hat bat- tered and bruised, his spear shorn of its gay streamers, and poor Pawnee himself weeping and uttering all the doleful lamentations of a tipsy Indian."

When, in 1837, the Winnebagoes disposed of all their land to the United States east of the Mississippi, they stipulated that, within eight months, they would move west of the great river. This arrangement was not carried out fully, and many of the Winnebagoes, as elsewhere mentioned, were afterward forcibly carried beyond the Mississippi. The last of these forcible removals occurred in 1873, and, as to those captured in Columbia County, is thus described by a Portage writer at that date :

" On Saturday morning last [December 23, 1873], a thrill of excitement ran through the community by the announcement that Capt. S. A. Hunt, agent for the removal of the Winne- bago Indians, and ex-Sheriff Pool, had crossed the Wisconsin River bridge at this place, at the head of a detachment of the United States troops, at the carly break of day. What did it all mean ? A little inquiry revealed the further fact that a considerable number of the ''Bagoes ' had gathered on the Baraboo River, near the Crawford bridge, and were having an annual meet- ing, a dog-feast, a deer-feast, or something of that kind .. Almost every lodge for forty miles had its delegate. They had pooled their wigwams. their squaws, their feathers, their paint, their wampum, and were having a first-class blow-out, when their festivities were interrupted by the appearance in their caravansary of the uninvited boys in blue. Of course, the greatest consternation prevailed, for they knew at once it meant they must go to the Winnebago reserva- tion, in Nebraska, where the larger portion of the tribe had gone several years since, in accord- ance with their treaty obligations. Considerable parleying followed, and there was a manifest determination not to go.

" Capt. Hunt was anxious to use as little foree as possible to accomplish the success of his mission, and used all the persuasive power he could, as he had been doing all through the season, to have them go with him ; but when it became fully apparent that they would not do so unless compelled to, he gave the signal, and at once the leaders of the Indians found them- selves captives. With as little delay as possible, they were arranged in marching order, and, just before noon, the entire number-eighty-five, we believe -- were seen coming over the hill near the Catholic Church, escorted by the troops, conspicuous among them being the stately and towering form of Big Jim. They were at once marched to the depot and safely lodged in the cars, and a full supply of rations was dealt out to them.

" After they had been safely housed, Capt. Hunt set about informing himself whether any of his captives had become real-estate owners, or had done anything else to show that they had abandoned their tribal relations, and were entitled to remain as citizens. Inquiry was made for Yellow Thunder, Good Village, War Club, Snake Swallow, McWima and Pretty Man and one or two others, but it was found that only two of them were among the captives, and they were permitted to take their departure. 'John Little John' and ' High Snake' were of the number and were taken along, but we are informed they will be returned here if they desire to be, although they are not legally entitled to remain. They are vouched for by respectable citi- zens as making some progress in the line of civilization, and there are no objections to their remaining.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

" The ponies and the 'traps and calamities' generally belonging to the Indians were brought in and placed in baggage cars, and at about 6 o'clock the train was under motion for Sparta, which was to be the point of rendezvous.

" As an Indian dance is very like a white man's frolic in some of its characteristics, it was not a matter of surprise to learn that a number of braves were alone at this dance, while the squaws were doing the menial work of housekeeping at home and attending to the papooses. Now, Big Jim was just one of that kind, and several others might be named, but, out of respect to their families, we will not put their names in print. The circumstances, however, made it necessary for Capt. Hunt to dispatch Mr. Pool and other messengers for their families, which were at Briggsville and other places. By Monday evening, Mr. Pool had two or three dozen of them congregated here, and, on Tuesday evening, they were forwarded to Sparta, and we presume that they took their Christmas dinner on their reservation, although at the time of writing this we had not learned definitely as to when they were sent forward."

WAS JOHN NICOLET IN COLUMBIA COUNTY IN 1634 ?*

The question is no longer an open one as to whether John Nicolet was the first white man who set foot upon any portion of what is now Wisconsin. It has been definitely settled. It is also quite as well determined that his explorations and discoveries were made in the Great West during the last half of the year 1634-only ten years after the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock-and the first half of the following year. He, therefore, who would read under- standingly the first chapter in the history of Wisconsin ought to investigate the life-history of that remarkable man. He will find him, at an early age, leaving his home in Normandy for the New World, landing at Quebec in 1618, and immediately starting for the Ottawa River to immure himself in the dark forests of Algonquins, sent thither by the Governor of Canada to learn their language. He will see how the young Norman applied himself to his task "in the midst of those hardships which may be readily conceived, if we will reflect what it must be to pass severe winters in the woods, under a covering of cedar or birch bark ; to have one's means of subsistence dependent upon hunting; to be perpetually hearing rude outcries ; to be deprived of the pleasant society of one's own people; and to be constantly exposed, not only to derision and insulting words, but even to daily peril of life." He will note how the youthful French- man followed the Indians in their wanderings ; how he partook of their dangers, their fatigues and their privations ; how, finally, having become familiar with their language, he entered into their frequent councils.

The return of Nicolet to the St. Lawrence and civilization, after a half-score years of savage life, an excellent interpreter of the Algonquin language, was followed, in 1634, by his being sent to smoke the pipe of peace with nations beyond-far beyond-the Ottawa. So he started upon his perilous voyage. He visited the Hurons, upon the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. With seven of that nation, he struck boldly into wilds to the northward and westward never before visited by civilized man. He paddled his birch-bark canoe up the St. Mary's Strait to the falls. He floated back to the waters of Lake Huron, and courageously turned toward the west, passing through the straits of Mackinaw out upon the broad expanse of Lake Michigan. He then entered Green Bay and Fox River. It is claimed that he ascended the last-mentioned stream as far as the "portage," now the city of Portage, Columbia Co., Wis., and descended the Wisconsin River a considerable distance, thus re-discovering the great Valley of the Mississippi. The term "re-discovering" is used, for no one will call in question its dis- covery by De Soto in 1541, although its existence seems soon to have well nigh faded from the recollections of men-to have been almost wholly forgotten.

What has been written in support of Nicolet's claim as the re-discoverer of the Mississippi is based upon this declaration of Father Vimont, in the Jesuit Relation of 1640: "The Sieur Nicolet, who has penetrated the furthest into these so remote countries, assured me that, if he

* By C. W. Butterfield, of Madison, Wis.

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had sailed three days further upon a large river which issues from this lake, he would have reached the sea." It is evident that the "remote countries" referred to by Vimont are those of the upper lakes traversed by Nicolet, and that the words "this lake" had reference to Green Bay and Lake Michigan combined. But we are told, also, that the phrase "a large river " means the Wisconsin ; and that "the sea " spoken of is the Mississippi, Nicolet taking the word missippi (great water) to mean "the sea," A careful consid- eration of the length of the Wisconsin below the "portage," and of the time usually employed by Indians in navigating it, justify the assertion that the words of the Relation of 1640 -- if he had sailed three days further upon a large river"-have no application to that stream. The words "three days further" clearly imply that he had already sailed several days; whereas, the distance, 118 miles, down the rapid current of the river, from the " portage" to the Mississippi, was less than three days' "sail" for the swift birch-bark canoe of the savage, and would have been for the swift birch-bark canoe of Nicolet. Upon examination of the Relation of 1654, a sentence is found which has heretofore escaped attention, in this connection : "It is only nine days' journey from this great lake [Green Bay and Lake Michigan combined] to the sea." where "the sea" is evidently identical with the one mentioned by Nicolet to Vimont and spoken of by the latter in the Relation of 1640. It is discovered, upon investigation, that the average time for canoe voyages up the Fox River, from its mouth to the " portage," in early times, was nine days. The "sea," then, of Nicolet-missippi of the savages-was the Wiscon- consin River, considered by itself or as a tributary of the Mississippi; and the "large river" was the Fox River, of Green Bay.

A word as to the mistake of Nicolet in stating that, while on " a large river " (the Fox) he nearly reached " the sea." Nicolet's mind, even before he left the St. Lawrence, was inflamed with vague reports of a "great water" to the westward of the Winnebagoes, which was supposed by him to be a sea. When, therefore, he entered Green Bay and the Fox River, and heard the savages, as they pointed toward the west, repeat the word missippi (great water, not " father of waters ") it was an easy matter for him to mistake their meaning and conclude a sea was nigh, when, in fact, they were trying to tell him of the Wisconsin, which was itself thie " great water," or a tributary thereof. But why should Nicolet have " sailed " np Fox River to within three days of "the sea " (that is to say, of the Wisconsin) and have gone no further ? The answer is that six days' journeying up the Fox brought him to the homes of the Mascoutins or Fire Nation-Gens de Feu. These Indians were a powerful nation of Algonquins, who had for their neighbors, prob- ably, the Kickapoos and Miamis. It is certain that Nicolet visited not only the Winnebagoes. but some of the surrounding tribes. It would be his policy, of course, to smoke the pipe of peace with the bravest and most warlike of these, were they of easy access. Snch were the Mascoutins, as is to be inferred from cotemporancous accounts and from the journals of those whites who, not long after, saw them in their villages, located, probably, within the present limits of Green Lake County, Wis. West of the Mascoutins, at that period (1634), there were living no tribes of Indians either upon the Fox or Wisconsin ; at least there is no tradition that such was the case. Beyond the Wisconsin, and above its confluence with the Mississippi, there resided some Dakota bands-the terrible Sioux. Without doubt, a journey so far as the villages of these savages was not to be thought of by Nicolet, if it was his purpose, as it must have been, to return to the St. Lawrence early in the summer of 1635. It is believed, therefore, that he turned back, after visiting the Mascoutins, to the Winnebagoes-going up Fox River no farther than the village of the Fire Nation.

It will be borne in mind that Vimont speaks of a " large river [the Fox] which issues from the lake," meaning Green Bay and Lake Michigan combined. Now, the account taken from the lips of Nicolet by Vimont found in the Relation of 1640, was not, probably, reduced to writing until sometime subsequent to its narration, and very naturally the writer (Vimont) would conclude that the narrator was mistaken in stating (and he probably did so state) that the "large river " flowed into Green Bay ; at the same time declaring that, had he sailed three days further upon it, he would have reached the sca. Rivers do not flow out of seas into lakes; they

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frequently flow out of lakes into seas. Doubtless, then, when Vimont wrote down his recollection of what Nicolet had told him, he took the liberty of correcting what to him seemed to be so mani- festly an error. Hence, as the sentence stands in the Relation of 1640, Fox River flows out of Green Bay ; but every one knows that it empties into it. The language, therefore, of Vimont, as now interpreted, is equivalent to this : "The Sieur Nicolet, who has penetrated the furthest into the upper lake regions, assured me [Vimont] that if he had paddled his birch-bark canoe three days further up the Fox River, which flows into Green Bay, he would have reached the Wisconsin." Nicolet, then, did not visit the valley of the Mississippi-he did not re-discover it. This honor belongs to another. He was not in what is now Columbia County in 1634, nor at any other time.

FIRST WHITE MEN AT THE PORTAGE.

John Talon, intendant of Canada, labored assiduously to develop the industrial resources of New France. In 1670, he ordered Daumont de St. Lusson to search for copper mines on Lake Superior, and at the same time to take possession, in a formal manner, of the whole interior country for the King of France. St. Lusson set out accordingly, accompanied by a small party of men and Nicholas Perrot, a Canadian voyageur, as interpreter, who spoke Algonquin fluently and was favorably known to many tribes of that family. It was arranged that St. Lusson should winter at the Manatoulin Islands, while Perrot proceeded to invite the tribes to a general confer- ence at the Sault Ste. Marie, in the following spring. The interpreter, having first sent messages to the different tribes of the north, proceeded to Green Bay, to urge the nations upon its waters to the meeting.

St. Lusson and his men, fifteen in number, arrived at the Sault more than a month in advance of the day set for the meeting. When all the Indians had reached the rapids, the Frenchman prepared to execute the commission with which he was charged. A large cross of wood had been made ready. It was now reared and planted in the ground. Then a post of cedar was planted beside it with a metal plate attached, engraven with the royal arms. “In the name," said St. Lusson, " of the most high, mighty and redoubtable monarch, Louis, four- teenth of that name, most Christian King of France and of Navarre, I take possession of this place, Sainte Marie du Sault, as also of Lakes Huron and Superior, the island of Manatoulin. and all countries, rivers, lakes, and streams contiguous and adjacent thereunto ; both those which have been discovered and those which may be discovered hereafter, in all their length and breadth, bounded on the one side by the seas of the North, and of the West, and on the other by the South Sea : declaring to the nations thereof, that from this time forth they are vassals of his majesty, bound to obey his laws and follow his customs : promising them on his part all succor and protection against the incursions and invasions of their enemies : declaring to all other potentates, princes, sovereigns, states, and republics-to them and their subjects-that they cannot and are not to seize or settle upon any parts of the aforesaid countries, save only under the good pleasure of his most Christian majesty, and of him who will govern in his behalf ; and this on pain of incurring his resentment and the efforts of his arms." Thus passed, so far as words and shouts could effect it, the Northwest, including the present State of Wisconsin, under the domination of France. And why not ? She had discovered it-had to a certain extent explored it-had to a limited extent established commerce with it-and her missionaries had proclaimed the faith to its wondering savages. But none of her fur-traders-none of her mis. sionaries-none of her agents-had yet reached the Mississippi-the great river, concerning which so many marvels had been heard. Now, however, the hour was at hand, in which would be solved the problem and be revealed the mystery of the " great water " of the savages. The Governor of Canada was resolved that the stream should be reached and explored. He made choice of Louis Jolliet,* who was with St. Lusson when the Northwest was for the first time claimed for the King of France, and who had just returned to Quebec from Lake Superior.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 49

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104