USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175
Notwithstanding the fact that Black Hawk and his army did not, in their northward move- ment, reach the limits of what is now Columbia County, yet his retreat up the Rock River valley and the danger of (as many believed) the Winnebagoes joining him in a body, caused not only much uneasiness at Fort Winnebago, but the resort to active measures to induce that tribe to remain steadfast in their friendship to the Americans. What transpired at that post during these months of alarm, is best related by one who was there a resident :*
" The arrival of my brother. Arthur, from Kentucky, by way of the Mississippi, in the latter part of April, brought us the uncomfortable intelligence of new troubles with the Sauks and Foxes. Black Hawk had, with the flower of his nation, recrossed the Mississippi, once more to take possession of their old homes and corn-fields.
"It was not long before our own Indians came flocking in to confirm the tidings, and to assure us of their intention to remain faithful friends to the Americans. We soon heard of the
* Mrs. John H. Kinzie. See " Wau-Butu, the Early Day in the Northwest," pp. 311-318.
356
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
arrival of the Illinois Rangers in the Rock River Country, also of the progress of the regular force under Gen. Atkinson, in pursuit of the hostile Indians, who, by the reports, were always able to elude their vigilance. It not being their custom to stop and give battle, the Sauks soon scattered themselves through the country, trusting to some lucky accident (and such arrived, alas ! only too often) to enable them to fall upon their enemies unexpectedly.
" The experience of the pursuing army was, for the most part, to make their way, by toil- some and fatiguing marches, to the spot where they imagined the Sauks would be waiting to receive them, and then to discover that the rogues had scampered off to quite a different part of the country.
"Wherever these latter went. their course was marked by the most atrocious barbariries. though the worst had not at this time reached our cars. We were only assured that they were down in the neighborhood of the Rock River and Kishwaukee, and that they lost no opportunity of falling on the defenseless inhabitants and cruelly murdering them.
" As soon as it became certain that the Sauks and Foxes would not pursue the same course they had on the previous year, that is, retreat peaceably across the Mississippi. Mr. Kinzie resolved to hold a conneil with all the principal chiefs of the Winnebagoes who were accessible at this time. He knew that the Sauks would use every effort to induce their neighbors to join them, and that there existed in the breasts of too many of the young savages a desire to dis- tinguish themselves by . taking some white scalps.' They did not love the Americans. Why should they ? By them they had been gradually dispossessed of the broad and beautiful domains of their forefathers, and hunted from place to place, and the only equivalent they had received in exchange had been a few thousands annually in silver and presents, together with the pernicious example, the debasing influence and the positive ill treatment, of too many of the new settlers upon their lands.
" With all these facts in view, therefore, their Father felt that the utmost watchfulness was necessary, and that the strongest arguments must be brought forward to preserve the young men of the Winnebagoes in their allegiance to the Americans. Of the older members he felt quite sure. About fifty lodges had come at the commencement of the disturbances and encamped around our dwelling, saying that. if the Sauks attacked us, it must be after killing them : and. knowing them well, we had perfect confidence in their assurances.
" But their vicinity, while it gave us a feeling of protection, likewise furnished us with a channel of the most exciting and agitating daily communications. As the theater of operations approached nearer and nearer, intelligence was brought in by their runners-now that 'Capt. Harney's head had been recognized in the Sauk camp, where it had been brought the day pre- vious ;' next, that ' the Sauks were carrying Lieut. Beall's head on a pole in front of them as they marched to meet the whites.' Sometimes it was a story which we afterward found to be unhappily true, as that of the murder of their agent, M. St. Vrain, at Kellogg's Grove, by the Sauks themselves, who ought to have protected him.
" It was after the news of this last occurrence that the appointed council with the Winne- bagoes was to be held at the Four Lakes, thirty five miles distant from Fort Winnebago. In vain we pleaded and remonstrated against such an exposure. It was his duty to assemble his people and talk to them, my husband said, and he must run the risk if there were any. He had perfeet confidence in the Winnebagoes. The enemy, by all that he could learn, were now far listant from the Four Lakes-probably at Kosh-ko-nong. He would set off early in the morn- ing with Pauquette, hold his council, and return to us the same evening.
" It were useless to attempt to describe our feelings during that long and dreary day. When night arrived, the cry of a drunken Indian, or even the barking of a dog, would fill our hearts with terror.
" As we sat, at a late hour, at the open window, listening to every sound, with what joy did we at length distinguish the tramp of horses ! We knew it to be Griffin and Jerry ascend- ing. the hill, and a cheerful shout soon announced that all was well. My husband and his interpreter had ridden seventy miles that day, besides bolding a long 'talk' with the Indians.
357
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
" The Winnebagoes, in council, had promised to use their utmost endeavors to preserve peace and good order among their young men. They informed their father that the bands on the Rock River, with the exception of Win-no-sheek's, were all determined to remain friendly, and keep aloof from the Sauk's. To that end they were abandoning their villages and corn- fields and moving north, that their Great Father, the President, might not feel dissatisfied with them. With regard to Win-no-sheek and his people, they professed themselves unable to answer.
" Time went on, and brought with it stories of fresh outrages. Among these were the murders of Auberry, Green and Force, at Blue Mound, and the attack on Apple Fort. The tidings of the latter were brought by old Crelie, the father of Mrs. Panquette, who rode express from Galena, and who averred that he once passed a bush behind which the Sauks were hiding, but that his horse smelt the sweet-scented grass with which they always adorn their persons when on a war party, and set out on such a gallop that he never stopped until he arrived at the portage.
" Another bearer of news was a young gentleman of the name of Follet, whose eyes had become so protruded and set from keeping an anxious lookout for the enemy, that it was many days after his arrival at a place of safety before they resumed their accustomed limits and expression.
" Among other rumors which, at this time, reached us, was one that an attack upon Fort Winnebago was in contemplation among the Sauks. That this was in no state of defense, the Indians very well knew. All the effective men had been withdrawn upon a requisition from Gen. Atkinson to join him at his newly-built fort at Kosh-ko-nong.
" Fort Winnebago was not picketed in : there were no defenses to the barracks or officers' quarters, except slight paneled doors and Venetian blinds, nothing that would long resist the blows of clubs or hatchets. There was no artillery, and the Commissary's store was without the bounds of the fort, under the hill.
" Mr. Kinzie had, from the first, called the attention of the officers to the insecurity of their position in case of danger, but he generally received a scoffing answer.
"' Never fear,' they would say, . the Sauks are not coming here to attack us.'
" One afternoon, we were over on a visit to some ladies in the garrison, and, several officers being present, the conversation, as usual, turned upon the present position of affairs.
"'Do you not think it wiser,' inquired I of a blustering young officer, ' to be prepared against possible danger ? '
" " Not against these fellows,' replied he, contemptuously. 'I do not think I would even take the trouble to fasten the blinds to my quarters.'
"' At least,' said I, 'if you some night find a tomahawk raised to cleave your skull, you will have the consolation of remembering that you have not been one of those foolish fellows who keep on the safe side.'
" He seemed a little nettled at this, and still more so when sister Margaret observed-
"". For my part, I am of Gov. Cass' opinion. He was at Chicago during the Winnebago war. We were all preparing to move into the fort on the first alarm. Some were for being brave and delaying, like our friends here. "Come, come," said the Governor, " hurry into the fort as fast as possible ; there is no merit in being brave with the Indians. It is the height of folly to stay and meet danger which you may by prudence avoid.""
" In a few days, our friends waked up to the conviction that something must be done at once. The first step was to forbid any Winnebagoes coming within the garrison, lest they should find out what they had known as well as ourselves for three months past, namely, the feebleness of the means of resistance. The next was to send fatigue parties into the woods, under the protection of a guard, to cut pickets for inclosing the garrison.
" There was every reason to believe that the enemy were not very far distant, and that their object in coming north was to break a way into the Chippewa country, where they would find a place of security among their friends and allies. The story that our Indian runners brought in
358
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
most frequently was, that the Sauks were determined to fall upon the whites at the portage and fort, and massacre all except the families of the agent and interpreter.
" Plante and Pillon, with their families, had departed at the first word of danger. There only remained with us Manaigre, whose wife was a half Winnebago, Isidore Morrin and the blacksmith from Sugar Creek, Mata and Turcotte.
" At night, we were all regularly armed and our posts assigned us. After every means had been taken to make the house secure, the orders were given. Sister Margaret and I, in case of attack, were to mount with the children to the rooms above, while my husband and his men were to make good their defense as long as possible against the enemy. Since I had shown my sports- manship by bringing down accidentally a blackbird on the wing, I felt as if I could do some execution with my little pistols, which were regularly placed beside my pillow at night, and I was fully resolved to use them if necessity required. I do not remember to have felt the slightest compunction at the idea of taking the lives of two Sauks-as I had no doubt I should do ; and this explains to me what I had before often wondered at, the indifference, namely, of the soldier on the field of battle to the destruction of human life. Had I been called upon, however, to use my weapons effectually, I should no doubt have looked back upon it with horror.
"Surrounded as we were by Indian lodges, which seldom became perfectly quiet, and excited as our nerves had become by all that we were daily in the habit of hearing, we rarely slept very soundly. One night, after we had, as much as possible, composed ourselves, we were startled, at a late hour, by a tap on the window at the head of our bed, and a call of ' Chon ! Chon ! (John ! John !) ' Tshah-ko-zhah' (what is it ?). It was Hoo-wau-ne-kah, the Little Elk. " He spoke rapidly and in a tone of great agitation. I could not understand him, and I lay trembling and dreading to hear his errand interpreted. Now and then I could distingush the word . Saukee' (Sauks), and 'shoonk-hat-tay-rah ' (horse), and they were not very re-assur- ing.
" The trouble, I soon learned, was this: A fresh trail had been observed near the Petit Rocher, on the Wisconsin, and the people at the villages on the Barribault [now Baraboo], were in a state of great alarm, fearing it might be the Sauks. There was the appearance of a hundred or more horses having passed by this trail. Hoo-wau-ne-kah had been dispatched at once to tell the Father and to ask his advice.
" After listening to all he had to communicate, his Father told him the trail was undoubt- edly that of Gen. Henry's troops, who were said to have come north looking for the enemy ; that as the marks of the horses' hoofs showed them by this report to have been shod, that was sufficient proof that it was not the trail of the Sauks. He thought that the people of the villages need not feel any uneasiness.
"" Very well, Father,' replied Hoo-wau-nee-kah, 'I will go back and tell my people what you say. They will believe you, for you always tell them the truth. You are not like us Indians, who sometimes deceive each other.' So saying, he returned to his friends much com- forted.
" The completion of the picketing and other defenses, together with the arrival of a detach- ment of troops from Fort Howard, under Lieut. Hunter, at our fort, now seemed to render the latter the place of greatest safety. We therefore, regularly every evening immediately before dusk, took up our line of march for the opposite side of the river, and repaircd to quarters that had been assigned us within the garrison, leaving our own house and chattels to the care of the Frenchman and our friends the Winnebagoes."
A SUPPLEMENTAL EPISODE OF THE BLACK IIAWK WAR.
At the conclusion of the Black Hawk war, a summons was sent to the Indian agent at Fort Winnebago-John H. Kinzie-to collect the principal chiefs of the Winnebagoes and meet Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds at Fort Armstrong (Rock Island), where it was proposed to hold a treaty for the purchase of all the Indian lands south and east of the Wiscon- sin and Fox River of Green Bay. The principal men of that nation were collected accordingly,
359
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
and a treaty concluded September 15, 1832. One of the stipulations of the treaty was the surrender by the Winnebagoes. of certain individuals of their tribe accused of having participated with the Saes in some of the murders on the frontier, in order that they might be tried by the laws of the United States, and acquitted or punished, as the case might be.
A Winnebago Indian called the Little Snake, gave himself voluntarily as a hostage until the suspected persons of his tribe should be delivered to the custody of the United States. He was accordingly received by the Indian agent at Fort Winnebago, and placed in confinement until the seven-the number of the accused-should appear to redeem him. The suspected Indians having engaged the services of James Duane Doty, of Green Bay, to defend them on their future trial, notice was given that on a certain day they would be brought to the portage- Fort Winnebago-and surrendered to the Indian agent, to be by him transferred to the keep- ing of the military officer at the fort appointed to receive themn. It was joyful news to Little Snake, that the day of his release was at hand.
At the time appointed. a moving concourse of people was discerned from the fort, upon the portage road. Gen. Dodge, Maj. Plympton, and one or two other officers took their seats with Mr. Kinzie on a platform in front of the residence of the agent, to receive the Win- nebagoes who were coming with seven of their tribe to be delivered up as prisoners for trial. The procession wound slowly up the hill and approached Mr. Kinzie's residence. It was a grand, solemn sight. First came some of the principal chiefs in their most brilliant array ; next, the prisoners, all of them habited in white cotton, in token of their innocence, with girdles about their waists. The music of the drum and the shee-shee-qua accompanied their death-song, which they were chanting. They wore no paint, no ornaments-their countenances were grave and thoughtful. It might well be a serious moment to them, for they knew but little of the customs of the whites, and that little was not such as to inspire cheerfulness. Only the agent's assurance that they should receive striet justice would probably have induced them to comply with the engagements of their nation made at the treaty, by delivering themselves up to the United States. The remainder of the procession was made up of a long train of Winnebagoes-all of them deeked out in their holiday garb.
The chiefs approached and shock hands with the gentlemen. who stood ready to receive their greeting. Then the prisoners came forward and went through the same salutation with the officers. When they offered their hands to the agent, he declined. " No," said he, " You have come here accused of great erimes-of having assisted in taking the lives of some of the defenseless settlers. When you have been tried by the laws of the land, and proved innocent then I will give my hand." The accused looked still more serious at this address, as if they thought it indicated that Mr. Kinzie, too, believed them guilty, and stepping baek a little, they seated themselves, without speaking, in a row upon the ground, facing the agent and the officers. The other Indians all took seats in a cirele around them, except the one-eyed chief, Kau-raw- kaw-saw-kaw (the White Crow), who had been deputed to deliver the prisoners to the agent. He made a speech in which he set forth that, "although asserting their innocence of the charges preferred against them, his countrymen were quite willing to be tried by the laws of white men. He hoped they would not be detained long, but that the matter would be investigated soon, and that they would come out of it clear and white."
In reply he was assured that all things would be conducted fairly and impartially, exactly as if the accused were white men, and the hope was added that they would be found to have been good and true citizens, and peaceful children of their Great Father, the President. The accused were then conducted by a file of soldiers and committed to the dungeon of the guard- house until such time as they should be summoned to attend court appointed to try them. Not long after the incarceration of the prisoners, they commenced their operations to effect an escape. They observed that their meals were brought regularly, three times a day, and that in the inter- vals, they were left entirely to themselves. With their knives, they began excavating an opening. the earth from which, as it was withdrawn, they spread about on the floor of their prison. A blanket was placed over the hole, and one of the company was always seated upon it before the
360
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
regular time for the soldier who hal charge of them to make his appearance. When the period- ical visit was made, the Indians were always observed to be seated, smoking in the most quiet and orderly manner. There was never anything in their appearance to excite suspicion. They worked on, shaping the opening spirally, until, in about six weeks, they came out to the open air beyond the walls of the fort. That they might be as little encumbered as possible in their flight, they left their blankets behind them, and although it was bitter December weather, they took to the woods and prairies with only their calico shirts and leggings for covering.
The question among the officers of the fort was, how to get the fugitives back. Mr. Kin- zie. the agent, could promise no more than that he would communicate with the chiefs and represent the wishes of the officers that the prisoners should once more surrender themselves. and thus free those who had the charge of them from the imputation of carelessness, which the Government would be very likely to throw upon them. When, therefore, according to their custom, the Winnebago chiefs assembled at the agency on New Year's Day, 1833, the agent laid the subject before them. The Indians archly replied that if they saw the young men they would tell them what the officers would like to have them do! They could, themselves, do nothing in the matter. They had fulfilled their engagement by bringing them once and putting them in the hands of the officers. The Government had had them in its power once and could not keep them ; it must now go and catch them! The United States, having had, during the trouble with the Sacs just ended, some experience in catching Indians, wisely concluded to drop . the matter.
UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS.
Immediately after the close of the Black Hawk war, in 1832, and after the acquisition by the United States of the Indian title to all the land west of Lake Michigan not reserved to par- ticular tribes or secured to specified individuals by terms of previous treaties, a survey was com- menced by the General Government. The northern boundary line of the State of Illinois, fixed April 11, 1818, on the parallel of 42° 30' north latitude, became, properly enough, the base line of these surveys. A principal north and south line (known as the Fourth Meridian) was run, extending from the base line to Lake Superior, at right angles with the last-mentioned line. The Fourth Meridian is west of the territory of Columbia County, running on the east boundary of what is now the county of Grant, and on the west boundary of La Fayette and lowa Counties, and thence onward due north. a distance west of the most westerly point of Columbia County of thirty-three miles, striking Lake Superior a short distance west of the mouth of Montreal River.
Parallel lines to the Fourth Meridian were run every six miles on the east and west sides of it. The intervening six miles between these lines are called ranges. Range 1 east is the first six miles of territory east of the Fourth Meridian ; Range 2 east is the second six miles, and so on to Lake Michigan-Columbia County lying in Ranges 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 east.
Parallel lines north of the base line (the north boundary line of the State of Illinois) were run every six miles. which, crossing the ranges at right angles, cut the whole into blocks six miles square, called townships. These are numbered by tiers going north from the base line. the first tier being known as Townships 1 north, the second tier as Townships 2 north, and so on. As the most southern boundary of Columbia County is distant from the base line fifty-four miles, or nine townships, of course the first or most southern tier of townships in the county is numbered 10 north; and as there are four tiers, they are numbered consecutively, Townships 10, 11, 12 and 13 north.
Columbia County, then, lies in Townships 10, 11. 12 and 13 north of Ranges 6, 7, 8, 9. 10, 11 and 12 east ; that is to say, it would so lie if it were not that all of Range 6 (except small fractions of two townships) and all of Range 7 (except larger fractions of two townships) are a part of Sauk County. After specified territory was surveyed into townships, the latter were subdivided into sections and quarter-sections.
{DECEASED.)
PORTAGE CITY.
363
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Each town in Columbia County contains surveyed territory described by the United States survey as follows :
Arlington-Township 10, Range 9. Caledonia-Township 11, Range 8 (except so much as lies southeast of the Wisconsin); Township 11, Range 9 (being only a small fraction, north- west of the Wisconsin) ; Township 12, Range 8 (except what lies north of the Wisconsin and what is included in the city of Portage) ; Township 12, Range 9 (except what lies east of the Wisconsin and the city of Portage and what is included in the latter). Columbus-Township 10, Range 12 (except what is included in Columbus City). Courtland-Township 12, Range 12. Dekorra-Township 11, Range 8 (except what is northwest of the Wisconsin); Township 11. Range 9 (except what is northwest of the Wisconsin). Fort Winnebago-Township 13, Range 9 (except what is included in the city of Portage). Fountain Prairie-Township 11, Range 12. Hampden-Township 10, Range 11. Leeds-Township 10, Range 10. Lewiston -Township 13, Range 8 (except what is included in the city of Portage) ; Township 13, Range 7 (including only that part of the east half lying north of the Wisconsin) ; Township 12, Range 8 (including only so much as lies north of the Wisconsin and west of the city of Portage). Lodi-Township 10, Range 8 (except the west tier of sections). Lowville-Township 11. Range 10. Marcellon-Township 13, Range 10. Newport-Township 13, Range 7 (includ- ing so much of the west half as lies north of the Wisconsin); Township 13, Range 6 (includ- ing so much only as lies north and east of the Wisconsin). Otsego-Township 11, Range 11. Pacific-Township 12, Range 9 (including so much as lies east of the Wisconsin and the city of Portage). Randolph-Township 13, Range 12. Scott-Township 13, Range 11. Spring- vale-Township 12, Range 11. West Point-Township 10, Range 8 (including only the west tier of sections) ; Township 10, Range 7 (including so much as lies east and south of the Wisconsin) ; Township 10, Range 6 (a small fraction only; it lies east of the Wisconsin). Wyocena-Township 12, Range 10.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.