USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The history of Dodge county, Wisconsin, containing its early settlement, growth an extensive and minute sketch of its cities war record, biographical sketches > Part 47
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Arrow-heads, stone axes, rude patterns of pottery, etc., have been found in those of the mounds which have been opened. Instances of the discovery of human bones within them are very rare.
In the early history of Beaver Damn, Indians of the different tribes were very plenty, and they frequently camped in greater or lesser numbers along the banks of the lake and river. Among them was an old, gray-haired man, said to be a centenarian. He was very intelligent for an Indian, and, under the influence of the promise of a piece of tobacco, or a drink of whisky, he would converse with the whites in very acceptable English. Mr. Shafer frequently indulged the old man's cravings for "the weed," and in that way drew from him much valuable information, with which his mind seemed to be well stored. During an interview with him in 1848, Mr. Shafer asked him to explain the primary existence of the many mounds then to be seen in almost every field or forest. After some hesitation, the old man said he knew nothing concerning them except what his father had told him when he was a boy. He then gave the version of his paternal ancestor in a straightforward manner about as follows : Many years ago, the various tribes of Indians inhabiting these parts professed to be very religious, and exhibited che sincerity of those professions by holding periodical tribal meetings, and worshiping, in their own manner, a deity fashioned by their own hands. Each one of those of the faithful who attended these gatherings brought with him or her a bag, made of the skins of animals, filled with some portion of the earth composing their camping-grounds. Sometimes they came from long distances, carrying heavy loads of dirt upon their backs, and frequently they gathered by thousands to participate in the peculiar exercises.
The sands of their hearthstones, as it were, were emptied together in one huge pile, at the appointed place of meeting, and, it seems, a part of the ceremony consisted in shaping this pile
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in the form of an animal, which at once became the object of their idolatrous worship. Before dispersing it was understood where and when the next meeting would take place ; and so they continued to " wash their sins away," until perhaps-though there is no foundation for the statement-an Indian Ingersoll came along and demolished their spiritual theory of how to be saved from the damned.
But there are two things-and either will bear investigation-which give an air of plaus- ibility to the version of the old gray-haired Indian's father, namely: First, the fact that the earth of which most of these mounds is composed presents a variety of soil. The black loam of the river bottoms or lowlands, is found segregated from the less vegetable clays of the hills. while the mellow earth, such as is found in the fields, has positively refused in all these years to mix with the occasional strata of ashes or sand. Second, the face of the earth in the vicinity of these mounds-especially those in Dodge County-shows no depressions indicating that they have been thrown up or that they are composed of the contiguous soil.
Scientists may overthrow this theory ; or perhaps they may consider it not worthy their attention. But we ask one or all of them to go to Horicon, and dig into one of the numerous cornhills there to be found, make an analysis of the earth therein contained, and then report if it differs materially from a shovelful of the same soil taken from the well-defined depression from which that cornhill was made, perhaps an hundred or may be two hundred years ago. If such an investigation should happen to disclose the skull of a flat-headed Indian. or one with well- developed "bumps," either may, with impunity, be labeled the pate of a "pre-historic man " or Mound-Builder.
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, no doubt, the territory now included in Dodge 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 many portions of the territory now known as Dodge County were occupied by the Winnebagoes previous to the advent of the whites, it is believed they had but one village-that of White Breast (Maunk-shak-kah)-within the present bounds of the county. The character 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 con- verted into fertile cornfields-affords presumptive evidence that it must have been a favorite abode of a portion of that tribe.
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.
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
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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.
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 themselves 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 Governments 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."
Subsequently, a treaty proclaimed February 6, 1826, was entered into with the Sioux and Chippewa, Sac and Fox, Menomonee, Iowa, Sioux, Winnebago, and a portion of the Ottawa, Chippewa and Pottawatomie tribes, for the purpose of "promoting peace among these tribes, and to establish boundaries among them and the other tribes who live in their vicinity." Article VI of this treaty is to this effect: " It is agreed between the Chippewas and Winneba- goes, so far as they are mutually interested therein, that the southern boundary line of the Chippewa country shall commence on the Chippewa River, half a day's march below the falls of that river, and run thence to the source of Clear Water River, a branch of the Chippewa ; thence south to Black River ; thence to a point where the woods project into the meadows, and thence to the Plover Portage of the Wisconsin."
Article VII stipulates : " It is agreed between the Winnebagoes and the Sioux, Sacs and Foxes, Chippewas and Ottawas, Chippewas and Pottawatomies of the Illinois, that the Winne- bago country shall be bounded as follows : Southeasterly by Rock River, from its source near the Winnebago Lake to the Winnebago village, about forty miles above its mouth ; westerly by the east line of the tract lying upon the Mississippi, herein secured to the Ottawa, Chippewa and Pottawatomie Indians of the Illinois ; and also by the high bluff described in the Sioux boundary, and running north to Black River; from this point, the Winnebagoes claim up Black River to a point due west from the source of the left fork of the Wisconsin; thence to the source of the said fork, and down the same to the Wisconsin ; thence down the Wisconsin to the portage and across the portage to Fox River; thence down Fox River to the Winnebago Lake, and to grand Kau Kaulin, including in their claim the whole of Winnebago Lake."
By a treaty concluded at Rock Island between the United States, by their Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott, and Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, and the Winnebagoes, proclaimed Feb- ruary 13, 1833, the Winnebagoes, for certain considerations of land, money and supplies, eeded " to the United States, forever, all the lands to which said nation have title or claim, lying to the south and east of the Wisconsin River, and the Fox River of Green Bay."
As, however, the country claimed by the Winnebagoes under the treaty of February 6, 1826, was bounded on the southeast " by Rock River from its source, near the Winnebago Lake to the Winnebago village, about forty miles above its mouth," it is evident that the land ceded by this last treaty (that of February 13, 1833), could not include the whole of Dodge County as it now exists. The other moiety of this county was acknowledged to be the property of the United Nation of Chippewa, Ottawa and Pottawatomie Indians; and, to extinguish their title, a treaty was entered into with them at Chicago September 26, 1833, whereby, for good and valuable considerations, this confederated nation of Indians ceded "to the United States all their land along the western shore of Lake Michigan, and between this lake and the land ceded
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to the United States by the Winnebago nation at the treaty of Fort Armstrong (Rock Island), made on the 15th of September, 1832, bounded on the north by the country lately ceded by the Menomonees, and on the south by the country ceded at the treaty of Prairie du Chien, made on the 29th of July, 1829, supposed to contain about five millions of acres."
Finally, and to remove the possibility of any doubt whatever as to the validity of the title held by the United States to the lands lying on both sides of Rock River, a treaty was concluded at Washington City (proclaimed June 16, 1838) with the Winnebagoes, whereby, in brief but comprehensive terms, " the Winnebago Nation of Indians cede to the United States all their land east of the Mississippi River.'
With this treaty, the United States obtained an unassailable title to all the lands lying within the present bounds of Dodge County ; but, so fond of their former homes in this locality were the Rock River Winnebagoes, that even after they had been removed to the reservation provided for them, they continually revisited them, in small parties, to the great annoyance of the citizens; and the Government was finally compelled, in 1841, to send a military detachment to secure obedience to the order confining them to territory set off to them beyond the Missis- sipi. But, though forced to leave, they would frequently return in small parties ; and, when these straggling bands would pass their old-time burial places, they would manifest the deepest reverence.
THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
The summer of 1832 was a somewhat notable one in the history of the territory included in the Rock River Valley. Dodge County, however, did not figure very extensively in the Black Hawk war. While the United States forces in pursuit of the redoubtable warrior and his cohorts were encamped at Fort Atkinson in July, 1832, a detachment of the command under Cols. Dodge, Henry and Alexander, was dispatched to Fort Winnebago for supplies. Here, being informed that Black Hawk was encamped upon Rock River at or near Hustis' Rapids (now Hustisford), Cols. Dodge and Henry set out to return by that route on the 15th of the month. and reached the river on the 1Sth ; but no certain indications of the Indians were dis- covered until the troops reached the vicinity of Watertown, whence the enemy were pursued toward the region of the Four Lakes. in Dane County.
UNITED STATES SURVEYS AND LAND SALES.
Immediately after the close of the Black Hawk war, and the acquisition by the United States of the Indian title to all the land west of Lake Michigan, not reserved to the Indians or secured to specified individuals by the terms of the several treaties, a survey was commenced by the General Government. The northern boundary of Illinois, which was fixed April 11, 1818, on the parallel of 42° 30' north latitude, became necessarily the base line of the surveys. A principal north and south line (known as the Fourth Meridian) was also.run, extending from the base line to Lake Superior. This line was west of the territory now included in Dodge County, running between what are now the counties of Grant and La Fayette. Parallel lines to this were run every six miles both 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 east of the Fourth Meridian ; Range 2 east is the first twelve miles cast ; and so on to Lake Michigan-Dodge County lying in Ranges 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 east. Parallel lines north of the base lines 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, as Town- ships 1 north, Townships 2 north, and so on. As the south line of the present territory of Dodge County lies forty-eight miles and the north line seventy-eight miles north of the base line. it includes, of course, five tiers of townships, numbered 9, 10, 11 and 12 north. Hence, in speaking of the territory of Dodge County. as surveyed by the General Government, it is said to be in Towns 9. 10, 11 and 12 north, of Ranges 13, 14. 15, 16 and 17 east.
By the end of 1833, a large amount of the public land had been surveyed, and the fact being duly reported by the Surveyor General. Congress, by an act approved June 26, 1834.
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created two land districts. They embraced all that tract north of the State of Illinois, west of Lake Michigan, southi and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, included in the then Territory of Michigan. It was divided by a north and south line, drawn from the northern boundary of Illinois, between ranges 8 and 9, to the Wisconsin River. All cast of that line was called the Green Bay Land District ; all west, the Wisconsin Land District. Within the first-mentioned district was included the whole of the present county of Dodge. A Land Office for this Eastern District was established at Green Bay, which was duly opened by the Govern- ment, and a notice given of a public sale of all the then surveyed public lands lying south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, which notice placed in the market all that portion of what was afterward Dodge County, lying west of Rock River. In accordance with this announcement, a sale took place at Green Bay in 1835.
By act of Congress of June 15, 1836, the Milwaukee Land District was created out of the southern portion of the Green Bay District, including all the land between Range S east and Lake Michigan, bounded on the south by the Illinois State line, and extending north so as to extend to and include the tier of townships numbered 10 north; also Townships 11 and 12 north, of Ranges 21 and 22 east. Of course, in this district fell all the territory now included within the limits of the towns of Elba, Lowell, Clyman, Hustisford, Rubicon, Portland, Shields, Emmet, Lebanon and Ashippun, in Dodge County. The Land Office was located in Milwaukee, where the first public sale of Government lands within the new district was held in the spring of 1839. This brought into market all the above described portion of Dodge County that had not previously been disposed of, and, for the first time, that part lying east of Rock River.
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CHAPTER II.
EARLY SETTLEMENT-ORGANIZATION-NAMES OF COUNTY OFFICIALS-AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM JAMES A. WARREN-TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS- STATE GOVERNMENT-CONGRESSIONAL.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The pioneer settlers of Dodge County were Luther A. Cole, Amasa Hyland, John W. Cole and Jacob P. Brower. There is a popular, though erroneous, belief that Mr. Hyland was the Nestor of civilization in these parts ; it is also claimed that to Mr. Brower belongs this honor. As a matter of fact, however, the Cole brothers and Mr. Hyland came together to Johnson's Rapids (now Watertown) in December, 1836, and in January following built a log cabin, where they kept what they were pleased to term " bachelor's distress," in that portion of the city of Watertown now embraced in the town of Emmet. Luther Cole and Amasa Hyland engaged their time in clearing a small portion of the joint claim, and preparing the ground for spring secding, while John W. Cole was " maid of all work," and did the cooking and washing. Hyland and the Coles, therefore, broke the first ground and planted the first seed in the county. During the summer and fall of 1837, they worked on the saw-mill and dam of Charles F. H. Good- hue & Son, in that portion of the city of Watertown lying in Jefferson County, whither the interests of the Coles soon afterward centered.
The one individual, however, who first came to Dodge County, and who, until his untimely death in November, 1846, was identified with the earliest phases of civilization within its borders, was Jacob P. Brower. In company with his father, Paul Brower, and his two sons. J. Lafayette and George W., he settled on the north side of Fox Lake, upon the place now known as the Stoddard farm, in March, 1838. The balance of the family soon followed, leaving Sheboygan in June on board a schooner for Green Bay. Thence the household goods belonging to Mr. Brower were shipped up Fox River to Fort Winnebago (now Portage) in a " Mackinaw," or flat- boat : while the family took passage in bark canoes navigated by Indians, up the same stream into Lake Winnebago, to Fond du Lac. From the latter point, they were conveyed to their new home in a wagon driven by Edward Pier, of Fond du Lac. The Brower colony was com- posed of the following members : Paul Brower, Rachel Brower, Jacob P. Brower, Martha Brower, George W. Brower. J. Lafayette Brower, Euphemia Brower, Emily Brower, Amelia Brower, T. J. Brower, and Catherine, the domestic.
It was the first full and complete family in the county, and, in fact, the only family that had reached here at that early date. In October, 1838, when the Government land came into market. J. P. Brower sold his interest in the claim to Henry Merrill, and entered, in the name of Gov. Doty, the land upon a portion of which the village of Fox Lake now stands, building a double log house for the accommodation of his numerous family, on the west side of the river, about midway between the present sites of the dam and the bridge.
This auspicious event in the inauguration of the reign of enterprise that has ever since pre- vailed in Dodge County was soon followed by the advent of Hamilton Stevens and family. Mr. Stevens also made a claim and built a log house within what afterward became the limits of Fox Lake Village. In May, 1839, tlie families of Thomas Mackie and Joseph Goetschius came and added their energy and population to the new settlement. Others soon followed, and Fox Lake for a time became a general rendezvous for those seeking homes and happiness in this region.
Fort Winnebago, twenty-eight miles distant, was the nearest point at which supplies could be obtained; and, until the wild soil was tamed and brought within control of the will and industry
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of man, and the rushing waters of the streams were subdued to his service, there were hard- ships and self-denials endured that the imagination can scarcely comprehend. It was not only before the time of railroads, but, unfortunately, there were few thoroughfares of any description. A Government road had been eut out from Fort Howard to Fort Winnebago, passing within a few miles of the Brower settlement. This afforded the only outlet to civilization on the north. Watertown and Milwaukee had wagon-road communication, but there were no means of reach- ing the former place from Fox Lake as late as 1843, except by driving through the woods, over rivers and ridges. The first to undertake this difficult journey were Jacob P. Brower, his son George, and Joseph Goetsehius, in July, 1839. They started from Fox Lake with three yoke of oxen hitched to a " hoosier " wagon, in which there were a few bags of corn. Their destina- tion was Milwaukee. Arriving at Watertown, they met William M. Dennis, who had just reached that point with his family, having left his furniture in Milwaukee, on account of the almost impassable condition of the road. Negotiations were entered into whereby Mr. Dennis' wagon and oxen were made available, and the Browers and Mr. Goetschius, dividing their orig- inal load, went on to Milwaukee, returning to Watertown with Mr. Dennis' household utensils, thenee making the journey to Fox Lake through the woods. The round trip was accomplished in eleven days. A publie highway was afterward surveyed and established almost over the identical route traversed by Mr. Brower, passing through Rolling Prairie and Oak Grove. It was the principal road through the county from north to south for many years, and the hills and valleys through which it passes have often echoed the hideous shrieks of " Crazy Joe," " Wicked Pete " and Frank Colt.
During the fall of the same year, J. P. and G. W. Brower made a similar, but less adven- turous, trip to Waukesha, where they purchased and returned with the first seed wheat sown in the northern portion of the county.
With the abundance of wild game then to be found in forest or plain, there was no seareity of meat upon the humble tables of the early settlers; but it was cheaper for them to purchase this commodity of the Indians than to lose the time necessarily required to hunt it. In Janu- ary, 1840, George W. Brower and his father learning that some Indians, eneamped a few miles south of Fox Lake, had a quantity of venison for sale cheap, left their home for the purpose of making the purchase ; but failing to find the red traffickers at the anticipated place, they wan- dered about until night overtook them, and were compelled to camp out. Building a fire in the branches of a fallen tree, they stretched their weary limbs beside the trunk of the prostrated oak and slumbered. A heavy snowfall occurred during the night, and, on awaking the next morning they found themselves enveloped in a mantle of white. The log beside which they slept lay but a few feet north of the place where the Beaver street bridge now crosses the river, in the city of Beaver Dam. In all probability they were the first white men to pass the night in that locality.
The next settlement made in the county was by Seymour Wilcox ; the date, March 20, 1839, one year after the coming of Jacob P. Brower. Mr. Wileox made a claim on Roek River within what are now the limits of Waupun. He was accompanied by J. N. Ackerman and Hiram Walker.
A greater part of the land upon which the village of Horicon now stands, was entered as early as December, 1838, by ex-Governor Hubbard, of New Hampshire. His elaim included a tract of nearly five hundred acres, but the first settlement made at that point was in Decem- ber, 1845, by Joel Doolittle.
Beaver Dam occupies the third place in point of priority in early settlement, and Thomas Mackie, upon whom the title of Patriarch of Beaver Dam has been bestowed, is doubtless entitled to the honor belonging to the first settler. Mr. Mackie is still in the land of the living, and, with a degree of positiveness that will admit of no contradiction, informs the writer that his was the first cabin erected within the limits of the present site of Beaver Dam. It stood near a spring, known to the present generation as the Mackie Spring, and a street passing near this hallowed spot bears the name of the venerable pioneer. In the construction of his eabin,
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