USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin > Part 48
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The importance of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers and their navigable tributaries has been recognized by all nations and tribes that have a written or traditional history, and the numerous evidences of a prehistoric character, found along their entire course, would seem to warrant a conclusion that these rivers have furnished a medium for transportation from the days of primitive man's unrecorded existence down to the present time.
In this great thoroughifare of ancient and modern times, Lake Winnebago occupies a central and important position, and to this circumstance the county is, no doubt, chiefly indebted for the numerous and interesting historic and prehistoric evidences within its limits.
The situation of the mounds (many of them) seems to establish a belief that the observation since the settlement of the county by the whites, with relation to the gradual diminution in volume of the lakes and rivers, is not exceptional as to the present, but that this decrease has been continuous from the time the mounds were erected ; and, with relation to the importance of some of the streams associated with the Mound-Builders, their present condition would not justify conclusions that are consistent with former proportions.
Not only is it certain that there has been a notable decrease in the volume of all existing bodies of water, but in some instances appearances would indicate that even quite large lakes have entirely disappeared, and that some of the works of the Mound-Builders now stranded on an inland hillside, at the time of their construction marked the water-line of their primitive proportions.
With these inferences confirmed, we are aided in an explanation as to the peculiar location of a large number of notable inland formations. As an example, we find a chain of mounds extending from Lake Winnebago in the town of Taychecdah to the head-waters of the Sheboy- gan River in the town of Marshfield, and thence along down the entire course of the river to Lake Michigan.
There would seem to be little doubt that these earthworks marked the most feasible route between the points mentioned, provided the river was a navigable stream. The records of the voyagers and explorers seem to confirm this, as they mention a portage from Lake Winnebago to the Sheboygan River, and thence down the same to Lake Michigan.
Another similar instance is found in the line of mounds extending from Lake Winnebago along the West Branch of the Fond du Lac River to the town of Lamartine, and thence across a
1
FOND DU LAC.
327
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.
.
portion of the town of Waupun to the head-waters of the Rock River. This route, also, was available at the time of the explorers of two hundred years ago, although, at the present time, the streams mentioned are quite insignificant in their proportions.
The advantages of these routes are quite apparent when examined with relation to canoe voyaging or other primitive means of transportation.
A detailed reference to the numerous works of the Mound-Builders found in the county would extend this article far beyond its prescribed limit. In general terms, therefore, we must group all found in large areas together, only specifically mentioning one or two notable formations.
As usual in these formations, spherical works, numerically considered, occupy the leading position, while the irregular works rank first in size and importance, and would require special drawings and explanations to render a description valuable or intelligent.
In addition to the prominent series referred to, extending eastward and southward from Lake Winnebago, there are portions of other series found in the northwestern part of the county in the vicinity of Rush Lake that are quite peculiar and interesting, and include animal and reptile imitations of large proportions.
In the southeastern portion of the county also, near Long Lake, quite extensive works are still traceable, and along the shore and vicinity of Lake Winnebago, in the northeastern part of the county, mounds are found in all directions.
In some of the mounds examined are found, near the surface, relics of Indian origin, such as flint arrowheads, beads, etc., while farther below, and always near the base line, come the stone implements and the remnants of human bones that crumble into dust as soon as brought to the surface.
Stone and flint implements are found in various portions of the county. Relics of a modern character. evidently associated with the earliest days of civilized communications, such as coins, medals, weights, bottles, etc .. have been found, and would furnish materials for an interesting chapter in the county records. Much as might be written of the interesting features of the earthworks. the crowning wealth of Fond du Lac County is the harvest of native-copper implements that has already been gathered within its borders, as this county may justly claim pre-eminence in the number and variety of these rare and valuable relics. There have been gathered in the county over forty pieces, and they include all, or nearly all, the varieties yet dis- covered. From one mound alone no less than twenty-six copper tools and ornaments have been taken, and these, in addition to a number of other pieces, have been collected in a private way by a citizen of the county who has, with one exception, brought together more of these relics than have been secured by the most enthusiastic collectors or prominent societies. In richness and variety, these specimens are unrivaled, as they include lance, spear and arrow heads, gouges, chisels and axes, fleshers, knives and needles, together with some quite unique personal orna- ments that are found in no other collection. Concerning the origin of these native-copper tools much is left to conjecture. They have been found side by side with the stone and flint imple- ments in the shallow grave of the Indian warrior, among skeletons in a good state of preservation, and forest trees of centuries' growth have reared their branches over the massive earthworks where the crumbling remains of the mysterious race of builders have been enshrined with native- copper tools and ornaments through the ages of unrecorded existence.
INDIAN OCCUPANCY.
As early as the year 1615, Samuel Champlain heard of a tribe of Indians living many leagues beyond Lake Huron, called the Five Nations, better known at a later date as the Mas- coutins. Their homes were upon the Fox River at that time, as it is believed, and here they were visited by civilized men a little over half a century after. It is presumed that their vil- lages were located within the present limits of Green Lake County, somewhere on Fox River between Berlin and Lake Puckaway, and that they claimed as their hunting-grounds, among much other territory, that now included within the boundary lines of the county of Fond du Lac. The nearest tribe to the Mascoutins down the river was that of the Winnebagoes, whose
B
328
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.
homes were at the mouth of that stream. To the south, extending perhaps well up Rock River, was the territory of the Illinois. In the immediate neighborhood of the Mascoutins (but in what direction is uncertain) were the Kickapoos and the Miamis. The former is supposed to have at one time occupied the region around the head of the lake.
The Illinois, who lived in a country "where there was a quantity of buffaloes." were afterward driven beyond the Mississippi, but subsequently returned to the river which still bears their name. Meanwhile, there commenced an emigration of the Mascoutins and their kindred, the Kickapoos and Miamis, to the southward, as far at least as the south end of Lake Michigan. Their place was taken by the Foxes and their relatives, the Sacs, and, in time. these also cmigrated, but not to the southward; the course taken by them was to the west and southwest. It is certain the Foxes claimed for a time the country now forming Fond du Lac County, as well as much other circumjacent territory. Then came the Winnebagoes from below, that is, from the head of Green Bay, moving up the Fox River by degrees, having out- lying villages within the present limits of Fond du Lac County and in the valley of Rock River. The Menomonees also occupied the Winnebago Lake country. Their territory was on the east side of the lake, but did not extend very far south. The southeast portion of the present county of Fond du Lac lay within territory claimed by the Pottawatomies. whose homes were principally upon Lake Michigan. A small part of the county was ceded to the United States by the Menomonees : a much larger portion. however, was comprised in the lands sold by the Winnebagoes in 1832. The residue was included in the Pottawatomie cession of 1833.
In 1828, the Winnebago nation occupied the country immediately in the vicinity of the present city of Fond du Lac, and along the west shore of Lake Winnebago to what is now the city of Menasha. They then had large villages on each branch of the Fond du Lac River just above the forks. They also had a village at the mouth of the creck on the east side of the lake, above Taycheedah. The Menomonee village of Calumet (" Pipe Village "), even as early as 1817, seemed to be anything but of recent origin. Its location was not identical with the village of the same name in the present town of Calumet. The exact time when these three villages were finally vacated by their Indian occupants is not known with certainty, though in 1834 they were found by the Government surveyors unoccupied.
EARLY FRENCHI TRADERS.
Frenchmen from Canada, trading with the Indians, were early visitors to what is now Fond du Lac County. The name Fond du Lac was applied by them as the remotest point in the lake from Green Bay. There was a trading-post established in 1787, at the forks of the Fond du Lac River, by Jacob Franks, of Green Bay. It was occupied by Jacques Poltier, Franks' clerk, for a brief period. Franks, in 1791, sent his nephew, John Lawe, to this point. Augustin Grignon subsequently had a trading-post on the West Branch, just below the first rapid, and very near the spot where are now the shops of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, in the city of Fond du Lac. Peter B. Grignon, now a venerable resident of Green Bay. and a nephew of Augustin Grignon, passed one winter on the West Branch, just below First street, about 1819. The cel- lar of his shanty, partially overgrown by willows, could be seen when the village was finally settled. It was situated not far from the La Belle Wagon Works blacksmith-shop, between For- est and West Division streets. It seems, also, that at the Winnebago village, near where Taycheedah now is located, white men were at times located for the purpose of trading with the Indians. At this point, the Menomonees, Pottawatomies, and other tribes, came to traffic with the Frenchmen. Laurent Ducharme was one of the carlier traders here. A Spaniard by the name of Ace traded at this place a little later. Ace and his clerk were enticed a short distance from his house, by some Indians of the Rock River band, and murdered. The Indians then endeavored to enter the house, but the wife of Ace, with a gun, kept them at bay until assist- ance arrived from the friendly Indians of the Taycheedah Village, when she was conveyed to Green Bay with her family and goods. Soon afterward, a Canadian trader by the name of
329
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.
Chavodreuil, selected the post for his winter quarters, and engaged a Menomonee hunter to supply him and his men with meat. This Indian, who lived with his wife in a wigwam near by, becoming jealous of the trader, shot and killed him. Michael Brisbois and Joseph Rolette, of Prairie du Chien, were occasionally at this point trading during the early part of the present century. The white traders would sometimes ascend the Fond du Lac River, with canoes laden with goods, and thence make a "portage " of about two miles to Rock River, descending that stream to the Mississippi. This was not the route usually taken, but it brought them to Indian villages they could not otherwise reach.
"John Lawe was a native of York, England. His father was a captain in the English army, and his mother an English Jewess, a sister of Jacob Franks, who had come to Green Bay as early as 1795, as a clerk in the trading establishment of Oglevie, Gillaspie & Co., of Mackinaw, who had a store at Green Bay. John Lawe was educated at Quebec, and Joseph Rolette, so well known as a trader and early settler at Prairie du Chien, was one of his schoolmates. When his uncle, Mr. Franks, had been abont three years with Oglevie, Gillaspie & Co., he ceased serving as clerk, and went to Canada and obtained a stock of goods. He returned to the bay and opened a store, bringing his nephew, John Lawe, with him, then a young man of sixteen years. This was in the summer of 1797.
" Lawe engaged in his uncle's employ, and the following winter was sent with a supply of Indian goods, accompanied by Louis Bauprez, to Fond du Lac River, which was then known among the French and traders by that name, and took possession of the old trading-post, about a mile and a half above the mouth of that stream, on its eastern bank. This had been a winter trading-post for many years. Laurent Ducharme, who one year caught a large number of ducks there by means of a net, salting and preserving them for winter's use, was about the earliest trader at that point ; then one Ace, a Spaniard, and, subsequently. one Chavodreuil ; and still later, Michael Brisbois and I wintered there two winters.
" The Indians, whose trade was there sought, were the Winnebagoes, who had a village where Taycheedah now is, three miles east of Fond du Lac City, and had other villages along Rock River. Mr. Lawe afterwards spent several winters at different points among the Indian hunting bands between Green Bay and the Mississippi, and up to the time when his uncle left the country and went back to Canada, which was about the commencement of the war of 1812, leaving Mr. Lawe as his successor as a merchant and trader: and he continued more or less in the Indian trade as long as he lived."-Seventy-two Years' Recollections of Wisconsin. By Augustin Grignon.
None of the trading-stations at the villages near the head of the lake can be considered as having been settlements. The houses of the white men were only built for temporary purposes- to traffic in with the Indians. Nor was either of the villages continuously occupied by the white traders. Sometimes, indeed, they carried their packs of merchandise upon their backs from Green Bay. Solomon Juneau would occasionally leave his home where the city of Milwaukee now stands, with eighty pounds weight upon his back, going to Sheboygan, and thence to Lake Winnebago, returning by the way of the villages at the head of the lake. This primitive mode of transportation has been improved upon between those points since that day.
UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS.
Immediately after the close of the Black Hawk war, and after the acquisition by the United States of the Indian title to all the land west of Lake Michigan, a survey was commenced by the General Government. The northern boundary of Illinois, which was fixed April 11, 1818, on the line of 42° 30' north latitude, was made the base line of the surveys. A principal north and south line (known as the Fourth Meridian) was run, extending from the base line to Lake Superior. This line is west of the territory now included in Fond du Lac County ; running on the east boundary of what is now the county of Grant, and on the west boundary of La Fayette and Iowa Counties, and thence onward due north at a distance west of the west boundary of Fond du Lac County of seventy two miles; striking Lake Superior near the mouth of Montreal River, on the east boundary line of Wisconsin and at the most westerly point of the State of Michigan.
330
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.
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 east of the Fourth Meridian ; Range 2 east is the second six miles ; and so on to Lake Michigan-Fond du Lac County lying in Ranges 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 east. Parallel lines north of the base line 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 Townships 1 north, Townships 2 north, and so on. As the present most southern boundary of Fond du Lac County is at a distance of seventy-two miles north of the base line-or twelve townships-of course the first tier of townships in the county is num- bered 13 north, and as there are five tiers they are numbered consecutively, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 north. But, these tiers are not all full ; for, in the southern tier (Townships 13 north), there are only two townships-one in Range 18 east, and one in Range 19 east ; and in the northern tier (Townships 17 north), there are only two fractional townships-one in Range 18 east, and one in Range 19 east.
After the completion of the survey of a township, it was subdivided into sections and quar- ter-sections. The following is a history of the survey of the county, including township lines and the subdivisions of townships :
TOWNSHIPS.
By Whom Surveyed.
Date of Contract.
When Surveyed.
TOWNSHIP 13, RANGE 18 East (Ashford) :
Township Lines
Mullett & Brink
( August 17, 1835 ... 2d quarter, 1835.
Subdivisions.
Hiram Burnham. December 22, 1834 ... 3d quarter, 1835.
TowysnIr 13, RANGE 19 East ( Auburn) : Township Lines.
Mullett & Brink.
July 9. 1833 .. Ist quarter, 1834.
Hiram Burnham December 22, 1834 2d quarter, 1835. Subdivisions
TOWNSHIP 14, RANGE 14 East ( Alto ) : Township Lines.
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833 .. 2d quarter, 1834.
Subdivisions
Jolın Brink September 4, 1833 ... 4th quarter, 1834.
TOWNSHIP 14. RANGE 15 East ( Waupun ) :
¡ N.& W.J'ly 29, 1833|3d quarter, 1834.
Township Lines
Mullett & Brink
LE &S. Aug. 17, 1835 Ist quarter, 1836.
Subdivisions.
A. G. Ellis. . December 26, 1835 ... 4th quarter, 1836.
TOWNSHIP 14. RANGE 16 East (Oakfield ) :
Mullett & Brink. ¡ N. & E. J'ly 29, 1833 2d quarter, 1834.
Township Lines.
S.& W. Aug. 17, 1835 1st quarter, 1836.
A. G. Ellis. December 26, 1835 ... 4th quarter, 1836. Subdivisions
TOWNSHIP 14, RANGE 17 East ( Byron ) :
( July 9, 1833 ........ Ist quarter, 1834.
Township Lines
Mullett & Brink { August. 17, 1835 ... 21 quarter, 1835.
Subdivisions ..
Hiram Burnham December 22, 1834 ... 3d quarter, 1835.
TOWNSHIP 11, RANGE IS East ( Eden) :
July 9, 1833 1st quarter, 1834.
Township Lines
Mullett & Brink August 17, 1835 ... 2d quarter, 1835.
Hiram Burnham December 22, 1834 ... 21 quarter, 1835. Subdivisions.
Towssun 14, RANGE 19 East ( Osceola) : Township Lines
Mullett & Brink. July 9, 1833 Ist quarter, 1834.
Hiram Burnham December 22, 1834 .. 2d quarter, 1835. Subdivisions.
TOWNSHIP 15, RANGE 14 East ( Metomen ) : Township Lines
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833. 2d quarter, 1834.
Johu Brink September 4, 1534 ... 4th quarter, 1834. Subdivisions
TOWNSHIP 15, RANGE 15 East (Springvale) : Township Lines
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833. 21 quarter, 1834.
John Brink .. September 4, 1834 ... 4th quarter, 1834. Subdivisions.
TOWNSHIP 15, RANGE 16 East ( Lamartine) : Township Lines.
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833. 2d quarter, 1834.
John Brink September 4, 1834 ... 4th quarter, 1834. Subdivisions
TownsHIP 15, RANGE 17 East (Fond du Lac) : Township Lines
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833 .. 1 st quarter, 1834.
Sub divisions
N. King. August 22, 1834. 2d quarter, 1835.
f July 9, 1833 ........ 1st quarter, 1834.
331
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
By Whom Surveyed.
Date of Contract.
When Surveyed.
TOWNSHIP 15, RANGE 18 East (Empire and south part, of Taycheedah) :
Township Lines. Subdivisions.
N. Kiug ..
August 22, 1834 .. Ist quarter, 1835.
TOWNSHIP 15. RANGE 19 East (Forest ) :
Township Lines
Mullett & Brink.
July 9, 1833.
Ist quarter, 1834.
Subdivisions
N. King ..
August 22, 1834
Ist quarter, 1835. !
TOWNSHIP 16, RANGE 14 East ( Ripon) : Township Lines
Mullett & Brink
July 9, 1833. 2d quarter, 1×34.
Jolın Brink September 4, 1834 ... 4th quarter, 1834. Subdivisions
TOWNSHIP 16, RANGE 15 East (Rosendale) : Township Lines.
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833
21 quarter, 1834.
John Brink September 4, 1834 ... 4th quarter, 1834. Subdivisions.
TOWNSHIP 16, RANGE 16 East (Eldorado) : Township Lines
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833 .. 2d quarter, 1834.
Subdivisions
TOWNSHIP 16, RANGE 17 East (Friendship) :
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833. 2d quarter, 1834.
John Brink September 1, 1834. .. Ist quarter. 1835. Subdivisions.
TOWNSHIP 16, RANGE 18 East (Taycheedah and part of Calumet ) :
Township Lines Subdivisions
N. King.
August 22, 1834 2d quarter, 1835.
TOWNSHIP 16, RANGE 19 East ( Marshfield) : Township Lines
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833 Ist quarter, 1834.
August 22, 1834 .. ,2dl quarter, 1835. Subdivisions. N. King
TOWNSHIP 17, RANGE 18 East ( West part of Calumet ) :
Townsbip Lines
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833. 2d quarter. 1834.
Subdivisions
A. G. Ellis. August 22, 183. 4th quarter, 1834.
TOWNSHIP 17, RANGE 19 East (East part of Calumet) :
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833. 2d quarter, 1834.
August 22, 1834 4th quarter, 1834. Subdivisions A. G. Ellis.
The towns of Fond du Lac each contain surveyed territory described by the Government survey as follows :
Towns. Townships North.
Ranges East.
Towns. Townships North.
Ranges East.
Alto 14
14
Lamartine 15.
Ashford 13
18
Marshfield. 16
19
Auburn 13
19
Metomen 15.
14
Byron. 14
17
Oakfield 14
Osceola 14.
19
l'alumet
17 (fractional ) 15
Ripou 16 1 £
15
Eden.
14 18
Springvale 15.
15
Eldorado 16 16
16 (except Secs. 1. 2. 3 and 4. The
Empire.
15 (except Secs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ) ... 18
Taychecdah
Fond du Lac ... 15 (slightly fractional ) .. 17
Forest .. 15 .. 19
Friendship. .16 (fractional-lying west of Winne- 17
Waupun 14
15
bago Lake).
NUMBER OF ACRES IN EACH TOWNSHIP ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT SURVEY.
Townships.
Acres.
Townships.
Acrea.
T. 13 N., R. 18 east.
23.096.97
T. 15 N., R. 17 east
22,751.54
T. 13 N., R. 19 east.
.22,901.99
T. 15 N .. R. 18 east
.23,120.02
T. 14 N., R. 14 east.
.23.153.31
T. 15 N., R. 10 east. .22,730.68
T. 14 N., R. 15 east
23,212.26
T. 16 N., R. 14 east.
22,959.90
T. 14 N., R. 16 east.
.23,514.28
T. 16 N., R. 15 east. 23.036.07
T. 14 N., R. 1; east
.23,112.67
T. 16 N., R. 16 cast.
23.134 04
T. 14 N., R. 18 enst. .23,144.40
T. 16 N., R. 17 east. 12.190.61
T. 14 N., R. 19 east. 22,547.99
T. 16 N., R. 18 east. 18,324.15
T. 15 N., R. 14 east .23,038.99
T. 16 N., R. 19 east. 23,054.57
T. 15 N., R. 15 east .23,155.08
T. 17 N., R. 18 cast. 4 742.13
T. 15 N., R. 16 east
.23,249.52
T. 17 N., R. 19 east. 12,097.22
township is fractional ;. 18
15 (including only north tier of sec- tions 1.
( 16 (including only Secs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) .. 18
(17 | fractional ) 19
Rosendale 16.
Townsbip Lines.
John Brink. September 4, 1834 ... Ist ymarter. 1835. Township Lines.
Mullett & Brink. July 9, 1833. Ist quarter, 1834.
Mullett & Brink July 9, 1833 ...
1st quarter, 1834.
332
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.
NUMBER OF ACRES IN EACH TOWN IN FOND DU LAC COUNTY.
Towns.
Acres.
Towns.
Acres.
Alto ....
23,153.31
Marshfield.
.23,054.57
Ashford
.23,096.97
Metomen
23,038.99
Auburn.
22.901.99
Oakfield.
23,514.28
Byron
.23,112.67
Osceola ...
22,547.99
Calumet.
19,146.91
Ripon (including the city ).
22,959.90
.23,144.40
Rosendale.
.23,036.07
Eldorado
.23,134.04
Springvale
23,155.98
Empire.
19,848.12
Taycheedah.
19,813.86
Fond du Lac ( including the city).
.22,751.54
Forest
.22,780.68
Friendship
12,175.13
Total
462,289.18
Lamartine.
23,249.52
This would make an average to each of the twenty-one towns in the county of 22,013.77 acres. A full township contains 36 sections of 640 acres each, or 23,040 acres. Ten towns overrun that number and eleven fall below it.
The towns of Ashford, Auburn, Alto, Waupun, Oakfield, Byron, Eden, Osceola, Metomen, Springvale, Lamartine, Fond du Lac, Forest, Ripon, Rosendale, Eldorado and Marshfield are each co-extensive with a township, as surveyed by the General Government. In this list also would be included the town of Friendship, were it not that a small fraction of fifteen and forty- eight hundredths acres, in the southeast corner (on the south side of Lake Winnebago), is excluded and assessed for taxation in the town of Taycheedah. This fraction must, therefore, be subtracted from the 12,190.61 acres, and the remainder-12.175.13 acres-is the exact number in the town of Friendship.
The town of Fond du Lac (including the city of Fond du Lac) is identical with the original surveyed Township 15 north, of Range 17 east. This township is slightly fractional, caused by a small portion being covered by the water of Lake Winnebago, the shores of which are meandered.
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